A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,129

man of her dreams, someone as wonderful as Christian. “I don’t regret my supposed marriage to your half brother anymore. Because of him, I found you.”

Christian cupped her face with his hands. “And I, you, because of him. It almost … but not quite, makes me want to claim him as my brother.”

She nodded and squeezed him tight.

“I’m the richer for it,” he said.

He bent down to kiss her, and Kat closed her eyes, loving the feel of his arms around her. She’d never grow tired of his kisses or the wondrous man himself. When their lips touched, a spontaneous combustion of need and want swirled around them. It always happened when they became lost in each other’s arms because they loved each other.

Forever.

Author’s Note

I’m sure you’re wondering how Meri escaped from being charged with bigamy … or trigamy as Katherine called it. It wasn’t as difficult as you might think.

Between 1750 and 1815, there were one hundred and seventy-nine cases filed for bigamy proceedings in the Old Bailey, London’s Central Criminal Court. Wives and husbands alike were brought up on charges for these crimes. When convicted, the wayward spouse faced a variety of punishments including branding on the thumb, incarceration, transportation, and fines.

Even though marriages were recorded in the parish record books and witnesses were required to validate the ceremony, there simply wasn’t a central marriage license registry. A spouse like Meriwether could disappear and then find another to join him in wedded bliss.

In 1823, a stopgap measure was mandated to keep some type of permanent records of who was legally shacking up with whom. Every marriage had to be entered into the parish register, and a copy of every page had to be sent to the bishop assigned to the parish. Thus, we have the makings of a central department for the recording of valid, certified marriages across the country. In 1837, a civil registry of marriages was established in England and Wales called the General Register Office.

I like to think that Katherine and Christian were quite happy that Meri found a way to skirt around such a bothersome legal requirement of sticking with only one spouse at a time.

Read on for an excerpt from

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

BY JANNA MACGREGOR

Coming soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

“Shall I call a doctor? Where are you hurt?” Constance knelt on her knees and lightly placed her hand over his. The sounds of his fall and the accompanying groans of pain still seemed to resonate around her.

Jonathan’s eyes jerked open at her touch.

“Come now. I lied to your valet for you. I said a trunk of my shoes fell. Please don’t tell me you’re uncomfortable with me by your side touching you.”

For an eternity, he didn’t say a word, but stared at her. Without taking her hand away from his, he continued to rub his leg. “It’s not that.”

“What is it, then?”

His voice lowered, and she had to lean toward him to hear. “Very few have seen the gnarled flesh of my right leg. If you faint at the sight, I can’t pick you up.”

“I won’t faint,” she assured him.

“It’s happened before with others,” he argued.

“I’m not that type of person, nor do I faint at the sign of blood.” She smiled slightly and was rewarded for her efforts when a grin tugged at his lips. “Katherine’s companion is renowned for her knowledge of herbs as well as gifted with medicines. She sent a recipe, and I made a salve for you to help with the pain.”

“You made it for me?” he asked.

She nodded. “Mrs. Walmer was quite accommodating.”

“My cook allowed you into her kitchen.” He ran a hand down his face as if trying to reconcile the fact. “I shouldn’t be surprised. You could charm a badger to share his burrow.” He shifted an inch in the chair, his abrupt exhale ragged.

The poor man was obviously in a great deal of discomfort. “Let me get it. It can’t hurt.”

For a moment, she thought he was going to refuse. Finally, he nodded.

After quickly checking that her daughter Aurelia was fast asleep in room next door, she picked up the salve, then returned to Jonathan’s side.

She knelt again at his feet. She scooted closer until she was practically between his legs. He widened his stance slightly. The subtle movement released the scent of cedar soap. The rich fragrance melded with his own, a potent and virile male who happened to be in front of her.

Constance bent her head, pretending all her concentration was centered on