Chapter Nineteen
“Why Stellenbosch?” Sterling asked. He could think of no reason why Caroline would need to travel there. Then again, there was much he did not know about her.
“For one, it is where my family lives,” his mother answered, seeming rather offended. “After my parents were gone, those in Stellenbosch are all I have left.”
He had not meant to insult her and was certain his tone had not indicated such. He’d simply been surprised. But that was not a reason for Caroline to visit, was it? Had his mother thought of someone there who would make a fine husband for her companion?
“They are your family too,” his mother reminded him.
He had not seen his cousins since he was a child and likely would not recognize anyone now or know their names, but he recalled traveling there regularly to visit with his great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. How could he have forgotten something so important from his childhood?
“If it is to visit family, then the two of us should make the journey,” he suggested.
“No, that is not possible,” his mother answered.
“Why?”
“I do not feel up to making such a long trip. I am getting on in years.”
“You just suggested that we travel a sennight to and from Cape Agulhas.” This time he meant for his voice to rise in exasperation. His mother was being rather aggravating and he was not certain what she was truly up to.
“Further, you also just claimed that Caroline was too busy to have accompanied us to Cape Agulhas.” What mischief was she about?
“A visit to Stellenbosch should only take three days, whereas one to Cape Agulhas is much longer,” his mother explained.
“And three days is too much for you?”
“Yes, well, I have reconsidered. It was a poor idea to suggest a visit Cape Agulhas to begin with and no doubt my health would have suffered from such travels.”
His mother was going to drive him to madness! Yes, she may be getting on in years, but there was nothing fragile about her, nor was she in her dotage.
“Why is it that Mrs. Sutcliffe will be visiting Stellenbosch when it is your family, and mine, who lives there?” Sterling asked, quickly coming to the end of his patience.
“To chaperone, of course,” she answered as if he should have already known. “Please ring for tea, Caroline.”
“Chaperone?” Caroline asked as if she was as confused as him.
“Yes. Kaya cannot travel a full day, alone with two men. It simply is not done.”
Caroline sighed and walked to the bellpull shaking her head.
Did he ask who Kaya was and why she was going to Stellenbosch with two men, one he assumed was him?
As her answer would likely frustrate him all the more, Sterling decided to offer a different argument. “I do not know anyone there any longer,”
“All the more reason to enjoy a reunion with your cousins.”
“It will take too long,” he insisted. He needed to remain at Wyndview Farm and not waste time on a holiday.
“It is one day there, you will spend the night, spend the day with your family, then return the following day. I expect you home at the end of three days. Therefore, do not dawdle.”
Though in retrospect, why was he arguing with his mother?
Was it simply because he did not like being manipulated or told what to do?
Which was foolish on his part since he had not given any thought to the one advantage of this trip—he would be with Caroline, without his mother’s interference.
It would be a chance to know her better, learn what he could.
It was what he had wanted, so why was he so quick to dismiss the opportunity?
Because his mother had exasperated him with first a trip to the coast then, suggesting Stellenbosch and becoming suddenly too fragile to leave her chair.
Sterling did not know her reasons or what plan that she might have brewed in the back of her mind and found he did not care when he would be given three days, nearly alone, with Caroline.
*
Caroline strolled to the bellpull and gave it a gentle tug.
She did not want to travel to Stellenbosch either yet feared that whatever objection she offered would be dismissed even though Lady Wyndham knew that she could not be gone from Wyndview Farm for three days.
“What of Livia? I cannot leave her.”
“Livia will keep me company when not at her studies,” Lady Wyndham insisted. “I do enjoy having her around and she is coming along very well with her stitches for one so young.”
Lady Wyndham had begun to teach Livia needlework because Caroline had no time to teach the finer arts, nor had she thought Livia old enough, but Lady Wyndham was eager to do so because she had never gotten the opportunity since she’d never had a daughter.
“What troubles you, Mrs. Sutcliffe?” Wyndham asked. “You have been frowning ever since my mother decided that the two of us shall travel together.” The corner of his mouth tipped. “Is it because you do not wish to spend so much time in my presence?”
That certainly was not the reason, though it should be. Wyndham caused her to think of matters that a respectable widow should not and long for intimacies now missed.
“I believe you will find the travel tedious,” she answered.
“All day in a wagon, a night in uncomfortable quarters, though a day spent in Stellenbosch should be pleasant enough, but then you would need to spend another uncomfortable night before you start out again the following morning. The travel can be tiresome.”
“Why not take a carriage?”
“For such a distance and difficult roads, a wagon is better. I can assure that you will find the trip most uncomfortable.”
Maybe if she made the trip sound horribly inconvenient and wearying, Wyndham might reconsider and remain here, then she could as well and someone else could be sent along to chaperone Kaya, especially since Caroline suspected that Malik would also join the young woman, whom he wanted to wed.
“I begin to think that you see me as a pampered gentleman who could not cross a county without a cushioned seat in a well-sprung carriage.”
If she agreed, it would be seen as an insult. Of that she was certain.
“It will not be comfortable travels, Lord Wyndham, and I simply wish to make you aware.”
“I am made of sterner stuff, despite my title, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
Oh dear. Now he was going to go along simply to prove himself to her, which was the exact opposite of what she wanted.
“As I accept that the next few days may be grueling and the most unpleasant that I have ever experienced, I vow not to complain and now ask what time we shall depart?”
