Page 63 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"Not your finest—Caroline, you threw a tantrum at your own engagement announcement because they served the wrong wine," Bea said.

"I'm working on being better," Carol insisted. "Now, are you staying? Please stay. I'd love to have you here."

"We were planning to stay a few days," Jasper said slowly. "To make sure you were... alright. We've been worried."

"I'm more than alright," Carol said, smiling. "I'm actually happy. Or at least, I'm trying to be."

Edmund appeared at the door. "Your Grace, shall I have rooms prepared for your guests?"

"Yes, please," Carol said. "The blue suite for Jasper and the rose suite for Bea, if they're available."

"Of course, Your Grace. And shall I arrange for tea?"

"Yes, thank you, Edmund."

After Edmund left, Bea sat down slowly on one of the settees. "You know the staff's names."

"Of course I do."

"You didn't a few weeks ago," Bea pointed out. "Your letters complained about 'that annoying butler' and 'the incompetent maids.'"

Carol felt a flush of shame for Original Caroline's behavior. "I was being unfair. The staff here are wonderful. I was just... taking my unhappiness out on everyone around me."

Jasper sat down as well, still watching Carol with concerned suspicion. "This is the strangest conversation I've ever had with you."

"Is it so hard to believe I might have grown up a bit?" Carol asked, settling into a chair across from them with Mochi in her lap.

"Yes," both siblings said in unison.

Carol laughed despite herself. "Fair enough. I know I was awful before. But I'm trying to change. To be the person I should have been all along."

Bea's expression softened slightly. "I want to believe you."

"Then believe me," Carol said. "I'm not enchanted or possessed or mind-controlled. I'm just... different. Better, I hope."

"Better," Bea repeated thoughtfully. Then she leaned forward. "Tell me about your husband."

Carol felt her cheeks warming again. "What about him?"

"Everything. You've called him a monster, a brute, the worst thing that ever happened to you. Now you're blushing when his name comes up. What changed?"

"I actually talked to him," Carol said. "Got to know him. He's not any of those things I said. He's intelligent and tactical and surprisingly funny in a dry way. And he's been very patient with me despite how awful I've been to him."

"Funny," Jasper repeated skeptically.

"He made a joke about the eastern terrace having a better view than the hedge I was hiding behind when I was watching him train," Carol said, then immediately regretted it when both siblings' eyes widened.

"You were hiding behind a hedge watching him train?" Bea asked, her lips twitching.

"I was not hiding, I was observing from a respectful distance—"

"Behind a hedge," Jasper finished, grinning now. "Our sister is smitten with The Butcher of the North."

"I am not smitten—" Carol stopped. "Fine. Maybe I find him... appealing. He's very handsome. And kind. And he let me keep Mochi."

"You mentioned that," Bea said, her smile growing. "About three times now."

"It was a big deal," Carol muttered.