“Father wanted to check the ripeness of the grapes.”
“Did you even bother to read the reports and accounting?”
“I tried, but Father insisted on leaving early this morning and I did not dare let him go off alone.”
If they lost sight of their father, he would likely disappear into the test fields, or anywhere grapes grew, instead of seeing to the rest of the estate as he was supposed to.
“You are to meet with Wyndham in two hours. We must return to the house.”
“I will bring Father back right away,” William promised.
“See that you do!”
Caroline turned her horse and rode back to the stables. Once she had dismounted, she stomped to her home, prepared a cup of tea, and hoped that it calmed her irritation. She then slathered butter on a piece of bread even though she was no longer hungry, then waited.
She even went so far as to arrange the papers so that she couldremind them of what was most important so that time was not wasted reviewing the state and health of the grape crop because her father had that information memorized. It was the rest that he didn’t retain.
It was nearly a half hour before she heard her father and William enter at the back of the house.
“Have you even looked at the reports?” she demanded when they joined her.
“You worry too much, Caro,” her father dismissed her.
“I must since you do not seem to have any concern.”
“I will read them,” William said as he settled at the table.
“I will wash and prepare for my meeting with Wyndham.” Her father mounted the stairs that led to his chamber.
Caroline sighed with aggravation. Her father was so certain that all would go well and that his position was secure. He likely assumed that he could charm Lord Wyndham as well as he did Lady Wyndham, which he did to hide his faults. Caroline would need to warn her father again when he returned. Lord Wyndham did not appear to be the type of lord anyone could charm.
Whether her father would heed her advice was another matter.
Chapter Seven
Sterling had reviewedthe reports and the accounting. All seemed to be in order, but he also had a list of questions. They were the same matters that he had wondered about in England before he had left and would now be able to discuss directly with Mr. Hallaway.
He was also more invigorated and not at all tired, despite the hour that he woke, and it was because he had gotten some work done. Idleness did not suit him and had set him on edge whenever he was sailing because there was little for him to do. Even though he had only been settled behind a desk, his mind had been engaged.
He was also hungry again. The bread had only satisfied the emptiness of his stomach for so long and Sterling made his way to the dining room where he found his mother already seated.
“I missed you at supper,” she said as he entered. “I thought perhaps it was because you still hated me and would rather starve than share a table.”
Now she was being dramatic. “I do not hate you.”
In fact, much of his opinion had been altered after the revelations of yesterday, and early this morning. Yet, a part of him still resented that she hadn’t returned to her sons on her own. That would take the longest to reconcile, if he ever could.
“But George advised that when a footman called you to supper and finally entered your chamber when there was no answer, he foundyou sound asleep. I insisted that they not disturb you because I know how exhausting travel can be.”
How could she know such? She hadn’t left the Cape Colony in ten years. Unless she traveled to other places, just not home—where her husband and sons waited.
Sterling pushed his anger aside as he filled a plate from the selection of dishes which included eggs, cold meats, bread, and fruit on the table.
“My brothers never told me that they corresponded with you.” Not that it should be a surprise. After his father had returned without her, and when she never came home, he had insisted that her name never be mentioned. Sterling and his brothers even stopped mentioning her when their father was not around. His father only mumbled her name when he was deep in his cups and would stare at her portrait.
“Jules wrote when he was on the Continent. Even though he was with his closest friend, he missed home and wanted to be back at Wyndview Hall. He was also at war, which I am certain had much to do with his longing for England.”
Battles that had affected his brother deeply. There had been a profound change in Jules between the time he left for the Continent and returned without his closest friend. Sterling had tried to question him, but Jules refused to talk about the war and took himself off to the cottage where he spent much of his time sculpting.
