Page 22 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“Where is your doctor?” Caroline frowned as it had been quite a few days and they hadn’t heard anything. “We aren’t that far from London. Your companion should have returned by yesterday or today.”

“Not even your country doctor was willing to make a same-day trip. The Count is a powerful man, but not even he could make someone drop what they’re doing immediately to come to me.”

“But we should have heard something by now. At least a letter.”

Valeria’s jaw set in the same hard expression she had when Caroline wouldn’t let her get her way all those years ago. “I have received a letter, but any correspondence from my companion is my business.”

“You don’t think it’s a little my business since I am the one hosting you indefinitely?”

They stared at one another, Caroline refusing to back down. She was no longer the girl Valeria knew who was happy to bend for her whenever asked.

“If you must know,” Valeria huffed, “Lizzie told me that my doctor is currently in Scotland, so she must locate him, tell him I need him here, and then he must travel to us. It will likely take some time. Weeks even.”

It wasn’t quite a satisfactory answer, but it did make sense. She was annoyed that Valeria wanted to withhold the information from her. It wasn’t very polite.

“Where in Scotland is he?”

She shrugged. “Lizzie didn’t mention.”

“Like how you weren’t going to mention needing to stay here for weeks.”

“I didn’t realize your hospitality was conditional.”

Caroline threw up her hands. “It isn’t outrageous to want to know how long a guest will stay.”

Valeria inched closer to the edge of the bed, the movement causing her dressing gown to open. The white chemise did nothing to hide her body. Her pert breasts with brown-tipped nipples were very visible, making Caroline’s face heat as it never had before.

When she finally had the strength to return her gaze to Valeria’s face, she was met with an amused expression that embarrassed her further.

Caroline stood up, her legs pushing the chair back at the sudden motion. “I should leave. I have…things to do.”

“So soon? I thought we could spend more time together.”

“I have a wedding to plan.”

“But that sounds so boring when we could be having such fun together.”

She didn’t even want to know what Valeria meant.

“Ah, maybe another time. Good night.”

Caroline walked briskly from the room before Valeria could say anything else that scrambled her mind.

* * *

Caroline’s sleep had been fitful, but she was thankful she didn’t have another nightmare. Lucy delivered her breakfast before dressing her, and she was able to enjoy her meal in peace. No notes had come from Dr. Murnau overnight, and she hoped that meant he would visit today.

The only thing she did not know was when he would arrive, so she needed to check on her patients. Trudging up the stairs, she decided to check on her father first and then Nelly. There was no need to check on Valeria because she knew she was asleep. Lucy had confirmed, saying she put her clean clothes away just after dawn and Valeria was safely tucked in bed.

Not bothering to knock, she opened the door to see her mother slumped in the chair she had pushed to her father’s side of the bed. Her arm rested on the side of the chair as her hand held her head at a sharp angle that couldn’t possibly be comfortable. She was in the same clothes she wore yesterday.

Her father was sitting up in bed reading.

“Be quiet; this is the first time your mother has been able to sleep.”

Caroline gently shut the door behind her. Her mother was a heavy sleeper who wouldn’t be disturbed by an explosion, let alone a conversation, but there was no reason to test it.

“Why isn’t she in bed?”