Married To A Duke

This book might not be as dark as my other books but please be prepared for sensitive content. This book is based on an arranged marriage. If you're ready to fall in love with these two stubborn characters, who has both suffered losses and betrayals, then welcome aboard. Hopefully you'll love the story. Hugs and smiles. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author. Married To A Duke © A. Gupta 2021. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.  . Part One Prologue Amelie Sixteen years old He was cute. I had seen him around the house. I think he was our gardener’s son. The other day when I was out by the pool, reading my new historical romance book that my best friend, Summer, had given me, he had waved at me and smiled. Now, I looked around the big hall as I sneaked past the guards that were  standing outside my father’s study. I just wanted to meet him and make him my friend. And then like Kat and Summer I’d have a boy friend too. They both talked about their crushes. I was the only one who felt left out because I didn’t have anyone to crush on. Because I was afraid, as my father had strictly told me not to talk to boys. Or he’d get angry and when he gets angry… it’s not a good thing. I peeked outside and saw him leaning against a tree. With a smile pasted all over my face I dashed through the cobbled driveway and came to stand in front of him. “Hi…” I said. “Hey…” He replied back. And that’s how Adam and I became friends. Our friendship was pure, unadulterated friendship where we shared our secrets, giggled at each other’s mistakes and wiped each other’s tears when we’d remember our mothers. Because like mine his mother was also dead, but unlike me his mother didn’t commit suicide. Eighteen years old “Why are you crying?” Adam asked as he came to sit beside me behind the geometrical designs the shrubs was cut in. “My best friend… Summer. She is gone.” I hiccupped as I spoke. “Where did she go?” He questioned, his fingers interweaving with mine. “I don’t know… she’s just gone.” I cried, more tears trailing down my cheeks. “Kat and I went to her home but there was no one there.” “Its okay, maybe she just went on a vacation or something.” He tried to reassure me. I shook my head. “No.” I swàllowed as I remembered the men wandering around my friend’s home. “There were men in her house. So many of them. And him.” “Who?” “The king. Gabriel Wolfe.” I whispered. He was the most dangerous man here, he practically owned New Orleans and everyone in it, even I had seen my father being afraid of him. “I think my best friend is in trouble. He looked angry, the king.” “Then, isn’t it a good thing that she ran away?” Adam questioned as he put his arm around me trying to comfort me. “I don’t know. She always had a crush on him and I thought he liked her back.” I said, wiping my tears and shifting closer to him. I liked Adam. He didn’t ever shout at me like my father does and he lets me cry and wipes my tears, unlike father who only gets more angry if I cry. I looked up at him and asked, “Do you like me?” He trailed a finger down my cheek as he said, “You know, I do. I more than like you.” I looked down feeling shy as heat creeped up on my face. “I like you too.” I said. “Hey…” He whispered, his fingers nudging my chin up and when I met his eyes, they were black and weren’t beautiful but they were kind and I liked that. “I want to kiss you…” I licked my lips at that and watched as he closed his eyes. “Then, do.” I said. And he did. He kissed me softly. He lips brushing mine. Once. Twice. And then it ended. I frowned. “You didn’t like it?” He asked. I quickly shook my head and smiled. “I did.” Twenty years old… “I missed you.” I said as I hugged him tight. “I only went for a week…” Adam chuckled kissing my forehead. He had gone to visit his grandmother and I had missed him so much as I didn’t have anything to distract myself from all the tense meetings my father was suddenly becoming a part of. “And you have no idea what happened in these last two days…” I started to tell him everything about my best friend, Summer and her tyrant King, Gabriel Wolfe now her husband. “They were kidnàpped! But it wasn’t Gabriel, it was Raphael, his twin brother!” “Wait. He has a twin? Where was he hiding all this time?” He asked, his brows drew in concentration. “In London. They have a family home there, from what I know they are very rich and he’s a duke.” I said, excitement tinging my words. “A duke.” He whispered as if in awe, just like the way I had felt. “What are you doing?” He asked just as I stood on tiptoes to kiss him. I frowned. “I am kissing you.” Cupping his face between my hands I said, “I don’t want to wait anymore, Adam. I have realised life is too short, just look at my best friend. She is lucky that she’s alive.” He smiled and pecked my lips as he said, “But I don’t want to rush it. I want it to be perfect. It’s your first time, after all.” I lowered my lashes as shyness overtook me. “We will wait till your twenty first birthday. Okay?” I nodded, it wasn’t far away, my birthday. Only three months away. I could wait for three months. Will update soon... Tomorrow at IST 10 in the evening. Take care, be happy!