“Oh really?” Bonnie helped her out of her skirts, then went to work on the slapdash corset closures. “Then what does he feel for you?”
“Lust, perhaps, although why a man such as him could feel that forme…”
He didn’t have to feel lust for her, did he? Because she’d all but thrown herself at him. And he, being a gorgeous and virile man, had accepted.
Bonnie didn’t contradict her though. Instead, she asked thoughtfully, as she pulled Olive’s damp chemise over her head, “What doeshesay about such things? I mean, does he consider you undesirable?”
“Well…no.” In fact, he said wonderful things about her.
“So perhaps him being ‘in lust’ enough to make love to you is a bit more complex than you are making it. Here is a dry chemise. What does he say about you?”
Olive’s voice was muffled as she pulled the dry linen over her head. “He told me I am beautiful. And smart. And a worthwhile partner.”
When she emerged, Bonnie was standing there, her hands on her hips, looking exasperated. “And you did not believe him?”
“What?” Olive frowned in confusion.
“The man has said wonderful things about you. He cares for you; all of us can see it. But you, who has never believed in yourself, cannot see it!” She threw up her hands and stomped for the wardrobe which held Olive’s gowns. “Youarebrilliant, Olive. You are intelligent and funny, and yes, a little bit different, but so am I, and Ihaveto believe I am loveable, so thereforeyoumust be loveable as well.”
It was a logical argument.
Still, Olive weakly protested, “You are my friend. Of course you would feel that way.”
“Yes, and Phineas is your friend too.” Bonnie pulled a blue day gown from its place. “And he could be more, if you could get your admittedly brilliant head out of your arse and accept that.”
“He is going to leave me.”
She probably shouldn’t have blurted it out, but when Bonnie turned, holding the gown, with an incredulous look on her face, Olive sighed and explained all about the letter she’d found in Phineas’s jacket pocket.
Frowning, Bonnie helped her dress, and Olive was grateful she’d accepted her friend’s help. She felt drained—empty—now that she’d shared all of her feelings, and was glad Willow and Hazel weren’t the ones here judging her.
When she was dressed, Olive’s new friend hummed. “And he never once said anything to you about leaving soon?”
“No. He let me trot off with him and pretend at being an archaeologist—he let me throw my body at him—without mentioning he will be leaving me. Us.”
His family, his sister, his new brother. LeavingOlive.
“Then did it ever occur to you, Miss-Brilliant-Scholar, that he is not accepting the invitation? It does not seem to me that he is lying to you or taking advantage of you…but more as if he just forgot the letter, or has decided not to act on it.”
“No,” Olive said flatly, turning so her friend could button her up. “No, that did not occur to me. Because it is wrong.”
“Or…” Bonnie spun her back around when she was finished and tapped Olive on the nose. “I am right, and you are just embarrassed I thought of a theory you have not.”
Rolling her eyes, Olive crossed her arms. “My theory is more logical.”
“But it is wrong. I am certain that Phineas received that letter before you started on your”—she waggled her fingers dismissively—”digging in the dirt adventure. Hecaresfor you, Olive. He would rather spend time with you than worry about the Society for Thingy-whatever.”
“Archaeology,” mumbled Olive vaguely, but she wasn’t really paying attention. She was busy thinking about Bonnie’s argument. Was it possible Phineaswasn’tleaving her? Was it possible he reallydidthink she was brilliant and worth staying for?
The time they’d spent excavating that winding riverbank had been some of the happiest hours of her life. And that had been because he’d treated her as an equal. Someone worth loving.
Her eyes widened.
“Olive…” When Bonnie placed her hands on her shoulders, Olive blinked and focused. “I know we are new acquaintances, but now that I have seen you mostly nude, and helped you through a crisis—you are welcome, by the way—I feel compelled to offer advice, so shut up and listen.”
Olive blinked as Bonnie took a deep breath and launched into her lecture.
“If books have taught me anything, it is that life is…well, it is twisty and turny, is it not? It can bend back on itself sometimes, like a lazy, slow river, or sweep us all along like an angry, fast one. But if you have the love of someone—a friend, a family member, or if you are lucky enough, a good man—then the twists and turns do not matter as much. You and I are friends, and will remain so, and you have your sisters, no matter what happens, but…” She leaned in and gave Olive a quick hug. “But you could also have Phineas. And that is worth fighting for.”
