Black Sheep Series by Mary Kingswood

The duke, his heir and a young lady who looks oddly familiar… just who is sending seemingly random strangers to the duke? Mr Richard Merrington, country gentleman, has lived in the shadow of the Duke of Brinshire for his whole life. Now the duke’s last son has died and Richard is summoned to Staineybank to take his place as the duke’s heir. His comfortable life of obscurity is at an end, and his first duty is to marry... moreThe duke, his heir and a young lady who looks oddly familiar… just who is sending seemingly random strangers to the duke? Mr Richard Merrington, country gentleman, has lived in the shadow of the Duke of Brinshire for his whole life. Now the duke’s last son has died and Richard is summoned to Staineybank to take his place as the duke’s heir. His comfortable life of obscurity is at an end, and his first duty is to marry. The noble ladies on offer leave him cold, so what is he to do? Miss Rowena Holt has been left impoverished by her father’s death, and must seek work as a governess or companion. It’s a dispiriting prospect, but when a letter arrives inviting her to the Duke of Brinshire’s house, it seems her fortunes have taken a turn for the better. But when she arrives, the residents react with shock…. This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Prequel to a 6 book series. less

The duke, a struggling architect and a lady who loves to dance… but just who is sending seemingly random strangers to the duke? At eight and twenty, Miss Sophia Merrington is the youngest of four sisters, not one of whom has yet found a husband. When her brother becomes heir to the Duke of Brinshire and moves to the vast country house of Staineybank, Sophia is the only one not happy to be there... moreThe duke, a struggling architect and a lady who loves to dance… but just who is sending seemingly random strangers to the duke? At eight and twenty, Miss Sophia Merrington is the youngest of four sisters, not one of whom has yet found a husband. When her brother becomes heir to the Duke of Brinshire and moves to the vast country house of Staineybank, Sophia is the only one not happy to be there. What is the point of living in such a grand house when there is no dancing to be had? A chance invitation opens up all sorts of possibilities, but can she seize the opportunity and find herself a husband at long last? Or is she doomed to be an unmarriageable spinster? The Honourable Simon Payne is estranged from most of his family, with his half-sister, Lady Juliet, his only support. Struggling to make his way as an architect, but finding no success, he’s thrilled to receive an invitation to design an orangery for the Duke of Brinshire’s house. But when he arrives at Staineybank, he’s not expected and there is a rival architect already working on the design. Who has sent him there, and why? This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 1 of a 6 book series. less

The duke, his secretary, the widowed companion and the ambitious painter… but just who is sending seemingly random strangers to the duke? Mr James Hammond is happy to be employed by the Duke of Brinshire as his secretary, but it’s fairly dull at Staineybank, and there’s not much in the future to look forward to, and now the duke’s new heir has arrived, bringing an army of female relations to disrupt this quiet life... moreThe duke, his secretary, the widowed companion and the ambitious painter… but just who is sending seemingly random strangers to the duke? Mr James Hammond is happy to be employed by the Duke of Brinshire as his secretary, but it’s fairly dull at Staineybank, and there’s not much in the future to look forward to, and now the duke’s new heir has arrived, bringing an army of female relations to disrupt this quiet life. Mrs Henry Hastings came to Staineybank as companion to the new heir’s wife, but now that Rowena is married and with a new baby to dote on, Georgie isn’t needed so much. She’s making herself useful helping James with his work, and finds him a sympathetic listener, but sometimes a little sympathy can have disastrous consequences. Mr Lance Chamberlain has reached the pinnacle of his ambitions — he’s made both his fortune and his reputation as a portrait painter, and he’s betrothed to the daughter of a marquess. What more is there to aspire to? But a letter inviting him to Staineybank to paint the heir’s wife leads him into a bewildering position — he’s not expected, and although the duke is welcoming, his secretary asks rather too many questions. And perhaps his life isn’t as settled as he’d thought…. This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 2 of a 6 book series. less