Chapter 13 #3
"I'm just happy," Bea said, her voice a bit thick. "I've been trying to get you to move on from Earl Sinclair for years. And now you finally have, and you seem genuinely content, and—" She stopped, blinking rapidly. "Sorry. I'm just relieved."
"Move on from Earl Sinclair?" Carol asked carefully.
"Well, yes," Bea said. "You spent years pining after him. We were all so worried about what would happen when—" She stopped abruptly.
"When what?" Carol prompted.
Bea and Jasper exchanged guilty looks.
"When he got engaged," Jasper finished quietly. "Which he did. To Rosalie Lennox. The engagement party is next month."
He said it carefully, watching Carol's face for signs of distress.
Carol processed this information. Percival was engaged to Rosalie. The original plot was proceeding as planned.
"Oh," she said. "That's nice for them."
Both siblings stared at her.
"That's... nice?" Bea repeated slowly.
"Yes. They seemed well-suited when I saw them together."
Carol paused and looked around the parlor. "I'm thinking if we use earth tones or warm colors in here, this room would look very lovely. Maybe some cushions for the settees? They're beautiful but not very comfortable."
Bea's eyes had definitely filled with tears now.
"You don't care," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "About Sinclair. You actually don't care."
"Should I?" Carol asked, genuinely confused.
"You were obsessed with him!" Bea stood up and walked over, grabbing Carol's hands.
"You spent years convinced you were in love with him.
You cried for three days when you realized you'd trapped the wrong man with that spell.
And now he's engaged to someone else and you're talking about decorating cushions? "
"He's happy with someone he loves," Carol said. "I'm trying to build a life with my husband. Why would I be upset?"
Bea pulled Carol into a sudden, fierce hug.
"I have my sister back," she said, her voice muffled against Carol's shoulder. "I didn't think I would, but I do."
Carol hugged her back, feeling emotion swell in her own chest. "I'm sorry I was so awful before."
"You're not anymore," Bea said, pulling back and wiping her eyes. "That's what matters."
Jasper stood up and joined the hug, wrapping both of them in his arms. "I'm still not convinced you're not possessed, but if you are, I like this version better."
Carol laughed, feeling tears prick her own eyes. "I promise I'm me. Just... better."
"Much better," Bea agreed.
They stood like that for a moment before Jasper pulled back.
"So," he said, his tone shifting to protective big brother mode. "This husband of yours. The Butcher of the North. Is he treating you well?"
"Very well," Carol said.
"Because if he's not—"
"Jasper, he literally gave me a Dreamweaver cub as a pet and lets me spend his money decorating the estate. I think he's treating me just fine."
"He gave you Mochi?" Bea asked.
"No, I found Mochi in the gardens and bonded with him myself. But Caspian let me keep him despite the fact that Dreamweavers are dangerous apex predators."
"Caspian," Jasper repeated. "You call him Caspian."
Carol blushed again. "That's his name."
"You're on first-name basis with The Butcher of the North," Jasper said, grinning. "Our terrifying little sister has tamed the most feared man in the kingdom."
"I haven't tamed anyone," Carol protested. "We're just... getting to know each other."
"While blushing every time his name comes up," Bea added, smiling.
"I don't—" Carol gave up. "Fine. Yes. He's very handsome and I enjoy his company and I miss him while he's gone. Are you happy now?"
"Deliriously," Jasper said. "This is the best surprise visit ever. We came to rescue you from a horrible situation and instead found you playing house with a Dreamweaver and smitten with your scary husband."
"He's not scary once you get to know him," Carol said.
"I'm sure," Bea said, still smiling. "We're looking forward to meeting him."
"He should be back in a few days," Carol said. Then, hopefully, "You'll stay until then, won't you? I'd like you to get to know him properly."
"We'll stay," Jasper promised. "Someone needs to make sure he's actually treating you well."
"He is," Carol insisted. "Really."
"We'll be the judge of that," Jasper said, but his tone was affectionate.
As they settled back into their seats and started making actual plans for decorating, Carol felt a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the tea.
Her siblings were here. They were concerned about her, protective of her, and—most importantly—they could see that she was genuinely happy.
Or at least, trying to be.
And when Caspian returned, she could introduce him to her family properly. Show them that he wasn't the monster they feared.
If he comes back, a small voice whispered in her mind.
Carol pushed the thought away. He'd promised to be careful. He'd promised to return.
She had to trust that he would.
But in the meantime, she had her siblings, estate decorating to plan, and Mochi purring in her lap.
It was more than enough.