Page 43 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“Careful,” Valeria said, breaking their kiss, but she was still close enough that Caroline felt her breath. “You mustn’t get too close to my teeth, cara.”

Caroline jolted awake from her dream, flopping her forearm over her eyes in an attempt to blot out the early morning sunshine, but the light made her sleep fruitless. It didn’t matter how exhausted she was. Every time she fell into a deep sleep, she would slip into a dream that was more unsettling than restful. She knew the last few had featured Valeria, but the details had slipped from her mind like sand through her fingers.

Though she did remember that teeth had played a prominent role in this last one. If only she could remember what role they played.

“Good morning, Miss,” Lucy said as she threw open the gauzy white curtains. They weren’t doing much to keep out the light, but she still flinched as the yellow light became more intense. “How are you on this fine day?”

“Tired.” She rubbed the sleep from her eyes before pushing herself up. “I haven’t been sleeping very well. Dreams have been keeping me up.”

“Bad dreams?” Lucy frowned as she rifled through her closet looking for a dress for Caroline. “You eat dinner too late. A little bit of beef could keep you up with sour dreams for days. I’ll talk to Cook and let him know you shouldn’t have anything heavy after sunset.”

“I’m sure that will thrill him.”

Caroline sat at the vanity as Lucy ran a comb through her hair. While she wasn’t a polished lady’s maid and she was missing some of the finer points of service, her taste in clothing and hair was impeccable. She knew her way around curling tongs for balls or when she wished to impress Edgar, but she also knew such a variety of daytime styles that she could go months without repeating one.

“He can be severe, but he does work for you. You’re allowed to give him direction.”

“He works for my parents, not me.”

Lucy snorted. “Everyone here knows who really runs this estate. It’s only your father’s in name. All the servants know he’s too busy tupping your mother to worry about the books.”

Caroline scrunched her face. “I don’t need to hear that.”

“I suppose not, but it is true. Not to say that he isn’t a lovely man and a fair boss, but he’s certainly not good at his job. If it wasn’t for you, he would have lost the estate ages ago.”

A small thrill ran through her at the idea that others saw the value she brought, but she also hated the idea that her family was gossip. Her family didn’t deserve that.

“That may be true, but he’s tried his best. My mother too. They may sometimes be misguided, but they always try.”

“Of course.” Lucy stiffened. “I didn’t mean any offense; I only meant to say that we’ve all noticed the hard work you’ve put into saving the land and the house. We know it’s your hard work and we’re grateful to have you on our side.”

She couldn’t find an argument with that, but both she and her maid steered their conversation to lighter topics as Lucy got her ready for the day. It wasn’t until Caroline was dressed in her deep purple muslin dress and Lucy had placed the final pin in her blonde chignon that her eyes lit up and she grabbed a note from her pocket.

“I almost forgot,” Lucy said, “Mrs. Thomas said this note from Dr. Murnau arrived around dawn.”

Her stomach sank. There was only one reason why he would write to her so early. The note was short and missing any detail, but he said he wanted to see her about what happened in the hospital overnight. She sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked, alarm steeping into her voice. “Is it plague after all?”

“No, that would be entirely too useful for one of his notes. He only says he wishes to see me at the hospital.”

“I hate a cryptic note. I would rather get bad news straight away than have to wait around stewing in misery.”

Caroline agreed, but she didn’t want to add to Lucy’s worry. “I’m sure this is nothing to worry about. He’s a man of few words. I would be far more concerned if he wrote something verbose. He likely just wants me to interview more patients. There’s no worry that this may be an outcropping of plague.”

Well, unless vampires turned out to be a type of plague.

“You’re sure?” Lucy worried her lower lip between her teeth. “My sister-in-law is worried because she’s pregnant again and Ian’s job is taking him all over the county.”

“He’ll be fine. Tell him to do his business during the day and to make sure he’s home by dark every night.”

She still wasn’t sure if it was quite the right advice, but staying indoors more certainly wouldn’t hurt, and it wasn’t enough information to cause a panic when Lucy’s sister-in-law inevitably spread the advice she received.

“And, of course, I’ll keep you updated with anything else I learn. Have the carriage readied and I’ll leave as soon as I’m finished with breakfast.”

Lucy shifted in place. “Ah, Mrs. Thomas also wanted me to remind you that Madame Gavreau is arriving today for your wedding dress fitting.”

Caroline closed her eyes and sighed. She had forgotten about the appointment entirely. Madame Gavreau was possibly the most in-demand dressmaker in the country. For years, Caroline had coveted one of her gowns, always admiring the lucky women she saw with them at balls. Her desire was so well-known that Edgar had made acquiring one of Madame Gavreau’s custom gowns as part of his proposal. Not only to get a gown made in time for their wedding, but also for Madame Gavreau to go to her for the fittings. This was their second-to-last fitting, the first time she would be trying on the actual gown and not just the muslin sample.