The Duke's Gamble

The Duke's Gamble
Miranda Jarrett

A Daring Duke…Eliot Fitzharding, Duke of Guilford, once visited Penny House to enjoy the games of chance. Now he finds that his heart beats faster–not at the turn of a card, but at the thought of matching wits with Miss Amariah Penny, the fashionable club's proprietress.Amariah, a clever copper-haired beauty, enjoys Guilford's company as well…perhaps too much. If only he were not so wickedly attractive!When an unknown gambler accuses Penny House of harboring a cheat–and threatens violence if the man is not expelled–Guilford comes immediately to Amariah's rescue. But as the two of them race to shield Penny House from the rumors, they risk becoming an item of choice gossip themselves….

“I hate this hat of yours, Amariah, hated it the moment I saw you in it.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Because you hate it, Guilford, I shall henceforth hate it, too.”

“Well, then, I’ll banish the wretched thing and please us both.” He flipped open the window and, before she could protest, sailed the hat out the window and into the night.

“Guilford!” Amariah shrieked with surprise. “I cannot believe you did that! Oh, that poor, old, ugly hat!”

“Let it grace some poor, old, ugly scarecrow in a field of rye,” he said grandly. “You, my fair Amariah, deserve something far more beautiful.”

He slid closer along the swaying seat, leaning over her so that all she could see was his face in extraordinary detail: the dark lashes around his blue eyes, the way his black hair curled….

She blinked, and smiled. “You’re going to kiss me, aren’t you, Guilford?”

Acclaim for Miranda Jarrett

“Miranda Jarrett continues to reign as the queen of

historical romance.”

—Romantic Times BOOKclub

“A marvelous author…each word is a

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“Ms Jarrett always delivers a memorable story

peopled with memorable characters…

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Rake’s Wager

“A romp brimming with Regency style…

[Jarrett’s] just-right pace and likable characters

deliver a quick and enjoyable read.”

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Princess of Fortune

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The Golden Lord

“Sexual tension runs high. There are…secrets to

be kept, mysteries to be solved and a traditional ending

in which sharing truth wins true love.”

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The Silver Lord

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very good and deftly presented.”

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The Duke’s Gamble

Miranda Jarrett

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven