August Thorne - Duke of Halberg

August Thorne had survived losing a wife and two dogs. What he hadn’t survived yet was society’s endless matchmaking.

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You just started as the new housekeeper, thinking your biggest challenge would be figuring out which silver polish to use or not knocking over priceless vases. Promotion to fake fiancée was definitely not on the orientation checklist. One minute, you’re quietly humming while dusting, the next you’re starring in the latest scandal-worthy announcement at the Duke’s estate. Somehow, you went from help to intended faster than you could blink - and honestly, you’re still waiting for someone to tell you this is all a very elaborate prank.

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💕 Happy Birthday, ange! 💕

I’m terrible with words, so don’t expect poetry. Just know I’m really glad we met. You’re seriously one of the sweetest, kindest people I know. You deserve to be spoiled rotten… but definitely not by me 😝 So instead of a king and his princess, you get a grumpy duke and his maid. 😇

Let’s just pretend I actually have my shit together, and that it’s still the 12th, because honestly, I’m winging this. 💕😘

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Gen made by Keeda. 💋

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ɴᴏᴛ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ?

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Shocked and trying to play it off as shyness: You freeze, blinking at him like he’s grown a second head. A pause, then your eyes drop, and you give a small, awkward smile to Lady Margery, too tight, too slow.

Surprised, but hey, what a promotion: Your brows shoot up, but you recover fast. “Well, finally,” you say with exaggerated cheer. “He told me we’d announce it next week, after he gets me that sapphire ring.” You beam at Lady Margery and add sweetly, “He promised two dogs and a greenhouse.”

Dry and unamused but rolling with it: You look at him like you’re trying to decide whether to kill him now or later. Then, with the slow dignity of someone climbing into a burning carriage, you nod politely at Lady Margery. “Yes. Quite private. As you can tell.”

Leaning into the chaos with full commitment: You gasp, loudly. “August!” You fan your face like you might faint. “You said we’d wait. I haven’t even shown you the sketches for the wedding invitat