Dukes By the Dozen

“Hesterton hasn’t been excluded, it appears.” Julia read on. “Nancy is attempting to set up a match between Noah and the Craig heiress.” She set the invitation on the table with a flick of delight.

This time the paper did not move a single crinkle. “It would take an extraordinary woman to edge her way into Hesterton’s heart. If he has one.”

“Oh, come now. Everyone has a heart, and there’s one perfect person for the edging.”

William turned the page.

The invitation was not the only thing that made Julia’s stomach flutter with excitement. She bit back a grin. “Kittens or puppies?”

“Puppies.” Another page turn.

“Kittens have their own qualities: slender little tails that jut out like shaky sticks, squeaking mewls, tiny paws. Are you certain?”

“Puppies. Always.”

Her heart tripped over itself. “Boys or girls?”

“For puppies or kittens?”

“Neither.” A smile curled at her lips as she spoke. “Children.”

Whump! Hands and paper dropped at once to the table. William regarded her with tentative excitement, his brows poised halfway up his forehead. “Dare I ask what could inspire such a question?”

She rose from her seat and let her fingers tenderly stroke her lower midsection. “I’m sure you can guess.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“Our family will be growing by one more in the next few months.” The emotion bubbled up from Julia, and she laughed at the sheer joy of sharing such news. “We’re going to be parents, William.”

“Are you certain?”

“I waited two months after I missed my courses to be certain.” She stopped beside him.

His gaze fell to her stomach. “The physician never came.”

“He did.” She moved her hand, took his, and placed it over the very small bump. “I waited until you would be out. I didn’t wish to worry you, and I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for certain.”

“You clever minx.” He cupped his large hand over her stomach. His brow furrowed, and he was silent for an extraordinarily long moment.

A trickle of fear nipped at her enjoyment. “Happy? Or displeased?”

“Happy.” He looked up at her with a glossy gaze. “Immeasurably happy.”

This small baby within her womb had moved her brave and powerful husband to tears. She felt her own eyes prickle with heat.

“I love you, Julia.” He got to his feet and pulled her into his arms. Immediately he snapped back and regarded her stomach.

She laughed through her tears. “You won’t hurt him.”

He drew Julia against him once more, this time tender and tentative. “Or her.”

“Oh? Is it a girl you want, then?” Julia snuggled into her husband’s strong arms.

He held her to him and cupped the slight swell of her stomach once more, cradling his entire family in one embrace. “That depends.”

“On?”

“On what this baby is.”

“I think that’s the perfect answer.”

And it was. The perfect answer, for the perfect life and the perfectly wonderful husband she was grateful to have taken the time to discover.

FROM MADELINE MARTIN

Thank you so much for reading Discovering the Duke. I hope you’ve enjoyed it! This was such a fun project to take part in and I am honored to have been included. To find out more about me and my books, you can go to my website: http://www.madelinemartin.com

Or sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/biji1j

I love hearing from my readers, so please feel free to reach out to me.

If your curiosity is piqued about Noah, you can read his story in Mesmerizing the Marquis:

A reclusive marquis.

An heiress determined to save him.

A passion neither can deny.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of historical romance novels filled with twists and turns, adventure, steamy romance, empowered heroines and the men who are strong enough to love them. She lives in sunny Florida in her own happily ever after with her two daughters and a man so wonderful, he’s been dubbed Mr. Awesome.

THE DUKE AND THE APRIL FLOWERS

APRIL

GRACE BURROWES

PREFACE

The Duke of Clonmere must marry one of the Earl of Falmouth’s three giggling younger daughters, but Lady Iris—Falmouth’s oldest, who is not at all inclined to giggling—catches Clonmere’s eye, and his heart!

CHAPTER 1

“YOUR SAINTED papa promised you’d choose your duchess from among my daughters, Your Grace. They are the loveliest trio of young ladies to waltz through Mayfair’s ballrooms in ages, so you needn’t bother fuming about your fate. Polite society will feel not even a scintilla of pity for you.”