The Duchess Wager

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)><em>The duke accepts a wager</em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>Fitz the Duke of Harrodshire views marriage as a business arrangement not a question of the heart. Especially once he bets his friends that he </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>won't</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)> marry the next woman he fancies. He knows it will be an easy win - until they take refuge from a snowstorm at Bleneccle Manor and he meets Lady Margot Wickham.</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)><em>A widow in mourning</em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>At her parents' home in Northern England to recover from her husband's sudden death Lady Margot Wickham isn't sure she'll ever be ready to face the duties of being a Dowager Countess. When unexpected travelers show up in a snowstorm Margot is grateful for the distraction.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>Until she realizes she might be </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>too </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>distracted by a certain duke. </span></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)><em>Duty calls</em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0)>When Margot gets notice of unrest at her husband's cotton mill she realizes she can put off duty no longer. Alarmed Fitz volunteers to accompany her south. He plans to help her resolve the issue - but the road trip is a convenient excuse to stay close too.</span></p><p></p>