CHAPTER 22
“Lady Valeria, what are you doing here?” Caroline asked, her voice going up so high-pitched that Edgar flinched.
“It’s dinner time, isn’t it?” She asked with an arched brow as she sat beside her.
Valeria looked so good Caroline wanted to weep.
Her cheeks had filled out again, and her skin was smooth, lush, and glowing.
The bags beneath her eyes were gone, and her shiny hair looked softer than silk as it was piled high on her head.
Even her movements were more graceful and fluid than she had been in days.
Caroline hadn’t realized just how frail she had become.
There was no way she looked this good after being gone overnight without killing at least a few people.
“Our Miss Blythe certainly keeps a schedule, doesn’t she?” Edgar said with a polite smile from across the table.
“It does make her easy to find. Though I am surprised to see you. She didn’t tell me you were returning.”
Edgar’s lips turned down, but it wasn’t quite a frown. Though it may have been the most negative expression she had ever seen him make. “She didn’t know. My return was a surprise because the journey was hard on me and I wasn’t sure how long it would take from London.”
“Well, that certainly explains it. Even though she barely mentioned you while you were gone. It’s such a shame you left your pretty fiancée alone for so long.”
Caroline stiffened as heat shot across her face.
She hadn’t thought she could be more upset at her than she already was after the previous day, but she was furious.
It was one thing to fluster her when they were alone, but Edgar was to be her husband.
He could never know anything about what transpired between them.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, but please don’t feel that you have to strain yourself just to have dinner with us,” Caroline said with a strained smile. “I know the sick bed is a lonely place, but I’m afraid you’re still a bit delirious.”
She caught Valeria’s eyes as she gritted out the last of her statement, but the woman only gave her a sly grin before turning back to Edgar.
“Isn’t she so sweet, our little nurse. Always putting others first, but never too shy to share her healing touch with others.”
Edgar’s hand tightened on his fork, but Caroline couldn’t read his face, and her heart pounded so hard it was the only thing she could hear. She prayed that he only thought Valeria was grating and didn’t understand her subtext. No matter how thick she was laying it on.
“My sweet, why don’t you get your guest a plate so she can dine with us?”
“No need, cara. I’m already quite full.”
Caroline ground her teeth. As if she needed the reminder of how many innocent souls fed her beauty.
“I didn’t think Mrs. Thomas was sending trays up to you anymore.”
“She didn’t, but I managed to find my own meal.”
“You certainly were gone for long enough. Though, I’m not sure if you should be welcomed back with open arms if you’re going to be eating elsewhere.”
“I didn’t realize Cook was so jealous.”
“I am glad you’re feeling well enough to dine out, Lady Valeria,” Edgar said, ignoring the tension between them. “The Count was worried when you were here for so long. Far longer than you said you would be.”
Caroline frowned as Valeria stiffened; her air of casualty was threatened. “What else did he say about me?”
Edgar shrugged. “He only mentioned you periodically. At first he said you would be along shortly, but he became agitated with how long it was taking you to recover.”
“It does seem like you spent a lot of time with The Count, but signing a few papers shouldn’t take very long. What happened?” Valeria asked.
“You mean before I fell ill?”
“Of course.”
There was a tension between them that Caroline couldn’t read, but she hated it.
“You don’t have to answer that, my dear.”
Valeria’s head snapped towards her. “Dear? I’ve never once heard a pet name cross your lips.”
“He’s my fiancé.” Her face was so hot she wouldn’t have been surprised if she caught fire. Edgar’s head was pointed at his food, and she prayed he kept his attention there.
“Still, there are many who would have killed to hear such devotion from your lips.”
She snorted. “If they were so desperate to hear such devotion, then they wouldn’t kill at all.”
“Is that the surest way to lose your heart?” She turned to look at Edgar. “I would keep that in mind, Mr. Andrews. You don’t want to lose your pretty bride’s heart, if you can help it.”
“I’m not worried about losing her heart. We’ve been in each other’s lives a long time.” Edgar looked up at her with a smile that made her stomach twist.
“How sweet your love story is. It’s almost unbelievable it took so long for you to finally get married after being in love for so long.”
“Love takes many forms. It often changes and grows through the years,” Caroline said.
“I don’t know how you’ve managed to make passion sound so dull.”
“Passion is overrated.”
“Really?” Valeria asked with a raised brow. “By whom?”
