Scandalous

The Duke of Westhaven's family has weathered a few scandals over the years. In his lifetime, there was his father's second marriage to a French emigre even if she was a Comtessa. To London Society a French title didn't equal an English one. Then there was his half-sister's broken engagement just before her marriage. Pippa disappeared from Society for three years making an appearance every now and then. Although, he was originally opposed to her marriage to Daniel, it all worked out in the end. Edward Sinclair, the current Duke of Westhaven, is no stranger to scandal. Six years ago, he was set to wed the woman of his dreams when he received a note a week before the wedding breaking their engagement. There was no explanation. Nothing but the note and the ring. Every day since, he has read the note and stared at the ring. He thought Amanda Penbridge loved him as he loved her. As he still loves her. A love like his for her, dies a slow and painful death. Pippa's French half-brother, Nicholas Ormond, is enamored of Clarice Weston, Edward's step-cousin, but he feels he has nothing to offer her. Not even a home. Edward decides to take matters into his own hands and sells Nick a unentailed property. If he couldn't have the woman he loves, at least, he could see that his friend had his. When Edward learns that Amanda's sister, Amelia, is in London for her Comeout, he decided to pay court to the woman just to see if he can learn about Amanda. He soon learns the woman is a talkative twit, but doesn't reveal anything about her sister. Amanda Penbridge loved and still loves Edward Sinclair. All her hopes and dreams were shattered six years before on one sunny afternoon a week before her marriage to the Man of her Dreams. It was painful to watch her Edward pay court to her sister. It is like rubbing salt into a still open wound. By random chance Edward discovers Amanda again, but for her, nothing has changed. She feels she can't perform the duties of duchess. The most important duty is to provide the duke with an heir. Her doctors told Amanda it would be impossible for her to have a child. Edward takes matters into his own hands when he discovers someone has tried to kill Amanda. He suspects her mother, the widowed Countess of Oxley, or her sister. Someone wants the woman he loves out of the way. Will Amanda finally agree to wed him or will he have to force her hand? He doesn't have the right to protect her unless she belongs to him as his wife.