Wayward Dukes' Alliance Series by Sandra Sookoo, Wayward Dukes

Be careful what you wish for; it may just come true.Miss Hannah Masterson is hopelessly on the shelf. Well past the first and second blooms of youth, and possessed of a curvaceous figure, she has grown weary of being bedeviled by her family about when she’ll wed. At her thirtieth birthday dinner, she blurts out something she can’t take back—the Duke of Steppingford has fallen madly in love with her and that they’ll be married within the next few months... moreBe careful what you wish for; it may just come true.Miss Hannah Masterson is hopelessly on the shelf. Well past the first and second blooms of youth, and possessed of a curvaceous figure, she has grown weary of being bedeviled by her family about when she’ll wed. At her thirtieth birthday dinner, she blurts out something she can’t take back—the Duke of Steppingford has fallen madly in love with her and that they’ll be married within the next few months. No one need know she’s invented the bit of fiction.Giles Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Steppingford, has just returned to England from India. While reading the paper at breakfast, he spies an announcement telling the world of his engagement… to a woman fifteen years his junior he’s never met. Wanting to know who dared to put forth such gammon, he vows to crash his engagement ball, being held in a day’s time, and he will put Miss Masterson in her place with a dressing down she won’t soon forget.However, the moment the duke sets eyes on his fake fiancé and hears her explanation for the bit of fiction, he sympathizes, but when he seals their fate with a kiss, everything changes. Now that Hannah’s make-believe duke has suddenly materialized, he’s keen to go along with the farce… and she isn’t. Through a busy week of forced proximity, the pair discover they have more in common than they thought, but can a no-name miss truly land a duke? Only they can decide. less

With the death of his uncle, Henry Simpson, Duke of Eldridge, became guardian of his five female cousins. Given that they were raised by a strict vicar who allowed them no freedom whatsoever and forced pious prayer while warning that London was full of sin, Eldridge expected that they would wish to quickly wed and settle into stable domesticity after experiencing one Season. At least that was his hope until they fell under the influence of a most independent lady... moreWith the death of his uncle, Henry Simpson, Duke of Eldridge, became guardian of his five female cousins. Given that they were raised by a strict vicar who allowed them no freedom whatsoever and forced pious prayer while warning that London was full of sin, Eldridge expected that they would wish to quickly wed and settle into stable domesticity after experiencing one Season. At least that was his hope until they fell under the influence of a most independent lady.Having reached her majority, and able to enjoy certain freedoms that are only allotted spinsters, Lady Penelope Johansen is in no hurry to wed. She has also learned much in her five and twenty years and when she meets the five sheltered sisters, new to London and enjoying their first Season, Penelope takes it upon herself to make certain they know which rules to follow, which rakes to avoid, and how to enjoy their first Season to the fullest. All would work out perfectly if not for their overbearing guardian.If only Lady Penelope would assist in seeing his cousins married instead of encouraging independence, Henry would welcome her interference. Instead, her presence is a torment and she does not like him very much. less