The Duke's Dangerous Wager
- Reads 27,710
- Votes 532
- Parts 7
Complete Wed, Sep 25, 202456m
FULL VERSION AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
A scandalous kiss sparks an even more scandalous engagement, but secrets and danger threaten to unravel their love before it even begins.
***
At a masquerade ball, Tristan Hargrave, the Duke of Ashford, makes a reckless wager: to steal a kiss from the season's most elusive debutante, Isla Everly. But when his drunken bet shatters her reputation, Tristan is left with no choice but to propose.
For Isla Everly, the path is clear: secure a wealthy husband to save her family, and avoid the man responsible for their ruin. But when the very same duke brazenly kisses her at the ball, her future prospects crumble. With no other option, Isla reluctantly accepts his offer of marriage.
As she navigates her new life with Tristan, Isla discovers a man far kinder than the one she's long despised. Yet her heart remains hardened by his past actions.
But when a dangerous figure from Isla's past resurfaces, threatening to expose a dark secret, she is forced to turn to the one man she vowed never to trust.
All Rights Reserved
#362
regency-england
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
A Penny's Worth of Affection
SAMPLE COPY! The complete book is now available on Amazon (links on my profile). This version on Wattpad is a sample copy only and is incomplete. Penelope Inglewood discovers her brother is in love with the betrothed of the most ruthless man in England, The Duke Of Newbridge. She must find a way to save her family from ruin and turn her brother's affections elsewhere. When the Duke Of Newbridge decides to confront his rival in love, he finds himself completely intrigued by the small, but determined woman. Will Penelope be able to keep her heart and her head in the presence of this dangerous, yet intoxicating villain who seeks to punish her brother?Complete
Royal Fools
As Sutherland's new king, Emory Davercher faces countless challenges, but nothing as excruciating and frustrating as his mysterious, eccentric betrothed. *** When King Emory of Sutherland receives news that his betrothed is on her way to Sutherland, he sends her away before even laying eyes on the woman he has no intention of marrying. Months later, after a narrow escape from an assassination, he flees to his childhood home where he discovers a massive problem. Due to an unfortunate mishap, his betrothed has not left Sutherland. She's been in his secret estate all along. Grand Princess Florence Paulet of Gavaria and her cousin, Lucy, thinks her arrival in Sutherland will be easy. She doesn't expect that her betrothed, King Emory of Sutherland, will send her straight to an empty estate on an island where they fend for themselves for months. And when he finally shows up, he has the audacity to fool her by introducing himself as someone else. After having killed dozens of chickens with her bare hands to stay alive, and with lying as her ultimate weapon for survival since she left Gavaria, what else can an annoyed, blithe, and audacious Florence do? Of course, she has to return the favor and make him twice the fool. He thinks he's fooling her, and she finds fun knowing it's the other way around. As the harsh winter traps them in the estate, lies, little accidents, and undeniable attraction draw them together stronger than the snowstorm. But not as much as Florence's true reasons for leaving Gavaria, which are also making their way to Sutherland.Complete
She Who Loves | ONC 2021 | EDITING
By all accounts, Charlotte Hastings should be happy with her grandmothers match; Alexander Thatch is a nobleman, third in line for the throne. But Charlotte has always dreamed of a Love Match, and this certainly is not that. This feels like a cold business transaction. As Charlotte is whizzed across ballrooms, she can't help but wish for something more, and she wonders if the thing she has been dreaming of all her life is in the attractive serving boy on her Grandmothers estate, that she can't seem to stay away from. However, the more she gets to know Alexander the more she likes him. It seems Charlotte is to make an impossible choice, both with horrible repercussions.Complete
The Accidental Duchess
When the arrogant stranger Bess is forced to marry unexpectedly becomes a duke, she'll find herself at odds with her growing feelings as he hunts for a killer. ***** Sharp-tongued Elizabeth 'Bess' Jones is perfectly content living on her lonesome in a tiny village south of Derbyshire. She works as a nurse, owns a small home, and finds the label of 'spinster' an agreeable trade for her independence. But when her entire life is uprooted in an instant, she only has one person to blame: her new husband, Emmett Wilde, who was caught in a compromising situation with her. And now, despite his promise to fake a death certificate after their wedding--to free her of any duty to him or their marriage bed--he sends for her in the dead of night with startling news: his father has been murdered, and he is now the Duke of Ascot with a wife he can no longer deny... [[Word Count: 60,000-70,000 words]] [[Cover designed by Ren Tachibana]]Complete
To Heal A Duke (The Reluctant Dukes Book 2)
18+ *can be read standalone* (Not finished editing) THESE ARE NOT HISTORICALLY ACCURATE ON PURPOSE A steamy and hot historical romance. Miss Faye Brookes was destined for the perfect life. Young, beautiful and desired by many and friendly to all, which made her the diamond of the ton in her first season. However, when chronic illness strikes and she loses her engagent, she becomes a burden on her family and forgotten to the ton. Stuck at home, facing spinsterhood, the last thing she was expecting is to be offered marriage by the handsome and proper Duke Of Rodbury. Felix Emerson, Duke of Rodbury, wasn't supposed to be a Duke. As the bastard son of the late Duke of Rodbury, he was handed the title when his father passed with no other heirs. Despising his father and the title for how his father ruined his mothers life, Felix has sworn off ever falling in love and letting someone have control over him. The last thing he needed was to be caught in scandal with the unknown daughter of a lord, Miss Brookes. A marriage of convenience, the Duke gets a wife to keep the ton at bay, and Miss Brookes gets freedom from her family all too ready to be rid of her. Except the Duke wasn't prepared for the innate attraction towards his new wife, nor the strange secrets she hides from him. He refuses to fall in love and she doesn't feel worthy of it. But the powerful attraction between them won't be ignored and their marriage of convenience starts to become too real.Complete
