Page 96 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“Madame Gavreau did a fabulous job.”

It looked even better than it did at the fitting with the floral embroidery and decorative edges completed.

“It’s not the dress, it’s you. If anything, you make the dress look radiant.”

“Only because I knew I couldn’t let you outshine me on my wedding day.”

Diya beamed before turning her attention back to their reflections in the mirror. “We do look quite good, don’t we?”

Diya wore a deep purple sari with gold lace trim. Caroline embroidered tiny gold stars above the lace to give it some extra sparkle. Not that her dress needed it, but she had done the same to her wedding gown—but in silver around the bottom hem—and it was nice that they matched.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Diya continued. “It feels like just yesterday we were throwing weddings for our dolls in the back garden, and now you’re really doing it.”

“I know, the day is finally here,” she said with a shaky breath.

It had been a month since Valeria left in the night, and she accepted this melancholy as her new normal. The one good thing was that The Count hadn’t been seen either, and Dr. Murnau’s hospital was once again filled with broken bones and respiratory infections.

Though she wasn’t entirely sure what his day-to-day looked like, as she hadn’t been back since she left The Count in the cellar. Planning the wedding had distracted her, as had the return of her parents. Her life got busy, but it was also easier to live in a world without vampires.

The ghost of Valeria lived in her home enough as it was. Night was the worst, when her dreams remembered everything, down to the way she smelled. Waking up and remembering she was gone every morning was torture.

Ironically, what helped the most over the past month was Edgar. He was with her every day, coming just after breakfast and not leaving until after dinner. Which made her nerves ridiculous, as they were already practically married. Only one thing was missing from their relationship.

And that would change tonight.

“I know, it’s strange that it’s finally happening. I’ve been planning it for so long, but it still doesn’t feel real that it’s finally here.”

Partly because she hadn’t been sure she would even get this far. Not when a month ago all she wanted was for Valeria to tell her to call it off. That they would run away together and she wouldn’t have to worry about crops or estates ever again. It was the antithesis of who she was, but that didn’t stop her dream.

Diya sighed. “I guess this means we’ll have to start inviting Edgar to our teas. I can’t believe you’re making me invite a boy.”

“We don’t have to invite him all the time; I’m sure he has no interest in listening to us gossip anyway.” Caroline hesitated; over the past few weeks she had noticed the moods of the people closest to her changing. She wasn’t sure if they could tell something was different—wrong—with her, or if she was sensitive to their perceptions. “You do like Edgar though, don’t you?”

“Of course,” Diya responded with a smile that she desperately wanted to investigate to see if it was the truth or not, but she still couldn’t tell.

“Things have just seemed a little…tense, and his presence is the only real change, so I wanted to check because after today…” Caroline trailed off. She was about to say they would be stuck with him, but that didn’t seem like the proper sentiment for the man she would be marrying in the next half hour.

Diya’s shoulders dropped, and Caroline could almost see the wheels in her head turning as she carefully thought of what to say next.

“It’s not that I don’t like him. I’ve known him for ages, and he’s always been the same. Perfectly nice and easy to talk to. There are many worse men you could marry.”

“But?”

“But, you seem different, Caro.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t expected that and wasn’t quite sure what to say.

“I know you’ve never loved him in the traditional way, but that isn’t rare. Love can grow, and I assumed that would happen between you two, but now I’m not sure because you seem miserable and Edgar is desperately trying to keep hold of you and I don’t think he will be successful.”

Her breathing quickened because she thought no one had noticed. Inside, her heart was broken, but she felt like she was soldiering on as usual. The only difference between now and before the engagement party was that now she knew exactly what her relationship with Edgar was missing.

“Do you think he knows? I really am trying.”

“Oh, I know you are. It’s not your fault; you’re doing the best you can.” Diya wrapped her arms around her, and it felt good to tell someone at least part of the truth of how much she had been hurting. “Edgar isn’t stupid, but I think he knows you’re trying too. That’s why he has been so attached to you these past few weeks. I don’t think he’ll give up on you, if that’s what you’re asking. He’s always known he loves you more.”

“But what if I’m not able to love him back?”

“Oh, Caro, don’t worry about that. I have never met anyone with a larger capacity to love. It will come with time.”