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Informationen zum Autor Jillian Hunter Klappentext The Duke of Gravenhurst! the notorious author of dark romances! is accused of corrupting the morals of the public. But among his most devoted fans is the well-born Lily Boscastle! who seeks employment as the duke's personal housekeeper. Only then does she discover scandalous secrets about the man that she never could have imagined. Leseprobe Prologue Lord Anonymous had seduced more women in Europe than a man of discretion would willingly admit. Although he had forgotten the dates of these affairs, he had fondly recorded his lovers’ names in a red morocco leather notebook that he kept under lock and key. He had done his best to leave each of his ladies with a happy ending. But sometimes a man had to let go and conquer other challenges. He had stolen the virtue of a French comtesse on her wedding day and helped her escape her cruel bridegroom an hour before she was to take her vows. He had made love to a German princess in the Black Forest and guarded her in a hut until the traitors who wanted her lovely head could be caught. There were trolls involved, as he recalled. He had killed every last one. Still, depending on his mood, he might be considered not only an epic hero but a classic villain. Among his less gallant acts, he had once abducted an innocent lady and imprisoned her in his castle for seven months. He had set out to despoil her, and he had. It was further recorded, in his own hand, that the lady had refused to be rescued when her brothers stormed the bailey. She had been ruined for life, she proclaimed from the tower where this depravity had taken place. So enslaved was she by her unprincipled abductor that she ordered him to murder her siblings if they dared intervene again. She had no desire to be redeemed, and she would stab even her own brothers in the heart before she would give up the dark nobleman who had disgraced her. Lord Anonymous could turn from valiant deed to bloodthirsty revenge in a heartbeat. It was no wonder he had been accused of corrupting the populace. Chapter 1 London, 1818 Lord Philbert’s Literary Masquerade Ball It was common knowledge in the beautiful world that Samuel Aubrey St. Aldwyn of Dartmoor, the fourth Duke of Gravenhurst, and ninth Baronet, was a radical young rake and champion of unpopular causes. Samuel realized that society considered him to be one of its most charismatic and controversial figures. He did his best to oblige. He was one of the first guests invited to an event. He was also usually the first asked to leave by nature of his declaring himself bored to death. His appearance tonight at Lord Philbert’s masquerade party guaranteed that the other guests would go home well amused. On this point both his friends and rivals agreed—the duke was a most entertaining man. One could even say that he lived to entertain. He spoke infrequently, and then only to a select few, but he always spoke his mind and cared little whether he shocked anyone. Because he was young, dangerously beautiful, and as elusive as a dark angel, the duke got away with offenses that would have cast out another man. Still, society knew only the half of who Samuel was when he wasn’t in London. He hoped to keep it that way. He valued his private life, spending most of the year on his secluded Dartmoor estate, with people he completely trusted. His impertinence infuriated certain members of the aristocracy and invigorated others who welcomed a breath of fresh air. But tonight, at least, he was among his own, other patrons of the arts and the artists grateful for their generosity. The thought crossed his mind that he might find an intelligent mistress at an affair like this. He and his last lover had parted several months ago. The closest she had come to showing any interest in literature was ...
