The Wagering Duke

THE WAGERING DUKE OLIVIA T. BENNET CONTENTS A Thank You Gift Before You Start Reading… Love to Read? 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 Epilogue Extended Epilogue Preview: When a Duke Sins Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Also by Olivia T. Bennet About the Author A THANK YOU GIFT Thanks a lot for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me, because this is the best way to show me your love. As a Thank You gift I have written a full length novel for you called Daring Fantasies of a Noble Lady. It’s only available to people who have downloaded one of my books and you can get your free copy by tapping this link here. Once more, thanks a lot for your love and support. With love and appreciation, Olivia T. Bennet BEFORE YOU START READING… Did you know that there’s a special place where you can chat with me and with thousands of like-minded bookworms all over the globe?! Join Cobalt Fairy’s facebook group of voracious readers and I guarantee you, you’d wish you had joined us sooner! Let’s connect, right NOW! Just click on the image above! ⇧ LOVE TO READ? If you love to read, and want to be first to know about the newest Steamy Regency books by your favorite authors, make sure to check out the link below! Join Cobalt Fairy’s Newsletter and enjoy our newest books in the genre you all love! Just click on the image above! ⇧ ABOUT THE BOOK “I propose offering you my virtue if you can cease your rakish ways.” In her quest to keep her hobby a secret, Miss Hannah never shows her emotions. But when she witnesses the worst of rakes passionately kissing another she can’t help but wonder. What would it feel like to be on the receiving end of such a man’s passion? Caught in a compromising position, Duke Peter never expects to meet the most alluring woman he’s ever seen. Nor the desire that stirs deep inside him to see that unfeeling mask of hers crack with pleasure… So they agree to a wager: if he can stop his rakish ways she will give herself to him. Until keeping this scandalous agreement a secret becomes the least of their problems… CHAPTER 1 “Ah, here we are, my dear,” said Loftus Turner, the Earl of Byrne, cheerfully, peering out of the carriage window as the vehicle slowed. “There are certainly a lot of people here tonight. Looks like we’ll have to queue before we can alight.” From her perch on the opposite bench seat, his niece, Hannah Turner, slid along next to him and looked outside. “Lord! Uncle, there are so many people! I’m sure there are more every year. Look how brightly lit the house is. Why, it’s brighter than the moon. And look at all the carriages. As usual, everybody wants to be here tonight because it is the first ball of the Season,” Hannah said, feeling slightly uneasy at the bustle going on outside. Loftus gave one of his rich chuckles. “No doubt. But it’s all part of the fun, isn’t it? Everybody enjoys the start of the Season and a good party.” “Hmm,” Hannah murmured, wishing not for the first time that she had half the enthusiasm for London’s social whirl as her uncle. Loftus loved nothing more than a party. The bigger the better. Since she’d come out at eighteen, he had insisted they attend many of the Season’s big events. Over the years, the excitement had paled for Hannah, somewhat. Truth be told, she’d be happier at home, but she adored her uncle and wished never to make him unhappy. This ball in particular had seemed important to him—something about wanting to introduce her to some influential people at the start of the Season—so here she was, in her new, pale-yellow silk ballgown and slippers, with expensive hothouse flowers in her hair. “I think it’s going to be quite a while before we get inside, my dear, unless you don’t mind a little walking,” Loftus said with a beseeching look. “Walking? On gravel? In these shoes?” She looked at him in mock horror, pointing down at her little yellow satin slippers, making his whiskery face split into a wide grin. “Of course, we shall walk from here, Uncle. The ground is perfectly dry. It’s only common sense. The ball will be over if we wait much longer. Come on.” She straightened her gloves and gathered her reticule, ready to disembark. “Very well, my dear.” Loftus gave the roof of the carriage a firm thump with his stick. The vehicle came to an immediate halt. A moment later, the door was opened by a liveried footman, who folded down the steps and helped Loftus down first, making sure the older man was steady on his feet, before turning to help Hannah down. “Thank you, Charles,” Loftus said to the footman, who smiled and bowed. “We probably won’t be too late.” Hannah smiled her thanks as the young man withdrew to inform the coachman they had disembarked. “Well, let us commence the festivities,” the Earl boomed in his usual cheery manner, offering his arm to Hannah. She took it readily, hugging him to her side, breathing in his familiar scent of woodsmoke, tobacco, and soap. It was deeply comforting, as it was helping her put aside any reservations she had had about the evening ahead. She knew she and her uncle made for an odd family, him the old bachelor and her the young spinster. She had grown used to the condescending looks they sometimes drew from the other guests. However, she cared not a whit what the ton thought of her. She was happy being single. But woe betide anyone she caught muttering the word