The Beauty Of Rose
**DRAFT MOSTLY** FOR FANS OF BRIDGERTON Rose Axel is deformed from the burns she endured from her father. Her face is forever hidden under a veil. Her waist is much too wide, hips too ample. Too many prefer calling her fat. Or to her family, a cow. When hastily married after her father's death, to honor the agreement made in his will, she expects nothing of it. And she is right to think so. Matthew Whitfield is not happy upon receiving Rose as a bride. He cannot even look upon her, as she refuses to take off her veil, and has no features he considers attractive. The handsome charming Mr. Whitfield cannot be bothered by the likes of his wife. She is the fulfillment of a contract and nothing more. So he takes a mistress, and falls in love. Victoria Sill is everything Rose is not. Beautiful, gliding, and glowing. She's interested in one thing only, and that is to hold the title of Matthew's wife, Mrs. Whitfield. She doesn't care who she has to crush to get her way, be it Rose herself. Victoria always get what she wants. Be it one way or other. Soon Rose falls upon a secret that turns the tables. In addition, Victoria finds a way to become closer to the Whitfield name. A child. As the circumstances shift, and the Whitfield mansion is thrown into uproar, will this situation bring Matthew and Rose together? Or will Victoria succeed in keeping them apart? ---- #35 in victorian 5/13/22 #1 in oldtimes 5/23/22 #2 in regency 5/28/22 #1 in bridgerton 6/15/22 [[word count: 80,000-100,000 words]]Complete
Heart of Stone
(#3 in marriage and #4 in arrangedmarriage 3/17/25 #9 in love 3/18/25) In the business world of high society, Alexander Pearson is the oldest son of a wealthy businessman who suddenly passed away and left his young son to become the CEO of the family company, while Eloise Winter is the daughter of a struggling entrepreneur. Forced into an agreement created by their grandfathers, who were lifelong friends since gradeschool, Alexander and Eloise are to be wed to save her family from financial ruin. 5 years later, Eloise has yet to ever meet her wayward husband who left the country as soon as they were married on paper. One fateful night, Alexander returns to the states, leading to an unexpected and passionate encounter with his unknown wife. What will he do when the enigmatic and captivating woman he can't get out of his head turns out to be the very wife he never wanted? A story of passion, chance encounters, and high emotions, where a stony heart meets soft and lovely, and an arranged marriage of convenience sets fire to a blazing attraction. TW mentions of abuse.Complete
The Reluctant Marchioness
After a disastrous first season in London, Rose Wilde finds herself torn between two men who love her -- but who both hide secrets that could ruin her. ***** Rose Wilde has always considered herself plain, especially when compared to her beautiful older sister Charlotte, and has practically given up on the idea of being romanced. But when American hotelier Derek Montgomery comes to revolutionise her little, sleepy English village of Ascot, Rose starts to revisit the idea of falling in love. However, Derek brings with him many secrets and obligations, some that might prohibit him from pursuing Rose -- and push her into the arms of her friend, Michael Cornell, the Marquess of Juniper. Will fate allow Rose and Derek to marry for love? Or will she indeed become the reluctant marchioness? [[Word count: 70,000 - 80,000 words]] Cover designed by Ashley Bandy (The Reluctant Marchioness is the sequel to The Coveted Countess, but can also be read as a standalone)Complete
Love Of Lust
Becky Mentore has given up on marriage and men. After dating way too many losers who aren't capable of appreciating who she is, she's about ready to resign herself into the life of an independent woman, that is until her so called billionaire boss Riad Thorne comes along with an offer she just simply can't refuse. He proposes a marriage of convenience- one that allows Ms. Mentore to live in a life of luxury for a year and allows Mr. Thorne to stay in the country which has become his home. At the end of the arrangement Ms. Mentore will walk away with a cool 2 million dollars and all she has to do is live with him in his mansion, put on a convincing show in public and endure a few INS interviews. It is a big risk that Ms. Mentore is willing to take considering the huge payoff at the end. As time goes on Ms. Mentore finds herself wondering if 2 million dollars will be enough to repair a broken heart, but will Mr. Thorne yet have another secret in store? Find out Now!!! 🔥🔥🔥Complete
Tied to the Throne
"This marriage is nothing but an alliance to me. Don't expect anything else, because you won't get it. I will never love you." "It felt as if my parents had tied me to the throne. Tied me to him." - A princess and a prince, forced into a marriage they both despise. They can't stand each other... at least, that's what they tell themselves. But as their lives collide in unexpected ways, something begins to change. With their world falling apart-death, destruction, and chaos everywhere-they find themselves drawing closer, even as everything else crumbles. Can love survive in the middle of all this heartbreak? Can they save each other, or will it all be too much? Original Characters Enemies to lovers Royal auComplete
SAMPLE COPY! The complete book is now available on Amazon (links on my profile). This version on Wattpad is a sample copy only and is incomplete. Penelope Inglewood discovers her brother is in love with the betrothed of the most ruthless man in England, The Duke Of Newbridge. She must find a way to save her family from ruin and turn her brother's affections elsewhere. When the Duke Of Newbridge decides to confront his rival in love, he finds himself completely intrigued by the small, but determined woman. Will Penelope be able to keep her heart and her head in the presence of this dangerous, yet intoxicating villain who seeks to punish her brother?
More detailsContent Guidelines