Page 1 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

Chapter One

London—April 1816

Win Cutler, theDuke of Woodmont, looked on as his cousin spoke his wedding vows. Percy had always been not only his cousin but his closest friend. The pair had gone to school together, followed by university, and then as second sons were destined to do, they entered the military together.

He glanced about, seeing his other fellow Second Sons, the small society he had formed with his dearest friends, a group he had been a part of for many years. He looked at Ev, who was now the Duke of Camden. Ev had grown up next door to Owen, now the Earl of Danbury. Their third friend, Spence, was the Earl of Middlefield. When he and Percy had met this trio at Cambridge and the five had bonded together, they had even referred to themselves as the Second Sons of London, since all planned to go into military service after their university days.

They had spent most of their twenties together on the battlefield since England was at war with Bonaparte. Through a unique set of circumstances, however, one by one, the Second Sons sold their commissions and returned from the Continent to take up titles which they had not been raised to assume. Some, like Owen, had claimed a title from a brother he loved dearly. Others, such as Win, took the mantle from a sibling he couldn’t stand and had never been close to.

Win had been the last of the Second Sons to inherit a peerage. His older brother, Terrance, had died in a den of iniquity, lost in a ghastly fire at a gaming hell which also catered to the darker side of men’s desires. The fire and Terrance’s subsequent death had allowed Win to join his fellow Second Sons in England. Since he had been ignored by his father in favor of the heir apparent and knew absolutely nothing of ducal responsibilities, three of the Second Sons had stepped up before the Season began, each one of them coming to Essex and guiding him through what he needed to learn in order to help Woodbridge, his country estate, to thrive. Win also had four other estates scattered about England and would be visiting them over the next year.

He turned his attention back to the ceremony as Percy and Minta spoke their vows to one another. He had worried for a long time about Percy, whom he had shared a tent with at war, and the nightmares which had plagued his cousin. Win hoped by leaving the army that Percy had put all of that behind him. It was exciting to see his shy, retiring cousin with such a huge grin upon his face as he gazed at his lovely, copper-haired bride. The Season was only two weeks old and already here was Percy joining the ranks of the other Second Sons with a wife.

Win knew one of his responsibilities would be to provide an heir for the dukedom. Ev’s wife, Adalyn, had a reputation as a bit of a matchmaker and wanted to help Win in this endeavor. He had skipped this current Season in favor of learning more about his estates and working on them but he had promised Owen’s wife, Louisa, that he would attend a house party she was giving at the end of the Season in late August. Whether he found a bride there or not remained to be seen. Win enjoyed a good romp in bed with a pretty woman but he doubted the cold fish of thetonwould enjoy sex as much as he did. He supposed he would have a marriage much like his parents did, one where they barely could stand the sight of one another, but still did their duty and provided an heir and a spare to the dukedom.

His parents were long gone now. Terrance, who had been a good eight years older than his younger brother and pushing forty, hadn’t acquired a wife. It would now fall to Win to see that the dukedom remained intact with an heir.

He studied his fellow Second Sons, all who had made love matches, despite that being rare among Polite Society. Spence held Tessa’s hand in his. Ev had his arm wrapped about Adalyn’s shoulders. Owen whispered something into Louisa’s ear and she bestowed a radiant smile upon him as he took her hand and kissed her fingers. Win was unused to any public display of affection and was pleased for his friends—and Percy—who seemed happy in his choice of a marchioness.

Win decided love had already struck four times among the Second Sons and doubted it could happen a fifth time. He would trust in Adalyn and agree to offer for the woman she chose for him. But he would keep his feelings intact. Marriage, in his opinion, should be conducted as a business, while a mistress would be for his pleasure.

The ceremony concluded and Percy kissed his bride for much longer than was suitable, causing all the Second Sons to chuckle. Percy broke the kiss and looked out sheepishly at those gathered, which included Minta’s aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Westlake.

The clergyman announced the couple by their titles and Adalyn, as hostess, invited everyone to leave the drawing room and move to where the wedding breakfast would be held. Win found himself seated with Owen and Louisa, who caught him up on the particulars of Percy’s and Minta’s romance.

He finished eating and sat back, satisfied to be in the company of his closest friends, men he trusted with his life, both on the battlefield and even now as civilians. The first three wives, who were cousins and affectionately known as the Three Cousins, had taken Minta under their wings. He believed he would grow close to all these wives and, one day, consider them as sisters.

Percy and Minta began circulating in order to speak to their guests. He found himself with Minta.

“I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Your Grace,” she said.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “There will be none of thatYour Grace-ing. I know in this close circle that we are as family and so you should call me Win. It is short for Winston, a name I loathe, though Win will do nicely.”

The red-headed beauty gave him a sweet smile. “Then Win it shall be,” she proclaimed.

He asked her a few questions about her background and learned she had a twin who would be arriving sometime in June from Canada.

“Once your sister arrives, please send word to Woodbridge. I would be happy to come to town for a couple of days and meet her. Will she come to Kingwood once you and Percy leave town or will she live with your aunt and uncle until your parents arrive from Ontario?”

“Although Aunt Phyllis and Uncle West have assumed that Sera will stay with them, I am hoping she will make an extended visit to the country. My aunt and uncle choose to remain in London a good portion of the year. Sera loves nature and animals. I believe she would be happier at Kingwood with me.”

He smiled. “It must have been hard to have been separated from her,” he noted.

The new marchioness nodded solemnly. “Yes, we had never spent a night apart from one another but Sera wanted to spend more time with our mother, who had only recently arrived in Canada. She had been stuck in London during the war with the Americans.”

A shadow crossed Minta’s face. “Sera also had a sweetheart, an English army captain, who perished during the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, one of the fiercest of the war. I think she needed a little time to grieve over his death.”

“Were they betrothed?” he asked, sympathy for Minta’s twin filling him.

“No, there was no formal understanding between them but he had made his intentions clear that he wished to court her upon his return. Though Sera is arriving in the middle of the Season, she does not wish to jump into any events. She will, however, attend the house party which Louisa and Owen are giving. I hope that you will also be in attendance, Win. I would like the opportunity to get to know you better as I have the other Second Sons. I have come to look upon the Three Cousins as my sisters and the Second Sons as the brothers I never had.”

“I do plan to be at the house party,” he informed her. “Adalyn said she will be working on my behalf to find me a wife now that Percy is taken care of.”

He smiled. “Who knows? Perhaps your sister and I will be matched together,” and he chuckled.

Percy joined them and Minta excused herself.

“What do you think of my bride?” his cousin asked.

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