Dukedom Mullgrove—The Medallion (Excerpt)

EVERWEARD PUBLISHING

is is an excerpt from the book:
Dukedom Mullgrove—e Medallion
A historical romance novel
by
Mercedes Casemer
Published in 2026 by Everweard Publishing
www.everweard-publishing.com/en/
Available as an e-book, audiobook, and print edition.
Additional information about the Dukedom Mullgrove series
is available on the publisher’s website.
www.dukedom-mullgrove.com
eBook
Audiobook
Print Edition
ISBN 978-3-911352-29-1
ISBN 978-3-911352-30-7
ISBN 978-3-911352-35-2

Dukedom Mullgrove—The Medallion
A historical romance novel by
Mercedes Casemer

This work is protected by copyright in its entirety.
All rights reserved, in particular the right of translation,
publication, reprinting, reproduction by photomechanical
or similar means, and storage in electronic media.
The characters and the plot are fictional.
Any similarities to actual events or
living or deceased persons are purely coincidental.
Copyright 2024 by Mercedes Casemer
The title of the original German edition is:
“Dukedom Mullgrove - Das Medaillon”
Published 2024 by Everweard Publishing, Germany
Translated and revised by: Frédéric R. Bürthel
Copyright by:
Everweard Media & Publishing
Frédéric R. Bürthel
Friedrich-Naumann-Allee 29 | 19288 Ludwigslust | Germany
www.everweard-publishing.com
contact@everweard.com
Everweard Publishing is an imprint of
Everweard Media & Publishing.
Typesetting, layout, cover design by FRB
Cover image: AI-generated, revised by FRB
ISBN: 978-3-911352-35-2

Chapter 1
New York, the city of fates, breathed a sigh of
relief. The past winter had been especially
harsh. For weeks, the cold had been unrelenting,
and after countless snowstorms, the filthy streets
were buried under mountains of snow. There were still
very few cars. Carriages largely dominated the scene,
the horses’ droppings freezing instantly on the icy surface.
The following spring had brought torrential rain.
Life had been a daily struggle.
Today had been a beautiful, warm day.
Rhonda Boulanger watched the people from her carriage.
Most of them looked pale and hungry. The children
moved her the most. Women sat with their babies
on the steps in front of their homes. Many were nursing
their children. The windows of all the apartments were
open, and as she drove past, Rhonda Boulanger could
see into the dark basements. What a terrible life it must
be, confined with so many people in tiny, damp, underground
dwellings!
Lake Nast sat across from Rhonda in the carriage. He
wore his captain’s uniform.
She cast him a grateful glance. Eighteen years ago, he
had saved her from a fate just as grim. Yes, despite all
her misfortune, she had been lucky to meet Lake Nast.
Who knew what would have become of her without his
help? Who knew if she would even still be alive? And
what would have happened to Amber?
5

Rhonda Boulanger was relieved when they finally
reached the harbor.
Captain Lake Nast's ship lay bathed in the evening
sun. Gulls circled the vessel with its two thick smokestacks,
from which smoke was already rising. A crowd
of onlookers had gathered at the harbor, all eager to see
the ship without sails—a sight many still found strange.
The gangway for the privileged passengers was lined
with a red carpet.
Rhonda felt her heart pounding wildly. It was the
first time she had returned to the harbor since then. For
all those long years, she had deliberately avoided the
place. She hadn’t wanted to see the sea—the very sea
that had washed her ashore like driftwood back then.
That’s how she had always seen it. But today, as she
took the first steps back into her past, she realized once
again that she had been luckier than many young
women.
Captain Lake Nast stepped out. One hand gripped the
large leather travel bag tightly, while the other helped
Rhonda and then Amber down from the carriage. Mrs.
Ockham, Rhonda's housekeeper, and the maid Penny
stepped out of the second carriage behind them. Captain
Nast had brought four of his most reliable sailors
along as an extra precaution, to protect the ladies and
the contents of the document case. They had stood like
two servants at the back of the carriages. Immediately
upon arrival at the harbor, they assisted with the luggage
and ensured that any approaching beggars kept
their distance.
6

