Page 67 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“Regardless, we appreciate you coming out here,” Cook said, looking at her with a raised brow. “It’s good of your fiancé to get someone here so quickly.”

Caroline froze, unsure of how to answer him. Edgar wasn’t behind this, and Cook knew that. It hadn’t been nearly long enough for him to know the hearth needed to be rebuilt, let alone send someone to fix it.

“Accept the gift, Miss Blythe.”

Caroline’s instinct was to fight Cook, to send Mr. Green away and tell them all that she could take care of this herself, but she nodded.

“Yes, please let me know if there is anything I can get for you, Mr. Green.”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to handle this, Miss. You can go take care of whatever else you need to do. I’m sure you’re a busy woman,” the bricklayer said with a warm smile, but his eyes were a little glassy, and that fueled her suspicions even as she walked away to take care of one of the many other things she had to do.

* * *

“Miss Evans is here to see you,” Mrs. Thomas said.

Caroline ground her teeth as she squeezed the lace bobbins in her hands. Last time she understood why Diya showed up because she had ignored several letters, but there was no letter she had ignored. Besides, they had just seen each other.

“Tell her I’ll call on her tomorrow.”

She had no such plans, but Diya didn’t know that.

“She isn’t that easy to get rid of,” Diya said, a hand on her popped hip as she stood in the doorway of the parlour just behind Mrs. Thomas.

Caroline closed her eyes and prayed for patience. She was staring daggers at her, and Caroline knew there would be no getting rid of her this evening.

“I’m sure Mrs. Thomas instructed you to wait elsewhere.”

She had been spending so much time in her room that she decided to work in the downstairs parlour for a change of scenery, but she regretted it since it made her too easy to get to.

Diya snorted. “As if I don’t know my way around here as well as my own home.”

Caroline sighed. Diya had an older brother, but no sister as she had always longed for. Caroline had always wanted a sibling—no preference on gender—though no matter how much her parents tried, it was only her. Though Caroline had never felt like an only child because of Diya.

No matter what, she was her best friend. Which was why she couldn’t risk her safety with Valeria.

“I’m about to have dinner.”

“I’ll join you; I’m starving.”

Caroline huffed. “The hearth is being rebuilt, so Cook is making simple meals, and I’m not sure there will be enough.”

“There’s plenty of food.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Thomas,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Have you run out of excuses, or do you have a few more to go?”

“Fine,” Caroline snapped. “Let’s get this over with so you can leave sooner.”

“I’ll leave when I’m ready.”

The two of them walked to the dining room in a tense silence. She knew she was being unreasonable in her best friend’s eyes. There was no reason for her to be so cross with Diya, and she would be acting the same if their roles were reversed, but she still couldn’t help her annoyance.

“Are you ready to tell me what’s wrong with you yet?”

She and Diya sat opposite each other in the same seats they had sat in for most of their lives. Their lives were so entwined Valeria may be the only thing in her life she never told Diya about. Either time Valeria had flitted into her life. As far as Diya knew, her time in Italy was spent alone while her father learned about winemaking.

“No.” Her heart ached, but she couldn’t bear it if Diya got caught up in this. Sunset was far too close, and she could only pray Valeria stayed away until she could shoo away her best friend.