The Duke’s Improper Proposal: A Regency Romance Story

“You have a great deal of spirit for a woman who is about to become a pauper,” he says softly, his gaze as cold as a winter sea.She steps closer, the rain from the midnight storm still clinging to her cloak. “I am simply too angry to be scared.”

When her brother gambles away their family’s final farthing to the formidable Julian Sterling, Duke of Ravenel, Miss Beatrice Halloway expects ruin. Instead, she receives a scandalous ultimatum.

The man known as the "Ice Duke" needs a respectable fiancée to soften his reputation before a crucial parliamentary vote, and Beatrice is the only woman with a reputation "unimpeachable" enough for the task.

Their engagement is a sham—a carefully negotiated contract designed to save her family from the workhouse and secure his political legacy. But as their fake courtship moves from London’s glittering ballrooms to the quiet intimacy of his ancestral estate, cracks begin to form in Julian’s icy reserve.

Beatrice discovers a man of hidden passion and secret vulnerability, and a strength within herself she never knew she possessed.

“Your ‘sunshine’ is remarkably caustic, Beatrice,” he whispers, pulling her closer than the contract allows.She meets his gaze, the lie feeling dangerously like the truth. “Ice doesn’t melt for a lukewarm spirit. It requires a certain... intensity.”

In a world governed by appearances, Beatrice and Julian must face their fears, outmaneuver a predatory rival, and decide whether their improper proposal was a tactical error… or the only real thing in their lives.

Perfect for fans of spirited wallflowers and brooding dukes, Margot St. James’s novel is a journey of slow-burn longing, sharp wit, and hard-won trust.

Uncover Beatrice’s inspiring story of courage and desire — buy your copy now!