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LISA CAMPELL
Historical Romance Author

A Queen of Hearts for the Duke (Extended Epilogue)

 

Christian sat on the patio of the Gladstone estate, watching Daniella play with his niece and nephew. In the last year, his life had changed dramatically. First, he had adjusted to having Verity living at Gladstone Manor, who was now not only his sister in his heart but in name, then, during their first Christmas celebration Jack and Verity had announced they were expecting. In May, Verity had surprised everyone including herself and had given birth to twins, Rose Jasmine Elizabeth Gladstone and, her younger brother by twenty minutes and the next heir to the Gladstone Estate, John Huxley Christian Gladstone. The Gladstone family’s happiness was complete. Now, as they sat outside on the warm September afternoon, the twins were nearly four months old and were doted on by everyone, especially their step-aunt, Daniella.

“No, little John,” Daniella chided, pulling a leaf away from the mouth of her tiny nephew. “He is simply determined to eat everything the garden has to offer!”

“He is so troublesome!” Verity shook her head ruefully, watching as Daniella sat on a picnic blanket on the green lawn with her son.

“Jack was just the same,” Christian’s mother reflected, jiggling baby Rose on her knee and gazing at her granddaughter with adoration. “Not like this petal, who is a delight.”

“You say that now!” Jack called from the lawn. “Wait until she’s twelve years old and sneaking your pearls and gloves, mother!”

“She’ll be welcome to each one.” Mother pressed a kiss to the dark hair of her grand daughter. “She’ll be a beauty, what with Jack’s hair and Verity’s eyes!”

It was true that baby Rose was the image of her mother – her shining almond-shaped eyes the same compelling emerald colour, and her face the same rounded, heart shape – except for her hair, which was as black as the night, like her father.
“Little Lord John has Verity’s hair,” Daniella commented, touching the future Duke of Sussex’s tiny, blonde head.

“Yes,” Jack smiled. “He’ll be tall and fair, and quite the dapper gentleman, I’ll warrant.”

“Just like his uncle,” Daniella laughed, smiling cheekily at Christian. His heart raced at her words, but he managed to keep his excitement out of his voice when he replied, “I hope he shall be better at cricket.”

They all laughed together at that, and Christian watched Daniella’s soft smile, her auburn curls bouncing around her face, with fascination. Since Verity and Daniella had broken free of the manipulative clutches of Martina, Christian’s thoughts had become gradually more and more preoccupied with Lady Law. He enjoyed her company, finding her insightful and clever with a wide range of opinions on everything from estate management to politics. They loved to discuss travel together, and Daniella liked to hear Christian’s descriptions of the different business interests the Gladstone’s held around the world. Recently, however, he had noticed a slight change in their conversations. They had begun to talk jokingly, lightly of places they would travel together in the following year. At local balls, they had taken to dancing three or more partnered dances together, a public sign of intention towards another. Jack had stopped dropping broad, light-hearted hints about him marrying Daniella and had simply adjusted to, every week, bluntly asking what was taking him so long. Christian wasn’t loitering. He had a plan. He thought of the diamond ring he had hidden in his desk drawer in the study. Soon, he thought to himself, soon he would find the right moment to ask Daniella to marry him and they would travel the world as man and wife.

“Hullo there!”

Christian turned to see Verity’s good friend, Lady Shona and her husband, Lord Addington, strolling around the side of the grand house, smiling and waving, accompanied by a maid pushing a perambulator.

“How nice of them to call,” Mother smiled. “I do so love to see the little Lord Addington.”

Shona and Mark’s son had been born at the start of the new year, and the Gladstone’s and Addington’s often liked to spend time together with their young children. However, this time, Christian noticed an additional figure walking along beside Mark and frowned.

“Who is with them?” he asked Verity, leaning towards her.

“Oh, I believe that is Mark’s brother,” she answered casually, waving to her friends. “Captain Daniel Addington.”

“Daniel?”

Christian looked at Daniella. She had stopped playing with baby John and had risen slowly to her feet, one elegant, white hand resting on her throat and a dazed expression in her eyes. Christian was out of his chair in a moment, standing beside her and letting her hand grip his arm tightly.

