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About The Truth About Princesses and Dukes by Bianca Blythe
Title: The Truth About Princesses and Dukes
Author: Bianca Blythe
Series: The Duke Hunters Club #6
Genre: Historical Romance
Princess Aria has been exchanging letters with the most marvelous man in the world. Perhaps her true love is somewhat aged, and perhaps she didn’t feel fireworks when they met briefly at a ball, but she is certain now that there is no man as wonderful as the Duke of Framingham. She is overjoyed when he proposes marriage.
When Rupert’s cousin, an elderly duke, tells him he’s fallen in love with a beautiful woman and needs someone to write letters on his behalf, Rupert reluctantly agrees. His cousin claims he is eager to wed her. On his wedding day, Rupert learns that the duke plans to toss her off his balcony so he can marry his mistress. The duke just wants the princess’s money, and Rupert knows he has to rescue her.
Princess Aria is astonished when she is kidnapped by a young man. She’s in love with the duke—after all, he’s sent her such wonderful letters for weeks. Soon, though, they are on the run together to London. If only Rupert were the man who’d sent her such lovely letters.
Excerpt from The Truth About Princesses and Dukes
© 2021
Bianca Blythe
The place didn’t look like a murderer’s lair. It looked cute and adorable, like some architect had designed it after reading children’s tales for a year. Rose bushes lined the outside of the house, and she inhaled their sweet floral scent and reached out to touch a petal.
Her hand snagged against a thorn, and she withdrew her hand hastily. The calm she’d felt was once again replaced by unease. It was impossible to trust a man who’d kidnapped her, no matter how kind he might appear.
Her kidnapper unlocked the door, and she entered the cottage. He closed the door, then removed her gag. “I doubt anyone could hear you if you screamed.”
“Is that supposed to calm me?”
“It’s a fact.”
Galileo perked up his ears and began to bark. She tightened her grip on him. “He senses that you’re dangerous.”
“He senses we’re going to have company.”
Aria trembled. She didn’t need more people to threaten her. Perhaps Demon had been right all along. Her bodyguard had been adamant that danger was always lurking, and she’d always scoffed, seeing his presence as a hindrance to relaxation rather than as a happy fact that could ease her worries.
She’d been wrong.
The very first time he’d given her space—on her wedding night, she’d been kidnapped.
She hoped he would be notified of her disappearance soon. The duke would have gone to visit her bedroom. The alarm should be raised by now. Certainly the duke’s men and her bodyguard were scouring the countryside for her now, and if the duke suspected his cousin was behind her disappearance, they might even come here soon.
She inhaled. It would be fine. It had to be.
Galileo’s barks became more ferocious, and she soothed him and stroked his back.
“The dog makes things difficult,” her kidnapper said. “I didn’t know you had one.”
“My father gifted me him for my wedding and new life.”
“How splendid,” her kidnapper said faintly.
She stared at him. “Do you not like dogs?”
“I do,” her kidnapper said. “I just know someone else who might not. I suggest you hold onto him tightly.”
Her kidnapper left the room, and Aria scrutinized her surroundings. The place didn’t seem nefarious. Lace curtains, designed more to bring in life than to hide dubious activities from the world, lined the windows. The walls were papered a pretty pale blue, and floral-patterned pillows lay languidly on fluffy armchairs. The cottage lacked the splendors of the castle. The ceilings were low and cozy, but even though the cottage was cold, she was certain it normally would be a quite pleasant location.
Footsteps headed toward her, and too late she remembered that she should have used this opportunity to grab a vase or pick up a chair to toss at her abductor. Her heartbeat quickened, she glanced around the room—and the door opened.
In the next moment, her kidnapper reappeared. He was carrying something white in his arms. Something that caused Galileo’s barks to grow more agitated. Something that looked curiously fluffy.
She stared. “Is that a cat?”
Her kidnapper beamed. “Indeed.”
“What are you doing with it?” “Bringing it, of course,” he said lightly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world for kidnappers to travel with their pets. “We’ll be gone for a while.”
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About Bianca Blythe
Born in Texas, Bianca Blythe spent four years in England. She worked in a fifteenth-century castle, though sadly that didn’t actually involve spotting dukes and earls strutting about in Hessians.
She credits British weather for forcing her into a library, where she discovered her first Julia Quinn novel. She remains deeply grateful for blustery downpours.
After meeting her husband in another library, she moved with him to sunny California, though on occasion she still dreams of the English seaside, scones with clotted cream, and sheep-filled pastures. For now, she visits them in her books.
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