Page 94 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“Then you’ll be glad to know that she left and I don’t know where she went. I don’t think I’ll ever see her again.”

“Good, but that won’t guarantee that you won’t see me again. Those big houses have so many people going in and out that it’s too easy to get an invitation.”

Caroline left the basement without another word. He was committed to scaring her, and it worked all too well. She would make sure Mrs. Thomas told the staff not to invite anyone into their home. But above all else, she prayed The Count would leave her alone.

When she reached the top of the staircase, she shut the door behind her, and Dr. Murnau was pacing across the short hallway, ready to spring into action. “Are you well? Did he hurt you?” The doctor’s eyes were frantic as he waved one of his yew stakes.

“I’m fine. He scared me, but he can’t get through the chains. I don’t think it will hold him for long, but it’s holding him for now.”

“I agree. Our final patients can be discharged today, and I will make sure everyone is home well before sunset, just in case. If he is still in the cage in the morning, I’ll reevaluate, but I have a feeling it will be empty.”

“Me too.”

* * *

That night Caroline stood at the parlour with her own wooden stake the gardener helped her carve. The ballroom floor was being waxed, and she heard the soft sounds of the servants working, but otherwise the house was quiet. Everyone had instructions not to open the door or let anyone in for any reason. It didn’t take much for everyone to agree. Not with the rumors floating around town of dark forces on the loose. Gossip was the best way to get anything done.

“Do you see anything?” Lucy hissed, holding her own stake. Caroline had told her many times that she wasn’t needed, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She said if her lady was defending her house, then so would she.

“Nothing.”

It was well past midnight, and she stood in the same spot since before sunset, watching the road. The Count could come through the forest, but she felt he would rather use the front door. It made more of a statement. She looked for movement in the trees, but even the forest was still. The tree-lined drive was nearly half a mile long, so she couldn’t see the main road, but even in the darkness she would be able to see any movement. Her grip tightened as she thought about seeing the flash of his light green eyes through the trees.

“When you do see him, you distract him, and I’ll stab. It’s the heart, right?”

“Yes, it’s the heart, but I don’t want you to get that close to him. You distract, and I’ll stab.”

The Count was fast, faster than she could ever describe to Lucy. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that if it came down to a fight, they wouldn’t win. If he found his way into her home, it would be the end of them all. The weapon was only for her peace of mind, though Lucy didn’t need to know that. Only one of them needed to be terrified.

Lucy snorted. “I like you a great deal, Miss. You’re the best boss I’ve ever had, but I don’t think the stabbing should be left to you. You’ve never stabbed anyone before.”

“And you have?” Caroline turned to her maid, raising a brow.

“‘Course I have. You think a stable boy hasn’t ever gotten a little handsy? Sometimes a little stab is how you show them you mean business.”

“Has anyone here gotten…handsy with you?” Caroline frowned. She hadn’t heard of such whispers through the staff, but she imagined it wouldn’t be something that would get to her, though she hated the thought that anyone there would act in such a way. “It doesn’t matter who it was. I’ll make sure you’re protected.”

“Oh no, it wasn’t here. You run too tight a ship for such behaviors, and even if you didn’t, Mrs. Thomas would skin anyone who tried. Not all houses are like this, though. I had a lot of trouble when I was a scullery maid. It took a few pokes, but then I got a reputation, and they left me alone.”

“Well, I promise you won’t have to go through that again.”

“And I promise that I won’t let The Count get you. He may not be a man, but I can stab him all the same.”

The corners of Caroline’s mouth tipped upwards, even though she knew she shouldn’t encourage her. “Thank you, Lucy. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”

“I hope not, but it’s better to be prepared. Mrs. Thomas had the footmen carving stakes all day so there’s quite the stockpile now.”

“Why would she do that?”

“We all wanted to be ready. Everyone feels better with the weapon, especially since this Count can go out during the day. We won’t be caught unaware. You’ll be safe.”

Caroline shifted, her eyes dropping briefly from the window. “You don’t have to worry about protecting me. It’s my responsibility to protect you.”

This house and her staff were her responsibility. She had to keep them fed and safe. She hadn’t done the best job of it lately, but she would fix it.

Lucy placed a hand on her arm, and Caroline tensed for a moment before looking at her maid and her kind eyes as she blinked up at her.

“You take such good care of everyone, but we’re also allowed to care for you. This is our home, and we want to protect both it and you. It’s not all up to you.”