Page 40 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“So far,” he said, shrugging before putting on a smirk that made her want to scratch his eyes out. “But we all know this house is falling apart and sooner or later, it will be too much to fix it all and I won’t be the one who loses out on a paycheck because you can’t stop buying dresses.”

Her hands clenched to fists at her side. “I don’t know what information you have, but it is incorrect. We can pay this bill. I’m about to get married to one of the most successful businessmen in the area. We don’t need your concern.”

The man laughed. “Yes, your fiancé who’s been missing for days. I’m sure he’s the one you’re desperately trying to get money out of, but I can’t trust that he hasn’t run off with someone else. I’ll do this job as long as I get half the cost right now.”

“That’s absurd,” she said, voice wavering. “No one has that kind of money sitting around. Give me a day or so, and I can get the money.”

Even without the exact number, Caroline knew it was more than she could get her on such short notice. Even only half of the payment would be too much, but she would figure something out. It was what she did best.

“No, I get the money now, or I walk. I don’t trust you have enough to pay even a quarter of the cost now, and I won’t chance not getting paid for my work.”

White-hot rage poured through her even as shame heated her face. Was this what the people in her village truly thought of her? Her tenants? Household staff? Was everyone waiting for her to fail?

“You can ask any member of my staff, and they’ll tell you their wages are always on time and in full.”

Cook’s careful chopping was the only sound to her humiliation. God, he’d been with her family for as long as she had been alive, but surely he wouldn’t make it through the death rattle that was the end of the estate. Hopefully when he did leave, he would make it quick. She couldn’t stand a drawn-out goodbye.

“For now, but I’m sure that won’t last much longer.”

“Out,” a deep voice said behind her. “We all know the only reason you’re demanding payment up front is that your work is shoddy. Leave her alone and crawl back to whatever hole you came from.”

Mr. Hall’s face reddened, and he moved towards Cook, but he lifted an eyebrow as he held his sharp knife and the aggrieved bricklayer stalked off instead, muttering things beneath his breath that should have shocked her as a well-bred young woman.

The chopping continued as Caroline just stood in the middle of the kitchen, her feet rooted to the spot even as her eyes burned.

“You didn’t have to defend me,” she finally said softly.

Cook snorted. “I only spoke the truth. The Blythes have always been good employers, and everyone around here knows it. He thought he could intimidate you into giving him the money, but we’d never let anyone get away with that.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that. She was touched, but she also couldn’t quite believe it. Loyalty had a cost, and she needed Edgar’s money to keep it all afloat.

“I promise your wages aren’t at risk.”

Caroline would starve before she didn’t pay her staff.

“I know.” Cook shot her the same glare he gave her when she tried to sneak a biscuit before dinner. “You worry too much. Your Mr. Andrews will return soon, and he’ll take care of everything.”

She ground her teeth to keep from snapping at him about the idea Edgar was saving her. Technically, his money would be her salvation, but it wasn’t as if he would suddenly become integral to running this estate. Much like her father, he would be more than happy to let her do all the work while he got all of the glory.

Her breaths came in ragged gulps, and she rushed to her room before anyone could witness her fall apart. Lucy caught her in the hall outside her room, trying to ask about her day, but Caroline snapped at her to leave her before slamming her bedroom door behind her, turning the lock to make it known she wanted to be left alone.

Later, she would feel bad for snapping at Lucy, but for now all she wanted to do was cry.

Her legs gave out halfway between her sitting room and her bed. It would have been more comfortable, but the desperate, gasping sobs that ripped from her throat told her she wouldn’t be able to move for quite some time. She had been too successful with locking away her misery, rage, and desperation for too long, and it was all coming out now.

No matter how hard Caroline fought, it didn’t make a difference. The house was still crumbling. Their accounts were trickling dry, and every crop yield was lighter. Even with Edgar’s money, there was a chance the estate would still die, but instead of a quick, dignified end, it would hobble through years of misery. Alternating between hope and devastation before the damned house finally put her out of her misery and collapsed into a heap of splintered wood and broken brick.

She wailed even harder at the thought that she could sell herself to Edgar only to lose everything anyway.

“Cara, what is this?”

She lifted her head to see Valeria standing above her. She had her green dressing gown tied tightly around her waist. Her thick brown hair was in a long braid that was flipped over her shoulder. Her furrowed brow marred her otherwise flawless beauty.

“What are you doing here?” Caroline asked, crying even harder.

“I heard your commotion all the way on the other side of the house and figured you were being stabbed, but now I see you’re just being loud for no good reason.”

“There’s a good reason.”