A Governess Should Never... Wager a Duke

The Governess Chronicles #5

by Emily Windsor

“So tell me, Miss Webster, why should I employ you?”

The wintry Marcus Scarcliffe, the Duke of Shawdale, needs a governess.
The penniless Miss Charlotte Webster needs employment.
What could be simpler?

Yet when long-ago love, a wager, a wandering uncle and Christmas are involved… Nothing is simple.

A heart-warming novella, inspired by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and set in the romantic scenery of the English Lake District, Charlotte must remind the duke of his past, show him the present and let the future unfold…

With elegant balls, a Lakeland wedding and a duke who has forgotten the meaning of love, the vocation of governess has never been such a festive adventure.

Contains sensual scenes.

This story was previously available as part of the Christmas in Cumbria anthology but now released standalone with additional content and epilogue. Available on Kindle Unlimited for the first time.

The Complete Governess

1 – A Governess Should Never... Tempt a Prizefighter
2 – A Governess Should Never... Deny a Duke
3 – A Gentleman Will Never… Forget a Lady
4 – A Governess Should Never… Lure a Spy
5 – A Governess Should Never… Wager a Duke

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Regency, Christmas, Historical Fiction, Second Chance

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Emily grew up in the north of England on a diet of historical romance and strong tea.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t study Regency slang, so she did the next best thing and gained a degree in Classics and History instead. This ‘led’ to an eight-year stint in engineering.

Having left city life, she now lives in a dilapidated farmhouse where her days are spent writing, fixing the leaky roof, battling the endless vegetation and finding pictures of well-tied cravats.

For details of new releases or to get in touch, find Emily on:

https://facebook.com/AuthorEmilyWindsor

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily...

https://uk.pinterest.com/EmilyWindsor...

Follow her Amazon Author Page, http://amazon.com/author/emilywindsor

https://www.instagram.com/emilywindso...

Or become a 'Lady of Windsor' and sign up for Emily's newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gehNKr

Reviews

[Irina · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The past should stay where it belongs. That cannot change or waver. But the future… That is anyone's to embrace."

This book didn't appeal to me at all. Boring MCs in a boring story, no Christmas feelings, no humor, no banter. The best I can say about it: At least it wasn't annoying, so I didn't hate it.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time, Charlotte and Marcus were childhood friends. Now, Charlotte’s a governess in need of employment. Can she wager on her ability to show Marcus, now a duke, the true meaning of Christmas? A Governess Shall Never…Wager a Duke is an emotional Regency romance inspired by the classic Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol. Charlotte is tasked with reminding the duke of his past, present, and future. A Governess Shall Never…Wager a Duke is heartwarming with descriptive narration, setting you’ll want to dive into, and a cast of quirky characters who’ll steal your heart. Charlotte’s uncle, especially, will break your heart.

I was so excited to read A Governess Shall Never…Wager a Duke, I chose to read it on the weekend I decorated my home for Christmas. This book is poignant and will touch your heart. Emily Windsor is an expert when it comes to Regency romance, and she outdoes herself with this book. There is Christmas festivities, and the spirit of Christmas imbued in every scene.

The characters, though, are what makes A Governess Shall Never…Wager a Duke unforgettable. Marcus is our emotionless hero who unburdens himself one night. Charlotte is our heroine who is the embodiment of Christmas, especially forgiveness.

Journey to the Lake Country for this historical romantic adventure.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Grace Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly fine Xmas second-chance romance novella that’s a different take on “A Christmas Carol”. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which is reading Xmas novellas to meet my Goodreads reading goal.

