Chapter Sixteen
His mother was meddling where she should not!
Irritation burned in his gut that she would even attempt to organize his life after she had been absent for the past ten years.
He would not have put up with it even if they had never been separated and nothing irritated him more in London than gossiping woman and matchmakers who could not mind their own business. And now, she was managing Caroline’s potential future.
Why was it now so important that Caroline find a husband?
His mother had accepted her declination of invitations before and he was curious as to why this ball was different.
It was not possible that it had anything to do with him since he had only arrived a few days ago, so why was it so important now?
Maybe she had forced Caroline to this ball because she thought it would be easier to manage him and he’d remain polite if her companion was present. If so, his mother had been mistaken because Sterling did not care who overheard them argue.
Irritated, Sterling found another glass of wine and a place where he could support the wall.
He was only polite without encouraging whenever his mother brought someone over for an introduction.
He had no intention of engaging in more meaningless and shallow conversations, especially since he had been having the most enjoyable one with Caroline.
She had truly been interested in his travels and not just pretending as a miss in search of a husband would have.
And she asked intelligent questions about marble, ruins, rose windows, and if what she had read of such places was correct.
She had truly wanted to know and had an appreciation for the places he had visited.
His aggravation only increased as the evening continued all while watching Caroline dance with one man after another.
The color was high in her cheeks and the ringlets about her face and neck grew damp.
She had to be miserable in the heat but would not disobey his mother.
She certainly could not have been interested in any of the men who asked to partner her, could she?
There was no doubt that had probably been complimented and then asked how she found the weather enough times that she wanted to scream.
Her smile was not even genuine, not like the one she had when they had been in the garden discussing his travels.
Blast!
She was going to faint if she did not rest. Therefore, he crossed the expanse of the room, retrieved a glass of lemonade and was waiting for the set to end when he approached and pressed it into her hand before leading her to an open window.
“Thank you,” she murmured before taking a sip.
“You could decline the invitations to dance,” he reminded her.
Caroline glanced over at his mother. “I do not want to disappoint Lady Wyndham.”
“I believe that it is time that we leave.” He did not ask. Instead, Sterling waited until Caroline finished her lemonade then escorted her to his mother.
“We are returning home!”
“The ball is not over,” she objected.
“Then I will send the carriage back for you but Mrs. Sutcliffe and I are leaving.”
“You cannot be alone with her. What of Caroline’s reputation?”
She was a widow so there was little concern, except he did not want those at the Governor’s ball to think she was the same kind of widow who attended functions in London and often left with a bachelor to share time in a more intimate manner.
And while it may be acceptable in London, even if remarked upon, he was not so certain how such would be viewed here.
Therefore, if his mother refused to leave, Sterling had two choices: Remain until she was ready or leave Caroline behind, except he was doing this for Caroline as well as himself, but more for her.
As he glanced around the ballroom, Sterling decided that he must remain because not only were there bachelors who watched Caroline with too much interest, it would not be safe for her and his mother to return to the estate alone. Though, he supposed his mother did so often.
“I am not certain my reputation matters,” Caroline said quietly. “I am not an innocent miss new to the marriage mart, but a mature widow.”
His mother snorted and Sterling nearly did as well. Mature indicated someone of his mother’s age. While Caroline lacked the silliness of a debutante, she was still young enough to be desired as a lover or a wife.
“I would not mind returning to Wyndview Farm,” she said after a moment.
“You do not wish to remain and dance more?” his mother asked in surprise.
“I am not used to such a late night or dancing or…” She glanced around the room. “And being around so many people for so long.”
“It has been some years since you enjoyed a Season in London,” his mother agreed with sympathy.
“I supposed it might be overwhelming; therefore, we will take our leave, but only because I do not want you miserable.” She then glanced at Sterling and raised an eyebrow. “Not because my son wishes to be gone.”
He did not care what her reasons were. Sterling was simply glad they were leaving.
“This was a lovely evening and more successful than I anticipated,” his mother said once they were settled in the carriage and on their way back to Wyndview Farm.
“Successful, how?” he asked, not certain he was prepared for the answer.
“Several gentlemen and military men asked after Caroline,” she answered. “They asked if they might call on her.”
Sterling forced himself to remain calm, though he was extremely irritated at his mother’s interference and her attempt to take on a guardianship role. “It is not your place to grant permission,” he reminded his mother.
“Of course not, dear.” She dismissed with a wave of her hand. “That is why I told them that as soon as the harvest was complete that I would invite them to tea, which would give Caroline a better opportunity to know them and then decide for herself if she would welcome them calling on her.”
Sterling glanced at his mother’s companion just in time to see her brown eyes widen in horror, yet she did not voice an objection.
“Please inform me who you invite and when so that I can determine if I want to join you or not,” she finally said and turned to look out the window.
Were there gentlemen that she would not mind meeting again? Were there some she did not want to encourage?
“We will have time to decide whom to invite after the harvest,” his mother promised. “And you shall determine whom it will be.”
Who did she want to call on her?
Sterling crossed his arms over his chest and sank into the corner of the bench.
