Chapter Forty
Sterling straightened his fingers then made a fist, then straightened his fingers all over again. He needed to loosen his hands from the stiffness of holding the knife then gently pinching grapes while he removed them from the stems.
It was not a complaint and he looked forward to doing it again. But now that the grapes were in the vat, he waited to see who would be crushing them, and if he were to be honest with himself, he hoped that he could participate.
“Come along.” Caroline tugged on his shirtsleeve and led him to an area where others had gathered and were removing their stockings and shoes and rolling up their trousers.
“Do I get to crush the grapes?” He hoped he did not sound too excited.
“Yes. Do what they do and I will return shortly.”
He, like the others, sat on a bench and rolled up his trousers, removed his boots then stockings before he walked to a large basin where their feet and legs were washed.
Caroline and a few other women came out from behind a screen.
The bottom of her skirt was pulled up and tied at her waist, revealing the lower portion of her legs starting just below her knees.
His pulse increased, but he seemed to be the only man who noticed that the women were showing their legs.
He supposed that they were likely used to seeing such and in truth, he had barely glanced at the other women but he could not ignore Caroline’s shapely caves and delicate ankles and feet.
It was odd to sink into the grapes and feel them crush between his toes. It was also harder than he had anticipated, almost like stepping into thick mud, denser than he thought it would be instead of rolling away and parting.
Caroline joined Sterling and pulled him into a line that faced another and everyone locked arms.
“What now?” he asked.
“We all stomp at the same time, and keeping our arms locked.”
“Why?”
“Because it is easy to lose balance and we cannot have anyone falling into the grapes. Bare feet and legs only.”
He nodded and understood. No doubt the more grapes that were crushed, the slipperier it would become.
“Just move with me. First right and then left as we move to one side of the vat until we reach the end and come back, opposite of those across from us.”
He nodded and followed her lead stomping and crushing.
The level of grapes they started with slowly decreased and by the time they were finished, all the juice had run into barrels, the skins and seeds left behind, and his thighs burned.
Sterling was seriously concerned that he might not be able to step out of the vat and then down the ladder without his legs giving out.
“That is all for today,” Hallaway called as the last sealed barrel was rolled down the ramp and into the cellar.
“It will be easier tomorrow,” Caroline whispered as she stepped out ahead of him.
“I am not so certain,” he laughed.
“Work will be divided by Father. Most will cut, but some will be sent to the barn to begin the work of destemming and crushing as buckets are filled. It is only the first day that everyone cuts.”
“Where will we be?” he asked.
“That will be determined tomorrow, when my father decides who will do what after he observed everyone today. Though, he may as your preference since you are the owner.”
“That would be wherever you are,” he whispered so that nobody could hear, but he did wonder if he would even be able to move tomorrow since almost every part of his body ached. Yet he also had never felt better.
*
Caroline did not expect Sterling to come to her chamber that night. She was certain that he would collapse from exhaustion soon after he dined with his mother, which was why she took time with her bath.
It was one thing for her five-year-old daughter to bathe in the kitchen near the stove, but Caroline did not want to do so in a room that her father or brother could walk in. They may have no objection to bathing in the lake with the other men, but she preferred far more privacy.
After she pulled the hipbath into her chamber and filled it with hot water, Caroline sank down as far as possible.
She was sore, which was not unusual following the first day of harvest. She knew that her legs and arms would be stiff when she woke tomorrow morning, but they all needed to endure for the days to come in order to make wine.
She was trying to decide if she should also wash her hair or just go to bed when there was a quiet knock on her door.
Her eyes flew open as she looked across the room.
Her heartbeat increased and Caroline pulled herself from the bath then wrapped a towel around her body before walking to the door and cracking it open just a little to see who was there.
“Are you going to let me come in?” he asked.
“Why are you not asleep?”
“Because I wanted to see you.”
“Give me a moment.” She then shut the door in his face and rushed to her bed and pulled on her dressing gown and secured it at her waist before opening the door again.
“Have I disturbed you?” he asked with a frown as he entered.
He, too, had bathed because his hair was still damp.
“I was bathing.” She gestured to the tub.
“Do not let me stop you from doing so.” Sterling grinned. “I can even be of assistance in helping scrub the places that you might not be able to reach.”
Her body warmed at the very idea of him assisting her, but that would be too intimate. Which was a strange thought since they had already seen each other completely unclothed.
“I thought for certain that you would be asleep by now,” she said again.
“Because I am a pampered earl who is not used to hard work?” he countered.
“Because you are a gentleman who has never taken part in harvesting grapes before. It is hard work and no doubt several people who were beside us today are already asleep.”
“Not you,” he reminded her.
“Because I had duties when I returned home. Only after Livia was asleep was I able to take a bath.”
He nodded and stalked toward her. “What were you wearing when you answered the door? You hid yourself.”
“A towel,” she answered.
“Is there anything on beneath your robe now?”
“That is a rather personal question, Lord Wyndham.”
He grabbed the tie at her waist and pulled her forward until she was pressed against his body as his mouth devoured hers. Heat swept through her entire being.
His nimble fingers untied her dressing gown and pulled it open then brought his hands to her breasts before one hand caressed down her stomach until he reached her curls and then he touched her.
Caroline’s knees nearly gave way and she had to clutch his shoulders to keep from collapsing.
She thought they would move to the bed but he turned her away from him and brought her back against his chest. As he kissed her neck, he caressed a breast and teased a nipple while his other fingers brought waves and waves of pleasure until a release so powerful that swept from her womb and through her entire body.
Only then did he sweep her up and place her on the bed.
She lay there with no strength to move and tried to catch her breath as Sterling stripped every piece of clothing from his body and came over to her. Caroline parted for him and gasped when he filled her with one thrust.
For a moment, he didn’t move. She stared up and into his blue eyes and then Sterling kissed her.
So gentle, sweet, and caring that her soul ached from the beauty of it and her heart swelled further with love.
Then he moved, but slowly, deliberately, and watched her face and eyes until she once again reached the heights of passion that sent her soaring again, her body splintering right before he groaned and withdrew.
Only then did he fall away from her, breathing deeply.
Once she recovered, Caroline turned her head to look at him.
“I did just bathe.”
He chuckled then swept her up in his arms before crossing to the tub and lowering her back into the water.
“Then I suppose it is my responsibility to bathe you all over again.”