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lake District Christmas Carol... or ‘How to defrost your Duke’
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

~ Charlotte & Marcus ~
They grew up as neighbours and the best of friends - she a baronet’s daughter, he a duke’s heir. He went to town to acquire some polish. Her father died, leaving her in dire straits, and then her uncle Marmaduke turned up.
Now they’re still neighbours - he a duke, she a governess - but there isn’t much left of their friendship. He returned, miserly and aloof, with a young ward. Christmas or not, he has business to tend to, and his niece can’t stay home alone, so... his only option is to hire her - the redheaded elf, now a striking woman, he had once hoped to marry.
She desperately needs the position, but she also can’t bear the cold uptight man her childhood crush became, and so she tempts him with a wager: she’ll convince him to stay by attending three Christmastide events together, and if she fails, he can leave and she’ll stay for free.
A ball, a wedding and a dinner - past, present and future - but will it be enough?
Who is Martha? And why does uncle M keep wandering into the duke’s garden?

This little flame plays her scrooge like a fiddle, and he tries so hard to resist...
I really enjoyed discovering why he felt he had to, and I loved the way she took him by the hand. It’s a full story and as you read you get the bigger picture; how well they know each other, how much they care and what happened between now and back then. Add small town charm, a secret cupid and a poet, and this really reads like a fairytale with just a splash of spice.
This story is a treat, a quaint and cosy heartwarming romance, a delightful escape to a magical winter wonderland!
The perfect little Christmas novella!

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 A Governess Should Never…Wager A Duke is the fifth and last story in The Governess Chronicles. A Christmas novella originally published as part of the Christmas in Cumbria anthology. I didn’t get a chance to read this when it was part of the anthology but this publication features additional content and an epilogue. This can be read as a standalone.

This was such a heartwarming story and I loved how A Christmas Story inspired it. There aren’t any ghosts in this retelling and I thought the way the author was able to showcase the past, present, and future was clever and creative and I loved it.

I enjoyed the single timeline second chance trope and it kept me guessing on what caused Marcus to not pursue Charlotte further when he returned from London. I could feel the guilt and remorse from Marcus and there was just enough mutual pining and longing as well.

I really enjoyed this story, it was heartwarming, cozy, and made me long to visit the Lake District.

There is one encounter and a few kisses. While detailed and passionate, it’s not explicit.

I received an advanced reader copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[AprilGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful short read, the main characters were all extremely likeable and the minor unlikeable characters had little impact on the story other than to follow along the lines of the narrative.
I laughed at times and was thoughtful at times but overall I just enjoyed reading this well written Novella.
It is a lighter read than Emily Windsor’s normal publications, but can be an enjoyable light read after or between heavier novels.
I received this Novella as an ARC, the opinions above are my own and freely expressed. I would happily read any of Emily Windsor’s novels and greatly anticipate her future works.

[Petula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical romance with the flavour of "A Christmas Carol " . Our hero is the money hungry scrooge, and our heroine leads him to see the consequences of carrying on as he is. 

A short novella with lovely characters and plenty of fun. 

[Dora · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few sweet moments scattered across this very short story although quite burried under an extremely stilted dialogue and forgettable characters... But my hunt for a new christmas hr story fave continues!

[K G Wakeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it...

This truly is a warm wonderful read. The description of the Lake district made you feel as if you there. The love our Governess had for the Duke was felt from the beginning and throughout this tale. A thoroughly enjoyable must read.

[Presley Hubschmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the perfect novella to be transported into another time and help get me in the Christmas spirit. Charlotte and Marcus have known each other forever and that comes out in their interactions throughout the book - their familiarity helps boost their obvious chemistry. From the first page I was invested in what happened between them to lead them to this point in time. As always, Emily Windsor writes such a beautiful story with a bit of heat to warm us up on those cold winter nights. Definitely recommend this novella along with the rest of this series!

