The Accidental Duchess - Laura - Wattpad

Wattpad Original

The Accidental Duchess

Reads 2,751,801
Votes 92,928
Parts 23
Time 4h 45m

Reads 2,751,801
Votes 92,928
Parts 23
Time 4h 45m

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]]All Rights Reserved

23 parts

Sign up to add The Accidental Duchess to your library and receive updates

or

Content Guidelines

You may also like

First Impressions // A Bridgerton Story by Audelia01

After spending years as one of the most notorious rakes of the ton, Anthony Bridgerton has decided it's time to settle down and carry on the family line. He knows love exists, because his parents were a shining example of a loving, happy marriage. Still, he has no intentions of falling in love with his intended bride. Anthony's father died quite young, so Anthony believes, albeit irrationally, that he will die young too. Falling in love is a complication he doesn't need in his already too short life, so he sets out to court the beauty who is the latest toast of the ton. She is a woman who meets his requirements for a wife, but with whom he could never see himself falling in love. Anthony just didn't count on the infuriating lady stirring his desires in a way no other woman ever has. Amelia Windsor has no intention of allowing Anthony Bridgerton anywhere near herself. She vows to do whatever it takes to interfere with the rakish viscount's courtship, but in the process manages to unintentionally get herself into some outlandish situations, which also place her into close proximity with the man himself. Her encounters with Anthony leave her hot and bothered and feeling confused. But outside forces draw the two apart. Princess Amelia is engaged to King of Spain, while Anthony is forcefully engaged to Miss Edwina Sharma. Neither are a love match. Can the two break free of their chains and reunite? Or will they forever be held in place by their mistakes, regrets, and societal expectations? We shall find out, my gentle reader. #2 lovesquare

Bound To Bea by LeeleeKez

"No respect for the dead." His words came out in silent whispers, his teeth clenched. A small smile tugged on her lips. "Respect is earned in life, my lord. When a man fails to earn respect in life, it cannot suddenly be bestowed on him simply because he returned to the dust whence he came." "At the very least, Lady Atkins, pretend," he admonished. "Pretend to mourn for your husband! You are a woman in mourning! Grief, sadness, decency is expected of you," he growled, stepping so close to her, his nose almost kissed hers. "Not a low-cut, salacious red dress!" She inched forward, jaw set, until she could feel his warm breath on her skin. "And you are a man whose cousin's widow was only a few minutes ago caught with a man on top of her," she shot back, leaning further in until her lips were nearly brushing his as she searched his gaze. "Anger, rage, fury, is expected of you, my lord... Not jealousy!" * Newly widowed, the sudden death of Beatrice's husband has brought about her freedom from the shackles of a loveless marriage... Or so she thinks. All hope is quickly lost when she discovers her husband's cruelty in disinheriting her and leaving her penniless. But worse than his decision to disinherit her, is his decision to leave her at the mercy of his cousin; Noah, the very handsome Marquess of Camden. TW: This story contains mentions of suicide. Copyright © 2021 Lily Orevba All rights reserved.

Royal Fools by greenwriter

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.

The Case of the Season by robinwritesatt

[2022 Wattys Shortlist Finalist] In this mash-up of Bridgerton and Enola Holmes set during the Regency, Robin Ballard is sent to London to spend the season with her cousins, the Bridgertons, in the hopes that she will finally find a husband before it is too late, though she doesn't much care for the idea of matrimony. Similarly, the famous and very eligible detective Sherlock Holmes isn't interested in finding a wife, but has been hired to locate a missing heiress, which requires him to circulate amongst the ton, and he's having trouble because he lacks social graces. When he and Robin cross paths at a ball, they come to an arrangement that greatly benefits them both. She'll help him with the ton and he'll marry her, after which they can comfortably live their lives apart. But as they spend more time together, they find that close proximity has turned their ruse into reality.

To Deceive A Duke by vickitickitoria

{Shortlisted for the Wattys 2022} It's 1798 and The Lenoir family controls a significant part of London's dreaded and violent underworld. They reap the rewards in high-class society but Clarissa Lenoir has little interest in society or the people within it. Instead, she is following in her grandfather's footsteps as the leader and protector of The Strand, however, a problem, in the form of a silver-eyed man and rival leader, is about to throw her world into chaos. Clarissa is determined to best this entitled and immoral duke in any way she can and refuses to fall prey to his dashing looks and lavish words. Will she risk everything, including her own life to see this man crumble at her feet? Or is there something stronger than revenge in her heart?

The Guard by baleighwhitworth

BOOK II in the Lockwood series Serena Houstings, princess of Lockwood, trying to figure out this routine of hers now that she belongs with the royal family. Finding herself in the midst of it all, she cannot seem to bear the sight of her one true love whom she thinks she cannot be with. Bridger Cunningham, the royal command's guard at the princess's service. Heart broken that his one true love didn't take his hand in marriage, he plans on hating her for the rest of his aching life, but does he really? Especially since she's the very own princess and he knows her better than anyone could ever. Their burning passionate is enough to scold anyone who came near. It does not take a fool to know that these two belong together, but will Miss Serena finally put her heart to rest and simply not care for other's opinion?

