“Elliot visited me, before he took up residence in Madeira.”
Sterling startled in surprise. He had been under the impression that none of his brothers had seen their mother. Then again, he had not seen Elliot since he left England some five years ago, but he could have mentioned the meeting in a letter.
“We visited for a fortnight and spent hours talking about the time when we all lived here and how it had changed. He also wondered if he might miss England after he lived in Madeira for a while, knowinghe had little choice of where he could make his home because of what was expected of him.”
Elliot had moved to Madeira to learn from their Uncle David and then take over their vineyard. It was his destiny—a dictate by their father. Each son was to do their part for Trade Wynd so that it didn’t fall to one person, as it had to Sterling’s father.
“As for Avery, he plans to visit, and eventually move here, but wants to further his studies in botany before he does so.”
“He knows that Jules will never leave Southampton, and since the responsibility had been assigned to him, Avery plans to take his place,” Sterling clarified.
His mother frowned. “Avery never fully explained, but I assume that it is because of Jules’s art and that his sculpting is too important. Given Avery’s interest in botany, he is probably better suited to manage this estate.”
Sterling wasn’t going to tell her the reason why Jules would likely never come to the Wyndview Farm. If Jules had not confided in her, not that he confided in anyone, Sterling was not going to be the one to talk out of turn, even if it was to their mother.
“If Father were still alive, I am certain that he would have forced Jules here and forbidden him from becoming a footguard. I, for one, am glad that he is pursuing his passion for sculpting. Everyone should be allowed to follow a course they prefer and not one forced upon them by an overbearing parent.”
Sterling did not voice whether he agreed with her or not because he had done what was expected. He had no choice because he had been the heir. He had a duty. Had he been a younger brother, perhaps he would have explored other options and opportunities not dictated by their father. But, as his situation would not change, there was no reason to wonder what he might have done if circumstances had been different.
*
After gaining apromise from her father that he would read the reports and once again become familiar with the accounts and all other aspects of the estate, Caroline left him to see that her daughter was at her lessons with Beatrix and then made her way to the main house in search of Lady Wyndham.
She should have finished breaking her fast and would likely be in the lavender sitting room where she preferred to spend her time.
Except, Lady Wyndham was not there.
It truly wasn’t necessary that Caroline inform Lady Wyndham of the change in duties or the schedule, it was only out of respect.
With that thought, Caroline stepped back out into the corridor, prepared to leave when she turned right into Lord Wyndham—her breasts pressing against his chest and his hands on her upper arms to steady her produced a sizzle of awareness that swept through her being.
Goodness!
She quickly stepped away. “I beg your pardon. I should have…” The words died on her lips as she looked up at his face, tight and unforgiving, his blue eyes darkening.
So much for trying to stay out of his way and go unnoticed.
“Might I have a moment of your time?”
“Yes, of course,” she answered dutifully.
“Come with me.”
Caroline took a deep breath and followed him to the office.
The report and accounting that she had left on his desk early this morning was in place, but disturbed and there was another parchment with handwriting. Did he have questions for her father? Could she hope that he asked her instead?
“How may I be of assistance?”
“It is a curiosity,” he answered. “Your copied report is here, butnot the pages written by your father. Not even in the waste receptacle.”
Because they did not exist.
“Where might they be?”
Oh, she hated to lie, but it was a necessity. “I took them back to Father. He likes them destroyed after they are copied.”
“Does he not keep a copy for himself?”
