Chapter Twenty-Three
Sterling barely slept. Caroline did not snore, but he could hear her soft breathing. And every time she moved, the bed creaked and he wondered if she would sleep better if she did not have to do so alone.
The temptation to slip through the blankets and seduce her was nearly impossible to ignore, but he did not leave his bed.
Who could blame him for wanting her? She was beautiful, put together perfectly, kind, intelligent, and mature. And, she was not innocent, but had been married and birthed a daughter, so it would not be as if he were ruining her.
He feared that she would reject him, which would make for a very awkward day in Stellenbosch, and an even more uncomfortable day as they traveled back to Wyndview Farm.
His thoughts of Caroline and how he would like to be in her bed, after he had lifted the hem of her nightrail and tossed it on the ground, had him aching with need.
In fact, even when he finally was able to sleep, his dreams were filled with her. If matters continued to progress in his manner, he may need to find privacy to release some of the tension that had developed before he…well…that would be rather embarrassing.
With those thoughts and his continuous need, Sterling rose for the day, dressed, then left the cottage in search of a very private place, which he found behind the mews with nothing around him except the back of the stable, vineyards to either side and mountains ahead.
Secure that he was alone, and that it was early enough for a good portion of Stellenbosch to still slumber, he unfastened the placket on his trousers and took himself in hand.
If anyone came upon him, he would simply make the excuse that he was relieving himself, just not in the manner another would assume.
*
While she could have slept better, at least Caroline got some when she had feared that she would get none.
However, she did wake with the sun, which was her habit.
For the longest time, she laid there debating if she should get up and dress quickly before Sterling awoke or if she should lie there and wait until she was certain that he was gone.
But as she was trying to decide, she heard movement on the other side of the blanket.
If she had not been mistaken, Sterling was getting dressed and then moments later the door to the cottage opened and closed.
As soon as he was gone, Caroline scrambled from her bed and quickly withdrew a clean dress and shook it out. She then slipped out of the wrinkled one that she slept in and pulled the other one over her head and fastened the buttons. She then rolled on her stockings and put on her boots and waited.
She had not expected him to awaken so early.
Then again, she did not know the habits of the Earl of Wyndham, or Sterling, as he wanted her to call him.
It was still too intimate and she likely would not do so in front of others or they would assume something more had happened in the cottage last night than it did.
Her face heated at the very idea of anyone in Stellenbosch assuming that she and Sterling had been intimate.
The moments ticked by and he had not returned.
She had assumed that he might have gone outside to relieve himself, and she had a similar need and had noted the chamber pot in the corner but had thought it more important to change before he returned.
Except, she was also becoming uncomfortable and hoped that Sterling did not return before she finished making use of it.
He did not, and she waited a little longer before she finally gave up and left the cottage to step outside.
Where could he have gone?