Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. It’s always a pleasure when I can have my dear friend Ruth A. Casie on my blog. Take it away, Ruth, and happy reading, my lovelies!
A Kiss Measured in Heartbeats: A First Kiss from A Dilemma for the Duke
By Ruth A. Casie
I’m delighted to return to First Kiss Friday. Thank you, Sherry, for having me again! Today’s kiss comes from A Dilemma for the Duke, the second book in my Barrington’s Brigade series.
This is a slow-burn, high-stakes Regency romance filled with stolen glances, secret identities, and a romance that simmers until it can no longer be denied.
Lady Lora Preston is intelligent, independent, and fiercely committed to social reform. Garrett, Duke Rockford, is a former soldier, disciplined, guarded, and loyal to a fault. He’s returned home on assignment to root out a dangerous conspiracy. She’s hiding the very secrets he’s meant to expose.What begins as a reluctant alliance deepens into something neither of them expected, something dangerous and undeniably real.
How Their First Kiss Came About
Lora and Rockford have known each other for years. But the man who has returned from war is different, quieter, more haunted, more restrained.
They’ve been working together uneasily to investigate a troubling pattern of coded messages and intercepted letters. With danger pressing in, they’ve grown close… but never crossed the line. Until now.
On a quiet evening, a conversation turns too honest. A long-held silence breaks. And in the stillness that follows, something shifts.
The First Kiss
“You’re not what I expected,” he said, voice low.
“Is that a compliment?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
His mouth curved slightly. “It’s a truth.”
She wanted to laugh, but something in his expression made her breath catch. He was rarely this bare, this unshielded. She felt the weight of everything they weren’t saying.
“You’re not exactly what I expected, either,” she replied softly. “You hide behind your title and your mission. But I see the man beneath.”
A long pause. Then, “And what do you see?”
She didn’t answer. Didn’t need to.
Instead, she reached up and touched his hand…just lightly, just enough to still him.
He didn’t move.
His fingers curled around hers slowly, deliberately, and he stepped closer.
When he kissed her, it was with reverence. A brush of lips that deepened, breath by breath, into something warm and sure. He kissed her like a man who had thought about this, wanted this, for far too long.
Her hands found his coat, clutching it like it was the only thing tethering her to the ground. She could feel the truth of it in her pulse, in his touch, in everything between them.
When they finally pulled apart, she looked up into his eyes. They were clear, steady, and searching.
“That was—” she began.
“A mistake?” he asked, gently.
She shook her head, a slow smile forming. “No. A beginning.”
About the Book
A Dilemma for the Duke
Book Two in Barrington’s Brigade
Lady Lora has spent years forging her independence through quiet rebellion, charitable work, and a secret identity that risks everything.
Duke Rockford’s duty is to protect the realm… and uncover a traitor who may be far closer than anyone suspects. But when suspicion falls on Lora, his heart and honor collide.
As danger draws nearer and deception deepens, Rockford and Lora must decide whether trust can be rebuilt and whether love is worth the risk.
This Regency romance is full of tension, secrets, and a love story that builds in the shadows. Perfect for fans of strong heroines, brooding dukes, and high-stakes historical intrigue.
Available now from Dragonblade Publishing
So Far from Barrington’s Brigade
A Dilemma for the Duke is Book Two in my Barrington’s Brigade series, a collection of Regency romances following six titled men drawn back into danger after the war.
Each book is a complete romance, with overarching intrigue that ties the Brigade together.
Book One: A Marriage for the Marquess
A marriage of convenience, a game of hearts.
Ewan must wed to save his inheritance. Juliet needs a husband to escape scandal. Together, they must outwit a secret society before it destroys them both.
Book Two: A Dilemma for the Duke.
In the shadows of power, can love and truth prevail?
Rockford’s duty is to protect the realm. Lora’s secret identity may threaten everything he’s sworn to defend. But when danger strikes, will they choose trust or lose each other?
Book Three, A Redemption for the Baron (Coming, July 2025)
What began as a battle of wills became a fight for their hearts.
Another chance at love, another brush with danger, and another member of the Brigade who just might lose his heart.
A Soundtrack of the Story
Want to hear what inspired the mood of these romances?
After Dark captures the tension and intimacy of the story’s emotional heart.
Contemporary offers a modern echo of their journey.
A Marriage for the Marquess
After Dark Playlist | Contemporary Playlist
A Dilemma for the Duke
After Dark Playlist | Contemporary Playlist
About the Author
Ruth A. Casie writes stories of honor, adventure, and love, where strong heroines challenge equally strong heroes, and history hides a touch of mystery. She is the author of several beloved romance series, including Barrington’s Brigade and The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea, and contributes to multiple historical romance worlds. When not writing, Ruth enjoys sipping tea, chasing plot twists, and immersing herself in the past.
Learn more at www.ruthacasie.com