“Linden touches every emotion.” —Julia Quinn With One Night in London , the sensational Caroline Linden kicks off a wonderful new historical romance series about three brothers trying to protect their good names and their fortunes while finding true love. Readers of Elizabeth Boyle and Liz Carlyle will not be able to resist this tantalizing tale that has the middle son of a recently deceased English duke hoping to avoid scandal and ruin as he searches for the young wife his late father never divorced…and encounters instead a desperate beauty who needs his help to rescue an endangered child. Caroline Linden is a master of romantic adventure—as the RITA Award-nominated author has already proven with You Only Love Once, For Your Arms Only , and A View to a Kiss —and her ever-growing legion of fans will never forget this thrilling and sensuous One Night in London . A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion. Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordonwin custody of her young niece Georgina, saving thegirl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitorfor that. But when Edward de Lacey, son ofthe powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man whocan do the job, Francesca decides Edwardhimself must champion her case . . . if only she can meltthe dashing lord’s stony heart. Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family.When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership . . .and now, each moment together feeds the flames ofhis scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But whenGeorgina disappears, fate will test them both . . . and leave their love hanging in the balance. Caroline Linden knew from an early age she was a reader, not a writer. She earned a math degree from Harvard University and wrote computer code before turning to fiction. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award, the NJRW Golden Leaf Award, and RWA’s RITA® Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England with her family. Find her online at www.CarolineLinden.com. One Night in London The Truth About the Duke By Caroline Linden Avon Copyright © 2011 Caroline Linden All right reserved. ISBN: 9780062025326 Chapter One he Duke of Durham was dying. It wasn?t spoken of openly, but everyone knew. With quiet steps and whispered instructions the servants were already preparing for the mourning. The solicitor had been sent for. Letters had been urgently dispatched to the duke?s sons, one in the army and one in London, summoning them home. Durham himself knew his death was nigh, and until a sudden attack of heart pains the previous evening, he had been approving the funeral arrangements personally. Edward de Lacey watched his father doze, the gaunt, stooped figure propped up on pillows in the bed as he struggled to breathe. The doctor had assured him there was no hope, and that the end was swiftly approaching. Edward would be very sorry to lose his father, but there was no question that the duke?s time on earth was spent. Durham stirred. ?Charles?? he said faintly. ?Is that you?? Edward moved forward. ?No, sir,? he said quietly. ?Not yet.? ?I must . . . speak . . . to Charles,? his father gasped. ?Need.  .  . to?? He raised one hand and clutched weakly at Edward?s sleeve. ?Get Charles . . . you must.? ?He?s on his way,? promised Edward, although he wasn?t sure of any such thing. He?d filled the letter to his brother with the direst language possible, but that could only have any effect after the letter found its way into Charlie?s hands, and even then he might be too drunk to understand that he must come home immediately, let alone actually make the journey. Edward clasped his father?s hand between his own and expressed his hope, rather than his expectation. ?He will surely be here at any moment.? ?I have to tell him . . .? Durham mumbled fretfully. ?All of you . . .? Edward waited, but his father just closed his eyes, looking anguished. Unwillingly, Edward felt a flicker of petty annoyance; always Charlie, the firstborn, even though he was the son who was always there when the duke wanted him. He shoved it aside. It was unworthy to think such a thought as his father sank closer and closer to mortality. ?Tell me, sir,? he whispered. ?I will tell Charlie in the event . . .? In the event he doesn?t arrive in time. ?I will make sure he knows as soon as he arrives, if you should be asleep then.? ?Yes . . .? came the duke?s soft, slurred voice. ?Sleep. Soon. But not . . . without . . . telling Charles . . .? He sighed, and went so still Edward feared the worst for a moment, until the faint rise of his father?s chest proved him still alive. In the utter quiet of the room a distant drumming sounded. Hooves pounding hard up the gr