She nestled into him. “When shall I be invited to attend one?”
“As long as Wainwright might be there?” Anthony clutched his chest in mock horror. “Never.”
“Charlotte,” her mother hissed, rapping her knee with a fan. “Charlotte, look. That crest belonged to the Duke of Courteland.”
As the coach-and-four passed, Charlotte realized one of the ladies inside the carriage was Lady Pettibone, her terrifying aunt. Their eyes met.
Charlotte tensed. Not being evicted should she appear at the lady’s private estate was not at all the same as being given leave to acknowledge their tenuous relationship in public. She held her breath.
Lady Pettibone inclined her head. “Mrs. Fairfax.”
The breath whooshed out of Charlotte’s lungs in relief. “Lady Pettibone. Lovely to see you.”
Lady Pettibone’s coach pulled farther ahead, and the ladies inside disappeared from view.
Charlotte’s mother looked at her in awe. “Lady Pettibone greeted you?”
Charlotte lifted a shoulder as if the uncertainty hadn’t very nearly stopped her heart.
The truth was…it didn’t matter. It had taken her all this time to realize that most of London’s inhabitants hadn’t the least idea who she was, much less were aware of the circumstances of her birth. Even her mother’s once-infamous face no longer raised many brows. Despite the size of this enormous city, Charlotte spent the majority of her time in relative anonymity.
She was just herself now: Mrs. Charlotte Fairfax. Giver of advice, and member of lively book clubs. Now that Anthony was out of debt and they could afford to leave the city, she no longer desired to. She leaned her head against her husband’s strong shoulder in satisfaction.
He immediately wrapped his arm about her to hold her close.
Charlotte smiled contentedly. She had friends now. A much larger family. Nephews she couldn’t wait to spoil. A husband who adored her.
She had finally come home.
The End
Who is the mystery lady that handsome rake Lord Wainwright is desperate to unmask? Find out in Lord of Pleasure, the next full-length Rogues to Riches regency romance!
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Acknowledgements
As always, I could not have written this book without the invaluable support of my critique partners. Huge thanks go out to Morgan Edens for her advice, encouragement, and willingness to FaceTime at the drop of a hat to plotstorm with me. You are the best!
My deepest thanks also go to my editor, Jane Hammett, whose careful eye catches everything from typos to continuity goofs. Any mistakes are my own.
Lastly, I want to thank the Dukes of War facebook group and my fabulous street team, the Light-Skirts Brigade. Your enthusiasm makes the romance happen. I thought of you as I wrote this story. Thank you so much!
More from Erica Ridley
Thank You For Reading
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In order, the Rogues to Riches books are:
Lord of Chance
Lord of Pleasure
Lord of Night
Lord of Scandal
Lord of Vice
In order, the Dukes of War books are:
The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation
The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower
The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress
The Major’s Faux Fiancée
The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride
The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway
The Duke’s Accidental Wife
All I Want
Other Romance Novels by Erica Ridley:
Romancing the Rogue
Let It Snow
Dark Surrender
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About the Author
Erica Ridley learned to read when she was three, which was about the same time she decided to be an author when she grew up.
Now, she’s a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Central America, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
For more information, please visit ericaridley.com.
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