He did not like this at all and feared that Caroline would be pushed into a courtship because she did not want to disappoint his mother.
*
Caroline did not want to meet other men. She did not want to have tea with other men.
But, more disturbing, why was Lady Wyndham suddenly deciding that she wanted to be a matchmaker—for her?
Did she want her gone from Wyndview Farm?
Now that William was almost ready to take over his father’s duties as the estate manager, did she believe there was no reason for Caroline to remain?
The thought was distressing and had kept her awake most of the night.
What would she do if it was decided that after William became the estate manager that she and her daughter could no longer remain in the home she now shared with her father and brother?
The estate manager was allowed a wife and children, not siblings, or even a parent.
At least that was what she had understood.
And William would likely wed one day and there were no other bed chambers available if his wife provided a child.
Where would she and her father go? Furthermore, what would her father do without the grapes? They were his passion.
She thought she had more time before such decisions would need to be made.
At least she had until after the harvest before men were invited to tea, which gave her nearly two months to plan a different future for herself because Caroline could not imagine marrying again…
That wasn’t correct. She would not mind having the security of a husband for her and Livia, but she had no intention of marrying without love and companionship.
Not a single gentleman nor military man that she had met at the ball even interested her enough that she wanted to invite them to tea, well, other than Wyndham, but he was not a candidate for her future.
Caroline shook her head as she crossed the terrace to the main house.
In time, she would let her thoughts be known to Lady Wyndham, but there were other duties that required her attention today.
“Ah Caroline, I am glad you have arrived.”
This was often the greeting she received from Lady Wyndham.
“Is there anything amiss?”
“Cook has asked me to discuss the menus for the coming sennight.”
“As she does every week,” Caroline reminded her, preparing herself for a familiar argument and already knowing how it would end. “Cook cannot plan properly if you do not tell her what you would like prepared for your meals.”
“Because I do not know,” Lady Wyndham argued. “How can I possibly know what I will want to eat three days from now?”
“If not for you, maybe you can plan a menu that will be pleasing to Lord Wyndham,” she suggested.
Lady Wyndham frowned. “Yes, well, I can only speak to when he was a child. I have no idea what his preferences are as an adult.”
“You could ask.” It would not be so difficult a question.
Lady Wyndham waived her hand in dismissal. “You decide, Caroline. It is what I have told you to do every week for months but you still insist on asking.”
“It is not my decision to make, Lady Wyndham.”
“I have told you that it is, and you have never failed me. Now, go along and arrange the menus with Cook so that she can send someone to the market.”
“Yes, Lady Wyndham,” Caroline answered with a sigh.
“If you do not want to make a menu, Mother, why not ask the housekeeper instead of Mrs. Sutcliffe?” Wyndham asked as he entered the sitting room.
Caroline nearly groaned. Why did he always arrived at the most inopportune times and ask questions that she would rather he not.
“We do not have one,” his mother answered.
Her son frowned. “Mrs. Nel was to have retired six months ago. The notification was provided to me in the last quarterly report received before I sailed. I had instructed Hallaway to hire a replacement immediately so that one could be trained before Mrs. Nel left. Did he not do so?”
“He was too preoccupied with the estate,” his mother answered with little concern.
“That is one of his duties—to see that the estate is fully staffed.” Wyndham’s voice rose in irritation. “Since I have arrived, I have discovered that there is no gardener employed, when there should be if one has gardens and now, I am told that there is no housekeeper.”
“You are making too much of the situation,” Lady Wyndham dismissed his concern, much like Caroline’s father dismissed matters that did not involve grapes and she well understood Wyndham’s frustration with his mother.
“I interviewed candidates and did not like them so Caroline has agreed to fill the position until such time as we can once again begin interviewing.” Her answer was so pleasant, a problem easily resolved, that Lady Wyndham likely believed that her son would simply accept her explanation while Caroline knew that it would not be so easy.
Wyndham stared at her, his blue eyes dark with lingering irritation. “Besides being your father’s secretary, sometimes gardener, and my mother’s companion, you are also the housekeeper?”
His voice was tight with disapproval.
“I am simply being of assistance and my father assured me that he would see to hiring a new housekeeper as soon as the harvest is complete.” If he remembered, or maybe she would need to see to that duty, but Lord Wyndham did not need to know the extent of the difficulties they faced.
“Besides, it is not a burden and I already know the servants and everyone who works at Wyndview Farm, and how the household is run so it is easier for me than for your mother or my father to train someone new.”
“Then you will be compensated for the positions you now fill.”
“No,” Caroline insisted. “I am grateful for a home with my father for me and my daughter. This is a way for me to repay the kindness of allowing him to take me in when it might have been prohibited. Therefore, compensation is not necessary.”
“You seem to be of the opinion that you have a choice,” Wyndham returned.
Oh dear!
Where had the kind gentleman she enjoyed speaking with the evening before gone? Did Wyndham leave him behind at the ball? It was the only explanation because he was behaving very much as he had when he first arrived and she did not like this version nearly as well.