My Book

                A Secret Sin

Prologue

  1812

Every woman wanted Nikolas MacKenzie, the Duke of Perbooks, every woman that is except, Christine DeSilva. Christine was not exactly every mans’ fantasy, she wasn’t ugly, but she wasn’t beautiful either. A lot of men would call her looks…odd, not in a mean way of course, but just because that’s what she was, odd.
Christine sat in her chair, looking out her library window, watching the rain poor down. Ever since the day she ran into Nikolas she couldn’t get him out of her mind. She and her foster sister, Isabel, had gone out to buy new dresses for Lady Sydney’s ball. They did not find ones they liked, so today they are off to search again. This ball was one of the biggest of the year; everyone was going to be there. Dukes, earls, viscounts, and all other kinds of gentlemen.  For Christine’s mother, gentlemen meant husbands for her daughters.
“Christine Frances!” Mrs. DeSilva exclaimed entering through the front door.
“Yes mother dear?” Christine asked with a roll of her eyes.
“Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me missy, and what are you doing sitting around the house hmm? You should be out trying to find a husband angel,” her voice now soft.
Christine sighed, put her book aside, got up, walked to her mother and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Mother, I shall tell you what I have told you thousands of times before. I do not want a husband, I am content the way things are. So please mother, stop trying to force me into a marriage. I want to marry for love, can’t you understand that? I shall find my husband when I fall in love with him,” she said with a plea in her eyes.
Carol sighed in much the same manner her daughter had, “Oh Christine, you know I only want you to be happy, you deserve no less. Listen to me, if you do not find a husband soon, you will end up spinster, and you will end up on the shelves. I could not have that for you dearest.”
“Oh mama, I know you do, and I know you don’t want me to end up a spinster. I just want to find the right man, alright? Now I’m going into town with Isabel for new gowns, we shall be back soon. I love you,” she whispered as she leaned down to kiss her mothers’ worn cheek.
“Fine, I shall see you in a while then. I love you too,” Carol said her lips pulled tight.


“Christine, what color are you going to choose?” Isabel asked with fascination in her eyes.
“I’m not sure yet bel,” Christine mumbled knowing this was going to be an interesting shopping trip, since this was going to be Isabel’s’ first season.
“I was thinking a nice blue color for me, since I have blonde hair, what do you think?”
“Very nice choice, it shall match your eyes too, so blue that the gown shall make them pop out,” Christine explained.
“Hmmm, what about a nice emerald green for you, it shall do the same for your red hair and brilliant green eyes. Yours too shall pop out!” Isabel said.
“Maybe your right, lets go in here Isabel dear,” she said pulling her sister into a building filled with all colors of gowns.
Christine entered the front door only to be pushed back out, she fell backwards right on her bottom. She looked up ready to scream at the woman who had been so rude only to find a very masculine form standing in front of her holding out a very large hand.
“Pardon me my lady, I did not see you, please forgive me,” he said pulling her up when she took his hand.
“That’s quite alright Mr. MacKenzie, second times a charm after all,” Christine said staring into the face of the very man she couldn’t get out of her head.
Nikolas raised a brow, “Do I know you madam? I’m sure if I did I would never forget a face like yours,” he said with a wicked grin forming on his full lips.
Christine flushed at the compliment, “We have though my lord, a fortnight ago you ran into me at Lady Marie’s gown shop. I must say my lord it is quite odd to find you in two lady shops, do you have a special someone you shop for?” she asked though she knew it was none of her business.
Nikolas grinned, knowing she knew it wasn’t her business, but answered anyway. “No my lady I do not have a lady in waiting, but if I may be straight forward if I did I shall hope you as my lady.”
Christine turned scarlet making her hair look like a bright flame, “My lord, thank you, but I did not give you permission to be so straight forward,” she said forcefully.
Nikolas’s grinned widened, “I was only telling you the truth my lady,” he said softly.
“Yes well, thank you again my lord, if you don’t mind now my sister and I have some shopping to do. So please do step aside.”
Nikolas stepped to his right, “Good day my lady,” he said with a smile still lingering on his lips.
“Good day,” Christine said going into the front door once again.
Nikolas walked home, the whole while thinking of her beautiful face and her mouth, how it might taste. When he got home he suddenly realized he never even got her name.

“So what do you think mama?” Isabel asked later that night when they got back.
“It’s beautiful darling, the color will go wonderful with your eyes,” Carol said looking the dress over.
“What do you think about Christy’s? I picked it out,” she said proudly.
Carol made her way over to her other daughter, “It’s beautiful,” she whispered her eyes filling with tears.
“Mother whatever is the matter?” Christine asked with concern.
“Nothing dear, you just look so beautiful in that gown. It goes beautifully with your eyes too.”
“Thank you mama,” she whispered.
Carol nodded, “Yes, well, did you at least have fun shopping?”
“Christy met a man mother, a very handsome one too,” Isabel said with mischief lighting up her blue eyes.
Carol’s brows rose up, “Really? Well tell me about it Isabel dear,” she said knowing Christine wouldn’t give her any of the good details.
“Well, Christy was about to go into the dress shop but a man was coming out, they crashed into each other!  You should have seen it mother, it was fate I tell you!” Isabel gasped.
“A man coming out of a dress shop? That’s quite odd,” Carol said with laughter in her voice.
“That’s exactly what I thought mother,” Christine said.
“Christy asked him if he had a lady friend he was shopping for and he said no, but if he did he hoped she to be his lady!” Isabel sighed placing her hand over her heart for a more dramatic effect.
“Really, did he now?” Carol asked, hope filling her eyes.
“Don’t get any ideas mother, he was just flirting, being the rake he is,” Christine said with venom in her voice.
“Oh of course dear, why would I ever get any ideas for your match?” she asked with a smirk.
Christine glared, “He was so arrogant mother!” she exclaimed, “It was so obvious he thought he was on top of the world.”
“Well he isn’t really on top of the world,” Isabel put it, “But I’m sure he was imagining being on top of you Christy.”
Carol gasped, “Isabel! Wherever had you heard such a thing?”
Isabel rolled her eyes, “Please mother, I’m not as innocent as you think, and I know things. I do read novels you know.”
“Well yes, but do they really get that into detail?”
“You might be surprised mother at some of the things they write in those books.”
Christine just scowled at her sister.