“You really know how to cut me, Lady Dorothy.”
“I’m Lady Dorothy now? You’re not interested in flirting with me anymore?”
“Do you want me to?”
Dorothy bit her lip and glanced away, reaching for a slice of bread. Lucas watched her as she took a bite, brushing crumbs off her robe. How could she make something as simple as eating bread so arousing?
He resisted the urge to squirm. Hopefully, it was dimly lit enough that Dorothy wouldn’t notice his discomfort.
“Well, I’m sure you can find someone to marry.” Lucas paused, feeling a knot of jealousy in his stomach. “Like Burville.”
“What?”
“He pays a lot of attention to you, and I’ve seen that he barely looks away whenever you’re around. If someone were willing to marry you, it would be him.”
God, that was horrible to say. Lucas felt nauseous thinking about someone else with Dorothy.
She’s not yours, you fool. You had an opportunity, and you messed it up.
I’m not going to mess up my second chance. I’m going to take it.
Dorothy looked perplexed.
“But … Gabriel and I are just friends. We could never end up getting married.”
“Are you sure about that? He seems rather protective of you.”
“That’s because we’re childhood friends, and he’s aware of who you are. He’s just looking out for me.”
“So, you think it’s alright for him to hover around you like a little dog, yapping at me whenever I try to come near you?”
Dorothy arched an eyebrow.
“And what about you? You have your own little dog, don’t you?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Lady Marcia. She’s made it very clear that you and she will be together.” Something flickered in her expression as she sat forward. “From what I’ve seen, you two would be perfect together.”
Lucas frowned. It sounded like Dorothy was jealous. He didn’t like the doubt in her eyes, either.
“You think Lady Marcia and I are going to become a couple?”
“Aren’t you? From how she talked, she made it clear that you were going to become hers by the end of the holiday.”
Lucas snorted.
“Not a chance. I don’t want anything to do with her beyond being acquaintances.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really. If I was my younger self, I might have considered her for a bit of fun, but she’s not the type of woman I would associate with beyond just a few small escapades.”
Dorothy’s expression said she didn’t believe him. Lucas shuffled closer and touched her hand.
“I mean it, Dorothy …”
“Don’t.” Dorothy pulled her hand. “Are you seeing me as a challenge as well, then? Someone to seduce and toy with until you’re bored?”