CHAPTER 18
Abreathy moan sounded as she felt a deep pull from within. Her senses were dulled, but she felt as if something was being taken from her.
“Millie, stop playing with your food,” a sharp male voice scolded.
Her head turned to see the speaker, who was facing a blonde woman with only his profile visible to her.
He was a tall, pale man with a thin build.
Not quite as willowy as Dr. Gardner, but just as tall.
Wavy, dark brown hair reached his collar, and a single curl fell over his profile.
He looked to be a Greek God carved in marble and was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
But her body screamed that he was the greatest danger she had ever seen; fear flooded her, and she heard a choking sound as the man’s face snapped to hers. His dark eyes flashed like a candle’s reflection in a mirror as his gaze narrowed at her.
“Fascinating, I didn’t think our little solicitor had any tricks.”
Caroline’s eyes flew open, heart racing as her hands shook. She felt for Valeria in the bed; she needed a hug, or human contact, or anything to assure her she was fine. That man couldn’t get to her, as he was just a figure trapped in her dream.
She didn’t dare close her eyes again in case he was there.
Her bed was empty, which wasn’t surprising since sunlight filtered into her room and she had told Valeria they shouldn’t sleep together, but she was disappointed all the same.
“Ah, you’re finally up,” Lucy said, seated in an armchair across the room. One of Caroline’s blouses was on her lap as she mended the worn sleeve.
“What time is it?”
“Nearly noon.”
Caroline shot up. “Why did you let me sleep for so long?”
Lucy shrugged. “I tried waking you up earlier, but you wouldn’t stir. I thought you must have needed the sleep if you weren’t waking up on your own.”
“Still, you know I don’t like to sleep late.”
“I thought you might be coming down with some illness and it’s best to sleep that off.”
She frowned. “I’m not getting sick.”
“You spend almost all your spare time at the hospital, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you were.”
She wanted to tell Lucy that she couldn’t catch that illness from the hospital, but she stopped herself. Because it was possible. Valeria had kissed every inch of her the previous evening, and she hadn’t felt a bite, but that didn’t mean one didn’t happen.
“Will you get me some breakfast? It doesn’t have to be much, but I’m feeling a bit peckish.”
As soon as Lucy left, she threw off her covers and ran her hands over every inch of her skin, not relaxing until she didn’t feel any marks.
Since her skin wasn’t smoking in the sunlight, she wasn’t too concerned, but she wasn’t sure when the smoking began since the men only came into the hospital after they had already been ill for a day or so.
Lucy returned with a breakfast tray featuring a bowl of porridge and some fruit, but her expression was tight.
“Mrs. Thomas would like to see you downstairs when you have a moment.”
“Why?”
“I think it’s best if you speak with her,” Lucy said, her voice a full octave higher than usual.
Caroline’s stomach sank; she had absolutely no clue what this could be about. It had been many years since the housekeeper scolded her, and she could only think of one reason why Mrs. Thomas would be so cross with her.
Valeria.
“I’ll go see her now.”
She no longer had an appetite.
It didn’t take her long to find Mrs. Thomas standing at the bottom of the main staircase, glowering at her. It was the same expression she had when Caroline accidentally set the drapes in the parlour on fire when she was seven.
“Good morning, Mrs. Thomas.”
“It’s past morning.”
“Good afternoon then. Lucy mentioned you wish to speak with me.”
The housekeeper’s eyes narrowed. “The next time you have someone coming into the house for repairs, I would appreciate some notice so we can be prepared for the disruption.”
Caroline frowned. “All right, but I’m not sure why that’s an issue now.”
“Are you telling me the bricklayer working in the kitchen came here entirely of his own volition?”
“I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re talking about,” she said as she rushed towards the kitchen.
It didn’t make sense for anyone to be there working. Valeria killed Mr. Hall, and she hadn’t any time to replace him. Nor did she have the funds to do so.
Bursting through the kitchen door, she saw Mrs. Thomas was right. A bricklayer was at work at the hearth, taking measurements for…whatever bricklayers did.
“Excuse me, but what are you doing here?”
The man turned his head, and she saw it was Mr. Green, who was not only the most esteemed bricklayer in the village, but the entire county. Even if she had the funds for him, he would be nearly impossible to book because he worked so much.
“I’m here to fix the hearth, of course.”
“That’s quite nice and all, but I didn’t hire you.”