Rhonda paid no attention to anyone.
“Ladies, please follow me! The gangway is safe,” said
Nast.
Rhonda, Amber, Mrs. Ockham, and Penny gathered
their skirts a little higher, revealing their clean buckled
shoes and a glimpse of their legs, as they ascended the
gangway.
Once they reached the top, Captain Lake Nast turned
and said:
“Welcome aboard! I wish you a pleasant and enjoyable
journey!”
Amber, Mrs. Ockham, and Penny thanked him.
Rhonda just nodded. Her throat felt constricted. Her
mouth was dry. Her heart pounded as if it would tear
apart. She longed to pull Amber into her arms and finally
tell her everything—how it had been when she
first came to New York. But Rhonda had denied herself
this all these years, and she forbade herself from doing
so now.
“Well then, show us to our cabins, Captain!” Mrs.
Ockham remarked in her characteristic shrill voice.
Rhonda remained by the railing, watching as the
gangway was pulled up. They were the last passengers
aboard.
“Mrs. Boulanger, shall I go ahead with Miss Amber?”
The housekeeper's words snapped Rhonda out of her
thoughts. She cleared her throat.
“No, Mrs. Ockham, I’ll join you,” Rhonda said.
The two women's eyes met. They had known each
other for many years. Rhonda had taken her on from the
7

Flamsteed sisters, just as she had taken on everything
else from the two old ladies—without ever questioning
how they had made their money. Rhonda had simply ignored
the signs. Rhonda only figured it out later. The sisters
had certainly not acquired their fortune in a ladylike
manner. But from the very first moment, they had been
kind to her and taken her in like a daughter. She also had
to thank the captain for that.
Again and again, moments from her life played out
before her. It took all of Rhonda’s strength to push these
thoughts away.
The suite was the finest aboard, situated apart on a deck
that also housed Captain Nast’s quarters. It comprised
several bedrooms, a ladies’ salon, a gentlemen’s smoking
room, and a separate small chamber for personal
grooming. Every room was furnished with the utmost
opulence, featuring exquisite shipboard furniture with
gleaming brass fittings and plush upholstered armchairs.
Lace curtains and velvet drapes adorned the
windows.
Penny, Rhonda's maid, fiddled with the large brown
overseas trunk.
“Oh, Aunt Rhonda, how splendid! This is going to be
a marvelous voyage,” Amber exclaimed, twirling excitedly
from one room to the next.
Captain Nast watched her, smiling as he twirled his
mustache.
“May I invite the ladies to join me for the captain's
dinner in my quarters? An officer will come to fetch
8

you. We’re setting sail shortly, and dinner will be served
as we leave the harbor. For now, I must take my leave
and wish you all a most pleasant journey!”
“Thank you, Captain Nast! And thank you so much
for your help and this wonderful suite.”
The captain bowed. Rhonda extended her hand. He
took it, kissed it as a sign of his respect, and whispered
softly:
“I will always be there for you!”
Rhonda squeezed his hand a little tighter and then let
go.
A short time later, the ship's sirens wailed, and a gentle
vibration ran through the ship, signaling that the engines
were pounding deep in the ship's belly.
“The ship is moving, Auntie! Let's go outside and
watch it leave the harbor!”
Instead of answering, Rhonda reached for her large
shawl and made for the door. Amber, Mrs. Ockham, and
Penny followed her. Moments later, they stood at the
railing, the wind from the sea growing stronger around
them. Gulls still wheeled and cried above the ship.
“Why are you so quiet, Aunt Rhonda? You’re hardly
saying anything. Are you feeling all right? Are you worried
about getting seasick?” Amber asked.
Amber tenderly touched Rhonda's arm. Rhonda summoned
all her strength, smiled, and met Amber’s eyes.
“Don't worry, Amber! I'm just a bit tired. The travel
preparations were a lot of work, but we made it in time.
That’s what matters. We’ll all rest during the crossing to
9

England. It’s going to be wonderful, Amber. This is your
first big trip—enjoy it!”
Amber hesitated and lowered her gaze.
“Auntie, may I ask you something?”
“Of course, Amber! I've noticed for a while that
something has been bothering you.”
“I don’t understand why we packed up everything in
the house and put it all in storage. We’re only gone for
the summer. Or—do you not want to go back to New
York?”
Amber had almost whispered the last sentence.
Rhonda put her arm around Amber's shoulders.
“It's simply safer this way. I wanted to do it. That way
our things are protected. Besides, was it not rather practical
to thoroughly sort through the house from top to
bottom, left to right? There were still so many things belonging
to the Flamsteed sisters. We may acquire many
new items in Europe, and for that, we shall need the
space. Still anxious, Amber?”
“A little! I'm ashamed to admit it. I'm not a child anymore.
It's bad, isn't it, Auntie?”
Rhonda smiled kindly and lovingly.
“That is perfectly understandable, my dear. You have
known only New York. Now you're going to Europe, to
England. I am certain you will love it. England is beautiful,
with its rolling hills and endless green meadows. I'm
sure you'll feel right at home.”
“I wonder what it will be like! You told me I was born
in England. Auntie, are we going to the place where I
was born? Maybe there are still people there who re-
10

