Chapter Two
“It is so good to see you, Sterling.” His mother smiled brightly as she started forward, arms out as if she were going to embrace him. “What brings you to Wyndview Farm?”
Did he let her enfold him in her arms? Sterling had not seen the woman in over ten years, not since she had sailed from England with Father, never to return.
“I intend to make a tour of our properties. I have already visited the wineries and quarries where we have business relationships.” It was important that she know that this was not a holiday, visit, or reunion, but rather a trip to further the interest of Trade Wynd.
She reached his side, put her arms around Sterling, went on her toes, and pressed her cool lips to his cheek.
He simply stood stiff and unyielding. Bitterness at her abandonment, which had accompanied him these many years, nearly choked him.
“Did you visit Madeira and your brother?” she asked after she stepped away, not appearing at all flustered that he hadn’t returned her affection.
“I will stop and visit Elliot on my return to England.”
“He seems to enjoy his life there.” She turned and glided across the room to stand near the window that looked out over her favored gardens.
How could she know what Elliot or any of them enjoyed?
Movement outside, beyond his mother, caught his attention. Straining, he noted a lone woman with dark hair ride toward the fields. Even though she was using sidesaddle, she was not wearing a riding habit, which left a good portion of her leg exposed.
Were hoydens common in the Cape Colony or just at Wyndview Farm? If it were only here, then who was she?
“Where did you visit?”
His mother’s question pulled him away from his wondering about the mysterious woman, and he returned his attention to her.
“Vineyards in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal as well as quarries in Italy and Greece.”
She arched a brow. “Goodness! How long have you been traveling?”
“I left home nearly a year ago.”
“That is a good deal of time to be away from Trade Wynd,” she mentioned in a curious tone.
“Damian has Trade Wynd well in hand. My presence is not necessary.” His younger brother had overseen the docks, warehouses, and scheduling ships for Trade Wynd since their father died and Sterling’s presence truly was not needed.
Her lips thinned as she nodded. If she wanted a conversation about his travels or family, she would be disappointed.
“And you are here because we are in a business relationship and for no other reason.”
“I am here because I own the vineyard and it is necessary that I tour the estate and see where we make wine.”
“You were born and raised here. I find it difficult to believe you do not remember.”
“As you know, I was ten and two when we moved to England, therefore, I was quite unaware of the details involved in the management of Wyndview Farm. I intend to rectify that failing.”
She nodded again. “I suppose you want to review the books as well.”
“Of course.”
At least she now understood that this was not to be a friendly visit and perhaps he would not need to remain very long.
“Where is the estate manager?” The man should be able to provide him with all the information he required and allow Sterling to limit any interaction with his mother.
“Hallaway is not available to you, but away.” His mother smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Perhaps she did not. She lived here alone, by choice, with financial support previously provided by his father and now him.
“Besides, you just arrived, therefore, we will have tea. Then you will rest. Tonight, we will dine and tomorrow you can begin your inspection.”
If she thought to manage him or his time while he was at Wyndview Farm, his mother was mistaken.
Sterling stared into her pale-blue eyes and for the first time noticed a hint of sadness in contrast to her smile and warm welcome. His mother portrayed happiness that might not exist, which if that were the case, it was of her own making.
He was also about to tell her that he had no interest in taking tea and intended to find Hallaway when something, or someone, ran headlong into the back of his legs almost knocking him off balance.
Sterling slowly turned and looked down to find a little girl of no more than five or six, brown eyes wide with fear, backing away from him. Had she not seen him standing there or had she been running without looking at where she was going?
She was dressed far better than the child of a servant and in delicate yellow muslin trimmed in lace and her hair was neatly pulled back and braided with ribbons at the end.
Who did she belong to?
He glanced back at his mother. Was the girl hers?
It was possible, he supposed. Had she remarried after his father had died or was the child a bastard?
“Livia, come here.” His mother held her hand out to the child, who did her bidding, but gave a wide berth as she maneuvered around Sterling, clearly frightened of him.
“Who is this?” he demanded.
