Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) Read Online Free Page B

would wish nothing better for Elisabeth. I will not interfere with that.”
    “There is nothing there to be interfering with. A few dances doesn’t amount to something .”
    “No, but it is the beginning, and I would say by the way they were looking at each other that it is most certainly the start of something. Look, Mother,” I added with a deep sigh. “I did as you asked. He just isn’t the one for me.”
    I closed my book and put it back on the shelf. I touched the soft leather binding one last time, as if saying goodbye to a friend. It was worn with time and feathery to the touch. I turned back to face my mother. She was giving me a very sour look.
    “All this nonsense of the one or love is just utterly ridiculous, and I won’t stand to have it spoken in my presence again,” Mother retorted sharply.
    “I need to go, I don't want to be late.”
    “Late for what?” Mother asked, clearly not done with her reprimand.
    “I have promised to visit Elisabeth for tea,” I lied through my teeth. Anything to get me out of this house and away from her wrath.
    “She is your enemy now,” Mother said, setting her tea down with a clang.
    “Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” I laughed. She may have guilt tripped me into giving this season a proper effort, but she wasn’t going to keep me from one of my few dearest friends.
    “You are going to change first, right?” Mother asked.
    She always seemed to poke at me one way or another when she saw that she would be losing a battle. Either it would be my dress, my hair, or something that needed to be repaired in some fashion or another. I knew what she was referring to, because I was still in my light cotton morning dress. I decided to let her win this one, and made my way upstairs before escaping the house.
    Thirty minutes later, I was walking down the street, Josie walking behind, as I made my way to Elisabeth’s house. I had chosen my light green walking dress. Mother hated it. She said that particular shade of green made my skin look sickly. It was a small victory. I may have changed for her, but I would not do so in a way she deemed satisfactory.
    I had just made it to the front gate of Elisabeth’s house when she came strolling out herself.
    “Mary, what are you doing here?” she exclaimed with a genuine smile.
    “I know I didn’t send a note ahead or anything, and I guess I should have told you I was coming. I just had to get away from my mother. I thought we could have tea together.”
    “I’m sorry, I wish I could, but I am actually on my way to meet Lord Dunlop,” Elisabeth said, doing her best to hide her glowing excitement.
    “Are you now?” I nudged, adding to her joy.
    “Yes, he sent me a note this morning asking me to come to tea at his place.”
    “How perfectly lovely,” I said happily. “I am truly happy for you.”
    “Are you?” she asked with concern. “I know your mother was particularly pushy about him and this season for you. I hate to think that I am just making things more difficult for you.”
    “Of course I am! Don’t worry about Mother. I could marry the King and she would still find some fault in me.”
    “Actually,” Elisabeth said, hooking her arm through mine as she exited her front gate. “I think you should come with me.”
    “I’m not going to go to your invitation,” I gasped as she began to pull me down the street unwillingly.
    “Now hear me out. It would appease your mother. You wouldn’t even have to tell her that I was there.”
    “But you are, and it would be very strange.”
    “Well, it’s going to be strange already,” she mumbled under her breath. I looked at her inquisitively. “Dunlop informed me, apologetically, that the Duke would be joining us for tea. So this way, it won’t be too awkward, because there will be four of us and not three.”
    “I think I would much rather it just be the three of us and awkward than to have to make conversation with His Grace again,” I muttered under my breath.
    I