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sp; "He's a nice man," she whispers, looking at the floor and blushing.
Instantly, jealousy overpowers me. I glare at her, not sure whether I hate her or myself more. Myself, for getting upset, and her, for obviously liking Dex
"He's a boy," I correct her bitterly. "Don't forget, he's only nineteen."
"He has more power than most of the men in this city," Minnie mutters. "And, unlike them, he uses it for good."
"What do you mean?"
I furrow my brows. I could say a long of things about Dexter Booth, but I sure as fuck wouldn't describe him as a good man.
"I shouldn't say." Minnie twists her white apron nervously. "I'm sorry, I never should have mentioned it."
"Well, you have to tell me now," I demand, narrowing my eyes at her. "I want to know."
She looks torn between doing as she's told and denying me, but I know I've won when she apologizes softly. I feel a little bad for making her, but not for too long. I guess that's that controlling Oakes blood running through my veins, I think bitterly.
"Mr. Booth has defended me b-before," she mutters.
"From?"
"From the men who..." She swallows thickly. "From the men who like to take advantage of the help."
My stomach twists at her words.
"Are there men bothering you, Minnie?"
She shakes her hand dismissively, as if it's nothing. But I'm worried. She's such a sweet, ethereal being. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt her… except maybe Brazen.
I've seen enough of Eden Falls to know the men here thrive on ripping away girls' innocence. I have no doubt Mignonette is dealing with the same thing I am.
Except, as unlikely as that seems, Dexter seems to be her savior instead of her tormentor.
"So you like him?" I ask, hating myself for sounding like I'm attacking her.
"Of course. He's a kind man." She gives me a polite smile, realizing how her words have come off when I grimace. "Oh, not in that way, of course. He wouldn't even look at me twice, not in that way. I mean, he was so blindly in love with..."
Her eyes flit back to the picture frame, and jealousy bubbles in the pit of my stomach yet again as she shuts up, looking guilty.
"You can say it," I spit out. "Lily Anna."
"Yes," she whispers. "They truly loved one another. I think it broke Mr. Booth when Lily Anna..."
She looks away, closing her eyes tightly. It's obviously hurting her as well, but a morbid part of me wants to know more. Why was Lily Anna so special? Why does everyone around here act like she was some kind of saint? She was obviously damaged. No sane person throws themselves off a cliff.
"Were you her maid, too?" I ask, and Minnie nods. "So, is this awkward for you? Being my maid after knowing her?"
"A little." She smiles shyly. "But... we never talked like this. Like we are now."
"Why not?"
"Well, Mr. Booth would never allow it, of course," Minnie shrugs. "But also... Miss Lily Anna didn't like me much, I don't think. She never connected or bonded with me. She didn't care about me."
"Why is that?" I demand, making her flinch.
I want to regret my words, but I'm desperate to know more about the phantom girl whose place I've taken.
