It's Hard Out Here for a Duke Read online

And James, the duke, had married the duchess’s own niece, Meredith.

  Now there were children everywhere.

  The duchess, seated elegantly on a blanket spread out on the grass, sipped her lemonade and counted them. There were at least two in the trees, another two pulling a rowboat to the water’s edge without a care at all for wet shoes and clothes, and at least four were running around shrieking in a game that she did not understand, nor care to. Though even the duchess had to admit it looked like fun.

  Bridget, Amelia, Claire, and Meredith came and sat down with her.

  “Remember the time that Bridget and I—” Amelia began, eyeing the two girls tugging the rowboat out into the pond. Beside her, Bridget groaned.

  “Yes,” the duchess said crisply, “though I have made an effort to banish it from my memory.”

  But how, oh how, could she forget the day the two sisters fell into the lake at Lady Winterbourne’s garden party?

  “Remember the time you and Aunt Bridget did what?” This question came from Caroline, Amelia’s daughter. Her cousins Miranda and Katharine were equally intrigued in the answer.

  Oh, the duchess did so enjoy watching the elder hoyden having to answer the younger hoyden, painfully aware that she ought to set an example for her daughter, and especially for her nieces.

  “Are you going to tell her what scandalous antics her mother engaged in?” Josie couldn’t resist asking.

  “I have to set an example,” Amelia grumbled. Turning to her daughter: “We fell into the lake because we were standing on the boat while dramatically reciting poetry. One mustn’t stand in a rowboat and recite poetry. It’s best done in a seated position.”

  “Unless there are handsome men around, ready to save you from thrashing about in the water,” said Darcy, joining the group.

  “Don’t listen to him. This is why you must learn to swim. So you aren’t reliant on stuffy lords,” Bridget said. Then she kissed her husband, a notoriously stuffy lord.

  “Where is James?” Meredith asked. “Is he engaged in vitally important estate business?”

  She asked this with a twinkle in her eye. Vitally important estate business often meant mucking about in the stables with his horses, as opposed to actual estate business.

  “He is with Fox,” Claire said. “They are teaching little Josie and Henry how to ride on one of those horses bred from the Arabian that Lady Jemma brought back from her travels. Soon they’ll be jumping.”

  “When they’re older I’ll show them how to ride standing atop the saddle,” Amelia said with a wicked grin.

  “Please. Do not.” Meredith put her hand over her heart. “I beg of you. I shall be too nervous.”

  “I’ll make sure she doesn’t,” Alistair said. “I’m sure we can find some other trouble for her to get into.”

  “Or perhaps I still need lessons from Meredith at her new school,” Amelia said. With so much expert knowledge of how to be a Proper Lady In Society, Meredith and the dowager duchess were considering starting a school for young women of all social classes.

  “Perhaps?” Bridget asked pointedly, taking a bite of a biscuit. Amelia scowled.

  “Sisters,” Claire sighed. She and Meredith shared a smile and laughed. Even the duchess joined in.

  As the afternoon drew to a close, nannies came to herd the children back to the house, and one by one the couples wandered off, hand in hand. They were all so happy.

  Especially Meredith and James. The duchess had been so worried about how their marriage would endure the gossips of the ton and the strain of the dukedom, but now she couldn’t imagine two people more in love and devoted to each other. Aye, the dukedom was secure in a changing world, and her children—she thought of all of them as her children—were happy. Truly happy.

  Josie thought she’d done quite well with her life: she’d dedicated her life in service to Durham, something greater than herself, and she grew old surrounded by the love and laughter of family as they all lived happily ever after.

  Acknowledgments

  This book—this series—would not be what it is if not for a mildly adventurous NYC subway ride with my fellow historical romance author Sophia Nash, in which I, a seasoned New Yorker, led us to the wrong train. This fortunately allowed us time to converse beyond the basic pleasantries, and I learned that she was an expert equestrienne and historian and was thus able to answer my pressing questions about this series idea I was kicking around . . . and which helped me decide to go ahead with it. So thank you to Sophia for sharing her knowledge and for fate for getting us lost!

  I am also indebted to my cousin, Sarah, another expert equestrienne, for reading an early draft of this manuscript and sharing her extensive knowledge of all things horse-related with me (and James). This book would not be possible without her, particularly her invaluable assistance on Mondays and Wednesdays.

  Many thanks to Gigi for always reading and encouraging my romance writing. She’s been there for me from the beginning (or starting three months after) and is still there when I need her more than ever.

  And while I am thanking people, I must also extend my everlasting gratitude to Tony, Penelope, my Lady Authors, and the team at Avon. Last, but not least and for always: my momma. For everything.

  Lady Bridget’s Diary

  Make sure you’re keeping up with the rest of the Cavendishes’ crazy antics!

  LADY BRIDGET’S DIARY

  In the first novel of Maya Rodale’s stunning new series, an American heiress must learn to navigate London society and an infuriatingly irresistible rake . . .

