Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Fortune's Gamble: Fortunes of Fate, #3
Fortune's Gamble: Fortunes of Fate, #3
Fortune's Gamble: Fortunes of Fate, #3
Ebook136 pages2 hours

Fortune's Gamble: Fortunes of Fate, #3

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Read preview

About this ebook

Christian Barnes never meant to steal his half-brother's identity, but when Major Andrew Bradford, Viscount Trowbridge, falls at Waterloo, Christian grabs his chance at the life he should have had as his father's oldest son. He and Andrew could have been twins, and he knows he'll get better care for his own wounds as a major than a private. The masquerade is so successful, he continues it once he returns to England. However, he hadn't prepared for Rebecca Davenport, the fiancee Andrew had left behind.


Lady Rebecca Davenport imedialtely realizes that Andrew has returned to her a different man. She just isn't quite sure if it's the years he's spent at war that have changed him. But as her suspicions grow, she realizes that the changes are welcome. This man is much better than the one she used to know. But can she hold her tongue and actually marry this imposter?

LanguageEnglish
PublisherDiana Bold
Release dateApr 30, 2019
ISBN9781386297185
Fortune's Gamble: Fortunes of Fate, #3
Author

Diana Bold

All my life, I've wanted to a writer. Even as a child, my sister claims all I ever did was sit in my closet and scribble in a notebook. In any event, I won my first writing contest when I was seven, and I was hooked! I married young, and soon had three wonderful little boys running around the house, so writing took a backseat for several years as I worked a variety of jobs that I hated. Once I started seriously pursuing a writing career, I found it was not as easy as I had expected, and I was not the prodigy I had imagined. But I joined a writer's group and made a ton of writing friends along the way who showed me the error of my ways and unselfishly helped me get a little better. By the time I sold my first book in 2006, I'd already been at this for over ten years and was about ready to give up. Rejection is hard!!! But holding that first book in my hands made it all worth it! Now my sons are all grown up, and two of them have babies of their own. But I now have all the time in the world to devote to telling the stories that just won't let me sleep. Hope you enjoy them! Love, Diana Diana 

Read more from Diana Bold

Related to Fortune's Gamble

Titles in the series (2)

View More

Related ebooks

Royalty Romance For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Fortune's Gamble

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5

1 rating0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Fortune's Gamble - Diana Bold

    Dedication

    For my amazing friend , Lynette Cole. I am so blessed to have had you in my life for all these years. Thanks for always listening and always making me smile.  

    Prologue

    June 18, 1815

    Waterloo

    Christian Barnes never meant to assume his half-brother’s identity.

    But as he stood over Andrew Bradford’s lifeless body, the battle still raging all around him, the idea entered his brain, making a mad sort of sense.

    Having taken some grapeshot to the leg and a saber wound to the shoulder, Christian had been limping toward the rear to receive some medical attention when he’d seen Andrew fall. Though Christian hated the son of a bitch, he felt no satisfaction in his death. Only an emptiness, a regret for the rift their father had driven between them.

    Having just turned six and twenty, Christian was older by a year, but Andrew had inherited their father’s title—Viscount Trowbridge. Christian had entered His Majesty’s Service as a mere private, while Andrew had bought his captain’s commission. Their paths had crossed several times while on the Continent, though they’d never actually spoken. Andrew had made it more than clear that he had no interest in getting to know his father’s by-blow.

    We could have been twins.

    Eerie, really. Like seeing his own death. Both he and Andrew had their father’s inky black hair and piercing green eyes, though Andrew’s now stared unblinkingly at the smoke-filled sky. So many times, people had confused them or commented upon their likeness. He wondered if Andrew had hated it as much as he had.

    A musket ball whizzed by his ear, and he started to stumble away, but then his gaze fell upon the epaulets on Andrew’s shoulders, and it occurred to him that he’d get much better accommodations and care as a captain than as a corporal. He didn’t think his wounds were life-threatening, but he knew how quickly they could get infected if he didn’t get proper treatment. He’d like it if the doctor at least thought about it for a moment before cutting off his leg.

    Before he could second guess himself, he’d fallen to his knees at Andrew’s side. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, he exchanged Andrew’s coat and papers with his own.

    Then he knelt there, head bowed, leg and shoulder throbbing, and stared into his brother’s face. With a shudder, he gently closed Andrew’s eyes. Could it really be that easy? Could he walk away from this spot as Captain Bradford, Viscount Trowbridge?

    Quite a gamble. Masquerading as a peer could get him court-martialed or worse. Were the risks worth the reward?

    Pushing himself unsteadily to his feet, he decided to find out.

    Chapter One

    October 1815

    London, England

    Christian had indeed managed to gain superior care for his wounds by pretending to be his half-brother. No one had questioned him in the slightest, and he’d decided to continue the ruse once he’d returned to London. He’d spent quite a few weeks enjoying all the finer things the city had to offer, then sold the commission, receiving more for it than he could have ever expected to earn in his entire lifetime.

    The world had suddenly opened up before him. He could go anywhere, do anything. The possibilities dazzled him. However, he found that when he truly thought about it, what he really wanted was a home of his own, somewhere in the country. All his life, he and his mother had moved from one horrid flat in the worst parts of the city to another, each one a bit of a step down from the one before. When she’d died, he’d gone to the workhouse, then to the Army, where he’d also moved around constantly.

