The Duchess and the Devil — Sydney Ann Clary

PROMISES KEPT

Rescued from penury by her wealthy uncle Charles, Byrony Balmaine was all too well aware how much she owed the kindly old man. For this reason she had promised to marry, as soon as possible, a gentleman of her uncle's choosing. Unfortunately, the man her uncle had in mind was no gentleman at all but the rakehell Deveril St. John, better known as the Devil Duke. Byrony always kept her promises and now she made another one: she might be forced to marry the Duke, but she'd never be mastered by him!

HEARTS LOST

Deveril was in a high temper. Blast Charles for tricking him into giving his word. Deveril had been sure that no proper lady could ever be brought to marry someone of his blackened reputation, and so he had humored the old codger's whim by agreeing to marry the first suitable and willing female to come along. Enter Byrony, Charles' scamp of a niece, whose existence no one had ever suspected. Deveril was a man of his word and he'd marry the chit. But when he was through taking his pleasure of her, he'd return to his libertine pursuits, and hang the consequences!

Hero: Deveril St. John (Devil Duke)
Heroine: Byrony Balmaine