Chapter Forty-Four
Betrayal ate at his soul.
How could he have been so wrong about Caroline?
She had lied to him from the moment they had met. While he could understand her duplicity at first, he thought they had become close enough that she could tell him anything and he would understand, even the truth about her father.
Instead, she’d said nothing and pretended that she was simply a daughter who assisted her father.
He harrumphed and took a deep drink of brandy while he stood at the window and kept an eye on the terrace below, awaiting the return of his lover.
She’d made a fool of him while he had fallen in love with her.
Her duplicity hurt deeper than if someone would have plunged a knife into his heart and Sterling was not certain what he should do or how he should even react.
However, when he finally saw Caroline and William return to their home with Hallaway, he decided not to put off his plans until tomorrow and followed.
He had not even bothered to knock but entered.
He did own the home. When William saw him and started to object, he motioned for him to be silent then walked to the sitting room and listened as Caroline begged her father to prepare for the meeting.
She was scared.
When he returned to his house and office, Sterling assumed they followed. When he stepped behind his desk, he noted that they both hovered near the door.
“Please take a seat.”
Caroline drew in a deep breath then did as he asked.
Her father, not nearly as concerned, followed.
He then picked up the list that he had found in his top desk drawer, written in Caroline’s neat penmanship, outlining the schedule of what needed to be taken care of after the grapes were harvested and the juice sealed in the barrels.
He handed it to Hallaway. “Did you instruct your daughter to prepare this schedule and tell her what must be done in which order?”
Hallaway frowned, then looked at Caroline, his blue eyes full of confusion.
Sterling set it aside.
He then pulled out the parchment with the list of questions he had asked William.
“How much wheat was harvested last year and why do you believe we should plant more?”
Hallaway stared at him blankly and Sterling knew instantly that his estate manager could not answer so he asked the next question, and the next, and the next, without any response from the man he paid to manage his estate.
“Mr. Hallaway, I find that I must relieve you of your position as my estate manager. You have failed in your duties; therefore, you will no longer work for me.”
“No,” Hallaway argued. “I must tend to your grapes and make the wine.”
Sterling frowned. Did Hallway not grasp the precarious position he had put himself in? Yes, the grapes were important but so was the entire estate.
His mind was failing and he was forgetful of nearly everything except winemaking. That was what one of the men who took care of the vines finally confided in him.
“A senility,” another had said.
Something that both daughter and son had hidden from him.
He glanced at Caroline who understood the full weight of his words because she had lost all color, but he would discuss her transgressions with her later.
“You may go, Mr. Hallaway.”
He stood, as did Caroline.
“Not you, Mrs. Sutcliffe. We still have matters to discuss.”
For the first time since he came across the two, Hallaway appeared concerned.
“Go on, Father,” she said quietly.
“It has been a most interesting day,” Sterling said once they were alone.
He did not think Caroline could get any paler but she did.
If he were the same person who had arrived at Wyndview Farm, this matter would be dealt with in a cold, efficient manner, but he had changed, though a part of him wished that he would not have so that this would be easier.
“I toured the estate today, on my own. It is something that I should have done before now, but there was no need. Or, I did not believe that there was one since Wyndview Farm had been prospering under your father’s guidance.”
Sterling got up from his desk and walked to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy. And offered her one.
“No thank you.”
“Are you certain?”
Caroline gulped and nodded.
He took a drink, his back to her.
He still loved her and hated that he did. How could he still care when he knew that she had lied to him for weeks.
Did he even truly know her?
Perhaps that was what angered him the most. While he was falling in love with her, Caroline was dishonest about who she was. Had their friendship been real or was she just doing what she thought necessary, including becoming his love, so he would never learn the truth?
Sterling returned to the desk and settled back in his seat and took a sip of his brandy.
“I now know what my mother meant when she said that you have more responsibility than I knew and that you deserved a holiday. I assumed she meant being a mother along with everything else. That wasn’t it, was it, Caroline? ”
She did not answer but glanced down at her hands.