member my parents? You never told me anything about
them. Is that why we're making this trip, Auntie? Do
you want to show me everything?”
Rhonda stroked Amber's cheek tenderly and lovingly.
“Slowly, slowly, Amber! One thing at a time. Right
now, we say goodbye to New York. Look forward to the
beautiful voyage and life in London. We'll settle into our
house in London and then, yes, then everything else will
follow. Amber, take one last look at the coast. We must
change out of our traveling clothes; it would not be
proper to dine with Captain Nast in these. Let's hurry.
We want to be ready when his officer comes to fetch us.
It’s a great honor to be invited to his quarters on our
first night at sea.”
Rhonda turned and walked back to the quarters. Amber,
Mrs. Ockham, and Penny followed her.
Rhonda looked through Amber’s dresses and picked
out a soft-green evening gown with a low neckline. The
color complemented Amber’s green eyes and red-gold
hair beautifully, accentuating her spirited nature.
Rhonda had originally commissioned the dress for another
occasion, but knowing how much Amber adored
it, she decided to let her wear it tonight. It was a gift, and
indeed, Amber’s face lit up with joy.
Rhonda wore black, as always. Since her arrival in
New York, she had never chosen any color other than
black. Rhonda mourned deeply in her heart. It was a
wistful sorrow, intertwined with a longing for the lost
pages of her life. As a young woman, she had dreamed
of a life at the side of a loving husband, of a family with
11

children, of a household she would preside over, of
soirées she would host, and of receptions where she
would be welcomed as a respected member of high society.
All these dreams she had buried on her journey to
America. Rhonda was a master at concealing her emotions—she
had never spoken of them to anyone. There
were nights when she longed for love, for the warmth
of a familiar body, for strong arms that would hold her
close with loyalty, tenderness, and complete devotion.
The brief romantic season of her youth had come at a
steep price. It was always the women who paid, Rhonda
knew that now.
Rhonda looked at herself in the large mirror. She liked
what she saw. Despite her years, she still looked remarkably
youthful. Her skin was smooth, without a single
wrinkle. Only her blonde hair had lost the luminous
glow it used to have. Would she go gray early? The
women in the factories did. Apart from this minor detail,
the almost eighteen-year age difference between her and
Amber was hardly noticeable. They could have passed
for sisters.
There was a knock at the door. An officer arrived to
escort the ladies the short distance to the captain’s quarters.
Captain Lake Nast was dressed in his full gala uniform.
The table was lavishly set with English food, each
course stirring Rhonda’s memories of her childhood in
England. Throughout the meal, she steered the conversation
back to England, urging Captain Nast to tell Am-
12

ber about London and the gentle beauty of the English
countryside.
Amber sensed that the captain was comparing her to
Rhonda. He made a few remarks to that effect, but
Rhonda seemed not to hear them. Amber realized that it
was probably a forbidden topic.
After dinner, drinks were served. Amber was then allowed
to retire to her quarters, with Mrs. Ockham and
Penny escorting her. The captain had invited them, despite
their status as staff, aware of their role as something
like family to Rhonda and Amber.
Rhonda waited until the door was shut. Then she
sighed, fanning herself with a slow, deliberate motion.
“Hot, Mrs. Boulanger?”
Captain Nast opened a window. The sun had set, and
a cool night breeze carried the scent of the sea into the
room. “You look well, Mrs. Boulanger!”
“Thank you, Captain! I certainly look better than I did
back on the ship eighteen years ago. And thank you
again for those wonderful rooms—they're a far cry from
the passenger decks. If I may ask, who normally stays
there?”
The captain smiled.
“The ship is new, as you know. The rooms have never
been occupied. They are intended for the owners—
should they ever take to the sea. Reserved for His Grace
and Her Grace, the Duke and Duchess of Mullgrove.
They are the principal shareholders of the Dutch-British
Company, which owns this vessel. The Dukes of Mullgrove
have always been devoted to Christian seafaring—
13

