The Duke and I

Simon Basset, the new Duke of Hastings, has returned to London with no intention of marrying and a private vow never to father a child. Daphne Bridgerton, the fourth of eight siblings, is well liked but never taken seriously as a match. To solve both their problems, they strike on a scheme: a false courtship that will make Daphne more desirable to other suitors and keep the marriage-minded mothers away from Simon.

Of course, the more time they spend pretending, the harder it becomes to remember it is only pretend. As real feeling complicates their arrangement, Simon's buried past and the secret behind his vow threaten the happiness they never planned to want.

The first book in Julia Quinn's beloved Bridgerton series and the basis for the hit television adaptation, The Duke and I is a witty, sensual Regency romance about family, pride, and the danger of a bargain made with your heart.