After seven long years in Devon, Lady Maud Worlington returns to London to reclaim life on her own terms, but a nefarious shadow and the prospect of financial ruin dog her steps. An impulsive and unforgettable kiss under the mistletoe creates a connection with Geoffrey, the handsome, young Duke of Tilbury. Yet as pleasant as it is to have a suitor, Maud is not sure how a boy of one-and-twenty can prove an equal partner in life and the equal of all the forces mounted against her.
The Duke of Tilbury considers himself as adept at managing matters as he is at swordplay, but his beautiful new acquaintance Lady Worlington has other ideas about how to manage her complicated life. Intrigued by their stolen kiss, Geoffrey pursues Lady Worlington’s affections, only to be foiled by the lady’s own doubts, by rivals for her hand, and by a sudden death that affects both their families. When Jacob Pevensey, the investigator from Bow Street enters the scene, the duke becomes a prime suspect in the murder case. Truths are unearthed that Geoffrey would rather keep hidden, and the twelve days of Christmas race toward a perilous end.
This Regency novel of romantic suspense was inspired by the medieval events surrounding the sinking of the White Ship in 1120. It is the third novel in the Pevensey Mysteries but can be read with enjoyment as a standalone Christmas novel.
Praise for A Duel for Christmas
“…authentic and exquisite.” – Heidi Ashworth, author of the Lord Trevelin Mysteries
“A treat for the history lover and the mystery lover and especially those who love both…. The book has all the welcome elements of a regency while shot through with refreshing honesty.” – Sandra Byrd, author of Lady of a Thousand Treasures
“Blending a witty, charming Regency romance with a whodunit, this sparkling, polished tale…thrums with precise detail and period speech. …One needn’t have read the two previous Pevensey books to enjoy this accomplished holiday romance and its dash of mayhem.” – The Historical Novel Society
Rosanne E. Lortz 