Whitney My Love Read online

  Her eyes blinded with tears. Whitney looked at the blurry portraits lying beside her on the coverlet. She picked up a gold-framed miniature that looked to be the very oldest of them all and she turned it over to see what was on the back of the frame, then she smiled through her tears. The fierce duke who had been called the Black Wolf, had not merely had his wife’s initials inscribed on the frame. He’d had his initials entwined with hers and then enclosed within a heart.

  Whitney pressed the little portrait to her own heart and then reluctantly laid it aside.

  By the following afternoon, she had read and re-read every letter and she knew the sentiment behind every memento in the chest.

  That evening, after Noel had been taken to the nursery to sleep, Whitney sent for some stationery and picked up a quill. She put the date on the top of the letter, and then she began to write . . .

  I am Whitney Allison Westmoreland, 9th Duchess of Claymore, wife of Clayton Robert Westmoreland, mother of Noel, who was born to us on the twelfth day of December . . .

  In keeping with the tradition of the letters, she wrote down the details of Clayton’s courtship and their marriage. When she finished the following evening, she looked at Clayton, who was reading a book in front of the fireplace in their bed chamber. “I’ve finished my letter,” she said. “According to tradition I must now place a likeness of myself in the chest with my name on the back of it—a likeness which you choose because you think it represents my features. You said you brought one here from Claymore. Would you have a moment to get it for me?”

  He laid his book aside at once and walked over to the bed. “For you, I have all the time in the world,” he said, then he kissed her lips and surprised her by sitting down beside her.

  “Where is it?” she asked, curious to know what likeness of her he would have deemed suitable and what he would have had inscribed on the back.

  In answer, Clayton opened the top drawer of the night table and with a tender smile, he handed her a small portrait of herself on her wedding day. It was framed in solid gold. On the back of the frame was an inscription from him that read, “Whitney—my wife and my love.”

  Don't miss these other sparkling titles in the WESTMORELAND DYNASTY SAGA!

  Two defiant hearts clash in a furious battle of wills when a headstrong Scottish beauty is abducted by a fearless Duke.

  A Kingdom of Dreams

  * * *

  Let Judith McNaught sweep you away from the wilds of America to elegant 1820s London in this delicious tale of mistaken identities.

  Until You

  * * *

  In Regency London, world-weary lord Nicki du Ville receives an outrageous proposal from Julianna Skeffington, who is Sheridan Bromleigh’s charge from Until You.

  Miracles

  * * *

  ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY!

  Books by Judith McNaught

  Every Breath You Take

  Someone to Watch Over Me

  Night Whispers

  Remember When

  Double Exposure

  Miracles

  Until You

  Perfect

  Paradise

  Almost Heaven

  A Kingdom of Dreams

  Something Wonderful

  Once and Always

  Whitney, My Love

  Double Standards

  Tender Triumph

  We hope you enjoyed reading this Pocket Star Books eBook.

  * * *

  Join our mailing list and get updates on new releases, deals, bonus content and other great books from Pocket Star Books and Simon & Schuster.

  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

  or visit us online to sign up at

  eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com

  Pocket Star Books

  An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  1230 Avenue of the Americas

  New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 1985, 1999 by Judith McNaught

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

  First Pocket Star Books ebook edition November 2016

  POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

  ISBN 978-1-5011-4543-8