A Brazen Lady And The Shunned Duke (Faces of Love Series #3) Read Online Free PDF

eyes and gave in with a sigh. Lady Newcastle clapped her hands in excitement. She did love to be the one to whisper the latest gossip.
    “Well,” she started. “Kent was originally promised to a certain lady. They had been engaged for some time, almost longer than was fashionably proper. Then out of nowhere, he just abandoned her. There are even rumors that she was with child. She was put away, though discreetly, and hasn’t been seen in public afterward. Since then, he has built quite the reputation of a ladies’ man.”
    “He certainly has the looks and charm for it,” Lady Hawthorne said with a giggle.
    “Despite the fact that it is well known that his father was a poor overseer of their estate, he has refused to marry.”
    “So his father was the one to leave him destitute?” I asked.
    I felt comfort for some reason in knowing that he hadn’t been the irresponsible party.
    “Yes. I know the old Duke of Kent died when Kent was very young. He was under the care of his uncle until he came of age.”
    I felt sad for Kent. Growing up with no father in his life, his uncle must certainly have been a good substitution. I thought of my own father. No one could replace him.
    “Don’t you find it odd,” the duchess chimed in, “that even in his state he has chosen to live like a cad instead of marrying?”
    “It doesn’t sound like he is a cad at all from what you say. Even from the short time I have spent with him. Perhaps he is waiting for the right person.”
    They all had a good laugh over this. I looked between their faces, shocked.
    “In society,” Duchess said, again like she was talking to a little girl, “looking after your family and title should supersede any silly romantic desires. He is just as irresponsible as his father, choosing to waste his fortune and his sister’s chances at a good match. He is not a viable option for you.”
    She added this with finality and the conversation was over.

CHAPTER 9

    UNCERTAINTY

* * *
    I pondered over their words for the next few weeks. I still held on to my belief that he wasn’t some cad looking to take any girl willing to give themselves. He just hadn’t seemed that way at all at the ball. I am sure that my opinion of him was slightly swayed by my instant attraction to him, and the fact that I liked his sister so much, but I still thought I could deduce a sound judgment of him.
    The duchess could only keep me busy for so long before she began to run out of things to do every moment of every day. I suppose she was satisfied that she had thwarted what she saw as a bad match and soon left me to my own devices.
    It was on one of these days that I was sitting in the sunroom reading a book when a caller came. It had been weeks since I had seen Kent, but he still had the same fluttering effect on my heart the moment he stepped into the drawing room.
    “I hope I am not interrupting anything?” he asked as he came to sit.
    It was still early afternoon, so I called for some tea and light pastries.
    “Not at all. I was just enjoying an afternoon to myself.”
    “Have you been very busy then?” he asked with an auburn raised eyebrow.
    “Well, the duchess has been kind enough to take me on all her various outings.”
    “You don’t sound too happy about it?”
    I bit my tongue. I had really tried to hid my sarcasm and sound sincere. I was never good at lying, though. I gave out a long breath and relaxed against my chair. “This isn’t at all how I’d expected it.”
    “And how was that?” he asked, intrigued.
    “I don’t know. I spent so much time with Henry, that’s my other brother, and we got along so well. I guess I just expected the same here.”
    “Family can be a complicated thing,” he said.
    “You and Ettie get along well, though. Don’t you?”
    “Yes, I suppose so. She can be a thorn in my side,” he said with a smirk, “but what little sister isn’t.”
    “I can’t believe it is that bad.”
    “No, not really. We have only had each