“It seems the Duke and Duchess of Danby are to be congratulated…”
“On the birth of a healthy heir?” asked Papa.
Sher opened the letter and inclined it toward Eleanor, allowing her to read it first. “Oh, most definitely. I’m surprised the missive isn’t written in George’s hand.” She looked at the expectant faces, including those of Mr. and Mrs. Weston. “We are to be congratulated because the kingdom’s purse is once again in good standing.”
Though her privateering dynasty had come to an abrupt end upon her marriage, and Mr. Millward was once again a meek little shop manager, Eleanor knew the accolades had little to do with the cessation of her exploits, and far more to do with Danby and his task force’s efforts to halt smuggling and collect duties. Nonetheless, it was nice to be included in the praise. Sher kissed her cheek and his warm breath skimmed her ear as he whispered, “I’m ever so glad you introduced chinoiserie into my London bedchamber, Your Grace.”
Author’s Note
As with all of the books in the Devilish Dukes series, The Duke’s Privateer is purely a work of fiction. I came up with the plot idea after a trip to London and Brighton. In London, I visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they had a lovely chinoiserie display (pronounced sheen-wah-zuh-ree), which happened to be my first introduction to the style. Later, I next encountered it again in the Long Gallery when I visited the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Much of the décor and artifacts I described in the first two chapters of this book were of my observations from that visit. The Royal Pavilion was a palace of George IV, where, before he was regent, he initially spent his time after suffering the public humiliation of being horrendously in debt. In 1787, the prince overcame his financial ruin and embarked on a series of renovations, taking what once was a modest farm home and eventually turning it into the palatial residence seen today.
I remember hearing of George’s debt problems as I stood in front of a Mandarin chancellor, and wondered to myself…what if Prinny, in his effort to satiate his flamboyant tastes yet keep his costs minimal, engaged a privateer to smuggle in these artifacts? He did, indeed, commission the bamboo to be manufactured locally of iron and beechwood, to give his guests the illusion of the Orient without spending the money to ship pieces from Asia. Yes, there, standing in the Long Gallery, the plot for this book came to life. Somehow I had to find a way for an enterprising smuggler and a tenacious, rule-breaking duke to come together at one of George’s renowned, marathon dinners, and find love.
There is one more point of note for those patronesses out there who are sticklers for correct form: When I began writing this book, I was almost certain that a peer's wife becomes the dowager immediately upon widowhood, (if her late husband's son or grandson is inheriting the title). Then I reflected back over some discussions I've come across in Regency circles, where the notion is put forth that the widow only becomes the dowager when the new title holder marries. It makes sense that the dowager designation isn't needed until there are two Lady Titleholders, but in truth we are dealing with a dreaded gray area! According to Debrett's Correct Form, the ever-knowledgeable Chinet.com, and Titles and Forms of Address: A Guide to Their Correct Use. London: A. & C. Black Ltd., Third Edition, 1932, the lady does indeed officially become the dowager immediately upon widowhood. As a matter of custom, however, she is often not referred to as the dowager until it's necessary to avoid confusion, that is, when the titleholder in fact marries.
Because many of my dear readers are quite knowledgeable about peerage titles and usage, I leaned in the official direction when referring to Sherborn’s widowed mama, but I did want to acknowledge the origins of the debate. I hope regardless of where you come down on this particular question, that you enjoyed this story as Sher and Eleanor earned their HEA!
Also by Amy Jarecki
The King’s Outlaws
Highland Warlord
Highland Raider
Highland Beast
Devilish Dukes
The Duke’s Fallen Angel
The Duke’s Untamed Desire
The Duke’s Privateer
Highland Defender
The Valiant Highlander
The Fearless Highlander
The Highlander’s Iron Will
Highland Force
Captured by the Pirate Laird
The Highland Henchman
Beauty and the Barbarian
Return of the Highland Laird
Guardian of Scotland
Rise of a Legend
In the Kingdom’s Name
The Time Traveler’s Christmas
Knight in Highland Armor
A Highland Knight’s Desire
A Highland Knight to Remember
Highland Knight of Rapture
Highland Knight of Dreams
ICE
Hunt for Evil
Body Shot
Mach One
Celtic Fire
Rescued by the Celtic Warrior
Deceived by the Celtic Spy
Lords of the Highlands series:
The Highland Duke
The Highland Commander
The Highland Guardian
The Highland Chieftain
The Highland Renegade
The Highland Earl
The Highland Rogue
The Highland Laird
The Chihuahua Affair
Virtue: A Cruise Dancer Romance
Boy Man Chief
About the Author
Multi-Award winning and Amazon All-Star author, Amy Jarecki likes to grab life, latch on, and reach for the stars. She writes historical romance with various series that span many eras and has 29 books in print. She studies karate at the Bobbly Lawrence studio in Saint George and you’ll often find her hiking Utah’s Santa Clara Hills. Reinventing herself a number of times, Amy sang and danced with the Follies, was a ballet dancer, a plant manager, and an accountant for Arnott’s Biscuits in Australia. After earning her MBA from Heroit-Watt University in Scotland, she dove into the world of historical romance and hasn’t returned. Become a part of her world and learn more about Amy’s books on amyjarecki.com.