“What is it?” he asked urgently.

Daniella said nothing as the young man approached. Jack scooped up baby John and crossed to the patio, meeting Mark and Shona with his wife, daughter and mother. Captain Addington diverted from the bustling party of happy couples and babies to walk slowly towards Christian and Daniella.

He stopped in front of them, bowing slowly. He was a handsome young man, almost rakish in his looks. When he stood up tall, his brown eyes were resting on Daniella.

“Hello Daniella,” he smiled. “How good to see you.”

 

 

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  • I loved the book, couldn’t put it down! I bc am intrigued to read the next part of this story! Such wonderful characters and well written romance!

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      • I give this book 41/2 stars! Well written , Good Characters, great story line, I read the whole. Look in one evening it was so interesting. I loved to hate the Marchioness . She was a character made to dislike and distrust .

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  • Wonderful romantic story. Well developed characters and so full of emotions. Loved the happy ending for Verity and Jack. Wish the same for Christian and Daniella. Look forward to their story.

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  • Really enjoyed reading this story it was well put together The extended epilogue has me anxious for your next book to come out to see who she will choose

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  • Great book! Beautiful love story! Love all the twists and turns! Look forward to the next! Congratulations! 🙏🌷

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  • Wonderful! Interesting enough that I was compelled to read it in one sitting. Now I can’t wait for the next story!

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  • This is a beautiful story very well written
    Hopefully .the ending has been left to lead into another similar story with not too long to wait for
    Thank you Lisa
    Chewie

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  • I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story moved along at a good pace with an interesting storyline and characters that you came to care about and were rooting for. I highly recommend this lovely romance.

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  • Intriguing, couldn’t put it down once I started. Can’t wait for more!! Love how you ended with a promise of Daniella & Christian’s story. Can’t wait!

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    • Hello dear Mel, I am happy that you liked this story! Your opinion is very important to me! Stay tuned 😉

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  • This was a wonderful love story of love between Verity and Jack. Now with the birth of the twins their bond is complete. What a trick to end the story leaving us to wonder what becomes of Daniella and Christian. Can’t wait to read this story.

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  • Really enjoyed this book. The story was good with some new twists and appears there might be some twists to come for Christian!! Can’t wait for sequel! Thanks

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  • So happy Verity finally found her true love with Jack. Hope Christian is not disappointed in his love for Daniella.

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    • Hello dear Ann, thank you for reading my book, I am glad you liked it! Let’s see which is Christian’s future 😉

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  • A wonderful regency romance, with twists and turns to a happily ever after. The extended epilogue teases with a cliff hanger to anticipate a sequel.

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  • Awesome, kept my attention throughout the novel. I liked the fun relationship between the 2 brothers and Verity. Now, Im looking forward to reading how Daniel knows Daniella.

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  • Great story but I am impatient to know when the story about Daniella and Christian will be out. I would love to pre-order

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  • What a wonderful story. I loved Verify and Jack. Keep up the good work.
    Can’t wait to read Christian and Daniella’s story.

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  • Loved it, loved it❤️ Queen of Hearts for the Duke was one of the sweetest love storyline I’ve read in a long time. There was just enough honeymoon spice…plus twins.

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  • This was a very good book. It kept m in suspence through the whole story and ended so beautifully. There must be a following story about Danielle.

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  • Loved this tale and I would love to know about Christian and Daniela’s story, will Daniel bring them together or tear them apart?

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    • Dear Carmel thanks for your comment! I am glad that you enjoyed this story. I guess all I can say is…stay tuned!

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  • A journey through the land of loss, greed, mystery and romance. These lightly drawn characters invite the reader to gather round and see how they unravel the twists and turns oh friendships, the uncertainty of love, while a dark shadow of thinly vailed evil lurks in the background.

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  • Loved Verity and Jack’s story.
    I hope we don’t have to wait long for Daniella and Christian’s story.can’t wait for it!

