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Frederica gave her a knowing smile. Dorothy didn’t like it when her friend looked at her like this.
“Frederica, take that look off your face.”
“What look?”
“That one that says you know me better than I do myself. It’s really annoying.”
“Only because you know it’s true.” Frederica laughed. “Come off it, Dorothy. You are that determined to hide the fact that you actually like him?”
“I don’t like him!”
“I don’t believe that at all. Besides, you’ve kissed him, and you didn’t slap him. I think that says something.”
“WHAT?” Dorothy froze. “How do you know about that? I never said anything!”
“Dashwood told me.”
“He did WHAT?”
“Don’t worry, Pierce and I aren’t going to say anything. He just told us of your interactions, and he admits that he went about things in the wrong way. True, you two shouldn’t have been alone like that, but …” Frederica fanned herself. “My, it sounds very romantic, sneaking around at night stealing kisses.”
Dorothy wanted to bury herself under the covers again. God, this couldn’t get more embarrassing.
“That doesn’t mean I like him,” she murmured.
“Dorothy, stop it. I listened to Dashwood describe your interactions, and I could tell from those that you actually like him.”
“He could have been exaggerating. He is a man, after all.”
“Not from what Pierce says. He tells me that Dashwood isn’t that good at making up stories. He’s pretty much as honest as they come when recounting something.” Frederica smiled. “He really does like you, Dorothy. And you may not be willing to admit it, but you like him as well.”
Dorothy didn’t like how everyone except herself seemed to know what she wanted. Everything in her was in turmoil, and it was leaving her confused and upset. She searched her head for another argument.
“But … what about Gabriel? He was paying a lot of attention to me. What am I going to do with him?”
“So what? As far as we’re concerned, Gabriel is just a friend. He has no claim over you, even if you see him as a better catch.”
“Are you trying to disparage me from turning my back on Gabriel? He’s your friend as well.”
“I know, but I still think Dashwood would be a better choice for you.”
Dorothy didn’t believe that, but Frederica was very convincing. She really didn’t know what to do anymore. Dashwood was her former fiance, and he had been disrespectful by fighting back and running away. She didn’t want to be around someone who would behave in that way without seeing her.
But then she remembered their few interactions, out of sight of everyone. He seemed more down-to-earth, considerate of her opinions. And when he kissed her …
It was the kisses making her lean towards what Frederica was suggesting. It had to be. Everything else meant nothing when she remembered how Dashwood kissed her.
Dorothy shook her head.
“I’m not doing it, Frederica. He’s just looking to seduce me so he can call me another conquest. And because I’m stubborn, he sees me as a challenge. Once he gets what he wants, he will move on to someone else.”
“Do you seriously believe he’s doing that?”
“That’s what I think.”
Frederica sighed and shook her head. She slipped off the bed.
“I guess I can’t change your mind, then. I could go into how you’re completely wrong, and there’s nothing wrong with exploring something with him because he will treat you with respect, more than you deserve.”
