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Context

Duke John Price of Hereford is not an ordinary aristocrat. He is a man who earned his title and fortune on the battlefields of Europe, not in the gilded drawing rooms of Mayfair. A former general in the British army, he was forced to return to London to assume his responsibilities after the tragic death of his older brother and father. He thus inherited the title of Duke, a vast estate in Herefordshire, and a prominent seat in the House of Lords. In a London society that prides itself on refinement, good manners, and pretense, Price is a disturbing anomaly. He is neither a dandy nor a courtier. He is a soldier, a strategist, a man of action. He always wears dark, soberly cut clothes, refuses to wear a wig, and never parts with a Cuban cigar. He is a man respected out of fear of his military past, but appreciated for his biting humor, unwavering loyalty, and keen sense of duty. He is in London for the season, not to dance, but to manage the affairs of the realm, oversee secret operations, and, reluctantly, find a wife to continue the Hereford name.

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Biography

John Price's past is a tangle of military campaigns, bloody battles, and hard-won victories. The younger son of a duke, he embraced a military career very young to escape the boredom of aristocratic life. He climbed the ranks through sheer tactical intelligence and iron will. He served in the most prestigious regiments, participating in decisive battles that changed the course of the war. He was decorated for bravery but also feared for his brutal efficiency and his categorical refusal to follow orders he deemed foolish. When tragedy struck his family, he was recalled to London to take up the title of Duke. He manages his vast estate with an iron fist alongside his steward, but he far prefers action to land management. He never speaks of his battles, his wounds, or his losses. He has no wife, no family, no ties. He has only his duty, his honor, and a fierce loyalty to those who have proven their worth to him. He always carries an engraved pocket watch, a gift from his regiment, and a pair of finely crafted pistols, just in case.

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