Its royal wedding season, but author Alyssa Cole is busy wrangling her own reluctant royals.
Many havepointed out the parallelsbetween the two stories.
She also shared an exclusive excerpt with EW.
Credit: Avon
Scroll past the interview to read the first chapter fromA Duke by Default.
Portia is kind of a hot mess.
She has been running from fear of her own inadequacies.
He definitely does not want an annoying, rich American woman bothering him.
Its his brother who set up the internship.
Its kind of a Pygmalion story, My Fair Duke.
Shes wealthy, and she knows how to operate in high society.
Tavish is half Chilean.
One aspect of the story is that his mother came over as a refugee during Pinochets regime.
And I was always like, Where is this coming from?
Theyre British guys who generally hang around indoors or in their clubs or whatever theyre doing.
Its not like theyre out working in the sun or anything.
Yeah, so, I do imagine him as Taika Waititi-ish a bit.
I did miss an opportunity for her to dress him in a pineapple onesie.
Ill have to save that for a novella (laughs).
Youve set your books everywhere from apocalyptic sci-fi scapes to the grim realities of the Civil War.
Maybe from now on Ill be a little careful about what Im writing about.
But more seriously, actually, its just really serendipitous.
Ive seenBlack Pantherthree times now and there were similar threads.
Naledi is like Killmonger minus the misogyny and toxic masculinity.
And what do you make of this real life happily-ever-after taking place?Im not a huge royals watcher.
Seeing the stuff that happened afterwards and Harry being wild and crazy.
Obviously, he was going through some things.
They might not love the monarchy.
First can you tease how that through-line will continue inA Duke by Default?
He has this building that hes inherited from his father that he didnt know.
His mothers Chilean; his stepfather is Jamaican; his brother is biracial.
Hes biracial but more white passing.
His sister in law is Asian.Its a multicultural community.
What have you always loved about princesses or the princess narrative?
Was there something you greatly disliked that you wanted to dispel?I never saw princesses as weak.
Tav is a duke.
What does it cost to have those things or to give them up?
Theyre defeating each others dragons in some sense.
Its not like one person is saving the other person.
The way they interact together allows them to save each other.
There is no prince charming really.
They are each others charmings.
Who was your favorite princess growing up?
Your favorite princess now?Growing up, it was Princess Diana.
And also, crack a joke at the appropriate moment.
Chapter 1
Project: New Portia was off to a fantastic start.
I couldve stayed in New York for this, Portia thought irritably.
Ofcourse,itisntgoingtoworkout.Theresthislittlethingcalledapattern,andthisis how yours always plays out.
It wasnt her fault that her boss had stood her up.
Or maybe it washerfault.
What if shed gotten the date wrong, or misunderstood something, or forgot to submit an important form?
Had she evenreallybeen chosen for this apprenticeship?
She might show up and be turned away at the door.
Portia sucked in a deep breath and tried to pull the brakes on her rapidly escalating catastrophic thoughts.
Well, not as much as Old Portia had, at least.
Call Bodotria Armory, like.
Hello.Youvereached the voicemailbox of Tavish McKenzie, master-at-arms and proprietor of Bodotria Armory.
like leave a message.
The voice was Scottish.
She was done with fbboys, and fuckbosses for that matter, no matter how sexy their accents were.
She sighed and busied herself with posting her selfie to her InstaPhoto account while she waited for Kevyn.
Yes, that is a man peeing in the background.
#GoodMorningEdinburgh #WTF #IThinkIveMadeATerribleMistake
She deleted the last hashtag before posting the pic.
Negativity was too Old Portia.
Ledi: What the hell is up with that picture?
Portia: Um, I just posted.
How did you see it so quickly?
Ledi: I turned on notifications for you so I wouldnt miss any updates from your adventure.
Portia: Awww, you lurve me.
Im still at the train station.
My boss never showed so Im waiting on a SuperRyde.
Ledi: Well, thats one way to make a first impression.
Do you have the pepper spray I bought you?
Portia: Come at me, bears.
Ledi:
Portia: Waiting for a car to bring me to the armory now.
Ledi: Im annoyed on your behalf.
Portia:
Nya: Im up, too.
Sorry your boss is a jerk.
Could this be a test?
Like a mission in an RPG?
Maybe you get bonus apprentice points fornavigatingyour way to the armory.
Portia: I sure as s hope this isnt a test.
My boss already failed.
What are you both doing up so late?
Nya: Playing a dating sim to make up for thereal date I had earlier.
Rognath the VampireLordismuchbetteratcourtshipthanLuke,whostartedthe night by calling me SexualChocolate and went downhill from there.
Good old, dependable Rognath.
Nya: Rognath is a gentleman and all, but.
Ledi: Youve already become a cynical New Yorker, cous!
One day, your Rognath will come.
Nya: I guess.
Almost losing her best friend was what had sparked Project: New Portia.
This sounds like a great opportunity!
Can you tell me a bit more about what you hope to get out of it?
Moving to another country is exciting, but also a huge change.
Youve talkedaboutthe urge to run away before .
If anything, theyd made her even more resolved to go.
Instead, she was alone at the station, forgotten.
This was more like stepping into a smelly bog and realizing there was no easy way to extricate herself.
