The Spares Book One
Colin Lyre, recently inherited 10th Duke of Lincoln, has been told his whole life that he is superfluous to his family.
When he must deal with the responsibility and stress that comes with his new title, he flounders rather badly. He is determined to do his ‘duty’’ and marry an ‘appropriate Duchess.’
Life throws Colin’s plans wayward when he rescues the beautiful Annabelle from a ball. She makes him realize how much better his life could be, but he doesn’t know if he truly deserves such happiness.
Annabelle wants nothing to do with the responsibility of marrying a title. She simply wants to make a suitable match with a gentleman who can support her family.
Colin is Annabelle’s perfect prince until she realizes what life as his wife would be like. However, making the rational decision to stay away from one another is much harder than either of them expects.
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~Excerpt~
“We were so pleased you could make it, Miss Collins.” Victoria replied for them both. She was smiling warmly at Annabelle and Colin felt his teeth clenching again at the light in Victoria’s eyes.
“I heard that my friend managed to give you a small amount of assistance that night, Miss Collins. I hope you are feeling well this evening?” John dropped his voice to make sure that no other person on the balcony could hear him.
Annabelle blushed deeply but instead of avoiding the topic, her gaze held firmly to John’s face and her eyes flashed with something strange.
“He did indeed sir,” Annabelle rushed in before Colin could say anything, lifting her chin a fraction.
“Although, it was no small thing. Without Colin there that night, I’m afraid I would have been packed and on my way back to Somerset today from the horror of it all.” Annabelle lifted her chin again in a defiant manner and Colin could do nothing but stare at her. She was not afraid to thank him publicly for his rescue and she was so incredible when she was defending him.
“Colin?” John asked, one eyebrow raised in the air at his friend. Colin silently cursed, he never had given Annabelle his surname and she certainly did not know his title. Trust John to notice the use of his given name. They both knew that most people called him ‘His Grace’. No one except his mother and a few select friends called him Colin.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Annabelle soon realized her error, turned to Colin and lay a hand on his arm in an intimate gesture that neither Victoria or John missed. Colin grimaced, he had known he was going to regret joining her on the balcony.
“I do not know what else to refer to you as.” Annabelle turned wide eyes to him.
Victoria and John both burst out laughing.
Annabelle looked back at them quickly, startled.
Colin glared at them, they must have thought it an amazing joke. They had found the only woman in London who did not know every detail about him down to his shoe size.
“May I present His Grace, the Duke of Lincoln, Colin Lyre.” John announced to Annabelle with another bow and a great flourish of his right hand.
Annabelle pulled back her hand from his jacket sleeve so quickly it was painful. She took a step back from him with a wounded look in her huge violet eyes.
“I thought...you said...ah... oh my,” Annabelle stuttered stumbling back towards the ballroom and without even a backwards glance, she picked up her skirts and ran from the balcony.
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