Jess (JustMaybePerfect)'s Reviews > The Runaway Duchess

Lavinia is a darling of the ton… until her father betrays her finance’s family. Her father is imprisoned. She and her mother are outcasts.

A horrid touchy old Duke offers for Lavinia and Lavinia’s mother agrees. Having avoided her wedding night by making herself ill, Lavinia gets off the train taking her to her honeymoon to get some fresh air.

A young man approaches. Neal Traymayne, he says he is, and she must be Mrs. Pendrake. He’s mistaken her for someone else. Lavinia does not correct the mistake.

The lie has quite the snowball effect. A break from the train turns into a week on the run with a man who thinks she’s someone else but has somehow fallen in love with the real Lavinia anyway.

Secrets are revealed. Feelings are hurt. Lies are forgiven.

A number of shocking events follow their week together. New friends are made, villains are vanquished, self-doubt attacks, and family obligations get in the way.

But somehow Lowell gets Neal and Lavinia back together with neither having sacrificed any of the best parts of themselves.

This is a delightful opposites attract, secret identity, class differences, “ruined” woman, bad family vs. amazing family, historical romance.