The Duchess Deal

(Run Time: approx. 8 hours)

When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules.

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury's to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne'er-do-wells by night. Now there's a new item on the list. He needs an heir, which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar's daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she'll do.

His terms are simple:

• They will be husband and wife by night only.
• No lights, no kissing.
• No questions about his battle scars.
• Last, and most importantly, Once she's pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:

• They will have dinner together every evening.
• With conversation.
• And unlimited teasing.
• Last, and most importantly, once she's seen the man beneath the scars, he can't stop her from falling in love

Tessa Dare (Author) is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty historical romances.

Mixing wit, sensuality, and emotion, Tessa writes Regency-set romance novels that feel relatable to modern readers. With her bestselling Spindle Cove, Castles Ever After, and Girl Meets Duke series, she has had great fun creating heroines who defy the conventions of their time—engaging in “unladylike” pursuits that range from paleontology to beer-making — and dreaming up the strong-willed, sexy heroes who find their hearts ensnared by them.

A librarian by training and a book lover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.

Mary Jane Wells (Narrator) trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, doing theatre in the UK and Europe for 12 years prior to her long-term love affair with the US. She is an award-winning actor and writer who has performed at The Mark Taper Forum with an adaptation of French classic, The Red Balloon, returning later with a solo show, Martha, which toured to the Annenberg Centre, the Kennedy Center, the New Victory on Broadway, and at an international showcase in Philadelphia. She has toured extensively with the Smithsonian and Honolulu Theatre.

Her next new solo show, The Good Girl, is a recent recipient of sponsorship. She partners with Author’s Republic, Capital Theatres and The Kennedy Center from the very beginning — for what she hopes will be an irreverently hilarious new show for those who care for and live with Dementia.

It is her wildest dream to serve with storytelling and create appropriate social impact where possible. maryjanewells.org