Redemption of the Duke Read Online Free

you,” she said tightly and swept past him.
    And then she saw her friends staring at her in shock, and she had no idea how long
     they’d been there or what they’d overheard. She hadn’t known them long—what would
     they think about her? What would they say?
    Jane took a limping step toward her. “Faith, that man . . .” she began, before trailing
     off.
    Faith glanced over her shoulder, but saw only the duke’s back as he walked away.
    “He is the Duke of Rothford,” Charlotte said slowly, her brows lowered in concern.
    “I know. He introduced himself.”
    Jane’s mouth sagged open. “Introduced himself . . .”
    Faith would not hide this truth from her friends, especially since his behavior had
     made her look suspect. And he had not asked her to keep his secrets. “He believes
     his misjudgment in battle caused the death of my brother, and he offers his condolences
     and his help.”
    Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “That is quite the revelation.”
    “I refused him, of course. That would only make my position even more precarious.”
    Jane licked her lips. “Does he want you to . . . consort with him?”
    Both Faith and Charlotte shot her outraged glances.
    “Of course not!” Faith insisted. “He cannot possibly help me, and I would not accept.”
    “Still,” Charlotte mused, “I am reluctantly impressed that he has a conscience after
     all.”
    “A guilty one,” Faith insisted. “My brother . . . my brother knew he risked his life
     for the Crown, I know, but to think he might be alive today—” Her voice caught on
     her grief and her regrets. She and her brother hadn’t been close, with parents who
     raised them without any discipline, in a manner that seemed uncaring. Mathias had
     had his friends and his own life, and left her alone. He hadn’t consulted anyone when
     he’d impulsively joined the army. She’d felt surprised when he remembered them each
     month with a portion of his earnings. That had made her feelings soften toward him.
     But his death had put an end to any chance they might reconcile as adults.
    “You cannot live in peace wishing the past were different,” Charlotte cautioned.
    “I know. But I can put it behind me and move ahead. I wish the duke would.”
    Jane cocked her head. “You almost sound as if he’s being persistent.”
    Faith hesitated, then admitted, “He is. He tried to offer me his help last week, and
     seems to want to ignore my wishes in the matter.”
    “Oh dear,” Jane breathed, glancing with worry at Charlotte.
    “I will ignore him,” Faith insisted. “He will come to realize he must look to God
     for forgiveness, not me.”
    “But . . . he is a duke,” Charlotte reminded her. “They are creatures who believe
     they can always have their way.”
    “Not this time.”
    But her friends didn’t look convinced.
    A dam watched Miss Cooper with her friends from the concealment of a wooded copse. He
     logically understood that he’d offered his help—twice—and been refused.
    He couldn’t blame her—and he couldn’t accept it, either. Maybe he’d thought it would
     be simple: settle a sum of money upon her and ease his conscience. But from her every
     expression, he knew she would not accept that kind of help.
    There was something about Miss Faith Cooper that seemed . . . fascinating. Approaching
     her friends, she’d moved with a calm grace that to him seemed to signify great control.
     As the three women spoke, their expressions ranged from serious to concerned, and
     he knew that was because of him. She had no reason to fear him, and neither did they.
     He would find a way to make her realize he only meant to help her.
    Yet she seemed accepting of her life, the life he’d helped bring about. Well, he couldn’t
     have it.
    She was younger than he’d first thought, and he wondered if she took pains to appear
     other than her true age. Her black hair, already the severe color of night against
     her pale complexion, was