Fate Gave Me a Duke

Book excerpt: Amidst the enchanting Yuletide festivities, the Duke of Cleburne, Giles Fortescue, renowned for his roguish charm, finds his artfully constructed façade slipping through unexpected circumstances in the hallowed library's shadows. Mistaking one lady for another in a clandestine rendezvous, his carefully cultivated guise begins to unravel, plunging him into a labyrinth of unforeseen complexities that threaten to shatter his carefully honed reputation, leaving him ensnared by the ominous specter of societal censure. Lady Juliet Gale's world is transformed when the devilishly alluring duke’s impetuous kiss propels her into a realm of unprecedented excitement and trepidation. As their passions entwine and boundaries blur, Juliet's moment of daring abandon leads to a transgression with consequences that reverberate far beyond the stolen embrace. As Yuletide joy collides with societal strictures, she must confront the price of her recklessness, navigating a path fraught with judgment and censure. Amid the flickering candlelight and ornate decorations, the fates of Giles and Juliet converge. Will they surrender to the inexorable pull of destiny, allowing love to bloom amidst the frosty air of the holiday season, or will they muster the strength to defy convention and carve their own path, redefining their lives and love against the backdrop of a Regency Christmas? In Fate Gave Me a Duke, the Yule log's glow illuminates not only festive celebrations, but the enduring struggle between honorable actions and untamed desires.