Sins of a Roguish Duke

Sins of a Roguish Duke A REGENCY ROMANCE NOVEL HENRIETTA HARDING Copyright © 2023 by Henrietta Harding All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. Facebook: Henrietta Harding Table of Contents Table of Contents Free Exclusive Gift Sins of a Roguish Duke Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 32 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Epilogue A Duke's Most Tempting Saviour Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Free Exclusive Gift Sign up for my mailing list to be notified of hot new releases and get my latest Full-Length Novel “The Lord's Favourite Game” (available only to my subscribers) for FREE! Click the link or enter it into your browser http://henriettaharding.com/diana Sins of a Roguish Duke Introduction Miss Selina Blackwood feels like the black sheep of her family; with her parents insisting upon marrying for fortune and status, all that the ravishing Selina desires is to fall in love. When she encounters the handsome and seductive Captain Lucian Cavendish by chance, she experiences a desire she has never felt before. She knows that her family will never accept a common sea captain as a suitor, but when circumstances take a dramatic turn for the worse, she faces an impossible decision, one that could result in her losing it all. Sailing for the land of love… The captivating Lucian has been disowned and has left behind his life as the younger son of a Duke forever. Now, he is Captain Cavendish, naval officer, and never tells anyone about his noble background. However, when he encounters the wild, spirited Selina and a sinful affair begins, he is determined to make the only lady who ever captured his heart, his wife. Yet, with a long buried secret and no fortune, all he wishes is for Selina to choose him for himself… Will she make the right choice? Both Selina and Lucian try to forget their passionate time together, but years later when the two past lovers reunite, the truth about Lucian’s identity will surface. Can Selina ever forgive him for the deception? Beset by mutual misunderstanding, they try to resist each other while they are courting other people. Will such a fierce connection fade into obscurity in the midst of all obstacles, or will the scandalous couple find its way back in each other’s arms? Chapter 1 Berkshire, England, 1808 “Girls!” The feminine voice emanating from the doorway was strident. “You must both be ready in fifteen minutes precisely!” Miss Selina Blackwood, younger daughter of an impoverished baronet, jumped on her chair in front of the dressing table at the sound of her mother’s imperious voice. This caused her maid, who was adding the finishing touches to her hair, to stick a hairpin into her scalp quite forcibly. Selina winced at the pain. “We will be ready in time, Mama,” said Selina’s older sister, Matilda, in a calm, almost bored voice. Matilda was already dressed for the upcoming ball, sitting on Selina’s bed, flicking through a ladies’ fashion journal. “I am already done. I am just supervising Selina. You know how she runs late all the time.” “I do know,” said their mother, her nostrils flaring slightly. “And that is precisely why I am here.” She gazed at her younger daughter critically. “Selina, you know how important this ball is, do you not? Lord and Lady Jervis have been most kind to extend us an invitation at all, and there shall be a veritable wealth of eligible bachelors there for the picking. You must be vigilant and keep your dance card full for the entire evening, my girl.” Selina was silent, staring at her reflection in the looking glass, feeling her stomach begin to churn with anxiety. It was always like this in the lead-up to a society ball. Their mother, Lady Blackwood, started to exert pressure upon her daughters up to a week in advance, and by the day of the ball, everyone’s nerves in the household were frayed and on edge. Even the servants were jumpy and a little wild-eyed, probably privately praying for whichever ball they were furiously working towards to be over and done with. Selina was weary of hearing about eligible bachelors and good matches and how the girls must improve the family’s fortunes. Both her parents rarely talked about anything else. It had been the same narrative since she and Matilda had come out into society, although Matilda had been hearing it for a little longer. Her sister was two years older than her, after all. Selina had just turned twenty. Still young enough to hear it for many years to come. Selina stared at her sister in the looking glass. Matilda looked supremely beautiful, as always, coiffed to perfection, absolutely immaculate. No one would ever know that the ball gown her sister was wearing was over a year old and had been altered for the third time by their clever seamstress to make it look new again. Just like the gown Selina was wearing this evening had been altered, as well. This was the fourth time she had worn it. Not that Selina cared all that much. She was used to being genteel but poor. She glanced at her mother. If only Lady Blackwood could accept it, as well. “I