His tone must have been sharp because Livia ran the rest of the distance to his mother who placed a protective arm around her slight shoulders.
“Miss Livia Sutcliffe,” his mother answered.
“Where did she come from?”
Sterling nearly held his breath as he waited to find out if he had a younger half sister that nobody had told him about.
“She is the daughter of Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
“Who is that?” he demanded, but assumed there were guests in the household.
“Your estate manager’s daughter.”
Sterling frowned. Hallaway had a son, William, and a daughter, Caroline.
The entire Hallaway family had moved here from England in 1806 when Hallaway had been hired as the estate manager by his father.
That was one of the reasons his father and mother had made the trip to the Cape.
Clearly the child belonged to Caroline, who was now Mrs. Sutcliffe, but that did not explain why the child was running around this home.
“They are visiting?” he asked.
“Who?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
His mother frowned. “My dear, Caroline is a widow.”
That still did not explain why a servant’s child was running about the house, and he intended to find out exactly what kind of home his mother managed.
*
“Where is he?” Caroline asked quietly as she slipped into the kitchens, which had been built separately from the house because of the heat that could build during the day, to keep it from invading the house, and to protect against the risk of fire that could erupt when cooking on open flames.
The two buildings were separated by a short, covered walkway.
She’d been nervous since George announced that Lord Wyndham had arrived. What would he think of the estate? What changes would he make?
More importantly, what might he discover that he should not? Her greatest fear.
“He is with Lady Wyndham,” a senior maid answered.
This was good. The longer he remained occupied, the more time her father and William had to prepare. “My father and brother have come in from the fields and are repairing their appearance so that they can meet with Lord Wyndham.”
“How is your father?” Cook asked with concern.
“He is well and I made certain to explain the importance of this meeting.” Whether he did understand and took her warning to heart was another matter.
“Also, William will be by his side.” At least her brother did know how vital it was that this meeting went well so that Wyndham was satisfied with the state of Wyndham Farm.
“And you?” Cook asked.
“I will be near, but I also do not want to draw attention to myself.”
“We will also be careful in what we say,” the maid assured her.
“Thank you,” she returned.
Oh, she hated that the servants might need to lie about how the estate was managed, but they also feared that if the knowledge became known to Wyndham that he might sack her father and hire a new estate manager which would alter the security of their positions.
“I am off to make certain that everything is put to rights in the office.” She had left so quickly that she feared that something of importance may have been overlooked despite how careful she had been.
As she started to leave the kitchen, Caroline glanced at a corner table and stopped. Her daughter was not at her usual place for this time of day, which was having a small repast following her lessons. “Where is Livia?”
A maid blinked. “She was just here. I did not see her leave.”
Caroline’s heart pounded. If Livia needed her, she would have gone directly to the office and she must warn her daughter that she could not go there any longer, at least not until Lord Wyndham had sailed back to England.
In fact, her daughter needed to refrain from wandering anywhere in the house even though Lady Wyndham always welcomed her to do so because she enjoyed having a child around.
“Livia, where have you gone?” Caroline quietly called as she hurried past the sitting room that Lady Wyndham enjoyed and headed toward the office near the front of the house.
“I am in here, Mama,” she called, her voice coming from behind.
Oh dear. If she was with Lady Wyndham, did that mean that the earl was somewhere else?
Caroline hurried back to the lavender sitting room but was brought up short at the sight of the Earl of Wyndham.
Goodness, he was handsome and tall. Blond hair streaked by the sun, deep-blue eyes, and bronzed skin likely from being at sea and in the sun for hours at a time. More handsome than he had been when she had spied him across a ballroom seven years ago during her one and only Season.
“Lord Wyndham,” she greeted as she bobbed a curtsey.
“I take it that you are Mrs. Sutcliffe,” he returned.
“Yes. I am. My father should be with you shortly,” she offered. “I rode to the vineyard to alert him of your arrival.” William’s presence would be explained when the two arrived.
One golden eyebrow rose over his left eye. “I had wondered who the hoyden was who rode past the window not long ago.”