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time, Miss Charlotte Webster fell in love with her childhood friend Marcus Scarcliffe, the Duke of Shawdale, and when they danced together at the Christmas ball, she believed that he might return her feelings. But shortly thereafter, Marcus left for London and when he returned, he was a changed man, gone was the kind, happy boy, and along with him any hope of a happily ever after. Things went downhill from there, with the death of her father and the realization that she was penniless, but still had to care for her ailing uncle and her childhood home. Working as a governess, she barely keeps her head above water and when she learns that Marcus is in need of a governess for his ward, she jumps at the chance to be close to her home and if she is honest, to him. But when she learns that he doesn’t plan to be home for Christmas, she issues a challenge to him, if he still wants to go on his business trip after attending three Christmastide events with her, she will work for free until he finds a finishing school for Dinah, but if she wins, he will employ her until Dinah’s debut and pay to fix her roof. It is a bet she plans to win!

Unbeknownst to Charlotte there is a very good reason for the drastic change in Marcus, but even he can’t deny the feelings that seeing Charlotte again stirs in him. So against his better judgment, he accepts her challenge, fully intending to win. But somewhere between dancing at a Christmas ball, a winter wedding, long walks in the countryside, a very unpleasant dinner party, and some sage advice from a stranger, Marcus realizes that life is short and that love is more important than making money. But will Charlotte still have him when she learns the truth or will his past cost him the love of his life?

OMG, I loved this story and although it is a novella, it is a full story, never feeling rushed or skimpy. Written as a very loose retelling of Dicken’s Christmas Carol, this story is a lovely second-chance, friends-to-lover romance. I loved Charlotte and Marcus; their chemistry is undeniable and their interactions are delightfully witty and charming. The secondary characters, especially Dinah, are wonderful, and I loved the cameo of William Wordsworth! Originally published as a “A Governess Should Never…Kiss at Christmastide” in the Christmas in Cumbria anthology, this novella has been revamped with expanded scenes and an epilogue, I loved the original, but this version is even better (which I didn’t think was possible). Even if you read it in the anthology, I would definitely recommend grabbing this revised and updated edition!

4.5 stars


*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Liliane Briarwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the Girl Who Kept Her Light (spoiler-free)

He returned colder than winter,
not through cruelty
But through shame.

London had carved him into something harder, quieter.
A man measuring life in ledgers.
Because tenderness had once cost him too much.

She had known him before the frost.
Before honour became armour.
Before silence taught him to believe
He must rebuild his world.
Before he was worthy to feel anything at all.

Charlotte Webster,
governess, mender, quiet survivor
Holds the kind of warmth that never demands to be seen
Yet never stops illuminating.

She recognises him
Long before he recognises himself.

Some loves do not vanish.
They lie dormant,
like faint gold beneath snow-covered fells,
Waiting for light to touch them again.

In this novella, the Lake District is not the setting.
It is pulse, breath, memory.
Hills swaddled in snow,
blue-shadowed lakes,
And the hush of winter that gathers
around two souls learning
How to walk toward each other again.

Emily Windsor writes winter.
The way Turner painted light:
With ache, with reverence, with quiet wonder.

This story is not about wagers.
It is about recognition and redemption.
About the boy he once was,
And the man he fears he has become.

About the girl he left behind,
And the woman who never stopped believing in him.

Charlotte answers the only question that matters:

“Oh, he is still there.
I have seen him.”

For me, this novella felt like a long, unbroken kiss.
not of lips,
But of souls returning to themselves.
A winter tale of grace,
quiet devotion,
And the courage it takes
To love someone all the way back into the light.

And I bought my own copy.
No ARCs, no review circles, only a reader moved to tears.

[OnceUponATime · Rating 5 out of 5]

A holiday of hope…
Charlotte & Marcus (Duke of Shawdale) were childhood friends. Marcus hires her as a governess for his ward. Charlotte is disheartened as she realizes Marcus has changed over the years - he’s grown cold & detached. He is determined to leave for Christmas, but Charlotte is just as determined to convince him to stay. Instead of focusing on the past, Charlotte decides maybe it’s time to help Marcus look forward to the future. As Marcus slowly reconnects with those around him, there is an emotional tug of war taking place, brought about by fear, shame & a sense of duty. He is haunted by his past and feels unworthy of those around him. Charlotte desperately wants him to forgive himself & live life again. Can Marcus move on from the past before the future slips away?

