Once Bitten, Twice Mine (Tales of Monstrous Love #2)

Chapter 1

After months of careful planning, Caroline Blythe’s engagement party was perfect, but she felt no satisfaction at the achievement.

As she looked around the room, everyone she loved, hated, or was indifferent about was there.

Her parents were waltzing on the dance floor, eyes only for one other.

Her girlhood rival Sally Perkins fumed by the punch bowl, angry that Caroline was marrying before her.

Her best friend, Miss Diya Evans, was holding court for a gaggle of young men already smitten.

All of which should have made her happy, but she felt nothing.

“You should be very proud of your work, my sweet. Our engagement party is a smashing success.”

“Thank you.” Caroline flashed a polite smile to her fiancé, Edgar Andrews. “Everyone does seem to be enjoying themselves.”

The compliment was appreciated, but it didn’t give her the spark of warmth she had once hoped. They had been betrothed for six weeks and courting for almost twelve, but their union was inevitable. Edgar had never been shy about his feelings for her, not even when they were children.

And once she reached four and twenty without being married, the whispers around them got louder until Caroline finally said yes.

“I can only imagine how beautiful our wedding will be. It will be the event of the season.”

“Hopefully it isn’t too much to live up to.”

“Impossible,” Edgar said, lifting the back of her hand to his lips. “I already know it will be perfect.”

It would be. Caroline had the most in-demand modiste in London making her dress. Madame Gavreau was even coming out to Wiltshire for the final dress fitting. It was guaranteed she would have the best wedding dress in the county.

Her dress this evening was spectacular. It was a pale lavender with violet trim, and a matching silk brocade bustle. Her blonde hair was rolled and coiled on her head with intricately carved combs that matched her gold engagement ring.

What was most impressive was that she repaired the crumbling crown molding in the ballroom that morning so none of her guests would notice how worn their grand house had become.

“Do you have a date in mind for the wedding?”

“Not yet, but I’m hoping we won’t have to wait much longer, my sweet. Mr. Hawkins said they would make me a partner in the firm after this next deal and, then we can marry.”

“It will all be worth it in the end,” she said, forcing a smile as her stomach churned.

Edgar smiled back and guilt prickled within her.

He wasn’t very tall—neither was she—but he had a full head of hair and all of his teeth.

More importantly, his dark brown eyes were kind, and he never raised his voice.

He got along with her parents and was genuine when he asked about her day.

His smile was pleasant, and he was a Cambridge-educated estate agent.

There were many worse choices, but he had never inspired any strong feelings within her.

After she got engaged, her mother sat her down and explained that there may be some urges in her or Edgar when they were alone, but even though they were to be married, she needed to control those urges until their wedding night.

Caroline still had not felt any such urges towards him. She would have asked her mother when the urges would come, but she worried her lack of passion was a failing of hers.

Urges weren’t entirely foreign to her, but it had been a long, long time since anyone had inspired them.

Marriage was her duty. For as long as she could remember, she knew she would one day marry a nice man who lived close by and have an heir or two to continue the family line. Never once had she resented her role, but now that it was here, she wasn’t quite sure.

A sharp pang of jealousy ran through her as she watched her parents dance while her fiancé walked off to speak with some of his work colleagues.

They had been married for over twenty-six years, but still looked at one another like they were newlyweds.

They were the most aspirational couple in town, if not the entire county.

Ironically, their love story was why her duty was so important.

Grace Blythe had been born Grace O’Doyle, a milliner’s assistant, when George Blythe opened the door to the store and to her mother’s heart.

He had been there to pick up a repaired hat for his viscountess mother, and over the next month he ordered five additional hats to keep seeing her.

As they told it, it was love at first sight, and they would have moved heaven or Earth to be together. As her grandparents told it, it was a torrid affair that ended with them running off to Gretna Green to get married when her father was supposed to be away at Oxford.

Her Blythe grandparents were furious their son married an Irish peasant, while her O’Doyle grandparents were furious their daughter married an English aristocrat.

Even worse, a Protestant. Neither side took it out on Caroline, but the expectation was that she would be the one to marry well to fix the mess her parents made.