A pallid man with spiked brown hair stuck his head out the window.
She watched his eyes light up.
Portia: My car is here.
You two confirm to get some rest.
Im going to try calling the armory again.
I hope the rest of your day goes better!
Ledi: Let me know when you get to the armory.
If you dont, Thabiso will call the Thesoloian embassy there and have them send out SWAT.
Is there SWAT in Scotland?
You know what I mean.
That knowledge eased the tension in Portias neck a bit.
Someone had her back, even if only through an invisible link between their mutual phones.
In you go, my lady, he said jovially and Portia forced a smile as she climbed in.
It wasnt his fault she was in a bad mood.
Besides, if she knew anything it was how to feign polite con- versation.
Yes, its my first time.
Im here for work, she.
Shed traveled extensively, but somehow never made it to Scotland.
Welcome to Edinburgh, Kevyn said, hopping into the front seat.
Youre gonna love summer here.
As long as you enjoy rain, that is.
She was starting a new adventure.
She should be excited and ready for anything, not focusing on the negative.
This was not the vibe she wanted to put out into the universe.
I am the heroine of my own story.
I choose my own path .
Portias phone chimed and she jumped up in her seat, disoriented and unsure of where she was.
Shed nodded off for a second.
A message from her twin sister, Reggie, slid into view on her phone screen.
Thanks for finding that information about that…thing.
You know I love playing internet detective.
Do you want to do posts for GirlsWithGlasses/ Adventure while youre there?
Plus people like the Wonder Twins aspect of us making content together.
I like it too, tbh.
An- other key aspect of Project: New Portia stop putting up roadblocks in her relationship with her sister.
I can def write posts.
Portia replied, then decided to make a run at call her boss again.
Call Bodotria Armory yo.
Whats that, lass?
You say like to your phone?
I didnt expect an American to be so polite.
I just want to be spared when our AI overlords take power.
Did you get a hold of anyone at the armory?
Not sure anyone is about now.
The area
is by the docks and pretty deserted this early.
Im texting with my boss now, Portia lied.
Tav knows how to send an sms?
Hes finally get- ting it together now that hell have you for an ap- prentice, eh?
Kevyn caught her eye in the rearview mirror and Portia stiffened, though he was grinning.
This had gone from friendly to stalkative way too quickly for her liking.
She was too tired and frustrated to be polite.
Am I going to have to mace you?
He barked out a laugh and smacked the wheel.
Dont stress, he said.
I take lessons at the armory, and everyones been on about the American apprentice arriving this week.
Her anxiety about her apprenticeship eased, but then ratcheted up a notch.
People were discussing her and excited for her arrival?
Arethey in for a disappointment.
Kevyn paused, and in the rearview she could see his brow crease.
Tav is a right bawbag at times.
But a bawbag who grows on you, I suppose.
Portia pulled up her web web client and searched bawbag scottish slang.
Theterm bawbag is a Scots word for scrotum, which is also slang for an annoying or irritating person.
Leaving me stranded at the station is pretty baw-bagish so I have to agree, she said.
Here we are, Bodotria Armory, Kevyn said, hop- ping out.
It was Georgian neoclasssical, if she was guessing correctly, three stories of perfect symmetry and imposing bulk.
The gray sandstone was dark and grimy with age and moss grew in fissures between the stones.
The windows were all dark, except for a circular Palladian window at the very top floor.
There better not be any wives locked in the attic, Portia muttered.
Maestro Tav is single.
No worries there, Kevyn said cheerfully as he handed off her rolling suitcase.
Ill wait for ye to get in, lass.
Thanks, she said.
Now that she was here, the entire plan seemed ridiculous.
Her parents objections replayed in her head.
I could really use a shot or two, for fortitude.
A shot wouldnt do anything but lower her inhibitions.
She didnt need to be fearless, or reckless.
Oh, stop it, you fing tosser!
It was a woman, and she was mad or scared or both.
I said cut it out!
Portias suitcase clattered to the cobblestone and she looked around wildly, gaze landing on the giant blue box.
She ran to it and pulled at the door with all her might, but it was locked tight.
Shed heard the Scots were a levelheaded people, but this was a bit much.
The sound of renewed struggle reached her through the fog.
She jammed her hand into her purse, rummaged around, and then took off toward the sound.
She heard a grunt and the sound of scuffling shoes, then saw movement in the fog.
The woman kicked out.
The man laughed, deep and menacing.
Portia was paralyzed by panic for a moment, but she had taken self-defense courses.
The blow didnt seem to faze him, but it got his atten- tion.
He turned toward her and had the nerve to look affronted.
His skin was tanned, surprising for all the talk of cloudy days and pasty British men shed heard.
He had a knife.
What the bloody hell!
Ow, ow, OW!
She dropped the spray and brought her hands to her eyes, too.
Did you stand downwind?
For a moment she thought hed started crying, but the sound was in fact low laughter.
Oh, you bloody tosser.
Tav, are you okay?
Her attacker named Tav.
Be a love and go get some milk, Cheryl, he said, pulling himself to his feet.
Did you just mace Maestro Tav?
Kevyn had arrived on the scene.
Tav, did she?
Oh, this is bloody brilliant.
Aye, she didnt.
And herself, Tav added.