“And now, after today, I have come to realize that not only are you the companion, housekeeper, and sometimes gardener, but you are also the estate manager for Wyndview Farm, is that correct?
“Yes,” she finally answered.
“In fact, you might as well be the Mistress of Wyndview because you manage not only the estate, but the house, everything inside and out.” His voice rose. “Is that what you truly want? Is that what you were hoping to gain?”
Caroline looked up, her brown eyes hard and her once pale cheeks flamed red.
“I have never aspired to be the Mistress of Wyndview. I assisted where I was needed. Whether you approve or not is not my concern. Your mother was happy with my position here.”
“She does not own the estate, Caroline, I do.”
“Oh, I am aware, Lord Wyndham.”
“What was your game? What were your intentions? Did you have an ulterior motive for becoming my friend? My lover?”
“You think so little of me?”
Sterling truly did not know what to think and was still coming to terms with the revelations of today. But, instead of answering her, he shrugged, which was not well done of him.
She straightened and glared, right before she slapped him soundly across the cheek.
“I had no ulterior motive for anything that I did, Lord Wyndham. Did you?”
“What does that mean?”
“If you think so little of me, then maybe it was because I meant so little to you. A dalliance to keep you entertained before you sailed away.” She turned and stalked to the door. “I hope that it made your stay at Wyndview Farm enjoyable.” Then she was gone.
Sterling hurried after her. “I am not done with our discussion, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
She whipped around and glared at him. “I very much am, and I will be going. It is my daughter’s bedtime and I must see to her.
” With that she turned and stomped to the door leading to the terrace before she turned.
“If you would have but asked, I would have explained, but I will not tolerate being demeaned in such a manner, especially after…it shows that I was mistaken about you.”
“As I was about you, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
Sterling stood there for a moment then turned around and strolled back to his office, settled behind his desk and lifted the glass of brandy. He may be angry and hurt over her deception, but there was no woman that he admired more.
He took a sip of the brandy and closed his eyes as it burned down his throat.
He also still loved her. It was a shame that he could never trust her and maybe that was why he had condescended to her to coolly—so that she would hate him and then he would never know if she could have loved him or if she would have rejected his offer of marriage had it been made.
*
Caroline stormed into her house and then her chamber and slammed the door and started to pace. How dare he accuse her of wanting to be the Mistress of Wyndview? How dare he accuse her of having an ulterior motive for becoming his lover?
Caroline may not have wanted brandy when she was with Sterling but she certainly wanted one now and marched out of her chamber and went to her office where she grabbed the decanter and a glass before returning to her room and shutting the door again.
She poured then took a deep drink and gasped at the burn before taking a more moderate sip.
She knew why he was angry. He had every right to be because she had not been honest with him. However, that did not give him the right to treat her with such cold disdain. It was almost as if he hated her, which made her question whether he had ever cared at all.
Had their forming a friendship come about because he had nothing better to do while he was waiting for the harvest?
As for being his lover, was that for the same reason?
She knew that men enjoyed bedsport. She had heard rumors before she was married and understood it fully once she was a bride. Was that all she had been to him?
To think she had fallen in love with him!
“Was it all worth it to you?”
Caroline whipped around to find Sterling standing in the doorway that led to the terrace. He had not knocked again and walked in as if he owned the place. It didn’t matter that he did, he should have had more respect.
“Was what worth it? And I would appreciate you knocking next time.”
“At least, tell me why.”
“Why what?” She wasn’t certain what he was asking.
“Why you took over for your father.”
“I assumed that you already had that information.” It had been only a matter of time before someone said something and she was lucky that it hadn’t occurred before now.
“I would like to hear the reasons from you.” His tone was calmer and she dare not assume he understood.
“Because he could not any longer.” It was the truth and she was tired of deceptions. Enough damage had already been done and matters certainly could not get worse.
“Then why did he not just resign?”
“It is not that simple, Lord Wyndham.” It was impossible to call him Sterling any longer. That relationship was over and it pained her greatly.