The Moonstone Duke

The Moonstone Duke Moonstone Landing SeriesBook 1 byMeara Platt © Copyright 2023 by Myra Platt Text by Meara Platt 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 May 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 Meara Platt The Moonstone Landing Series Moonstone Landing (novella) Moonstone Angel (novella) The Moonstone Duke The Moonstone Marquess The Moonstone Major The Book of Love Series The Look of Love The Touch of Love The Taste of Love The Song of Love The Scent of Love The Kiss of Love The Chance of Love The Gift of Love The Heart of Love The Hope of Love (novella) The Promise of Love The Wonder of Love The Journey of Love The Dream of Love (novella) The Treasure of Love The Dance of Love The Miracle of Love The Remembrance of Love (novella) Dark Gardens Series Garden of Shadows Garden of Light Garden of Dragons Garden of Destiny Garden of Angels The Farthingale Series If You Wished For Me (A Novella) The Lyon’s Den Series Kiss of the Lyon The Lyon’s Surprise Lyon in the Rough Pirates of Britannia Series Pearls of Fire De Wolfe Pack: The Series Nobody’s Angel Kiss an Angel Bhrodi’s Angel Also from Meara Platt Aislin All I Want for Christmas Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Publisher’s Note Additional Dragonblade books by Author Meara Platt 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 Epilogue Excerpt from The Moonstone Marquess Also by Meara Platt About the Author Chapter One Moonstone Landing Cornwall, England July 1815 “Blast it, Weston. Another one has gotten through,” Cain St. Austell, Duke of Malvern, growled, his muscles straining and body plastered with sweat as he drew back on the reins of a team of oxen. He’d been guiding them while he and his workers hauled away a fallen oak. “Who is that woman and how did she get past my gates?” “What woman, Your Grace?” his estate manager replied, squinting into the distance as he followed Cain’s gaze. “Oh, her.” “Yes, her. Who is she?” He had fled London to avoid the Marriage Mart, but it seemed these young ladies were not held off by iron gates. They’d scaled his townhouse walls in London as well, some of them with surprising agility, and all with a reckless determination to be compromised by him. The flighty fools were mistaken if they believed he could ever be forced into doing the supposedly honorable thing and marrying them. No one could ever force him to do something he was not willing to do. Cain shook his head in frustration. He would have to marry someday, of course. Not yet, however. He certainly was not going to be tricked or coerced into it. Nor was he fit company for any woman at the moment, and he did not mean because of his lack of proper attire. The war years had taken their toll on him. How could he be merry or even think of marriage when he had lost so many friends in battle? Attending balls or idling the hours away in the comfort of a gentlemen’s club was no relief for him and merely added to his anguish. For this reason, while the ton elite were still celebrating Napoleon’s demise at Waterloo, Cain had chosen to retreat to St. Austell Grange, the summer home his father had built almost a decade ago on the outskirts of the quiet seacoast village of Moonstone Landing. The Grange was finer than any homes in the area, but parts had fallen into disrepair as his father’s health failed. The work required to restore the grounds and structure to their original grandeur was turning out to be a blessing in disguise for him, giving him purpose and a chance to escape the hectic whirl of London. A soft look came over Weston’s face as he continued to squint into the distance at the young woman. “Weston? Stop mooning over her and tell me who she is.” “She