Her face burned. It had not been her best moment given that she had difficulty adjusting her skirt and therefore her legs were not properly covered, something that would have been shocking in London, but not here.
“I apologize if you were scandalized, Lord Wyndham, but I thought it more crucial that my father be alerted to your arrival.”
“Should not a stableboy or other servant been given that task?”
Oh, dear, he was correct, but Caroline had a habit of doing things herself. “I did not want to disturb them when it was something that I could easily accomplish.”
He nodded to indicate he accepted her explanation, though his tight expression spoke of disapproval that did not aid in putting her at ease.
“It is not necessary for Mr. Hallaway to rush on the account of my son being here,” Lady Wyndham announced. “After tea, Sterling will be getting settled into his chamber, hopefully bathe, and then we shall dine.”
He stiffened at the order or perhaps he’d been insulted, but Caroline was not close enough to him to know if a bath was necessary or if he simply resented Lady Wyndham ordering him about.
“I am certain that it is not necessary for your father to meet with him before tomorrow morning,” Lady Wyndham concluded.
“If he will see me now…” Lord Wyndham began but his mother held up one finger, her thumb closed over the others as she pointed at her son.
“I understand that you have not been here in nearly seventeen years, but it is our summer and Mr. Hallaway has been in the fields most of the day, in the heat and under the bright sun. Days such as these, especially this time of year, leave everyone exhausted. It is bad enough that you have disrupted his schedule, but your demands can wait until tomorrow.”
“He has already returned from the fields. Mrs. Sutcliffe said as much,” Wyndham argued.
“He will need to wash, change into proper clothes then prepare the documents to discuss Wyndview Farm,” she responded.
“He may be your employee but certainly, Sterling, you must also be cognizant. Your demands are rather burdensome when there is nothing urgent about your request, unless you intend to board a ship and leave tomorrow morning.”
Caroline blinked and backed away, shocked at how Lady Wyndham had talked to her son.
“Very well, Mother,” her son bit out, obviously irritated.
“George,” Lady Wyndham called.
“Yes, Your Ladyship,” George responded almost immediately, which meant he must have been just outside the door, eavesdropping. Caroline hoped he continued to do so and report to her anything he learned about the Earl of Wyndham and why he was here.
“Send word to Hallaway and his son that they are not required to meet with Wyndham until tomorrow.”
“Very good, Lady Wyndham.” George nodded and left quietly.
“Livia and I should be going as well.” She held out a hand to her daughter.
“May I inquire, do you live with your father or are you visiting?”
“We live here,” Livia answered happily as she skipped toward Caroline.
“I found it necessary to return to my father after my husband was killed in the Battle of Dresden,” she added.
Wyndham frowned. “You have been a widow for over three years?”
Why did he seem surprised? There were women younger than she who were widows.
“Have you lived here since?” Wyndham asked.
Oh dear, he was going to ask her to leave. “Yes. My mother also died not long after and my father needed my assistance while my brother, William, was still in school.”
Wyndham frowned. “Assist how?”
“His household, Lord Wyndham,” she answered tightly. “Further, I was without financial support and had no choice of where I might live.”
She hoped he would allow her to remain and ask no further questions.
“If there is nothing further, I shall take my daughter home.” Caroline grasped tightly to Livia’s hand and slipped out of the room before any further questions could be asked.
Her pulse pounded and her hands shook as she returned to the kitchens, where the servants were preparing the evening meal.
There was no warmth to Lord Wyndham and she wasn’t certain he possessed kindness either.
What could happen if he found displeasure with the estate, her father or…Caroline groaned. She must make certain that nothing went amiss while he was here.
“Have you seen His Lordship?” a maid asked quietly after she entered the kitchen.
“Yes, he is with Lady Wyndham.”
“What of your father and brother?” another maid asked.
“They will meet with him tomorrow morning.”
“Lord have mercy,” a maid whispered.
The situation was not so dire. “All will be well. I am certain of that,” Caroline said even though she lacked confidence. Perhaps a few prayers to see them through this situation would not be remiss.