Duchess Needed (The Dukes of Sin #14)
Prologue
Public Announcement: A NOTICE OF MOST SERIOUS INTENT Published on Behalf of the Duke of Montford
Good day to all who desire to make the most ideal match of the season!
It is with great honor that The Canary submits the following notice for the attention and perusal of any lady of good breeding and sound character.
If you possess such qualities but lack the prospects or preferred calibre of suitors, then look no further!
An esteemed gentleman of considerable rank, fortune and estate – seeks a wife. And it is none other than the magnanimous Duke of Montford himself!
It must be stated plainly that His Grace has no patience for the dance of courtship and would like to avoid the tasking ceremony of finding a suitable bride.
The lady sought is not required to be in love, nor to inspire it.
She need not possess extraordinary beauty, a gift for pianoforte, or a talent for water colours, though none of these things shall be held against her.
What is required is as follows:
The lady must be of reputable family and unblemished character, with the ability to conduct herself with grace in polite society and to bear the responsibilities of a title with appropriate dignity.
She must be in good health, of sensible temperament, and prepared to enter into a union that is, above all else, practical in its design and mutual in its benefit.
She must be willing to provide an heir to the duke’s estate and title, this being the primary and most pressing object of the arrangement, and she must understand that this duty is to be fulfilled with reasonable expedition.
In return, the lady shall receive the following: the title of duchess, a household of comfort and excellent staff, financial security of a kind that shall render any previous difficulties quite thoroughly resolved, and a husband who – while he does not offer poetry or romance – shall treat her with every respect and ensure that she and any children born of the union shall want for nothing as long as they shall live
Ladies of fortune need not apply, as His Grace’s own resources are more than sufficient. Ladies in pursuit of romantic attachment are equally advised to seek their happiness elsewhere, as the Gentleman is not disposed to provide it and would not wish to mislead any woman on that account.
Interested parties of genuine intent are invited to submit a letter of introduction — including particulars of family, circumstance, and their reasons for responding to this notice — to the offices of The Canary, marked for the attention of Mr R.
Lambert, who shall act as intermediary. All correspondence shall be treated with the utmost discretion.
His Grace will review submissions at his earliest convenience and shall make contact with any party he deems a suitable match.
He does not expect a great many replies. He requires only one.
The Canary accepts no responsibility for the particulars of any arrangement entered into as a result of this notice. Readers are advised to proceed with their usual good sense.