warships, merchantmen, whatever the Crown required.
They also conduct their own trade in the Far East and the
South Seas. I have commanded many of their ships. This
one is the crowning achievement of my career. A beautiful
finale before I retire to a quiet country house just outside
London.”
“Why do you want to retire?” Rhonda asked, surprised.
“You're still young.”
Rhonda immediately apologized for her curiosity.
Captain Nast forgave her at once. He explained that
he had seen the whole world, but nowhere was as beautiful
as England. He wanted to spend the rest of his days
in the English countryside.
“Ah, chambers worthy of a prince! And yet we, simple
citizens, find ourselves within them,” Rhonda remarked,
steering the conversation elsewhere.
Captain Nast looked at Rhonda Boulanger seriously.
“You are already entitled to such rooms by virtue of
your ancestry, aren't you?”
Rhonda flushed, her gaze falling. She fanned herself
with her black lace fan, then rose abruptly and began to
pace the room. As she stood, the captain, ever polite,
rose as well. He approached her, took her hand, and
gently guided her back to the cushioned seats.
“Mrs. Boulanger, if you would rather not speak of
your secret, permit me this observation: Even then, I
knew you did not belong among the common laborers
who usually boarded a ship like mine in those days.
Mine was a cargo vessel, and the passengers I carried
earned their passage by working aboard—bound for the
14

New World, yet offering no names, no stories. And now,
you return to England. I am a man of wide travels and
long experience. There may come a time when you require
advocacy, protection—both of which I would
gladly provide. Will you not tell me how life has treated
you? I heard nothing of you again until your letter
reached me. Had my voyages taken me to America, I
would have sought you out. But for many years, my
routes lay eastward: to India, the Far East, Australia. I
never sailed the New World.”
Rhonda Boulanger hesitated.
She let out an audible sigh and met his gaze.
“You helped me greatly back then, Captain Nast. I am
forever in your debt. Perhaps that gives you the right to
know something about me.”
“Well, my dear Mrs. Boulanger, I cannot say whether
I have any right to know. I noticed that Amber calls you
Aunt Rhonda. That seems a little odd to me and raises
questions. I’ve always felt somewhat like a godfather to
Amber.”
Rhonda began to speak:
“You have keen powers of observation, Captain Nast.”
“I have to. I often have very little time. When I hire a
sailor, I must judge in an instant whether he’s fit for the
job—whether he’ll fit in with the crew. You develop a
sixth sense for people. When you’re weeks or months at
sea, bound for the Far East with the same faces around
you, knowledge of human nature becomes essential.”
Rhonda sighed quietly.
“Yes, if only I’d had a bit more insight into human na-
15

ture back then—more experience, or even just some
guidance from… from someone—so much might have
been spared me. But I suppose it was my fate. Looking
back now, I realize it could have turned out far worse.”
She paused and looked briefly into the captain's eyes.
“Your impression of my background is accurate,
though I won’t go into details. Suffice it to say, the rank
of a duchess is rather beyond my station. I was little
more than a child when I was seduced. It was easy for
him—and, I suppose, I made it easy for him. Because finally
there was someone who gave me his full attention.
He didn’t regard me as a girl on the edge of womanhood—he
saw me only as a woman. It was beautiful, so
beautiful, and I felt noticed, honored, even adored.
I gave him all my passionate love. He took it. He took
me. And it didn’t come without consequences. At first, I
didn't know what had happened to me. But then,
I couldn’t hide it anymore. My father banished me to the
countryside, where I was to remain indefinitely. It was
said that I had gone traveling. In truth, I was kept as
little better than a prisoner. Yet one night, I managed to
escape with only a few belongings—mostly jewelry, my
own and my hostess’s, and what money I could gather.
Call it stolen if you like. At first, I traveled alone on foot.
Then I joined a group heading for Plymouth, people
looking to emigrate. They wanted to immigrate to
America. They were kind and compassionate people.
I reached Plymouth at night and wandered around the
harbor district. I wasn't feeling well. I withdrew into the
shadows between two warehouses, seeking refuge in
16

the darkness. That’s where I met a young Indian woman—yes,
I think she must have been Indian. Her name
was Puntia. She took one look at me and knew exactly
what was wrong. In exchange for my jewelry, the little
money I had, and the few things I carried, she offered to
hide me on her ship. I agreed to everything. I handed
over all I had, even my engraved medallion. I don't
know how long it took for the ship to set sail. It seemed
like hours under the dirty blankets, somewhere on deck
among all kinds of cargo. Finally, the cargo ship set sail.
I must have lost consciousness at some point. We were
already far out at sea when Pierre Boulanger found me.
You know the rest of what happened on board. You were
so kind to me back then. Without your help, I surely
would have died. When we arrived in New York, I took
your letter to the address you had given me. The two
sisters, Della and Dora Flamsteed, took me in. They welcomed
me into their home like a daughter. They cared
for me—and for Amber, whom they always called my
niece. They introduced me as a distant relative. For Amber,
they invented a whole backstory. They gave her the
last name Stone, saying she was my sister’s daughter.
According to their tale, Amber’s parents had fallen ill
with fever and died after returning from the colonies. I
took her in, and that’s why Amber calls me Aunt. The
Flamsteed sisters offered to let me call them Aunt Della
and Aunt Dora. So, I was safe and protected. Amber and
I had a good life. It took me years to find out what kind
of business the Flamsteed sisters were in. They lived in
a beautiful house just outside the city, while their vari-
17