Caroline forced a smile. “At sunrise,” she answered wondering how the conversation had gone so terribly wrong when she had intended that she not travel at all.
More concerning, however, was what Lady Wyndham had been thinking to send them both to Stellenbosch?
Though Caroline would wager that Lady Wyndham had just invented a reason to travel to Stellenbosch since they would not be traveling to Cape Agulhas. Caroline just didn’t understand why she had to go anywhere.
She would have asked the older woman but Caroline never got the chance and when she arrived at the wagon the following morning, Lord Wyndham was already waiting.
“Good morning.”
“Mrs. Sutcliffe,” he greeted her boisterously.
It nearly took her aback because she had not expected him to be so…well…happy, especially at this time in the morning.
“Malik has gone inside to retrieve the basket of foodstuffs that Cook has prepared. Kaya is gathering what other necessities we might need,” he informed her. “I am not certain what those items are but I have been assured that we will need them.”
Caroline eyed him warily. Why was he so jovial?
“By the way the two were looking at each other, I would assume they are smitten. Are they?”
She also would not have expected someone of Wyndham’s station to even notice such about servants.
Then again, if it had been just the three of them before she arrived, the courtship would have been obvious since Kaya could not help but watch Malik whenever he was about and he did not miss an opportunity to brush her hand by accident.
“Are there rules against courtships between servants?” She did not know of any but that did not mean they did not exist.
“Do they work in similar positions and encounter each other often?”
“Malik works in the stable and Kaya is a kitchen maid. They rarely see the other while they are at their duties.”
“Do they tend to those duties without distraction or interruption? Do they perform at least adequately?”
“Each of your servants serve you well, Lord Wyndham, and are diligent in their tasks.”
“Then I do not see why a courtship should not be allowed. Is that the reason you chose them to accompany us—because they are courting?”
“Your mother can be blamed. I believe the visit to Stellenbosch is more for them than you.”
“She said you were traveling there,” he reminded her.
“I can assure you that I only learned of my plans to do so when your mother announced them.”
He frowned, blond brows drawing over his nose. Perhaps he was wondering what his mother was about because Caroline certainly was.
Malik came from the house, hamper in hand and placed it in the back of the wagon, then took Caroline’s valise and placed it there as well. Kaya returned only moments later with blankets and pillows which offered some comfort while they traveled.
“Is all ready?” Caroline asked.
“It is,” Malik answered then offered his hand to help Caroline into the back of the wagon. He then turned toward Kaya, smiled and held out his hand to assist her.
Wyndham stood there as if he were not certain what to do.
“Your place is on the bench next to Malik,” Caroline advised. “He will drive the wagon.”
Wyndham frowned at her. “Why should I not sit back here with you?”
That was a foolish question indeed, but Wyndham was acting rather strangely this morning. “For one, you are the Earl of Wyndham, therefore you should not be forced to ride in the back of a wagon. Second, it will be more comfortable for you.”
“I shall ride back here, with you, and Kaya can sit beside Malik,” Wyndham announced.
“No, no, Lord Wyndham,” Caroline insisted. She could not spend an entire day alone with him. It did not matter that Malik and Kaya would be on the bench, driving the wagon and not far away.
Wyndham glanced at Caroline, Kaya, and then Malik. “Do I not have a say? I am the Earl of Wyndham and employ each of you.”
Except, Caroline wasn’t one of his servants, not that she reminded him of that since he had threatened to pay her wages.
“It is not right, Lord Wyndham,” Kaya whispered.
“No, it is not,” Caroline agreed as she arranged the blankets and pillows for comfort to keep from bruising her bottom and back during their travels. She had accompanied Lady Wyndham five times previously and knew that she would be stiff and sore once they arrived.
“Nor am I the pampered gentleman you believe me to be. I shall ride in the back of the wagon as you do, and as has my mother.”
Kaya’s eyes widened as she glanced over at Malik as if he could force the Lord of Wyndham from the wagon.
“Would you prefer to drive?” Malik quickly suggested.
“Is it more difficult than a phaeton or barouche?” Wyndham asked.
“What are those?” Malik questioned.
“Open carriages,” Caroline answered. “You would do well driving a wagon, Lord Wyndham.” Maybe he would change his mind about riding with her and take his place on the bench.
He stared at the trio, hands on hips, lips tilted in irritation, and then shook his head. “Perhaps later, if Malik does tired of driving.” He stepped up and into the wagon.
Why would he, the Earl of Wyndham, want to ride in the back of a wagon?
It made no sense to her.
“You should ride next to Malik,” Wyndham said to Kaya. “I am certain that he would enjoy your company.”
“Yes…um…of course, Lord Wyndham but do let me know if you want to ride on the bench.”
Malik held his hand up to Kaya then assisted her from the back of the wagon before escorting her to the front to be seated next to him.
Wyndam gathered the extra blankets, the ones that Kaya had planned to sit upon, offered one to the servant so that her bottom was cushioned against the hard bench then made himself comfortable with pillows to support his back and layers beneath his bum.
He had done this before. Perhaps Wyndham wasn’t so pampered after all.
He grinned at her. “It is a fine day for a drive, is it not?”
Why was he so damned happy?
Except, he wasn’t, not in the sense she originally believed. She had challenged him, and now Wyndham was going to prove that not only would he not suffer hardship but he was determined to be pleasant and enjoy himself even if he hid his misery from everyone else.
Well, she would see just how long that lasted, then smiled as she looked over his shoulder at the passing scenery.