This is a heartwarming story of hope, peace and second chances. Emily Windsor’s writing is absolutely wonderful and on another level. She describes the scenes in a way which causes you to see, feel, smell & hear everything. How can an author describe a peaceful wintry scene which allows the reader to hear the actual silence and the calm of the moment? I don’t know, but Emily Windsor does it. This novella also has hints of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol throughout. It’s beautifully done. I thoroughly enjoyed Marcus & Charlotte’s story. What a wonderful story of hope and peace to start the holiday season!

I received a complimentary ARC from the author. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[sammstormborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I say it every time I read one of her books but Windsor’s prose to me is utterly enchanting. I always end up wanting to sink into these beautifully heartfelt love stories.

You’d think being just over 100 pages, it might be difficult to pack a love story with, as Cat Sebastian says, “nuclear-grade pining,” as well as humor, anguish, well-rounded characters (all of whom I adored and want stories about – Dinah, Mr. Slater, Uncle Marmaduke), wonderfully descriptive scenery, and more – but Windsor does it! (I never had any doubt I would because Windsor is one of my auto-buy authors where every book of hers has been a five-star read for me.)

And, this is a new Sam reading Emily Windsor record – I cried five times. The previous record was for four times when reading this last year in the Christmas in Cumbria anthology but the epilogue got me. I think that might be a new record for any piece of fiction I’ve read… And I cried at the earliest point of any romance novel I’ve read. I made it to page 16 before collapsing into tears.

Anyway – I really think the word that best encapsulates Windsor’s story, while sometimes overused in our collective vocabularies, this novella is the embodiment of its meaning : beautiful.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Governess Should Never... Wager a Duke was originally part of a collection of holiday-themed historical romances called Christmas in Cumbria. Rereleased with new chapters, extended scenes, and a wonderful epilogue, it's a charming A Christmas Carol-inspired story. I adored the characters, the swoon-worthy romance, and the new additions to the original novella.

Charlotte and Marcus have such a lovely romance with feelings that started when they were young. At the start of the story, they are no longer close and haven't seen each other in years. Trying to care for her ailing uncle, Charlotte desperately needs a job, and though working for Marcus is less than ideal, it's pretty clear from the start that the pair still have deep feelings for each other. Both have gone through so much in the years they were apart, and Marcus, in particular, has changed drastically, much to Charlotte's displeasure. However, their connection remains strong, as does their chemistry!

Ahhhh, Marcus! I love a grumpy MMC, and Marcus has major grumpy Scrooge vibes. He seems so cold and miserly and appears to care more about money than people. He's very different from the carefree boy Charlotte knew, and when he hires her as a governess for his ward and makes a bet with her where they have to spend time at holiday events, Marcus begins to learn the true meaning of love, life, and Christmas. The banter between them, and their time together is filled with sexual tension, and the sparks really fly between them I loved seeing Charlotte peel away his icy layers and bring out the warm and kind man underneath.

Emily Windsor is such a wonderful storyteller, and I always love her books, so it's not a big surprise that I loved this one. This whole series has been super swoon-worthy! And the fact that this one takes place over the holidays only adds to the charm, as well as the optimistic and hopeful vibes. So does Marcus's ward, and there's a great cameo from a famous poet that's fantastic!

[Constance Remillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect Christmas story. Windsor’s writing never disappoints – pure poetry! Delicious turns of phrase! This was like a bite of holiday chocolate before the chocolate is even in stores. It’s short and sweet, with references to both Dickens and Wordsworth, plus a few other ‘Governess Chronicle’ characters for those who love the series. If you’ve spent the day holiday shopping, prepping, planning, baking, decorating and need a reward, grab this novella and put up your feet under a blanket. The story will warm you like nothing else! Then put it away for next year and read it again - I will.