ous establishments were down by the harbor. They
talked about running bars, and for many years I never
questioned it.”
“Did the Flamsteed sisters know about your background?”
Rhonda nodded.
“Yes, I told them everything. Not right away, but
pretty soon. Everything had overwhelmed me so much
that I got sick. They took care of me and looked after
Amber. I must have been talking in my fever. When I
finally regained my strength, they asked me about it.
And so, I told them everything. We never talked about it
again. But now I have a question. What became of Pierre
Boulanger? I often thought about this man who was so
kind to me, even lending me his name, so to speak. He
told you back then that I was a distant relative following
him because I, too, wanted to go to America. I think he
even paid something toward my passage.”
Captain Nast shrugged.
“I never saw him again after the crossing. He was a
simple man, but of great kindness and stature. I believe
he was educated. His family, I think, had originally
come from France. Perhaps he was of noble birth, or
maybe his family had known hardship. Like so many
others, he was heading farther west. Maybe he struck
gold? Maybe he became a farmer? Maybe he died? But
as I’ve said, I usually sailed the routes to the Far East.”
Rhonda nodded and continued:
“The Flamsteed sisters ensured Amber received an
excellent education. They brought tutors into the house,
18

and she was given nearly as fine an education as I had
once received. They took care of me as well. When both
grew frail around six years ago, I cared for them in return.
At that time, I also began to look more closely into
their business, which I would soon have to manage myself.
Initially, I found it deeply unpleasant. But I had
Amber to consider, and what else was I to do? Besides, I
had lived well off those affairs for years, as comfortably
and securely as one could possibly imagine. The two
passed away in quick succession. Well, that was hardly
surprising. They were twins, deeply connected. Despite
their dubious business, they were truly kind-hearted
people. After their deaths, I inherited a considerable fortune.
I continued the business in the same manner, employing
middlemen to collect the proceeds. After a
while, I thought it would be best for Amber to live in
England for some time. I wrote to you—though it was
difficult, as I had no idea where you were. I reached out
to various shipping companies in an attempt to locate
you.”
Captain Nast poured more wine. They drank.
“It took a while for your letter to reach me. I was
overjoyed to hear from you—to know you were alive. I
have often thought of you over the years. It was a dramatic
night back then, one I will never forget. What are
your plans in England?”
Rhonda sighed.
“I have never spoken to Amber about the past. But I
will have to, one day. It may become necessary soon, or
perhaps only later. First, I want her to get to know Eng-
19

land and its society. She is a beautiful, educated, and
highly cultivated young woman. The upper classes of
New York and Boston bear similarities to those in England.
But the New World is not England. Besides, we had
little contact with those circles. I always feared the Flamsteed
business would prove a disadvantage to Amber. Besides,
Amber probably doesn't know where the fortune
comes from. I’ve never told her. I hope she enjoys her
time in England, makes friends, and experiences the life
of the upper-middle class and even the aristocracy.
Should the day come when she must learn the truth, perhaps
she will understand, and forgive me.”
“You took—and continue to take—a great risk, Mrs.
Boulanger, if I may say so?”
“You may, Captain Nast, you may! Many nights I sat
by Amber's cradle and later by her bed, thinking about
how to tell her the truth.”
“Did Amber never ask you?” Nast wondered.
“She asked more often as a child. Later, less so, and in
recent years, she stopped asking altogether. It was only
today that she brought it up again. She must have understood
that I did not wish to speak of it when I gave
her no answers. She senses now that we may not return
to New York.”
Rhonda sighed.
“Let's change the subject, Captain Nast. What of the
house in London? Unfortunately, we have not yet had
the opportunity to discuss it privately.”
“In accordance with your wishes, I have acquired
Baxter Manor for you in a quiet and distinguished
20

