A sharp rapping on my door brought my head up. Without waiting for a response, Kitty burst into my room. She must have come home from spending time with Lydia because she no longer wore the vigil attire from earlier and held two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
She marched over and handed me a cup, then gave me a stern look. “I demand you tell me what’s going on with you and Frank Churchill right this minute.”
I placed my phone screen down on my comforter and gave her my most innocent expression. “Nothing.”
She slid onto my bed, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. “Don’t nothing me, Mary Bennet. I caught you making out with him in a dark alley instead of being at a vigil with your family.”
I stared at her, unable to tell if she was happy or infuriated by her supposed discovery. Steam from my mug curled up, fogging my glasses. “We talked at the Netherfield party.”
“Since when do you go out of your way to talk to people?”
“I talk to people,” I said.
“Let me amend my statement. Since when do you go out of your way to talk to the guy you like?”
I flushed. “It just happened.”
“And you happened to mention that you wanted to solve Isabella’s death and that you planned on breaking into the Ravenswood’s shop, and he readily volunteered to come along?”
“Something like that.”
Kitty’s lips pressed together as she observed me.
I took a taste of my hot chocolate to hide my warming cheeks. “Frank sensed someone coming. We didn’t know it was you, so we—”
Her shoulders fell in relief. “Then it was all pretend.”
I flinched. “Because there is no other scenario in which Frank Churchill might want to kiss me?”
Kitty’s eyes grew round. “No, of course, that’s not what I meant. I was…” She sighed and raked a hand through her hair. “Look, I realize you’ve had a crush on him for forever, but you must understand by now that he’s nothing but a flirt. Whatever he said to you today, he’s probably said to dozens of other girls.”
An annoyance I didn’t often feel toward Kitty stirred in me on Frank’s behalf. “Just because he’s charming and popular doesn’t mean he can’t be sincere.”
“Yes, but he’s a high fae who can get whoever he wants.”
“Maybe he wants me.”
“Maybe.” She bit her lip, her gaze darting to my hands, which were clutching the warm mug so hard they ached.
“Why can’t you accept that Frank might actually like me?”
“If he did, then he’s much smarter than I’m giving him credit for.” She gave me a faint smile. “Frank would be the luckiest guy in the world to end up with you, but I can’t help but worry that you’re only the new flavor of the week for him.”
The pity in her eyes made my heart twist. “I have a long day at my internship tomorrow. I’m going to go to bed.”
“Wait.” She put a hand on my arm. “Hurting you is the last thing I want to do, Mary, but I’d be a terrible sister if I didn’t at least tell you I was worried. And Iam.”
I kept my gaze on the pillow I held close to my chest.
She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Do you remember Graham?”
My head snapped up in surprise. Graham had been a taboo subject after the idiot broke Kitty’s heart.
“All Lydia ever told me was how lucky I was to date him because he was so handsome, but you”—she squeezed my hand—“you shared your honest opinion of him, and if I’d listened to you earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten my heart broken.” She sucked in a shaky breath and met my gaze. “I don’t want Frank to be your Graham and me not to have said anything. You deserve more than that.”
I forced a smile. “Men certainly can make a mess of life.”
She let out a small laugh. “You can rely on a sister to fix your hair and your heart—men often get the first wrong and run when it’s the second.” She leaned forward, careful not to spill her drink, and gave me a hug. “I love you.”
