Excerpt: When a Duke Pursues a Lady

April 26, 2018

An innocent woman.
A loyal agent to the Crown.
A path of deception that tests the bonds of love.

WHEN A DUKE PURSUES A LADY

Tabetha Waite

Series: Ways of Love Book 3
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Etopia Press
Publication Date: January 10, 2018

After three years trapped in an abusive and loveless marriage, Lyra Coventry has been arrested for the murder of her husband, the Earl of Weston. Although she's innocent of the crime, she has no one to turn to for help, until Alister Ayles, the Duke of Albright, comes forward to offer his aid. The handsome duke takes her into his custody, saving her from a jail cell. But Lyra doesn't suspect Alister's ulterior motive—to prove her guilty of treason—as she slowly loses her heart to a man who is far more than he seems...

Alister Ayles leads a secret life. To the ton, he is a dullard, the subject of ridicule. But as a highly respected agent for the Crown, he's discovered a higher purpose by protecting his country. Now he's faced with his toughest investigation to date, uncovering a plot against the Crown...and discovering whether or not Lyra, the woman he let slip through his fingers years ago, is a traitor. Nothing is as it seems, and as the plot unravels, the dangers to them increase. He struggles to keep his feelings for her contained, but when it comes down to a test of loyalty, will he stand strong, or fall prey to his desires?

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Excerpt

“Why are you here now, Alister?” she asked softly.

“I came back because—” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I can see now that it was a mistake. I’ll leave.”

He was almost to the door before she found her voice. “Wait.”

He paused, but he didn’t turn to face her.

Lyra bit her lower lip. It was obvious by the rigid way he held himself that strong emotions were passing through him.

In a sort of hypnotic trance, as if his very presence drew her to his side, Lyra slowly reached out and placed her hands on his broad shoulders. Even through all the layers of his clothes, she felt his sharp intake of breath.

When Alister spoke, his voice was harsh. “What is it?”

Lyra swallowed. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

He finally turned around. As if he couldn’t stop himself, he cupped her cheek in his palm. His hand shook, but he didn’t seem to realize it. “What are you saying?”

“Stay with me.”

About Tabetha Waite

Tabetha grew up in a small town in Missouri with big dreams of being a published author after her fourth grade teacher said she liked reading her stories. She began her journey by putting pen to paper writing anything from fantasy to mystery. It wasn’t until she started high school that her grandmother introduced her to the classic, Gothic novels. As her love of romance grew to encompass Harlequins, it wasn’t until she read “Midnight Bride” by Kathleen Drymon did she develop a fascination for historical England. After discovering the allure of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, she was hooked!

It wasn’t until 30 years and 63 rejections later that her debut novel, “Why the Earl is After the Girl,” the first book in her Ways of Love series was picked up for publication in July 2016 to critical acclaim, winning the 2017 Best Indie Book Award in Romance and Second Place in the Feathered Quill Book Award in Romance for 2018. It was initially released as an ebook and later in paperback in February of 2017. Her second book, “Where the Viscount Met His Match,” released on ebook in June 2017 and in paperback in April of 2018. Her third novel, “When a Duke Pursues a Lady,” released on ebook in January 2018.

When she’s not writing, Tabetha is reading as true bookworms do, checking out any flea market, antique mall, or doll show she comes across, and working as a lunch attendant at the local community college. She is a certified PAN member of the RWA and is a proud supporter of Passionflix.

Official website: http://authortabethawaite.wixsite.com/romance

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