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“Why does a scolding sound worse coming from a close friend?”
“Because we care more than anyone else.” Frederica rubbed a hand over her face. “I’ll have to get Teresa to help me, but I have some salve in my room. We’ll get you sorted in no time at all.”
“Why do you need Teresa?”
“Because we need to adjust your dresses to hide the bruise. I’m sure you don’t want people to ask where it came from, and while I can do adjustments, I will need some help.” Frederica gave Dorothy a knowing look. “You’re not really any help in that regard.”
Dorothy felt about two inches tall. Now she was beginning to regret confiding in her friend. She sighed and looked at the floor.
“Alright,” she mumbled.
“Dorothy?”
Dorothy didn’t look up as Frederica came to stand in front of her. Then hands were on her shoulders, and Dorothy felt the warmth from her fingers seeping into her. Biting her lips, she tried not to look up; she didn’t want to see the look on her friend’s face.
“What’s troubling you, Dorothy?” Frederica’s voice was gentle. “Is it because you were hurt? Or because you were around Dashwood?”
“I don’t know … both, maybe?”
Frederica sighed and squeezed her shoulders.
“While I agree that Dashwood was a cad for fighting this engagement like this, at least you can give him credit for helping you when you needed it. You would have been in serious trouble otherwise.”
“That’s what he said to me.” Dorothy swallowed and looked up. “What if those rumours that Lady Marcia spoke about are true?”
“How does that affect you now? He’s not your fiance, is he? Nor are you getting married to him anytime soon.” Frederica removed her hands from Dorothy’s shoulders. “Don’t fret so much about it. If you’re unsure whether those rumours are true, just avoid him. Personally, I would take anything Lady Marcia said with a grain of salt. She’s just trying to make sure there isn’t any competition for his attention.”
“By slandering his name?”
“It’s not as uncommon as you think.”
“But wouldn’t that backfire? Wouldn’t that make the person being slandered undesirable for the one who wants them?”
“I don’t know about that. I just know it’s a tactic.” Frederica giggled. “Lady Marcia must think we’re competing for Lord Dashwood’s heart. Far from it, so she’s just making herself look like a fool.”
Dorothy didn’t know what to say to that. It was slander, but how did they know if it was true? Given how Dashwood had treated her during the engagement without seeing her face and then spoke about how he wouldn’t have fought about it so much if he had known how attractive she was, Dorothy was more inclined to believe what Lady Marcia said. It made sense.
Having seen her, he was going to try and claim her as another conquest. Dorothy would not let that happen.
“Dorothy?” Frederica waved a hand in front of her face. “Are you there? You wandered off again.”
“Oh, just … thinking.”
“Don’t let that woman get to you. She’s a viper, and she knows it. Also, she’s the biggest flirt I’ve ever seen.”
“She is?”
“You should have heard her since she arrived, especially when she was talking to Dashwood. I’ve never seen anyone drop hints as big as those in my life. She even did it in front of Aunt Annabelle, and she was shocked at the suggestion.”
Dorothy’s mouth fell open.
“She did it in front of your aunt?”
“Yes. Aunt Annabelle did scold her, but I think Lady Marcia didn’t care. She’s the type who just doesn’t care.”
“Why is she here?”
“I think she’s meant to be finding a husband, and Uncle Mark is doing a favour for her father. I don’t really know. All I do know is that Lady Marcia has set her sights on Dashwood, and she’s making sure everyone else gives him a wide berth.”
