Page 65 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"Yes!" Carol agreed. "Exactly what I was thinking."

"We could start small," Bea said, warming to the project. "See what works. Then expand from there."

"That would be amazing," Carol said. "Thank you, Bea."

Her sister looked at her with an expression Carol couldn't quite read. "You really have changed, haven't you?"

"I'm trying," Carol said honestly.

They settled in one of the smaller parlors, and Jasper stretched out his legs.

"So," he said. "Tell us about this marriage you're trying to make work. How's that actually going?"

Carol thought about tea time the other afternoon. About Caspian watching her eat dessert with that flustered expression. About him agreeing to let her keep Mochi. About the way he'd looked at her in the courtyard before riding off.

"It's going well," she said, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face. "Better than I expected. We've been having dinner together. And we had tea in the garden the other day. He's actually very good company once you get past the intimidating exterior."

"Dinner together," Bea repeated.

"We've had one dinner so far," Carol admitted. "And we were supposed to have another the night he left, and I was really disappointed when he had to cancel."

"Disappointed," Jasper said, grinning. "Because you missed dinner with your husband."

"Because I enjoy his company," Carol said, feeling her cheeks warm again.

"She's blushing again," Jasper pointed out to Bea.

"I noticed."

"I'm not—" Carol gave up. "Fine. Yes. I like spending time with him. Is that so strange?"

"For you? Yes," Bea said. But she was smiling. A real, genuine, warm smile. "But I'm so glad."

Something in her tone made Carol look closer. Were Bea's eyes suspiciously bright?

"Bea?"

"I'm just happy," Bea said, her voice a bit thick. "I've been trying to get you to move on from Earl Sinclair for years. And now you finally have, and you seem genuinely content, and—" She stopped, blinking rapidly. "Sorry. I'm just relieved."

"Move on from Earl Sinclair?" Carol asked carefully.

"Well, yes," Bea said. "You spent years pining after him. We were all so worried about what would happen when—" She stopped abruptly.

"When what?" Carol prompted.

Bea and Jasper exchanged guilty looks.

"When he got engaged," Jasper finished quietly. "Which he did. To Rosalie Lennox. The engagement party is next month."

He said it carefully, watching Carol's face for signs of distress.

Carol processed this information. Percival was engaged to Rosalie. The original plot was proceeding as planned.

"Oh," she said. "That's nice for them."

Both siblings stared at her.

"That's... nice?" Bea repeated slowly.