An Affair Before Christmas
Chapter One
Four years later
An excerpt from The Morning Post,
April 22, 1783
The buzz of the past few days amongst the ton has been
the challenge that the Earl of Gryffyn offered the
Duke of Villiers. It seems that the earl has stolen
away the duke's fiance. We cannot comment on the
veracity of this report, but we would note that
dueling has been strictly prohibited by our gracious
sovereign ...
Townhouse of the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont
A morning party in celebration of the Earl of Gryffyn's
victory in a duel
"The Duchess of Fletcher," the butler announced with a
magnificent bellow. When he said nothing about the duke,
Poppy looked behind her ... but Fletch was gone. He
had drifted away to some other part of Beaumont House
without bothering to be announced. Or inform her of his
intentions.
She could feel her smile turning rigid so she picked up
her skirts and edged down the three marble steps into
the ballroom. Side panniers made it difficult enough to
negotiate doorways and stairs, but ... read full excerpt from: An Affair Before Christmas ebook
