His response only increased her anxiety.
“Where is he now?”
“With Lady Wyndham.”
Caroline nodded as her mind raced with what this could mean and what she must do.
“I am certain that he will want to be shown to his set of rooms and freshen from his voyage before asking to see your father,” George said.
Yes, of course. He was an earl, at the end of a long journey. He likely wanted nothing more than brandy and a place to relax and not be bothered by anyone while he visited with his mother. At least that gave her some time to…
Caroline groaned. No matter the amount of time to prepare, itwould not be enough, especially since they did not know why he was here. “Are my father and brother still inspecting the grapes?”
“I believe so,” he answered.
“Thank you, George.” Caroline rose from the desk and quickly closed the ledgers before she put them away, then made certain that everything on the desk was put to rights and organized to her father’s preference.
Why is Wyndham here now?she asked herself as she hurried to the stables.
“I need a horse saddled,” she told the stable hand, who rushed to do her bidding. She needed to find her father and prayed that he would not be difficult and that her brother, William, would remain by his side through all interviews with the earl.
After the man brought her the horse, Caroline mounted it and took off out of the stable yard. She wasn’t dressed for riding, but time was of the essence; she did not have the luxury to return to her chamber and change into a proper riding habit.
Wyndham could not have picked a worse time to visit. They did not have time to coddle, entertain, or answer questions of a pampered lord, even if he was the owner and her father’s employer.
Of course, Caroline was assuming much, but ever since the British took over the Cape Colony in 1806, and especially after formally acquiring it in 1814, English settlers came here to buy property as well as establish businesses, which caused several of the Dutch colonists to move away. England was more interested in expanding and protecting their trade routes and didn’t even bother to learn anything about those who had made their home at the southern tip of Africa for centuries.
Was Wyndham here for a similar reason—for the benefit of Trade Wynd? Wyndview Farm, where she lived, was only a small part of the Wynd family import and export empire since they only grew grapes and made wine to be exported.
Maybe he was only here to visit with his mother, and perhapsmeet with Governor Lord Charles Somerset, as all other titled visitors and those who were a part of English Society did when they visited the area. It really did not matter to Caroline so long as he stayed out of the way.
As her horse crested a small hill, Caroline looked over the vineyard, rows of grapes that would soon be harvested for wine. The farm workers were walking down those rows and inspecting the grapes and the vines, but she could find neither her father nor brother, so Caroline rode closer. She wished she would have brought her bonnet because the bright sun was in her eyes and sweat trickled down her neck and back.
“Caroline?” her brother called from three rows over. “Is all well?”
“The Earl of Wyndham is here!” she yelled back.
His brown eyes widened with alarm. “Bloody hell!”
“I agree with your assessment,” she answered, neither shocked nor disturbed by her brother’s language. “Find Father and return to the house. Wyndham is likely getting settled but I am certain he will want to speak with the estate manager.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What is there for me to do?” she asked innocently. “I am simply a widow who returned to her father and family home.”
William snorted. “If Wyndham believes you are nothing more than described, then he is a bigger fool than I ever imagined.”
She could only hope that he was, otherwise, there was a risk that her father would lose his position, and they would all lose their home.
The Earl of Wyndham needed to believe that she was nothing more than an unassuming daughter of his estate manager. An estate manager who only cared about growing and harvesting grapes and making wine while she managed all other aspects of Wyndview Farm.
Chapter Two
“It is sogood to see you, Sterling.” His mother smiled brightly as she started forward, arms out as if she were going to embrace him. “What brings you to Wyndview Farm?”
Did he let her enfold him in her arms? Sterling had not seen the woman in over ten years, not since she had sailed from England with Father, never to return.
“I intend to make a tour of our properties. I have already visited the wineries and quarries where we have business relationships.” It was important that she know that this was not a holiday, visit, or reunion, but rather a trip to further the interest of Trade Wynd.