[Gloria Pastorino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love Emily Windsor and her writing! And I loved this cute novella, even if I wished for a full-length novel simply because I loved it so much that I didn’t want it to end! The descriptions are breathtaking as always, the characters are so sweet, so cute, so vivid that I felt acutely for both. The plot is intriguing, especially the “mystery” surrounding Marcus’s sudden change of behavior from a kind and open young man to a grumpy miser.
And the reference to A Christmas Carol is striking and so well handled, with touching moments, but also very funny ones. A gorgeous read indeed!

[SusieQ_Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eloquent, witty, and heart-felt holiday read

Emily Windsor can always be counted on to deliver an eloquently written emotion filled tale of love and overcoming its various challenges. Complimented by a side of witty humor, a well-meaning young miss and some surprises, " A Governess Should Never...Wager a Duke" is guaranteed to remind its readers of the true meaning of Christmas.

[Richard Burlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming little story based loosely around a retelling of Dickens Christmas Carol without the ghost. Instead we have the delightful Charlotte as a governess making the best of a hard life and replacing Scrooge is Marcus as a Duke who is not naturally a miser but is recovering from the mistakes of his youth.

The concept works reasonably well but it fails to reach the level of entertainment to be found in some of the other books in this series.

[Awesomeslawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful Christmas romance!

Emily Windsor creates a fabulous romantic tale of second chance love inspired by the spirit of Christmas! This story has a Christmas Carol vibe to it…as our MFC is set on proving to the MMC that there is more to life than money. As always with Ms. Windsor’s work…the characters are fabulous, the story is rich with emotion, humor and romance…this will be a favorite holiday read for sure!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I love you, Marcus. In failure and success. In magnificent victory and ignominious catastrophe. For love is not love if it solely endures in triumph. In fact, it is the support through failure that makes it love."

I loved that this wasn't some Duke that falls into anything he wants. This is a real person who has failed terribly before and is doing his best.
If a novel could be poetry, this would be it. It's still a sorry, but it's written so beautifully that it ends up being more.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh…so lovely

Such a heartwarming and joyful romance. The mystery of what happened in London is heartbreaking and explains the rigid, uncompromising behaviour of Marcus. By comparison, Charlotte’s life is hard, left penniless she must work to provide for her elderly uncle but cannot earn enough to repair their home. Throughout all her pain & troubles she maintains a cheerful perspective and a happy front.
How these two characters find their HEA is a delight to read.

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful romance, filled with hope and wonder. I loved Charlotte, such a bright and caring heroine and Marcus, the Duke that has so much to overcome, his guilt almost overtakes him but Charlotte opens his eyes to love again. Childhood friends make their way back to where they belong, and towards a forever love.

[Maria S. San Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but Sweet

Emily Windsor is always a delight…heartwarming and she makes a poignant situation positive and bright with her writing. The story of Marcus and Charlotte is no different especially when life’s challenges come to the fore at Christmas time. A short but lovely read.

[Paula Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story. But about 4 chapters too long.

Too long. The details that tie up the story are all at the end so I scanned them quickly because the actual conclusion is they love each other and have found happiness.

[Carolyn Tornatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

The story made me feel so much better. Lost my love a year ago and we had 65 Christmas days together , reading this story had me doing some volunteer work for our church and my family. Put me in the Christmas spirit. Thank you

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful.

A Christmas Carol meets historical romance, set at Christmas, between two childhood friends that have since become a Duke and a governess he has employed for his ward over Christmas.

My first time reading this author and I look forward to more in the future.

[Billy Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noteable story set in North England

Story set in North England- I traveled England, Scotland, Wales- but never the lake district.
I have read stories set there. Unknown if I
will visit there in the future. My grand daughter is in London now.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute Christmas novella ending to the series featuring Charlotte, the actual governess who helped Amelia on the sly in Lure a Spy, as she brings around duke next door Marcus who had been her childhood friend and crush.