The Dukes' Pact Series by Kate Archer

#1 in The Dukes’ Pact Series—six dukes take dire steps to force their heirs to marry, while those heirs fight just as hard to remain bachelors. A sweet regency romance. Read for Free in Kindle Unlimited! Lord Hampton cursed his luck. Six dukes were in league together to force their sons to marry, and one of them was his own father. The old men had drawn up a formal pact, with severe consequences to their heirs included... more#1 in The Dukes’ Pact Series—six dukes take dire steps to force their heirs to marry, while those heirs fight just as hard to remain bachelors. A sweet regency romance. Read for Free in Kindle Unlimited! Lord Hampton cursed his luck. Six dukes were in league together to force their sons to marry, and one of them was his own father. The old men had drawn up a formal pact, with severe consequences to their heirs included. Edwin is determined to devise a way out of it; he has no intention of marrying any time soon. He’s also desperate to get his name off the ton’s lips. Mamas are circling like hunters round a wounded stag, and every pert little miss is fanning herself.Cassandra Knightsbridge, only daughter of Viscount Trebly, has not had a very usual upbringing. She rides like the devil, leaving her groom far behind...if she bothered to take a groom at all. More alarming, there would be few gentlemen who could best her with a fowling piece. Of course, she knows those particular habits will not find approval in a London drawing room and ought not be mentioned. That is, until a condescending lord provokes her.Might not a tale of a girl who shoots turn society’s attention away from the dukes’ pact? The whispers wind their way through drawing rooms, and the talk about Miss Knightsbridge blooms. Edwin’s love for the lady blooms too, but now he’s made it impossible to win her. less

A Willful Lady and a Daring Lord. Lady Sybil Hayworth might be petite, but her looks are deceiving—she comes from iron-willed stock. Her family claims a winding descent from Margaret Beaufort and they are unwavering in defense of their honor. An insult is easily taken, it invariably leads to a feud, and a Hayworth feud will continue until all parties to it have expired.Richard Smythe, Marquess of Lockwood and heir to the Duke of Gravesley, has the misfortune of becoming one of those enemies... moreA Willful Lady and a Daring Lord. Lady Sybil Hayworth might be petite, but her looks are deceiving—she comes from iron-willed stock. Her family claims a winding descent from Margaret Beaufort and they are unwavering in defense of their honor. An insult is easily taken, it invariably leads to a feud, and a Hayworth feud will continue until all parties to it have expired.Richard Smythe, Marquess of Lockwood and heir to the Duke of Gravesley, has the misfortune of becoming one of those enemies. He knew of the plot against Cassandra Knightsbridge, and that is quite enough for Sybil.Throughout the season, Sybil had enjoyed finding herself led into dinner by the lord, but all that must now come to an end. She will travel to a house party in Yorkshire and she is determined to forget about the gentlemen of the dukes’ pact, especially Lord Lockwood.As her carriage leaves London and rumbles north, Sybil might be wise to remember that Lord Lockwood is a war hero and there is no risk he will not dare. Lord Lockwood, on the other hand, might be wise to understand that it will take more than pushing into Lord Hugh’s house party to win this particular battle. #2 in The Dukes’ Pact Series—six dukes take dire steps to force their heirs to marry, while those heirs fight just as hard to remain bachelors. A sweet regency romance. less

A Steely Lady and a High Stakes Lord Book 3 in The Dukes' Pact Series—six dukes take dire steps to force their heirs to marry, while those heirs fight just as hard to remain bachelors. A sweet regency romance.Lily Farnsworth is a resourceful lady. As well she should be, her father has spent years dragging the family’s estate from the edge of ruin and she’s always had to make do with little. A proper season and the gowns to go with it seem entirely out of reach... moreA Steely Lady and a High Stakes Lord Book 3 in The Dukes' Pact Series—six dukes take dire steps to force their heirs to marry, while those heirs fight just as hard to remain bachelors. A sweet regency romance.Lily Farnsworth is a resourceful lady. As well she should be, her father has spent years dragging the family’s estate from the edge of ruin and she’s always had to make do with little. A proper season and the gowns to go with it seem entirely out of reach. That is, until Lily discovers she has a particular skill at piquet. Pound by pound, she gathers the funds to pay her own way. Her aunt is delighted to play host in her modest London house and squire her niece to parties. Everybody is certain that one season will be enough to see Lily married well and with the means to help her sisters.Hayes Summersby, Viscount Ashworth and heir to the Duke of Dembly, may be in line to inherit a great estate, but that estate has recently tottered on the brink of collapse. He’s only rescued it through his skill at a card table. He’s a renowned gambler and he’s got firm opinions about it—the foremost being that women do not have the steady nerves for large bets. That is, until Miss Farnsworth challenges him in Lady Blakeley’s drawing room.An uneasy acquaintance is born and neither party would much mind never again setting eyes on the other. Hayes may be drawn to Lily’s looks, but he has no intention of marrying just yet, which suits his friends in the dukes’ pact. Lily may be struck by Lord Ashworth’s person, but she does not aim as high as a dukedom, and even if she did, the lord is far too arrogant.Despite their mutual dislike, it will not be so easy to escape one another. As Lady Montague connives, and a certain Mr. Shine schemes, Lily and Hayes will find that their acquaintance has turned from uncomfortable to deadly. Neither of them knows who will win the final hand. less

