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

this man.
    He pulled back first, leaning his forehead against mine as we both caught our breath.
    “After that engagement, I promised myself that I would never marry, unless there was love between me and my wife. I had all but given up hope. Then I met you.”
    I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the driver tapped the roof of the carriage. I wiggled off of Kent’s lap and waited as he stuck his head out to talk to the driver.
    “We are coming to Leicester now,” he said sticking his head back in without any hint that he’d seen anything untoward.
    The carriage began to slow as we came into town. It was still early in the evening. We had made good time. We couldn’t have been more than a half an hour behind Ettie. We drove through town, looking for Lord Byron’s carriage. I was beginning to lose hope. What if they went on and took the risk of traveling day and night? Finally, just as we were reaching the north edge of town, we spotted his carriage. It was next to a small tavern and inn.
    It certainly wasn’t the nicest of establishments in town, but I guessed it was the most inconspicuous. The driver pulled up next to the front door and Kent emerged. With his hand reaching out to me, he helped me down from the carriage.
    “Are you ready for this?” he asked.
    “I just hope she doesn’t hate us for it.”
    “I’ve held my tongue long enough in regards to Byron. I see no other choice but to tell her what I know. She will understand when I do.”

CHAPTER 14

    MAKING PLANS

* * *
    W e found Ettie and Lord Byron sitting at a table and waiting for a meal. Her green eyes enlarged to saucers when she saw Kent walk in. Lord Byron stood, blocking us from her.
    “Come on, Your Grace, let’s not make a scene here,” he said before any exchange could be made.
    Kent stared down at him without speaking a word. It all happened so fast that I don’t think I even saw it coming. Kent, with one swift punch, knocked Byron to the ground.
    Ettie stood and screamed in horror. “Edward! What do you think you are doing?”
    Byron stood up though, and put up his fists, ready for a fight. The room was already fairly empty of patrons, but the few that were there scattered out of the way. I ran around the men and came to stand next to Ettie.
    We watched in horror as the two men circled each other, fists at the ready.
    “How could you tell him where we were?” Ettie asked. “I thought you were going to help me?”
    “Trust me, Ettie. We are. When Kent told me why he’d denied Byron the union, I knew we had to stop you before it’s too late. You don’t know what kind of a man he really is.”
    After a few circles, Byron took a swing at Kent. He easily dodged it and two more. Kent was playing with him, letting him exert all his energy on these useless blows. Finally, Kent came in and landed another blow across Byron’s jaw. This time, when he hit the ground, he didn’t come back up.
    “You could never beat me at Gentleman Joe’s, so why do you think you could now?” he spat. “You stay away from my sister. You stay away from my family. I have tolerated you long enough. If I ever see your face again, I will expose you.”
    He turned away from Lord Byron and extended a hand to me. With one arm around Ettie’s waist, I followed him out of the tavern.
    It was much too late at night to drive back to London. We would have to stay over in Leicester. We drove through town in Kent’s carriage until we found a better suited establishment and went inside. On the ride there, Kent explained to his sister all that had transpired and what he knew about Lord Byron.
    When we got to the inn, Kent had a room made up for himself and one for me and Ettie to share. He was smart. If I shared a room with his sister, there would be no questioning my maidenhood.
    I sat on the bed next to her as she cried in my arms. “I just don’t understand. It was all just to save his reputation.”
    “I suppose in some ways, yes. If he was married