A Brazen Lady And The Shunned Duke (Faces of Love Series #3) by Jessie Bennett Read Free Book Online

had I expected less from him than what I knew would be the case with any other impoverished peerage member? It was exactly what my mom had been playing on, I realized. Maybe I was better off with someone like Lord Milford. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry that he only wanted my money.

CHAPTER 12

    ROMANTIC ESCAPE

* * *
    I looked for Ettie , but couldn’t find her. No doubt she was too upset to come back to the party. I didn’t want to be there either. I feared if I looked upon Kent again I would spew the venomous words in my heart right there in front of everyone.
    I couldn’t decide what was more infuriating, that I had fallen right into his charm or that he had lied right to my face and I didn’t know it. I decided my ego was the most wounded of all. I had always thought I was a good judge of character.
    I found my way to the duchess and informed her of a headache so we could leave right away. She was all too happy to oblige and we were gone before Kent made it out of his office.
    The next morning, I woke early to my maid shaking me. “I’m so sorry miss. Lady Henrietta is here. She says it’s very important.”
    I immediately hopped out of bed. I donned my light robe over my nightdress and ran downstairs barefoot.
    I burst into the drawing room not only to find Ettie, but Lord Byron. I did my best to cover up my disheveled look.
    He cleared his throat, embarrassed for me. “I’ll wait for you in the carriage,” he said to Henrietta. Turning to me, he added, “I know we haven’t spent much time together, but I hope someday we can be good friends.”
    With that, he made his way out of the room just as my maid came in with tea in her hand.
    We sat on the couch next to each other.
    “We are running away,” Ettie said.
    “You are what ?”
    “After we overheard what happened last night with Kent, I ran after Byron. I found him just as he was about to leave. He assured me he wasn’t going to give up. He told me he would be willing to elope if that was only way to be together.”
    “And you think that is a wise idea? Your family could disown you!”
    “They won’t. I don’t know what has come over Kent. Maybe just hyper overprotective or something. He will come around in time. Even Byron agrees to that fact. We don’t want to wait though.”
    “I really think you should stop and gauge your choice before you just rush off. This is something you can’t turn back from, my friend.”
    “I know. I am prepared to make that choice, no matter the consequences.”
    We hugged each other closely.
    “I wanted to tell you last night, but you were gone before I could,” she looked at me with those questioning green eyes. They were so much like her brother’s. I shook away the thought before the heartache could settle in.
    “I had a headache,” I said, waving her off.
    “Oh. Well, I wanted you to know. I figure someone should know where we are going. Byron thought it was a bad idea, said you would try to stop us.”
    “I won’t, not if this is what you truly want.”
    “I know,” she said with a smile. She squeezed my hand in hers. “We are leaving for Scotland right now. It will be so romantic,” she said with a squeal.
    “Do you want me to come with you?” I asked. I worried about her traveling so far on her own. “How long will it take you to get there?”
    “Byron says it will take three to four days, depending on the roads, of course. We plan to make a hasty trip, obviously, and only stop at nights.”
    I gave her another hug. “Be safe. Write me as soon as you can so that I know you are safe.”
    “Of course,” she said, rising. “I just wanted to tell someone, you know. Someone that would be happy for us.”
    “I am happy for you,” I said before watching her leave.
    I sat there in the drawing room. I wasn’t sure how long I had been there. I didn’t realize the house had started to bustle with the servants getting ready for the day. I was thinking about Ettie and her happiness. I