Entangled

Entangled The Duel, Book 1 Mary Lancaster © Copyright 2022 by Mary Lancaster Text by Mary Lancaster Cover by Dar Albert Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. is an imprint of Kathryn Le Veque Novels, Inc. P.O. Box 23 Moreno Valley, CA 92556 [email protected] Produced in the United States of America First Edition March 2023 Kindle Edition Reproduction of any kind except where it pertains to short quotes in relation to advertising or promotion is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. License Notes: This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook, once purchased, may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. 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CEO, Dragonblade Publishing Additional Dragonblade books by Author Mary Lancaster The Duel Series Entangled (Book 1) Last Flame of Alba Series Rebellion’s Fire (Book 1) A Constant Blaze (Book 2) Burning Embers (Book 3) Gentlemen of Pleasure Series The Devil and the Viscount (Book 1) Temptation and the Artist (Book 2) Sin and the Soldier (Book 3) Debauchery and the Earl (Book 4) Blue Skies (Novella) Pleasure Garden Series Unmasking the Hero (Book 1) Unmasking Deception (Book 2) Unmasking Sin (Book 3) Unmasking the Duke (Book 4) Unmasking the Thief (Book 5) Crime & Passion Series Mysterious Lover (Book 1) Letters to a Lover (Book 2) Dangerous Lover (Book 3) Merry Lover (Novella) The Husband Dilemma Series How to Fool a Duke Season of Scandal Series Pursued by the Rake Abandoned to the Prodigal Married to the Rogue Unmasked by her Lover Her Star from the East (Novella) Imperial Season Series Vienna Waltz Vienna Woods Vienna Dawn Blackhaven Brides Series The Wicked Baron The Wicked Lady The Wicked Rebel The Wicked Husband The Wicked Marquis The Wicked Governess The Wicked Spy The Wicked Gypsy The Wicked Wife Wicked Christmas (A Novella) The Wicked Waif The Wicked Heir The Wicked Captain The Wicked Sister Unmarriageable Series The Deserted Heart The Sinister Heart The Vulgar Heart The Broken Heart The Weary Heart The Secret Heart Christmas Heart The Lyon’s Den Series Fed to the Lyon De Wolfe Pack: The Series The Wicked Wolfe Vienna Wolfe Also from Mary Lancaster Madeleine The Others of Ochil Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Publisher’s Note Additional Dragonblade books by Author Mary Lancaster Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Epilogue About Mary Lancaster Chapter One “I have no time for the Landons. They would be nobodies if they were not so deliberately eccentric. And as for Michael Landon, the fellow was promoted over better men and a coward to boot.” The duke’s sharp voice cut through the genial conversation like a sword. In the George Inn’s parlor, chatter died away to uneasy silence. The two parties of gentlemen—the duke’s and the group of army officers—had amiably agreed to share the inn’s only private room and had enjoyed a simple, pleasant supper and a few card games. They had also shared a fair amount of postprandial brandy and cigarillos. As a result, the room was thick with smoke and the smell of spirits. Major Giles Butler, whose head was harder than most, but who, up until now, had been enthusiastically enjoying the company, set down his glass with deliberation. His friends clearly recognized the sudden change in his manner, for their own outrage suddenly drowned in anxiety. Butler sought and found the direct gaze of the duke. His Grace, the Duke of Cuttyngham, was a distinguished looking man in his forties. His dark brown hair might have been graying, his face growing a little pouchy, and a paunch developing at his middle, but no one would ever have mistaken him for other than a top-notch aristocrat. One of the duke’s sycophants let out an annoying, nervous titter. Others glanced uneasily at the military men, particularly at Butler. “I assume you do not refer to Colonel Michael Landon of the 148th,” Butler said mildly. Now was the moment for the duke to back down, to say of course not and turn the subject, but somehow Butler knew he would do no such thing. It was not in the duke’s supercilious nature to back down, to change his mind, or even to placate. “That’s the fellow,” he said. He even smiled. “I hope he was nothing to do with you fine officers.” Butler stared. “He was my colonel.” My comrade and my friend. “My commiserations.” It could have meant anything. “The duke is nothing to us,” Mac