1
London, October 1817
Callum Davis, Duke of Stratton, admired the book on his parlor table. After months of blood, sweat, and a few tears, the novel he and his friends, Anthony Gibbs, the Duke of Westcliffe and Brody Evans, the Duke of Corwin, had written together, was in front of him. Published. Ready for sale.
Printed with the assistance of Brody’s wife, Harriet, and expertly bound by Anthony’s wife, Ada, it truly was a joint effort. It was a wonderful day, despite the rain, and it was time for them to celebrate their achievement together.
“Can you believe we actually did it?” Brody asked while Callum poured them each a glass of champagne. He glanced at Brody in time to see him pick upSeductive Scandaland turn it over between his hands. “I’m still in awe.”
“It does feel a bit like a dream,” Anthony said. “Just imagine all the people who will read it and all the homes it will fill.”
“It’s exciting,” Callum said. He began distributing the glasses. “And terrifying.”
“You’ve nothing to worry about,” Ada said.
She’d been living above her uncle’s bookshop when she and Anthony met. It was she who’d sparked the idea of the three men writing a romance novel in order to improve their incomes.
Like Anthony and Brody, Callum had wasted most of his fortune on various amusements as a means by which to distract himself from the loss of his father. He’d not been ready to go on without him. Papa hadn’t been an old man. He should have lived several decades more and probably would have, had it not been for the accident that killed not only him but Anthony’s and Brody’s fathers as well.
A tragic occurrence, caused by an explosion inside a barn.
Callum tightened his hold on his glass and tried not to think of that awful day. Instead, he chose to focus on what he and his friends had accomplished. It was no small thing. “To romance and the marvelous success we hope it provides.”
“Hear, hear,” the others replied.
“I hope it sells a million copies,” Harriet said.
Ada smirked. “All of us do, although that would set something of a record. I’m thinking a thousand copies to start would be impressive.”
“Can it be done?” Brody asked.
“Having written a romance novel with my three friends and seeing it printed and bound, I feel like anything’s possible,” Callum remarked. He sipped his champagne, then jutted his glass toward the others. “Your marriages are further proof.”
Both men had married women who’d lacked dowries and connections. Brody had even believed his wife to be a young man when he first met her – until he’d discovered her true identity.
Ada smiled at her husband. “He’s not wrong.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Anthony murmured, dropping a quick kiss to her cheek.
“All we need to do now is see you happily settled,” Brody remarked, nodding at Callum.
Callum coughed. “Let’s focus on the book, shall we.”
“Itwouldmake dinner parties a great deal simpler,” Harriet said. “Even numbers make for a far more harmonious table setting.”
“The book, if you’ll recall,” Callum said, attempting to get their minds away from the idea of him following in their footsteps any time soon. “We probably ought to make some sort of plan to promote it.”
“We could place advertisements in the papers,” Brody suggested.
“I’ve also been toying with the idea of having a card dropped off at various homes the day it releases,” Harriet said. “It could have the title and price on one side with a short story outline on the other.”
“I like that,” Callum said. He gestured for his friends to sit before lowering himself to one of the armchairs. “It might even suggest some of the bookshops that carry the book.”
“There’s another thing we can do,” said Ada. “One of the biggest influences upon a book’s success is a prominent review. I’ve asked The Lady Librarian if she’d be willing to write one and she has agreed.”
“The Lady Librarian?” Brody’s eyebrows rose. “Impressive.”
Callum agreed. The Lady Librarian had to be the most famous book critic in London. Her reviews appeared inThe Mayfair Chronicleevery Sunday. He’d personally purchased a few lesser-known book titles on the basis of her recommendations.
