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“Dorothy!”
But Dorothy didn’t look around as she hurried towards the house. Pierce saw her coming first and sat up. He nudged Frederica, who also turned as Dorothy approached. Immediately, she was on her feet and hurrying over to her friend.
“Dorothy, are you alright?”
“I … I …” Dorothy didn’t look at her mother. She couldn’t look at him. “I need to get out of here. I can’t stay here.”
Frederica didn’t need to ask anything; her friend knew her well enough. She nodded and took her arm.
“Let’s go for a walk.”
“What’s wrong, Dorothy?” Lady Bedford sat up, frowning at her daughter. “You look very pale. Did something happen with Lord Dashwood?”
A part of Dorothy wanted to tell her everything, but that would be asking for trouble. She didn’t want to deal with all of that judgement right now. Also, her parents would certainly force her to marry Lucas. That was not happening.
She managed a smile, but even that was wobbly.
“I’m just not feeling very well, Mother. I think it’s the sun.”
“Then you should be going up to your room, not going for a walk.” Lady Bedford nodded at Frederica. “Take her inside, Frederica. Make sure she rests.”
“Yes, My Lady.” Frederica squeezed Dorothy’s arm, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Tell me everything once we’re alone. I’m here for you.”
Hearing that almost had Dorothy bursting into tears. She really needed that right now. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Lucas approaching the terrace, picking up his pace when he saw she was leaving. Dorothy looked away, fiercely blinking away tears. If she stayed and let Lucas talk again, she would end up wanting to be with him and agree to whatever he wanted.
It scared her that he had a hold over her and wasn’t even trying.
“Mr Cowper, would you take Lord Dashwood away?” Frederica said before Lady Bedford could open her mouth. “Lady Dorothy has taken ill. She should be left alone for now.”
“Of course.” Pierce nodded, giving Dorothy a worried frown. “Forgive me, My Lady. I did warn him.”
He did warn him? What did that mean? Before Dorothy could say anything, Frederica was tugging her into the house. Maybe that was a good thing; she didn’t want to hear Lucas’ explanation to her mother. If he mentioned the proposal, Dorothy knew she would be urged to consider it, if not take it altogether.
It was like her mother had completely forgotten what she and Bedford promised her. Like she had no control left.
Dorothy and Frederica were silent as they went upstairs, Frederica passing Dorothy’s parasol to one of the footmen after it almost knocked a vase onto the floor. They entered Dorothy’s bedchamber and Frederica led her to the bed.
“Sit down here.” She urged Dorothy to sag onto the mattress. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I … I need …” Dorothy couldn’t hold it back anymore. She burst into tears. “I don’t know what I need anymore.”
Frederica didn’t respond. She just sat beside her friend and drew Dorothy into her arms.
“It’s alright. Just let it out.” She rubbed Dorothy’s back. “Talk when you’re ready. I’m here.”
Those gentle words just made Dorothy cry even more. It was like all her emotions over the previous weeks had broken through the dam, and once she started, she just couldn’t stop.
She didn’t know what to do anymore. And Dorothy didn’t like it.
#
Lucas stood at the edge of the ballroom and watched as the other guests moved around. The atmosphere was gay, the conversation almost as loud as the music, and everyone was smiling. The end of the Season ball was always a big event. Everyone who was anyone in the immediate area always came together for the last time before the Season ended.
Normally, Lucas would enjoy it as well. He did have fun at these balls. But this time, it was different. He didn’t want to be here when he couldn’t bring himself to be jovial.
This was going to be the only time he would be able to see Dorothy in two weeks, and Lucas was getting impatient. Her mother had told him that it would be for the best that he didn’t return for a while after Dorothy hurried away close to tears, but when he went back a few days later, his calling card was returned with a message that he wasn’t welcome.
Lucas had felt like he had been punched in the gut when he heard that from the butler. Dorothy didn’t want to see him.
