Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) by Jessie Bennett

want you to lie to me,” I repeated.
    “No,” he said, pulling me in tighter against his chest. “Say my name again. From the moment I heard you moan it in the library, I haven't been able to get that sound out of my head.”
    I blushed. He did mean it. He loved me too. A wave of emotions flowed through me as I settled into the realization that somehow I had found my one . I stood on my toes and kissed him the way I had yearned to, but never thought I would.
    “Mmmm, Mary, please. Say it,” he whispered.
    “You are quite the demanding Duke,” I answered jokingly.
    “And you are quite the stubborn Duchess,” he retorted. “Say it,” he whispered again. This time he was kissing the soft skin just behind my ear. It felt so good when he began to trail kisses down my neck.
    “I suppose you will just have to find a way to make me then,” I replied breathlessly.
    I could feel his soft chuckle against my throat. He lifted his head and kissed me on the nose. He eyed me with that wicked gleam. “Anything for you, my love.”

    END OF BOOK 1

THE LADY’S TORN HEART - SERIES #2

    TEASER CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 1

    REUNION WITH FAMILY

“To wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect.” - Jane Austen
    * * *
    I fussed with the wrinkles in my dress as I finally approached Mary’s home. She had been Duchess of Gaffton for the past two years. I had rarely seen her during that time. It was understandable, for not only was she a new wife, but also a new mistress to a home bigger than I think any of us Withington daughters could have expected for ourselves.
    I was anxious to see her again. Mary had been my closest sister, and her leaving had been a hard reminder to me that soon we would all go our separate ways. I had convinced my mother to allow me to spend the season with her in the country rather than go to the townhouse with the rest of the family. She wasn’t happy about it. It was a season wasted in her mind.
    Mary needed me now, though. She was only weeks away from the birth of her first child. She could use the companionship, and in all honesty, I could use the time away from our mother.
    Finally, the coach pulled up to the front of Mary’s vast estate. It was an older home with ivy climbing its gray stone walls. It was beautiful in my eyes. There was all the servants and Mary out to meet me. It was a little harder than expected to get out of the coach. I hadn’t realized that sitting for so long had stiffened my joints.
    I had no sooner left the coach before finding myself wrapped in my sister's arms. Tears brimmed in our eyes as we embraced each other. It had been far too long.
    “Mary, look at you!” I exclaimed, pulling away from her.
    I couldn’t tell what the bigger change was in her appearance, the fine, costly dress or her round belly. Mary had never been one for fine things, but I guess being a Duchess did that to you. I rubbed her belly affectionately.
    “Hello, sweet little one. I am hoping you will be a Juliette.”
    “Don’t have your heart set on it,” a male voice called from behind Mary. I stood to see the Duke of Gaffton coming down the front steps with Clarisse huffing at his heels.
    Mary rolled her eyes. “Gaffton is sure that it’s going to be a boy.”
    Gaffton took my hand and kissed it affectionately.
    “Pleasure to see you again, Your Grace,” I said with a small curtsey.
    “Aw, dash it all. We are all family here.” He put his arm lovingly around his wife. “And it is going to be a boy, I just know it.” He winked down at her.
    In the short time I had known Gaffton before their marriage, he had been stiff and formal; he was a different man now. The union had settled well with him.
    “Come now, Julia,” Mary waved me into the house. “Let us have a seat in the drawing room and you can tell me all about your trip.”
    “There is not much to tell. I sat for a really long time.”
    “Are you sure you don't want to lie down and rest?” Gaffton asked of his wife in concern. “You