Page 7 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“As will I.”

The parlour door opened, causing Edgar to snap back from her. Their engagement meant they could spend some time alone and hand-holding was allowed, but her parents had always made him nervous.

“Mr. Andrews,” her mother said, sweeping into the room. “I’m so glad you were able to visit with Caroline before you have to leave. Again.”

“Mrs. Blythe, I’m pleased not to have missed you. I wish I could stay longer, but I am expected in London.”

“I wish I could say I was surprised, but it seems as if you spend more time in London than you do with my daughter.”

“Mother,” Caroline snapped, her eyes narrowing. Ever since their engagement, her mother had taken an attitude with Edgar. It didn’t matter how many times Caroline told her that Edgar was saving her family, but Grace O’Malley Blythe did not seem to care for him.

“One day soon I won’t have to travel for work, and then I will dedicate all of my time to your daughter. Until then, I have to work.” Edgar stood up, bowing to her mother before taking Caroline’s hand and placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. “Write to me every moment you miss me, and I will return to you as soon as I can.”

Those words were meant to thrill her, but she only felt anxiety that this business deal would fall through, and she would have to beg her uncle for money. However, she smiled and batted her eyelashes, just as she should. “I’ll miss you every moment until you’re with me again.”

She wouldn’t miss him in the way he would want her to, but at least she wasn’t lying. Edgar smiled before saying goodbye to her mother and finally leaving the room.

“How long were you waiting outside the door?” Caroline asked her mother once they were alone.

“Not long. You know I try to give you your privacy.”

Not that you need it. Caroline could hear her mother’s subtext practically screaming at her.

“Well, we had a very pleasant tea,” Caroline continued. “I am to continue planning the wedding while he’s gone.”

“And when will he return?”

Caroline shrugged. “Whenever he’s finished. I’m sure it won’t be long. He only has to wrap up a few real estate deals.”

“Did he set a date for the wedding?”

“No.”

“Then how can you even fully plan?” Her mother asked, arching an eyebrow.

Caroline frowned. She had the same reservation, but she was not about to agree with her mother. “I’ll do what I can without a date, and then I’ll coordinate with him while he’s away. Once it seems like things are wrapping up, we will solidify a date.”

Her mother hummed, her mouth in a firm line, but she didn’t keep poking at her at least. It would have been lovely to have a real time frame, but she knew his only answer would be however long The Count needed him. His clients always came first.

“We can find a way to get along well enough without Edgar.”

“For a year, or maybe two, but the rents are already beginning to dry up. The land isn’t as fertile as it used to be and it’s only a matter of time until the crops begin to fail.”

“We’ll worry about that when it happens. In the meantime, we can cut expenses.”

She let out a harsh laugh. As if she hadn’t already thought to do something so simple as cut expenses. “We already have. Many times. The problem is that there isn’t enough money to keep everything moving while taking care of emergency expenses.”

Her mother’s brow furrowed. “Your uncle made an offer to your father last night. He said if it came down to it, he would purchase the estate from us and we could move in with him.”

The air left her lungs so suddenly it felt as if Caroline had been hit in the stomach. She knew her uncle was up to something last night, but the fact that her mother knew the details of the offer meant that her father had shared them. Considered them. Even after she had made the sacrifice to save her family.

“So you want to give up your home? Live in a few paltry rooms on an estate where you’re watched like a hawk at all times.”

“I would endure. I’ve certainly lived through worse. As long as I have you and your father, I can survive anything.”

“And what of our tenants? They’ll either be kicked out of homes their families had been in for generations, or the rents will be repeatedly raised until they’re suffocating under their debts. Until they have to decide between food and shelter?”

“Of course not, but we can reason with the Viscount. He doesn’t need to let our tenants suffer.”