“Of course you did,” he said with a smile. “Miss Blythe, right? You haven’t been on my books long, but after Mr. Hall absconded without completing his work, I was able to fit you in.”
Her eyes narrowed. She could perhaps accept someone coming to help her, but not that she had already been on the books.
This had Valeria written all over it.
“Regardless, we appreciate you coming out here,” Cook said, looking at her with a raised brow. “It’s good of your fiancé to get someone here so quickly.”
Caroline froze, unsure of how to answer him. Edgar wasn’t behind this, and Cook knew that. It hadn’t been nearly long enough for him to know the hearth needed to be rebuilt, let alone send someone to fix it.
“Accept the gift, Miss Blythe.”
Caroline’s instinct was to fight Cook, to send Mr. Green away and tell them all that she could take care of this herself, but she nodded.
“Yes, please let me know if there is anything I can get for you, Mr. Green.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to handle this, Miss.
You can go take care of whatever else you need to do.
I’m sure you’re a busy woman,” the bricklayer said with a warm smile, but his eyes were a little glassy, and that fueled her suspicions even as she walked away to take care of one of the many other things she had to do.
* * *
“Miss Evans is here to see you,” Mrs. Thomas said.
Caroline ground her teeth as she squeezed the lace bobbins in her hands. Last time she understood why Diya showed up because she had ignored several letters, but there was no letter she had ignored. Besides, they had just seen each other.
“Tell her I’ll call on her tomorrow.”
She had no such plans, but Diya didn’t know that.
“She isn’t that easy to get rid of,” Diya said, a hand on her popped hip as she stood in the doorway of the parlour just behind Mrs. Thomas.
Caroline closed her eyes and prayed for patience. She was staring daggers at her, and Caroline knew there would be no getting rid of her this evening.
“I’m sure Mrs. Thomas instructed you to wait elsewhere.”
She had been spending so much time in her room that she decided to work in the downstairs parlour for a change of scenery, but she regretted it since it made her too easy to get to.
Diya snorted. “As if I don’t know my way around here as well as my own home.”
Caroline sighed. Diya had an older brother, but no sister as she had always longed for. Caroline had always wanted a sibling—no preference on gender—though no matter how much her parents tried, it was only her. Though Caroline had never felt like an only child because of Diya.
No matter what, she was her best friend. Which was why she couldn’t risk her safety with Valeria.
“I’m about to have dinner.”
“I’ll join you; I’m starving.”
Caroline huffed. “The hearth is being rebuilt, so Cook is making simple meals, and I’m not sure there will be enough.”
“There’s plenty of food.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Thomas,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Have you run out of excuses, or do you have a few more to go?”
“Fine,” Caroline snapped. “Let’s get this over with so you can leave sooner.”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready.”
The two of them walked to the dining room in a tense silence. She knew she was being unreasonable in her best friend’s eyes. There was no reason for her to be so cross with Diya, and she would be acting the same if their roles were reversed, but she still couldn’t help her annoyance.
“Are you ready to tell me what’s wrong with you yet?”
She and Diya sat opposite each other in the same seats they had sat in for most of their lives.
Their lives were so entwined Valeria may be the only thing in her life she never told Diya about.
Either time Valeria had flitted into her life.
As far as Diya knew, her time in Italy was spent alone while her father learned about winemaking.
“No.” Her heart ached, but she couldn’t bear it if Diya got caught up in this. Sunset was far too close, and she could only pray Valeria stayed away until she could shoo away her best friend.
Diya dropped her fork to the table. “Honestly, Caro, that’s enough. Is this about Edgar? Has he done something? You know I’ll support you no matter what.”
“Isn’t this a pleasant little scene?” Valeria said with an icy smile.
Caroline’s stomach dropped; what little appetite she had was gone.
Diya’s eyes flicked between Caroline and Valeria. “Lady Valeria, how nice to see you. I wasn’t aware you were still here.”
“Does Miss Blythe keep me a secret from all of her friends? Should I be offended?”
Valeria took the head of the table, draping herself over the chair as if she were the monarch presiding over them.
While she was wearing an actual dress, it certainly wasn’t proper.
At least not the way she wore it. The dark red bodice was cut low, and her corset was so tight her breasts practically spilled from her dress.
Valeria smirked at Caroline, and her cheeks heated because she was caught looking, but she couldn’t help it.
“I think if either of us should be worried about what Miss Blythe keeps from us, it should be me because before this moment, I didn’t think we had any secrets between one another.”