neighborhood of London. Named after its builder, it is a
stately house with a large garden at the rear. The property
has multiple floors, an orangery, and a garden
pavilion beside a small pond. The house is beautifully
furnished. As you requested, I have engaged a housemaid
and a valet. They appear to be reliable and came
with excellent references.”
Rhonda thanked him.
She then fell silent for several minutes before continuing.
“I am still uncertain how best to ensure Amber makes
the necessary connections.”
“You will surely receive invitations soon after your arrival—first
from the neighborhood, and then the circle
will widen. You must also host teas and gatherings. Garden
parties are very much in fashion. Do not be surprised
if you find yourself already known upon arrival. The servants
in London have their own network—almost a secret
society,” Captain Nast said with a smile. “Tessa and Joe
have likely already spread the word that they’ve secured
excellent positions with wealthy ladies from New York.”
Rhonda Boulanger smiled.
“Then it's just like New York. I know the game well.
Besides, Mrs. Ockham and Penny will surely contribute
their share to the usual gossip.”
“I know a few people in London, in the immediate
vicinity of Baxter Manor. There is the Baron Douberry,
for instance—a highly successful businessman. He was
widowed at a very young age and never remarried; now
he is quite advanced in years. For some time, a young
21

man, Mr. Nigel Morris, has been living with him. He began
as an errand boy in the Baron’s business and proved
himself exceptionally talented. The Baron holds him in
high regard. Their relationship is best described as that of
a father and son. Undoubtedly, Mr. Nigel Morris would
offer to accompany Amber. He is slightly older than Amber
and is exceptionally charming.”
“Ah, that's a very promising start. It would be wonderful
if Mr. Morris could take Amber out a few times.
She will make friends with the other young women in no
time. And once she is part of the group, everything else
will follow. I remember how it was for me back then.”
Rhonda Boulanger was startled by her own last
words. Instinctively, she pressed a hand to her lips, as if
to seal in any further utterance. Her heart pounded
fiercely, and the memories rushed back—all the pain and
longing with them.
“And what will you do, Mrs. Boulanger?” Captain
Nast asked.
Rhonda gave a soft smile.
“I will watch over Amber. My entire life has been devoted
to her. Every day, I have lived, breathed, worked,
suffered, endured, and sacrificed—all for her.”
“Were these sacrifices not too great?”
“No! It was all I could give her. I could not provide
her with lineage or connections. Now she has to make
those herself, as best she can. If one summer isn't
enough, then we'll stay in London for the winter. Winter
brings the grand balls and invitations to musical
soirées.”
22

“Amber will not lack for suitable admirers before
long,” Captain Nast remarked with confidence.
“It has grown late, Captain Nast. I must take my
leave. I wish you a good night.”
“And to you, Mrs. Boulanger!”
He bowed. Then he moved to the door and held it
open. The black silk of Rhonda's skirt rustled as she
passed him.
Though Rhonda Boulanger was utterly exhausted, restful
sleep eluded her for hours. This time, her body lay
between silk sheets.
What a difference from back then!
She could have been happy, but the memories kept
her awake for hours.
Captain Lake Nast couldn't find any peace either. He
sat alone in his salon, smoking a pipe and sipping
whisky. Through the open window, he heard a sound he
couldn't identify. He closed the window. Then he went
up to the bridge again. The sea was calm. Under the
command of the first officer, the ship sailed further out
into the Atlantic, heading for England.
The entire sea voyage passed peacefully. Rhonda and
Amber enjoyed their time aboard. Rhonda ensured that
Amber had little contact with the other passengers.
They dined either in their private salon or as guests of
Captain Nast. They lounged on deck, gazing at the sea.
Amber whiled away the hours with painting or playing
the piano in the owner’s quarters.
This concludes the excerpt.
23

Eighteen years ago, the desperate and heavily
pregnant noblewoman Rhonda fled as a stowaway
aboard a ship bound for America. Now she
returns to England a wealthy woman, determined
to introduce her illegitimate daughter,
Amber, into Victorian society.
But when Rhonda is blackmailed, threatened,
and forced to confront the ghosts of her past, she
suffers a devastating emotional collapse.
Amber finds refuge with her great-aunt, the
Duchess of Mullgrove, where she discovers not
only a strange new world but also love.
Meanwhile, the Duchess pieces together the loose
threads of Rhonda’s past, seeking to reconcile
her with her family—and free her heart for true
love.
The key to it all: a long-lost medallion.
Enjoy the first novel in the Dukedom Mullgrove
historical romance series.
ISBN 978-3-911352-35-2
EVERWEARD PUBLISHING