Page 2 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

She didn’t believe her own words, but they were for Hannah. Beatrice wished she could wed for love and get to know the man beforehand, but she had made her bed, so to speak, and she would lie in it.

“I know you still feel guilty about what happened, but you shouldn’t,” Hannah insisted. “What you did was understandable in many ways, but you didn’t know what would happen to Charlotte. That was not your fault, and it worked out well for our sister in the end. Perhaps the same will happen to you.”

“We can hope,” Beatrice said doubtfully. “For now, let’s not dwell on the past or the future but on the present. We are here to enjoy ourselves.”

And worrying about meeting the Baron will not change anything. I will meet my husband tonight, so I might as well enjoy the last few minutes of freedom I have.

“Come,” Phineas ordered. “We must thank our gracious host.”

He took off across the hall, and the three women followed him.

Robert Hawkins, the Earl of Pemberton, was their host for the evening. He had invited many families into his house for one of the first balls of the Season. He was twenty-nine years old and one of the most eligible bachelors in London. He now stood with Agnes Jennings, the daughter of the Viscount Willmington.

Beatrice kept a neutral expression as she approached the two, more to do with Agnes than anything else. Agnes had everything a woman could ever want, being brought up in luxury, but for some inexplicable reason, she had taken a dislike to Beatrice and Charlotte. She had debuted the same year as Charlotte, and she had become competitive while Charlotte had not. Beatrice had a way with words and could charm almost anyone—Agnes was jealous of that.

Beatrice prepared herself for the worst. She had seen some people since her reappearance, but not Agnes.

“Lord Pemberton, thank you for inviting us tonight,” Phineas said. “My daughters were very excited to attend.”

Robert nodded to Phineas. “Thank you, Lord Ramsbury. It is my pleasure to have you and your family here tonight. Allow me to introduce Miss Agnes Jennings, the daughter of the Viscount Willmington.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Phineas said.

More introductions were made for those who did not already know each other.

“It is pleasant to see you back in Society, Lady Beatrice,” Agnes noted. “You were gone for a long time, and they informed us all that you were sick.”

Before Beatrice could respond, Phineas cut in. “Yes, she was. My daughter had a long recovery, but she feels a lot better now. We appreciate your concern.”

“We all missed her terribly,” Agnes added.

Beatrice wanted to roll her eyes at Agnes’s words—some might have missed her, but not Agnes, and the ton must have gossiped terribly about her.

“Lady Beatrice, were you not supposed to marry the Duke of Hayward? I don’t understand why your sister married him instead,” Agnes continued.

“We have gotten off-track.” Robert gave an apologetic smile. “This is not the time for idle gossip, Miss Jennings. I am sure Lord Ramsbury would rather talk about other things or have refreshments. Yes, let me show you where our cognac is, Lord Ramsbury. I do not bring out my very best stuff with so many people here, of course, but I am sure what we have will be to your liking.”

Agnes fell into step with Beatrice and Hannah as they followed the two men toward the refreshments table.

“I am to marry the Duke of Walford, of course,” Agnes stated as if she had been questioned about her status. “Some say he is cold and stern, but they do not know him like I do.”

Beatrice shivered at the mention of his name. She was not on the best of terms with Agnes, but she worried Agnes did not know what she was getting herself into.

“So, you know him well?” Beatrice asked, detecting some lies within the boasting.

She had heard tales of the Duke of Walford as well. She had not met him, and with how many talked of his cruelness, she did not want to.

“Yes, I am enamored with him,” Agnes said.

“How long have you been courting?” Beatrice asked.

She should not care about Agnes’s relationship, but the woman had irked her numerous times in the past and had tried to stir up trouble with her questions before Lord Pemberton had stepped in.

“Oh, I forget how long we have been courting,” Agnes replied. “Long enough to know we are right for each other.”

Perhaps they deserve each other.

Beatrice did not like thinking such spiteful thoughts, but she was still ticked off about being forced to wed a man she had never met, and there was no hope of escaping it this time. If she ran away again, she would ruin her father’s reputation. Worse still, she feared Hannah would be forced to take her place if she did run.

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