An audacious lady and an adventurous lord. Miss Penny Darlington, daughter of the famed horseman Lord Mendbridge, has spent the past two seasons happily flirting with Lord Cabot. On the night of the Tudor ball, all of her ideas are crushed. The lord showed her, in no uncertain terms, how inconsequential she really was. She would prefer to nurse her bruised feelings in private, but her father has invited Lord Cabot to stay with them at Newmarket for the races... moreAn audacious lady and an adventurous lord. Miss Penny Darlington, daughter of the famed horseman Lord Mendbridge, has spent the past two seasons happily flirting with Lord Cabot. On the night of the Tudor ball, all of her ideas are crushed. The lord showed her, in no uncertain terms, how inconsequential she really was. She would prefer to nurse her bruised feelings in private, but her father has invited Lord Cabot to stay with them at Newmarket for the races. Penny vows she will never afford the lord another opportunity to sting her.Lord Cabot well knows he allowed his temper to get the better of him. Miss Darlington left the Tudor Ball in near tears, he was shunned by all who overheard him, and even the hostess glowered at him. He’d not meant what he said and has every expectation that Miss Darlington will laugh it off when she discovers him staying at her house in Newmarket. In any case, he has a far more urgent problem to solve—he’s entered his filly in the thousand guinea stakes and does not actually have the stake.As Penny and Lord Cabot circle each other warily and various persons work to keep them apart, a shady moneylender enacts a villainous plot. The lord’s world is about to shatter and only Penny can save him from ruin. On the other hand, she might just allow him to hang himself in a noose of his own making. less

A Clever lady and a Cavalier Lord. Kitty Dell is an intellectual and has made certain scientific discoveries she takes a great amount of pride in. For now, though, she must put her books aside, as she is on her way to London for her launch season. She is doubtful that she will meet a gentleman who will appreciate her mind, but secretly hopeful of it... moreA Clever lady and a Cavalier Lord. Kitty Dell is an intellectual and has made certain scientific discoveries she takes a great amount of pride in. For now, though, she must put her books aside, as she is on her way to London for her launch season. She is doubtful that she will meet a gentleman who will appreciate her mind, but secretly hopeful of it. She has at least the benefit of being introduced to various members of the esteemed Royal Society, and one particular gentleman-member does seem to hold a high regard for her intellect.If Giles Dermot, Marquess of Grayson, had ever heard of the Royal Society, he just as quickly forgot it. He hasn’t forgotten Miss Dell, however. He met the lady at Newmarket and was instantly charmed. He realizes she considers herself bookish, but certainly she will throw over her learned pursuits when the balls and parties commence. As for himself, though he has never aspired to dry scholarship, he does not think a life well-lived without poetry and Shakespeare. In society, he is regarded as the dandiest of the dandies, an unrepentant bachelor, and a shameless flirt. Mamas are well-advised to steer their daughters elsewhere.As Kitty navigates the unfamiliar waters of the season, the Royal Society is threatened with a ruinous mystery. Somebody is set on destroying it and everybody is searching for clues. Including Lord Grayson, as how else is he to win Miss Dell’s scholarly heart? Never were two people less suited. Unless one considers that the gentleman might learn to spend less time on his neckcloth and the lady might learn to spend less time buried in a book. less

An Icy Lady and an Implacable Lord... Charles Battersea, Earl of Dalton and heir to the Duke of Glastonburg, is the last holdout among the six young heirs who have been pressured to marry by way of the Dukes’ Pact. This surprises precisely nobody, especially not himself. He has unaccountably lost his friend, Grayson, to Miss Dell, but if he is forced to tow the bachelorhood line alone, so be it. He has his reasons for avoiding marriage, and they are not what people imagine... moreAn Icy Lady and an Implacable Lord... Charles Battersea, Earl of Dalton and heir to the Duke of Glastonburg, is the last holdout among the six young heirs who have been pressured to marry by way of the Dukes’ Pact. This surprises precisely nobody, especially not himself. He has unaccountably lost his friend, Grayson, to Miss Dell, but if he is forced to tow the bachelorhood line alone, so be it. He has his reasons for avoiding marriage, and they are not what people imagine.Daisy Danworth, daughter of the dreaded Lord Childress, presents a cool and confident face to the world, as would anybody who’d grown up in such a house. It’s been a matter of survival, and she and her companion, Mrs. Jellops, have survived. Daisy has a certain long-held plan in mind for her future—a charming house in Brighton where she can finally be free. Free of society, and especially, free of men.A sudden turn of events tosses everybody’s plans topsy-turvy and throws Daisy and Charles unwillingly together. Through managing servants, murderous lotharios, and a missing crown jewel, the cold Lord Dalton and the frosty Miss Danworth might just begin to thaw. As for their friend, Lord Burke, it seems he’s been harboring a secret all along... less