“Really, Caro, you would be the one person who threw a perfect party, but didn’t enjoy it for a moment,” Diya chastised as she walked up to her.

“I am enjoying the party.”

Diya snorted. Caroline could lie to almost anyone, but never to Diya. Born only three days apart, they were destined to be best friends since their fathers were also best friends.

“Have you found a husband yet?”

“No,” Diya sighed. Her situation wasn’t as dire since her older brother kept their family’s sizable fortune afloat. “None of Edgar’s friends are inspiring any devotion.”

“His Cambridge friends will likely come to the wedding.”

“But solicitors are so boring.”

“As if you need any excitement.”

“I may not need it, but I want it.”

What Diya wanted beyond all else was a great love story. Her parents also had a fantastical love story as star-crossed lovers when her father was stationed in India with the British army.

“Security is important.” Caroline might not have ever dreamed of finding true love, but that didn’t mean her current situation didn’t sting.

Diya linked her arm in hers. “Without a doubt, really you are the smart one. Mr. Andrews is handsome and kind. Most importantly, he worships the very ground you walk on.”

Caroline smiled, exactly how she was trained. There were no cracks in her armor.

“He’s going away on business again after the party.”

“Really?” Diya frowned. “You’d think his firm would give him some time off this close to the wedding.”

“Once he makes partner, he won’t have to travel as much.”

“That will be helpful when it’s time for you to raise children.”

Caroline nodded as her throat closed. Children were part of her responsibility as well, but that was far more difficult to face. At least she was marrying a man with enough money that meant nannies, governesses, and boarding school were all in her future.

“There’s my favorite niece.”

Caroline’s spine straightened as it did every time her uncle and the current Viscount Blythe addressed her. Slowly, she and Diya turned to face him.

“I’m so glad you were able to make it this evening, Uncle. Father wasn’t sure if you’d be able to make it.”

“As if I would miss my favorite niece’s engagement party.”

“I’m your only niece.”

“Then it’s lucky that I like you so much.” He gave her a smarmy smile before turning his attention to Diya. “Good Evening, Miss Evans. I was sorry to have missed you at the house this summer.”

“Oh yes, I was quite disappointed to have missed it as well.” Diya removed her arm from Caroline’s and looked at her. “My mother just walked off the dance floor holding her head; I’d better check on her.”

Caroline could have kicked her for such an awful excuse as she scampered off, leaving her alone with her uncle. He wasn’t necessarily a bad man, but he was rather severe. And annoying.

“When your father wrote me about your engagement to the Andrews boy, I was surprised.”

“We care for each other. We have for years,” Caroline said, clenching her jaw.

“Oh, I know the boy has been in love with you for most of his life. I was surprised you finally said yes.” His voice lowered. “However, I took a look at the estate’s books today, and now I know exactly why this wedding is happening.”

Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t take the estate. You have no control over it.”

Her father had been cut off financially after the elopement, but he inherited this estate and the surrounding land from a distant aunt who had remained unmarried.

“I can make this problem go away.”

She didn’t want to ask how because she knew the cost would be too high.

Marrying Edgar would solve their immediate need of five thousand pounds with continued access to more.

She wasn’t sure which books her uncle saw, but chances were they only showed the simple debts and not what the long, wet winter had done to their roof. She should walk away.

“What do you want in return?”

Her uncle smiled. “See, you’re my favorite because you’re clever.”

“That’s not an answer.” It was a fool’s dream to think he would part with the money out of the goodness of his heart.

They were family, but he was a viscount first and foremost. If he made a deal that was good for her, it would be better for him.

“Besides, I’m already solving the issue with my marriage. ”

“And what if I told you the Andrews family didn’t have as much money as you thought?”

Caroline froze. She wasn’t marrying Edgar only for his money, but she needed it to pay down the debts before they spiraled out of control.

And they needed a new roof.

“Lord Blythe, I’m so glad you were able to make it to our party,” Edgar said as he walked up beside her, looking at her with a raised brow.

She nodded and flashed him a small, grateful smile. Surely this man hadn’t lied to her. Her uncle was likely bending the truth to get what he wanted from her.

“Of course, you’ll be family soon,” her uncle said, eyes tightening.