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  • Lisa, this is a lovely story…but it’s not finished!!! Can’t wait for the sequel. And who is Daniel? Sounds like trouble to me.

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    • Dear Joanne, thanks for your comment! I am glad you enjoyed this story… Stay tuned for more 😉

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  • Very interesting my distance family lived at Berkely and Flamborough Castle in the UK so found it very interesting many thanks from Debbie

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  • Perfect characters and love story. Could not lay it down. Well written. Looking forward to Christian and Danielle’s story

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  • Great story. Stayed awake til 1:30am reading and then finished to book in the morning! Loved the cliffhanger in the extended dialogue.

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  • This was a magical love story! I couldn’t put the book down! I was fascinated with Christian who was such a fine brother and friend. Now I can’t wait to see if he gets Daniella’s hand in marriage! Please say their story is ready to read!

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    • Dear Karen, thank you so much for your comment! Daniella’s story is in the making! Stay tuned 😉

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  • So enjoyed reading Verity and Jack’s story and how true love blossomed. Her friendship with Christian was so very dear as well. All the characters were described so well. It was so well written. Loved the Extended Epilogue and the addition of “the twins.” Can’t wait to see what happens with Christian and Daniella.

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  • I loved the story. I felt several emotions and teared up a few times. Patiently waiting for Christian and Danielle’s story.

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  • Well that put a little more excitement in the story. Bring it on with Christian and Daniella. Love this romance story beautifully written.

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  • Story kept me in suspense. Great love story, both characters were ready for that commitment to each other. Surprised by the black widow revelation but certainly a justice. Waiting for Christian and Danelle as well as that interesting diversion of Lord Addington’s brother.

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  • This book was a real shocker I read in a few hours and am happy to say it was a real eye opener! I guess there were many folks in the upper layer of the rich in that time. Still seems to be the pattern of humans . Money , and greed is always thereto tempt wrong doing isn’t it?

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    • Thank you very much for your kind feedback, dear Barbara! I’m delighted that you enjoyed my book!

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  • A wonderful love story with a wonderful ending. Loved reading every word of this love story. Extended epilogue was a nice completion to Veritys and Jacks story. But you’ve left us in suspense wanting to know what Daniel appearance will mean to Christians and Danielas happiness. I can’t wait for the story to be written

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    • Thank you so much for your kind words, dear Nora! I’m very pleased you enjoyed their love story! Stay tuned for more 😉

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  • Oh what happens next, is Daniel going to give Christian a run for his money? I need to know. Please complete the story.

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    • Hello, my dear Carmen! Stay tuned, and you will soon learn Daniella’s and Christian’s story! 😉

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  • A beautiful love story, but apparently not complete! I suppose we stay tuned for further development on Daniella and Christian…….

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    • Thanks for your feedback dear Carl! Verity & Jack’s story is complete… Now about Daniela and Christian, stay tuned! 😉

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  • Enjoyable story, nice cliff-hanger.

    The typos etc were not quite so bad in this as in some other books from this publisher, including others by this author. I notice the publisher’s name is not included anywhere I can find — interesting! They do an appalling job of copy editing and proof reading. I suggest their authors use beta readers beforehand with a particular eye to spelling and grammar, and also insist on the right to proof their own mss.

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    • Thanks for your comment, dear Rosemary! I am a self-published author and I am trying to do the best I can for my supportive readers! I have already changed my editing team and I hope my most recent books will have better editing. 🙂

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  • Loved it !! What a wonderful love story Can’t wait to read about Daniella and Christian and Daniel what a love triangle that can be.

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  • What a wonderful love story between Verity and Jack. Wonderfully written characters, especially the “witchy” Marchioness. Cannot wait to read the story of Christian and Daniella and find out how Daniel fits into their love story.

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    • Hello my dear Kate, thank you for your sweet comment, I am so happy you enjoyed the story!

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  • Loved the book more than I thought I would. Read it a day and would read again. Great story line and strong characters.

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  • I absolutely adored reading your beautiful novel!! It was very compelling & wholeheartedly unique. Bravo to the talented Lisa Campbell!!

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