Discovering the Devil by yahsss

FOR FANS OF BRIDGERTON All Penelope wants to do is become a spinster in peace. The problem is, no one will let her. Eligible bachelors from all over descend on her mother's castle to win her hand, and Penelope is forced to bat her eyes and pretend they've been rejected because they haven't succeeded in getting her to fall in love. In reality, after ten proposals and a tizzy of admirers, Penelope doesn't believe she's capable of it. When her mother catches wind of Penelope's plans to stay unmarried, she forces her into an ultimatum: marry the duke who has just proposed or be cut off. Harry is known by dozens of names, the Devil and Satan being the kindest among them. Falsely accused of slaying his half-brother and disowned by his father, Harry is forced to live as an outcast shrouded in the blackest of rumors. When his housekeeper dies, despite all his attempts to appeal to the peasantry, not a single applicant turns up. Harry is forced to resort to an unlikely, half-baked scheme with a girl he can't stand. She will be his housekeeper in order to scare her mother out of an ultimatum and he will use the presence of a lady to attract a real replacement. It will be a simple, loveless transaction...as long as they're able to resist each other... *Hades and Persephone retelling* *completed* ----- #86 in historicalromance 8/5/23

The Beauty Of Rose by yahsss

**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]]

Regency Romance: The Earl's Obsession (Historical Romance) (COMPLETED) by charlottestonebooks

(COMPLETED) It's 1817 and there is nothing more a woman wants than to marry a rich man and live a life of comfort. But not Nancy Brooks. Having spent half her life helping her mother run her laundry shop and the other half in the local library, Nancy knows what she wants, and it is not a life spent looking for the perfect suitor. Things take a turn when she delivers clothes to one of the schools she always dreamed of attending and ends up saving the day. Lord Andrew Montgomery rules almost every place he sets foot in-one of the perks of being the son of the most powerful duke of the time-and this includes Oxford. Violent and aggressive, he vows to make the life of every student who dares defy him miserable. However, when he targets the new (and first) girl at Oxford, his obsession becomes a little more than just making her life miserable. It began, he would later speculate, with a shout: the simple sound of someone shouting at him-for the first time in his life. It began, she would later speculate, with a catch: the simple movement of strong arms, breaking her fall, catching her midway. But after that, there would come many more events, and ones not too keen on bringing them together. What will they do when a powerful duchess steps in, when it seems every person is working to keep them apart? This is a story of betrayal and love, because they are not so different after all...

Regency Romance: An Unexpected Duke's Invitation (A Historical Romance Book) by Eleanormeyers

( COMPLETED STORY) What happens when the rakish Lord in the whole of London is truly falling in love with a simple, plain, and most ordinary girl, something he has been avoiding- his innermost fear. True love? Miss Amy Ott is London's newest riddle. . . She's the mysterious niece of one of England's wealthiest dukes, and is about to encounter her first season. Knowing nothing about the workings of corsets and country dances, she's looking for any help she can find... even when it comes from the most unlikely source... London's infamous rogue-an older Duke. Duke Wardington's face transformed into something... dark . "Don't fear, Miss Ott. I have no desire of you. What if I told you that I could make you the belle of the ball? In every ball. The entire season." Amy chuckled. "Me? The belle of the ball? Impossible!" ... Or was it? This catches the attention from the most unlikely, most alluring man in all of London. Lord Nathaniel Dawnton knows what he wants. Amy Ott. And... this is definitely not in a way that he could speak of in public. The scoundrel, who blackened his own soul, had met all sorts of women throughout his years, but none like Amy. He's intrigued and won't stop until he has her. When Nathaniel's pursuits meet the walls of Amy's strength, the young lord is ready to jump those walls blindly... But... he doesn't realize that a jump toward Amy might mean a fall toward love... something he has been avoiding-his innermost fear ... true love. Find out NOW!

You may also like

Slide 1 of 10

First Impressions // A Bridgerton Story cover

Bound To Bea cover

Royal Fools cover

The Case of the Season cover

To Deceive A Duke cover

The Guard cover

Discovering the Devil cover

The Beauty Of Rose cover

Regency Romance: The Earl's Obsession (Historical Romance) (COMPLETED) cover

Regency Romance: An Unexpected Duke's Invitation (A Historical Romance Book) cover

First Impressions // A Bridgerton Story

After spending years as one of the most notorious rakes of the ton, Anthony Bridgerton has decided it's time to settle down and carry on the family line. He knows love exists, because his parents were a shining example of a loving, happy marriage. Still, he has no intentions of falling in love with his intended bride. Anthony's father died quite young, so Anthony believes, albeit irrationally, that he will die young too. Falling in love is a complication he doesn't need in his already too short life, so he sets out to court the beauty who is the latest toast of the ton. She is a woman who meets his requirements for a wife, but with whom he could never see himself falling in love. Anthony just didn't count on the infuriating lady stirring his desires in a way no other woman ever has. Amelia Windsor has no intention of allowing Anthony Bridgerton anywhere near herself. She vows to do whatever it takes to interfere with the rakish viscount's courtship, but in the process manages to unintentionally get herself into some outlandish situations, which also place her into close proximity with the man himself. Her encounters with Anthony leave her hot and bothered and feeling confused. But outside forces draw the two apart. Princess Amelia is engaged to King of Spain, while Anthony is forcefully engaged to Miss Edwina Sharma. Neither are a love match. Can the two break free of their chains and reunite? Or will they forever be held in place by their mistakes, regrets, and societal expectations? We shall find out, my gentle reader. #2 lovesquare