Page 13 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

Caroline thrashed again, wanting nothing more than to scream out. To cry for her parents, her nursemaid, anyone to come for her, but she stayed silent, and soon the terror that gripped her floated away, and she was mercifully lulled back into a deep sleep, her little nightmare being long forgotten by the time she opened her eyes the next morning.

CHAPTER 4

For the first time, Caroline truly missed Edgar. She supposed it was a good thing it finally happened—and before the wedding—but he had been gone for only a few days, and already she was desperate for his letter to arrive.

Wedding planning was going fine, but putting together a guest list made it all seem so hopeless. It wasn’t as if he would have been a massive help in the planning process, but she wouldn’t have to be building a guest list with only her mother for help at the very least.

“Did you put down my brother Patrick and his wife? They’re in Liverpool now, and I think they would appreciate the invitation.”

“Yes, I have both of them and their four children on the list.”

“The oldest two boys are still in Ireland, so you won’t have to worry about them.”

Her mother frowned at the list before them, looking over the names they had both added over the past hour. Remembering everyone you had ever met was rather exhausting.

“I still feel like we are missing people.”

“There are more than two hundred names here. I don’t know who we could be missing.” Caroline frowned as she read the list again. “Except anyone on Edgar’s side.”

“His parents are on the list.”

“The church will look awfully lopsided with only two people on his side.”

Her mother shot her a look. “Where’s his list then?”

Caroline shrugged. “I assume it’s with him. I thought he would be here to help me with this.”

“You knew he was going away for business.”

“Yes, but I hadn’t thought about the guest list before he left,” she sighed. This was always bound to be her responsibility, but she didn’t think it would ever be quite this lonely. The details of planning a wedding always seemed so exciting, but when her mother told her it was time to work on the guest list, she didn’t realize how boring it could be. “I never thought to ask him to give me the names and addresses of everyone he’s ever met. He hasn’t been much help overall. He grunts and asks what I like when I show him swatches of linen.”

Her mother shot her a look she couldn’t read. “You truly thought he would help you with wedding planning?” She snorted, shaking her head before continuing. “Men aren’t known for being remarkably helpful in planning anything, let alone a wedding.”

“Edgar didn’t seem dismayed at the prospect.”

Her cheeks reddened as she thought back to her talks with Edgar, where she detailed what needed to be done as he nodded. Perhaps his interest had been more polite than enthusiastic.

“If anyone on his side would be interested in assisting you, it would be his mother. You should write to her to get a guest list. If you want to get on her good side, you should maybe ask for her advice on a few minor details.”

She nodded as she added that task to her to-do list. Caroline wanted to do everything in her power to ensure her marriage began on the best terms.

“What else do you suggest I do with her?”

“I’m not sure,” her mother sighed. “I’m not exactly an expert when it comes to mothers-in-law, but I would like you to be treated with respect. You want to make sure your relationship is settled before you have children.”

Once Caroline had been born, Viscount and Vicountess Blythe had welcomed her parents back into the family. She had never been made to feel inferior amongst her cousins, and both she and her mother had inherited family jewelry when the Viscountess passed. Although her mother’s pieces had been simple chains and some pearls, while everyone else received jewels.

However, her mother had always remained sensitive about that relationship, which was something Caroline wished to avoid for herself.

“I do wish Edgar was here to help facilitate the relationship. I’ve only met his mother a few times, and I’ve never written her before.”

Her mother patted her hand. “I know you miss him, but this is the cost of marrying an ambitious man. He is always going to want more, and it’s your job as his wife to support him.”

Mrs. Thomas entered the room holding the silver tray with the ugly china her mother loved.

“Good Afternoon, Mrs. Thomas,” her mother beamed at their housekeeper. “You are just in time for a much-needed break.”

“I figured you ladies would work through lunch. Miss Blythe is nothing if not dedicated.”