A Villain for a Duke: Dukes for Christmas Fairytales, #5

By Eliana Piers

One mistake cost her everything, including love

 

Lady Astrid made one reckless mistake at a house party and became a pariah. Instead of cowering under society's censure, she embraces her inner villain. Why not flirt with scandal? Especially if scandal is her handsome-and-fun-to-tease first indiscretion.

 

Never had Michael's sins haunted him so relentlessly. When Astrid becomes the target for a matchmaking maven, the cold, uptight Duke of Tinsder has to double his efforts to avoid the wanton woman. Which should be easy, so long as he doesn't accidentally walk into her room late one night…

 

Can Michael keep his feet on the straight and narrow? Or will the heart's pull between opposites recapture their true love?

 

Read A Villain for a Duke if you love the magic of Christmas. It's a deliciously sweet and spicy easy read with witty banter and lovable characters.

 

A Villain for a Duke is the fifth standalone novella in the steamy regency romance series:

Dukes for Christmas Fairytales.

Book 1: A Beauty for a Duke

Book 2: An Ember for a Duke

Book 3: A Slumber for a Duke

Book 4: A Flurry for a Duke

Book 5: A Villain for a Duke

• Language: English
• Publisher: Self-Published
• Release date: Jun 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9781998281374

Eliana Piers

What makes people fall in love? Why do two people end up together? Every love story is unique, and I love love.

Book preview

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A Villain for a Duke is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. 

Copyright © 2024 by Eliana Piers

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact author.

Cover image © Eliana Piers

Cover design Copyright © 2024 Eliana Piers

All rights reserved.

ISBN E-Book 978-1-998281-37-4

ISBN Print 978-1-998281-38-1

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Contents

Author's Note

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Stay Connected

Thank You

About the Author

Also By Eliana Piers

Eliana Piers Reading Order

Series Overlap

Couples Timeline

Author's Note

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Hello Beautiful Reader, 

Welcome to the Beau Monde. Most, if not all, of my books are part of an interconnected world with the Good Dukes, where it all started. This book is connected to Snow White and the Evil Queen (though how evil she is, is yet to be seen), and it has some enchanting fairytale vibes for you.

If you like SHORT, SWEET & SPICY, you are in for a treat.

I love to write funny, easy, breezy stories where the characters learn things about themselves and the world around them, all the while continuing to reach for hope, joy, and above all, LOVE.  

Love always wins. Love never fails. 

You will always read a happy ending in my stories. 

I write to have fun, and so I make stories fit into a historical context, but I often take leeway with history. SO, if you are looking for a 100% accurate depiction of historical language and settings, please put this book down. You will be disappointed. And I don’t want that. You don’t want that. Neither of us wants you to be disappointed. Let’s just be happy. The world is a hard enough place as it is. 

IF, however, you don’t mind to sacrifice some historical truths in the name of LOVE and HUMOR, AND you want to read about some HOT men falling head over heels in love with some INTELLIGENT, STRONG, INDEPENDENT women, then read on, dear reader.

Much love, 

Eliana Piers

Chapter 1

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Two years ago…

SOME PEOPLE DESERVE THEIR reputation. They work hard for it and have earned the labels attributed to them. It’s something to be proud of, regardless of whether said reputation leads to notoriety or infamy.

Others befall their reputations. Usually with utter devastation.

Then there are those who find a label attached to them and decide to live up to it. No matter the cost.

Without worry for her own reputation, Lady Astrid alighted the carriage boasting the Regium ducal emblem. She fluffed her skirts and took a few steps toward the manor. The place was familiar and inviting, and she had always enjoyed the house parties thrown here.

Her brother stood a few feet away and stretched his arms while his dark hair blew softly in the breeze.

I didn’t think we would make it here so quickly.

It’s a dubious season to travel in, but we got lucky.

That we did. She watched as he began making his way toward the house, but stopped when he realized she wasn’t following him.

She planned to stroll the grounds before the other guests of the house party arrived. The travel hadn’t been arduous, so she didn’t really need to rest up before dinner. What she needed was to stretch her legs and enjoy the crisp fall air.

Astrid, don’t you want to rest? Isaac asked.

No, I’ve been sitting for long enough.

You are a bit of a restless soul, aren’t you? Like a bucking horse. Pent up energy but with no particular direction in which to channel it, I’d say.

I like to move around. She restated archly.