Paint, or sketch, two things he had not thought about in a very long time. He could spend hours sitting on a hill, looking out over the horizon and sketching the mountains, the fields, the wildlife, whateverdrew his eye and sometimes he painted. It was a hobby that he had enjoyed as a boy. A sketchbook and pencils were always with him while they sailed from Cape Colony to Southampton. When he had grown tired of the sky and sea, he had sketched the ship and the sailors, his parents and brothers. As for painting, he gave that up once he went to school, only because he’d been teased that it was a girlish hobby, but he didn’t stop sketching. Not until he returned home and found his mother gone. By that time, he no longer had time for such foolish activities and his sketchbook and pencils had been put away forever.
He had been at peace in a way that he could not explain when he drew, and something he had not experienced since.
“What are you thinking, Sterling?”
His mother’s voice intruded on his thoughts and he looked at her. “What did you say?”
“I asked what you were thinking? You are very quiet and staring out the window. It is rather rude. You may not want to speak to me, but we do have a guest.”
Caroline gasped. “I am your companion, Lady Wyndham, not your guest.”
“Rubbish! You are a guest tonight. You can be a companion tomorrow.” His mother chuckled. “You are so many things to me, dear Caroline, that I do not know what I would do without you.”
Caroline was a companion and a gardener on occasion, but what else did his mother mean byso many things?
Except, she was not truly an employee either.
“We do not pay her wages for being a companion or your gardener,” he said. “Are you taking advantage of her kindness?”
“No, your mother is not,” Caroline assured him.
Sterling wanted to make certain and question her further but the carriage came to a stop before the Governor’s residence. However, the conversation was not over.
He first assisted his mother to the ground and then Caroline. When he offered his arm to his mother, she glared at him and nodded to Caroline. He truly hoped that his mother did not have it in mind to play matchmaker. If so, he would quickly discourage her from doing so.
*
Oh, why hadLady Wyndham mentioned that she acted as her companion? But at least she had not elaborated on the many things Caroline was.
After Lord Wyndham assisted her to the ground, they followed his mother and passed between columns with classical embellishments before entering the residence. They then proceeded into a long drawing room that would serve as the ballroom.
“Governor Somerset had the ballroom built because he thought the residence too small,” Lady Wyndham whispered to her son and Caroline before she walked away while waving to a friend.
The two of them stepped away and moved close to a wall.
“Do you know anyone in attendance?” he asked quietly.
“I recognize faces from residents who have visited your mother on occasion, but I do not know them.” Caroline answered. “Nor should the daughter of the estate manager.”
“You are also a companion, which puts you in their company,” he reminded her.
“Far below them in station.”
Lord Wyndham looked down at her with humor in his blue eyes. “And gardener, apparently.”
It nearly took her aback because this was the first time he did not have the air of disapproval about him.
No, that was not correct. Yesterday when they were in the cellar, he had chuckled a few times, but she had been too concerned that hehad been wandering about and came upon her that she hadn’t noted the change in his disposition.
Perhaps he could be a pleasant gentleman after all. Maybe he had simply been ill-tempered because of being months at sea and now that he was rested, he would be in a better frame of mind.
“A woman of many skills.” He chuckled.
Her smile tightened because Caroline doubted that he would be pleased, nor would he be chuckling if he knew the extent of her duties at Wyndview Farm.
“Would you care for a refreshment, something to drink?”
She was rather parched. “Yes please.”