  Lord Darcy is the quintessential Englishman: wealthy, titled, impossibly proper, and horrified that a pack of Americans has inherited one of England’s most respected dukedoms. But his manners, his infamous self-restraint, and his better judgment fly out the window when he finds himself with the maddening American girl next door.

  Lady Bridget Cavendish has grand—but thwarted—plans to become a Perfect Lady and take the haute ton by storm. In her diary, Bridget records her disastrous attempts to assimilate into London high society, her adoration of the handsome rogue next door, her disdain for the Dreadful Lord Darcy, and some truly scandalous secrets that could ruin them all.

  It was loathing at first sight for Lady Bridget and Lord Darcy. But their paths keep crossing . . . and somehow involve kissing. When Lady Bridget’s diary goes missing, both Darcy and Bridget must decide what matters most of all—a sterling reputation or a perfectly imperfect love.

  Available Now from Avon Books!

  Chasing Lady Amelia

  CHASING LADY AMELIA

  In the second novel of Maya Rodale’s enchanting Keeping Up with the Cavendishes series, an American heiress finds her reputation—and heart—in danger when she travels to London and meets a wickedly tempting rake.

  Terribly Improper

  Lady Amelia is fed up with being a proper lady and wishes to explore London, so one night she escapes . . . and finds herself in the company of one Alistair Finlay-Jones. He’s been ordered by his uncle to wed one of the American girls. How lucky, then, that one of them stumbles right into his arms!

  Totally Scandalous

  Alistair and Amelia have one perfect day to explore London, from Astley’s Amphitheater to Vauxhall Gardens. Inevitably they end up falling in love and making love. If anyone finds out, she will be ruined, but he will win everything he’s ever wanted.

  Very Romantic

  When Amelia finds out Alistair has been ordered to marry her, he must woo her and win back the angry American girl. But with the threat of scandals, plural, looming . . . will he ever catch up to the woman he loves?

  Available Now from Avon Books!

  Lady Claire Is All That

  LADY CLAIRE IS ALL THAT

  In the third installment of Maya Rodale’s captivating, witty series, a marquess finds his fair lady—but must figure out how to keep her.

  Her Brains . . .

  Claire Cavendish is in search of a duke, but not for
the usual reasons. The man she seeks is a mathematician; the man she unwittingly finds is Lord Fox: dynamic, athletic, and as bored by the equations Claire adores as she is by the social whirl upon which he thrives. As attractive as Fox is, he’s of no use to Claire . . . or is he?

  Plus His Brawn . . .

  Fox’s male pride has been bruised ever since his fiancée jilted him. One way to recover: win a bet that he can transform Lady Claire, society’s roughest diamond, into its most prized jewel. But Claire has other ideas—shockingly steamy ones . . .

  Equals a Study in Seduction . . .

  By Claire’s calculations, Fox is the perfect man to satisfy her sensual curiosity. In Fox’s estimation, Claire is the perfect woman to prove his mastery of the ton. But the one thing neither of them counted on is love . . .

  Available Now from Avon Books!

  About the Author

  MAYA RODALE began reading romance novels in college at her mother’s insistence. She is now the bestselling and award-winning author of smart and sassy romances. She lives in New York City with her darling dog and a rogue of her own.

  Please visit www.mayarodale.com.

  www.avonromance.com

  www.facebook.com/avonromance

  Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

  By Maya Rodale

  Keeping Up with the Cavendishes

  It’s Hard Out Here for a Duke

  Lady Claire Is All That

  Chasing Lady Amelia

  Lady Bridget’s Diary

  The Bad Boys and Wallflowers Series

  The Bad Boy Billionaire: What a Girl Wants

  What a Wallflower Wants

  The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Girl Gone Wild

  Wallflower Gone Wild

  The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement

  The Wicked Wallflower

  The Writing Girl Romances Series

  Seducing Mr. Knightly

  The Tattooed Duke

  A Tale of Two Lovers

  A Groom of One’s Own

  Three Schemes and a Scandal

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  it’s hard out here for a duke. Copyright © 2017 by Maya Rodale. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

  Digital Edition DECEMBER 2017 ISBN: 978-0-06-238679-3

  Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-238681-6

  Cover photography © Jon Paul Ferrara

  Lettering by Patricia Barrow

  Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.

  HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.

  Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

  Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

  www.harpercollins.com.au

  Canada

  HarperCollins Canada

  2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor

  Toronto, ON M4W 1A8, Canada

  www.harpercollins.ca

  New Zealand

  HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand

  Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive

  Rosedale 0632

  Auckland, New Zealand

  www.harpercollins.co.nz

  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  1 London Bridge Street

  London SE1 9GF, UK

  www.harpercollins.co.uk

  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

  195 Broadway

  New York, NY 10007

  www.harpercollins.com