“Everyone sensible. A fire may burn hot, but it also burns out. Hard.”
“My, that sounds so dramatic. Though, I’m not sure I agree with you. I think it’s difficult for true passion to burn out. What do you think, Mr. Andrews?”
“Passion ebbs and flows, but I believe it can be fostered,” Edgar said, taking a shaky breath as if speaking for that long winded him. “Though I do agree with my sweet that it is not the most important factor in a relationship.”
“And what do you think is more important?”
“Trust and respect are the foundation of any relationship.”
Caroline’s sweaty hand dropped her fork. She saw Valeria’s smirk slowly grow out of the corner of her eye.
“Trust is so valuable, but difficult to find. I envy anyone who has someone they can trust,” said Valeria.
“Trust is a two-way street; it can only be given if it’s reciprocated,” Caroline said, knowing it was smarter to keep her mouth shut. Edgar shouldn’t trust her—not anymore—but what really bothered her was the idea that Valeria thought she should when she had been deceiving Caroline.
“Long-term, of course, but sometimes trust requires a leap of faith.”
“I would say blind trust destroys relationships. Especially when the person who requires it is a liar.”
Valeria laughed, but there was no humor in her eyes. “Do you think I’m the only liar here?”
Caroline huffed; it wasn’t as if she needed to feel worse about it. Though her lies to Edgar weren’t nearly as bad as Valeria’s lies to her were. Her lies had no body count.
“Somehow I have managed to avoid homesickness for weeks, but now that I know you were just with my family, I miss them all very much. You spent a lot of time with The Count, but how did you find his wife, Lady Devereaux?”
“She’s lovely.” Edgar’s face softened, but she wasn’t jealous of his adoration of another woman. “She’s a delicate, fair creature. It’s so curious that you all seem to have such similar conditions despite not being blood-related.”
“We were all bitten by a similar bug. We’re quite lucky to have sunsickness instead of malaria,” Valeria said, leaning forward.
She wore the same dress she wore for her engagement party.
It wasn’t as dangerously low-cut as some of her others, but she was still giving Edgar a view of her bosom, and she didn’t like that.
“What did you and Lady Devereaux do in all the time you spent together?”
“We mainly rested, but sometimes her sister would play the pianoforte for us.”
“You really met the whole family. The Count must have taken quite a liking to you.”
Edgar’s smile was boastful in a way Caroline had never seen before. By nature, he was a modest man, so this reaction surprised her. Maybe she didn’t know everything about the man she was to marry.
“I believe he liked me a fair amount. He said I was the best agent he has ever worked with.”
“That bodes well for our future then. You said our marriage depended on how well this trip went. Surely, now you will be made a partner, and we can get married without any concern.”
Edgar kept his smile, but she thought his expression may have fallen a fraction. “Yes, my sweet. I cannot wait for us to finally start our life.”
“You two are so sweet my teeth hurt. You’re both so eager to fall over each other with your little declarations of love and hopes for your future. You’re the most wholesome couple I’ve ever seen.”
Caroline ground her teeth. Valeria could barely keep the smirk from her face, as if she was so proud of her dangerous wordplay.
Edgar didn’t seem to pick up on any of it yet, but she didn’t need Valeria to grow bolder.
She needed to marry Edgar. The roof needed to be fixed, they had creditors to pay, and her family’s reputation to save.
“I suppose it’s a side effect of not being around many couples who truly care for one another then,” Caroline said, narrowing her eyes.
“And the trust between you, of course.”
“Yes.”
Valeria lifted an eyebrow and then looked to Edgar. “And what would you have to say about the trust contributing to your relationship?”
“Lady Valeria, may I speak to you in the other room?” Caroline asked, shooting up from her chair.
Valeria slowly turned to face her again, and she hated the smug look on her face. “Of course, Miss Blythe. I would be more than happy to help you with whatever you need.”
Caroline huffed, her eyes darting to Edgar.
He remained far more concerned with cutting into his roast beef than anything than anything else.
It was a bit frustrating as he was usually much more attentive, but she needed to afford him some grace since he was still recovering from an illness.
“I have some questions for Lady Valeria about my wedding clothes; we’ll only be a moment, dear. ”
Edgar hummed, barely acknowledging she spoke. She supposed it was for the best he wasn’t paying the closest attention, but it still grated her. It would be nice if he cared a little.