    The war still haunted him, his injuries still pained him, and he needed somewhere quiet to lick his wounds. He wanted to be around horses and growing things, to breathe in clean air, and stare out his windows at green meadows.

    Then, one night, laying in his bed in his rented room, he remembered something that could work quite favorably to his advantage. As far as he knew, his estranged uncle, Theo Barnes, still worked as Andrew’s butler. Could he take this charade even further? Avail himself of not only Andrew’s name but his title and properties as well?

    The next morning, Christian gathered all his courage and took himself off to Mayfair. He stood for a moment in front of Andrew’s townhome, awed by the white marble façade. As a boy, he’d once come here, wanting to see where his father lived. He hadn’t dared come any closer than the park across the street, but even then, it had been clear to him that were it not for the circumstances of his birth, all of this could have been his one day.

    He had aristocratic blood flowing through his veins, as his mother had constantly reminded him. She’d been a sixteen-year-old ladies’ maid to the viscountess when Lord Trowbridge had forced her into his bed. He’d then dismissed her without reference for the crime of being pregnant with his own child.

    She’d been very well-spoken, having grown up in the Bradford home. and she’d insisted he not fall into the rougher speech of his contemporaries. She’d taught him to read and always told him he’d amount to more than what his father’s neglect had reduced them to.  

    Now, all he had to do was walk through that door and claim the title as his. Swallowing nervously, he decided to do just that. If Theo no longer worked here, or if anyone seemed in doubt of his identity, he could just make his escape before the authorities arrived.

    He strode up the wide front steps, wondering for a moment if he should knock, then decided that in order for this to work, he had to act as a viscount would and simply turned the knob, a bit surprised to find it unlocked. He stood for a moment in the grand foyer, then slammed the door behind him with a resounding thud.

    A moment later, a tall dark-haired man with an uncanny resemblance to Christian’s mother hurried toward him, his eyes widening as he took him in. Though it had been a decade since Christian had seen him and the man was a bit grayer than he remembered, he’d recognize his Uncle Theo anywhere.

    Lord Trowbridge! Forgive me. We had no idea you’d returned. As he spoke, Theo divested Christian of his cloak and hat, seeming a bit flustered.

    A thrill went through Christian that even his own uncle, who’d served the Bradford family nearly all his life, had mistaken him for Andrew. Perhaps he really could pull this off.

    Theo, he said quietly, glancing around to see a maid staring down at them from the top of an ornate staircase. Can we speak privately?

    Frowning, Theo nodded, gave the maid a fulminating glare that sent her scurrying away, and then led Christian down a long hallway to a beautiful wood-paneled room full of books. Christian glanced around covetously, thinking that this room alone might be reason enough to try and pull this off.

    Theo shut the door and then stood stiffly just inside the room. How may I be of assistance, sir?

    Christian blinked, surprised that his uncle still didn’t recognize him. Perhaps this would be easier than he’d thought. Don’t you know who I am?

    I’m afraid I don’t quite understand the question, Lord Trowbridge, Theo said uneasily, obviously thinking this was some sort of trick.

    I’m Joan’s son, Christian admitted. It’s me, Christian.

    Christian, his uncle said slowly, taking a step forward, his dark eyes widening as he took Christian in from head to toe. My God. I thought you were the new viscount, Andrew Bradford. You look exactly like him.

    Taking a seat in front of a big cherry wood desk, Christian gestured for his uncle to do the same. Andrew Bradford is dead, he said bluntly. I saw him fall at Waterloo.

    Well, I don’t know that anybody will miss him. Theo sank into the chair opposite Christian, staring at him as though he’d seen a ghost. Where have you been for the last decade, Christian? I looked everywhere for you after your mother’s death, but I couldn’t find you.

    I was sent to a workhouse after my mother died, Christian told him. When I was old enough, I joined the Army.

    I’m sorry, Theo said, hanging his head. I wish I would have known. I would have tried to figure something out. You shouldn’t have been sent there, not when you had family.

    Christian laughed bitterly. I knew the viscount would never allow you to have me here, not when he sent my mother away for the crime of giving birth to me. Your hands were tied, Theo. I’ve never blamed you for what happened.

    That bastard, Theo said quietly. He destroyed Joan, then couldn’t even be bothered to take care of you after she died. I hope he and Andrew are rotting in hell as we speak.

    Surprised by his uncle’s anger, Christian decided to tell him everything. I exchanged jackets and papers with Andrew after he fell. I knew that in the chaos, no one would question me. At first, I just wanted to get better medical treatment, since I was wounded, but once I arrived in London, I sold his commission. No one knows he’s dead but me.

    Theo gave him a long, considering look. Are you certain of that? Is that why you came here today?

    Christian nodded. I just wanted to see if you were still here, if perhaps even those closest to him would be fooled. Everyone always said we looked like twins.

    I didn’t question that you were Andrew for a moment, Theo admitted. The resemblance really is startling.

    For a few moments, silence fell between them, but Christian knew they were both thinking the same thing. 

    "If Andrew’s death becomes known, the title will go to some distant cousin, who has less right to it

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1