Chapter 13 #2
Carol felt her cheeks warming again. "What about him?"
"Everything. You've called him a monster, a brute, the worst thing that ever happened to you. Now you're blushing when his name comes up. What changed?"
"I actually talked to him," Carol said. "Got to know him. He's not any of those things I said. He's intelligent and tactical and surprisingly funny in a dry way. And he's been very patient with me despite how awful I've been to him."
"Funny," Jasper repeated skeptically.
"He made a joke about the eastern terrace having a better view than the hedge I was hiding behind when I was watching him train," Carol said, then immediately regretted it when both siblings' eyes widened.
"You were hiding behind a hedge watching him train?" Bea asked, her lips twitching.
"I was not hiding, I was observing from a respectful distance—"
"Behind a hedge," Jasper finished, grinning now. "Our sister is smitten with The Butcher of the North."
"I am not smitten—" Carol stopped. "Fine. Maybe I find him... appealing. He's very handsome. And kind. And he let me keep Mochi."
"You mentioned that," Bea said, her smile growing. "About three times now."
"It was a big deal," Carol muttered.
Tea arrived, and Carol poured for everyone with a grace that made both her siblings exchange yet another glance.
"You never pour tea," Bea observed.
"I'm practicing being a proper duchess," Carol said.
"You're succeeding," Jasper said, accepting his cup. "It's unsettling."
They drank in silence for a moment before Bea spoke again.
"Can we see the estate? Get a proper tour?"
"Of course!" Carol set down her cup, excited. "There's so much to show you. The gardens are beautiful, and the training grounds, and the library—"
"You sound enthusiastic about the library," Jasper interrupted. "You hate reading."
Carol paused. Right. Original Caroline hadn't been much of a reader. "I'm trying new things," she said quickly. "Expanding my interests."
"Mm-hmm," Bea said, but she was smiling now. Genuinely smiling.
Carol led them through the estate, pointing out the various rooms and explaining the layout. Jasper and Bea were quiet, observing, clearly still trying to reconcile this version of their sister with the one who'd been writing desperate letters.
When they reached the main receiving hall, Bea stopped and looked around critically.
"It's very... austere," she said diplomatically.
"Cold," Jasper corrected. "It looks like a military barracks trying to be fancy."
"It does, doesn't it?" Carol agreed. "I was thinking it needs some warmth. Maybe some decorations? Wall hangings, paintings, plants?"
"You want to decorate?" Bea asked, surprised.
"I want this place to feel like a home," Carol said. "Not just a military outpost. I thought maybe earth tones? Warm colors?"
Bea's professional interest was immediately engaged. She had excellent taste in design and had helped decorate their family estate.
"Earth tones would work beautifully," Bea said, already mentally cataloging possibilities. "Rich browns, deep greens, maybe some gold accents—"
"That sounds perfect," Carol said enthusiastically.
"I could help," Bea offered. "If you'd like. I have some contacts with excellent craftsmen and artisans."
"Would you?" Carol's face lit up. "That would be wonderful. I don't want to change everything, just... add some warmth. Make it feel more welcoming."
"Your husband won't mind?" Jasper asked.
"He gave me free rein with the estate," Carol said. "Besides, it's not my money I'm spending, so I'm not really concerned about the price tag."
Both siblings blinked at her.
"Did you just make a practical financial observation?" Bea asked.
"I've been learning estate management," Carol said proudly. "Sterling has been teaching me. Did you know we store enough grain to feed the entire household plus the guard for six months? It's fascinating."
"Who are you?" Jasper asked again, but this time he was smiling.
They continued the tour, and Carol noticed Bea making mental notes about various rooms. When they reached the grand dining room, Bea stopped and studied it carefully.
"This room is lovely but it feels empty," she said. "Some tapestries on the walls, maybe a new table runner, fresh flowers—"
"Yes!" Carol agreed. "Exactly what I was thinking."
"We could start small," Bea said, warming to the project. "See what works. Then expand from there."
"That would be amazing," Carol said. "Thank you, Bea."
Her sister looked at her with an expression Carol couldn't quite read. "You really have changed, haven't you?"
"I'm trying," Carol said honestly.
They settled in one of the smaller parlors, and Jasper stretched out his legs.
"So," he said. "Tell us about this marriage you're trying to make work. How's that actually going?"
Carol thought about tea time the other afternoon. About Caspian watching her eat dessert with that flustered expression. About him agreeing to let her keep Mochi. About the way he'd looked at her in the courtyard before riding off.
"It's going well," she said, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face. "Better than I expected. We've been having dinner together. And we had tea in the garden the other day. He's actually very good company once you get past the intimidating exterior."
"Dinner together," Bea repeated.
"We've had one dinner so far," Carol admitted. "And we were supposed to have another the night he left, and I was really disappointed when he had to cancel."
"Disappointed," Jasper said, grinning. "Because you missed dinner with your husband."
"Because I enjoy his company," Carol said, feeling her cheeks warm again.
"She's blushing again," Jasper pointed out to Bea.
"I noticed."
"I'm not—" Carol gave up. "Fine. Yes. I like spending time with him. Is that so strange?"
"For you? Yes," Bea said. But she was smiling. A real, genuine, warm smile. "But I'm so glad."
Something in her tone made Carol look closer. Were Bea's eyes suspiciously bright?
"Bea?"