Claimed by the Duke Next Door: a Spicy First-time Victorian Novella Ladybirds – Book

“That felt good.” She giggled. “Do it again. Do it many more agains.”And in a split second, he found himself falling in love with her all over again. His sassy girl, so prickly in public but, in private, melting for him. And all his.Bowled over at her family’s sudden plummet into poverty, Miss Laurentia Lavenlock concocts a daring scheme to auction her purity. Her friend Lilah Hornethorn will set the arrangements and vet the bidders as gentlemen, to maintain discretion. An excellent plan, until her mother imposes a new condition: Laurentia must enlist the protection of Barnabas Hoyt for the duration.Barnabas Hoyt, named heir to the Duke of Reedley, erstwhile friend of her brother, and utter vexation. He put eels in her boots for years! He never smiles when he could sneer! How could he possibly defend her?Except in truth it is not hate that drives him to perversity, but love. Ten years of unrequited, unspoken, and bottled up love. And now the dam within him breaks, and he cares not if she is ruined.Claimed by the Duke Next Door is a 31,000-word novella about a venturesome daughter of a marquess who finds her world and herself veritably upended by the dominant duke next door. He has been besotted for ten long years, so be prepared for pronounced pining and angst, as well as premature release, firm-handed discipline, praise kink, and a gushy HEA.