Chapter Thirty-Five
Sterling’s mouth had gone dry when Caroline stepped into the sitting room wearing old, worn trousers and a loose cotton shirt.
No wonder women wore skirts. If they went about dressed in this manner, it would be impossible for men to accomplish anything because they would be too busy lusting after them.
He should probably not follow her on the trail because he would spend too much time watching her perfect bum and would be in an uncomfortable state by the time they reached the top.
His mother picked up the leather satchel. “Perhaps Livia would like to draw if you are not going to.”
It was almost as if his fingers tingled with the very idea of grasping a pencil again.
He had enjoyed it in his youth, but duty had forced him to set it aside.
However, there was no reason why he could not take pleasure in it while he was here, and when he sailed home.
Once he was back in England, he could set it aside again.
“No, I will keep it.”
He lifted the satchel and flung the strap over his shoulder so that it crossed his body instead of dragging down his arm. It had always been too big for him when he was younger. Now it was perfect.
They set out, the four of them in the back of the wagon, each person carried a satchel that held what they would need when they arrived at the top such as a loaf of bread, wine, cups, dried meats, cheeses, and fruits.
He had added heavier items to his and Malik’s satchels while Caroline’s and Kaya’s satchels held the lighter picnic necessities.
The driver would remain at the base of the mountain with the wagon and horses while they hiked up.
He knew that his mother had once again found an excuse to send him from the house, but he no longer minded since he was able to spend the day with Caroline, the surprising delight he discovered at Wyndview Farm who was right in front of him, walking stick in hand, satchel at her side, hiking up the mountain with her perfectly rounded bum pulling at the fabric of her trousers.
Maybe that was what he should sketch once they arrived at the top, though it was a sight that Sterling doubted he would ever forget.
*
Caroline had forgotten how difficult the climb could be but once she gazed out and across Table Bay and down the Cape Peninsula, she was awed and quickly forgot that she had been out of breath and perspiring by the time they reached the top.
Sterling came to stand beside her.
“It is beautiful, is it not?”
“Spectacular,” he agreed, then took a deep breath.
“Are you thirsty, Lord Wyndview?” Kaya called.
Caroline turned to see that the servants were setting out the picnic for them to enjoy.
The climb had been just as difficult for those two, but given Sterling was an earl, he might not invite them to sit.
“As I am certain you are,” he responded as he walked to where the blanket had been spread out.
“Join me, Mrs. Sutcliffe,” he called.
Caroline wandered over and settled on the blanket. It was good to rest her legs.
“Malik, Kaya.” He gestured to areas of the blanket not yet occupied. “We could all use with a rest and I am certain you are as famished as I am.”
The newlywed couple shared a look of uncertainty before they slowly walked forward and dropped to their knees.
The food they had brought was arranged in the middle and while Caroline first poured water for everyone, Sterling opened the bottle of wine.
“When I told the other stable hands where we were going, they insisted that the climb was impossible and that we would turn around and return to Wyndview Farm,” Malik told them.
“Difficult, yes. Impossible, no.”
Caroline had heard the same before she, her father, and William had made the climb not long after they had first arrived. He had also hired a guide to bring them to the top.
After they had finished eating, Kaya and Malik wandered off and Sterling took the sketchbook out of his satchel and settled upon a boulder and began drawing.
Caroline was the one who gathered the food and returned the remains to the various satchels and then settled on the blanket and looked out to enjoy the fabulous view and waited for Sterling to be done sketching and for Malik and Kaya to…
whatever they were doing since they had wandered a little further away.
She hoped that they were careful and did not get too close to the edge.
When she grew tired of the view, Caroline watched Sterling.
He hardly looked up but concentrated on the book held in one hand and balanced on his knee while he sketched quickly.
Then he would sit back and study what he had drawn before he returned to sketching.
By the intensity on his face and complete concentration on what he was doing, Caroline determined that Sterling may have forgotten that anyone else was with him.
Not that she minded since she enjoyed watching him and admired his profile, form, and the character that she had discovered beneath his cool and stern exterior.
However, curiosity did get the best of her and Caroline pulled herself to her feet and wandered over to where he sat. When her shadow fell over him, Sterling quickly closed the sketchbook, hiding what he had drawn.
“You are not going to show me?”
“I would prefer that you were not aware of my lack of talent.”
“You will not show me one?” she begged him.
He tilted his head back and studied her. “Just one?” he asked.
“Just one.”
He grinned and opened the book to the first page and held it up for her to see.
At first, she wasn’t certain what the sketch was but then slowly realized. “Is that…”
“Yes. It is your bum. I had ample time to study it as we climbed, and I enjoyed it very much.”
Her face started to burn. “I cannot believe that you…that…” She could not even find the words but sputtered and gestured. He had sketched every detail, including the patch she’d sewn on one side to cover the rip from when her brother had owned them, and the wear of the rope about her waist.
Sterling only laughed, closing the sketchbook.
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I thought to frame it and hang in my office at home, back in England, to always remember you by.”
Panic seized her. “You would not dare.”
“Why would I not?”
“What if someone asked?”
Sterling chuckled. “I would never reveal a name,” he promised. “I will simply explain that it was an inspirational view from my time spent in the Cape Colony.”
Caroline did not know what to say and she truly hoped that he was teasing and that nobody else ever saw the drawing.
“We need to go so that we are back before it gets dark.” She then stomped away and hoped that she could find a way to get that drawing away from him and then she had another disturbing thought. “What else did you sketch?”
“Various things.” He gestured to the scenery.
Oh, she wanted to believe him but there was too much humor in his eyes. She needed to see what was in that sketchbook. If he drew her bottom from memory, what else had he remembered?
Just the very idea caused her face to burn and she quickly turned away and started folding the thin blanket to shove in her satchel.