Page 4 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“Then you will return to your bride all the sooner,” Lady Valeria said, never once taking her eyes from Caroline.

Caroline flushed, causing Lady Valeria’s gaze to dart to her cheeks before returning to her eyes.

“Yes,” Edgar said, clearing his throat. “I do hope you can join us for the wedding as well.”

Lady Valeria’s attention finally turned to Edgar, and Caroline felt like she could breathe again. If she thought the woman was intimidating before, she was utterly suffocating now. Despite being the same height, her elegant posture and haughty demeanor made her imposing.

“Unfortunately, I am unlikely to attend your wedding since my family will be away by then.”

“Oh, yes. My apologies for forgetting.”

“Don’t worry, we don’t expect everyone to keep track of us.”

“Where are you and your husband moving?” Caroline asked. Valeria had no such title when they knew each other.

“I’m not married.” Valeria’s lips twitched in amusement. “My parents passed away some years ago, but I was taken in by distant relatives. The Count and his wife.”

“I’m so sorry to hear about your parents.” She hadn’t spent much time with them, but she remembered their warm smiles and how they always made room for her at the dinner table.

“Thank you. It was a difficult time, but I’m grateful for The Count. He’s made everything better.”

She had more questions about this Count, but it didn’t seem like the proper moment for that kind of interrogation.

“He’s a great man and a great client,” Edgar added.

She had forgotten he was even there. She cleared her throat before directing the conversation back to neutral territory. “I’m glad you had the chance to stop by our party.”

“Of course, the moment I heard you were getting married, I knew I had to see you.”

“You knew it was me?”

“Of course.” Valeria smiled softly at her. “The moment we got your invitation, I knew I had to be the family representative.”

Caroline blushed, her eyes darting to the ground before looking at Valeria again. The years had been kind to her in her transition from girlhood to womanhood. Her heart-shaped face lost its baby fat, and her skin was now utterly flawless. Her deep brown eyes were so captivating Caroline had trouble looking away.

She was about to ask another question when Valeria’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she fell in a heap on the floor. Crushed petals from the yellow roses in her hair lay on the marble floor.

Caroline screamed. It was as if time sped up and slowed down all at once. Edgar sprang into action beside her, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from Valeria. It was a cruel trick of fate to have Valeria ripped from her after so many years of waiting to see her again.

* * *

Caroline paced outside the door, her hand kept sneaking towards her mouth before she remembered that biting her nails was a disgusting habit she was far too old to indulge. The bedroom door opened, and a crying woman emerged.

“How is she?” Caroline asked.

“She appears to be stabilized, but she’s asleep. I only hope she hasn’t fallen into another coma,” the woman sobbed before burying her face into a frilly handkerchief.

Caroline was fairly sure the woman’s name was Miss Elizabeth, but she was wailing so hard when she introduced herself as Valeria’s companion that Caroline couldn’t be entirely sure.

“Has she fallen into a coma before?”

“Yes, but usually there are signs when she is sick. She has never fainted without warning before.”

“The poor dear,” Caroline’s mother said. She had been waiting with Caroline since they brought Valeria up from the ballroom. “Is there anything we can do for her?”

“Unfortunately not. I have left her tonic on the bedside table. I’m afraid I must go to London to fetch her doctor. She sees a specialist since her disease is so rare. However, Lady Valeria is in no state to travel; can I trouble you with keeping watch over her until I return?”

“Of course,” her mother responded. “Lady Valeria may stay here for as long as she needs.”