“The two of you are too serious for a ball,” she chastised.
“Even if you are not going to dance, Sterling, do not occupy all of Caroline’s time. There may be gentlemen here that want to dance with her.”
“I hardly think that is the case,” Caroline interjected.
“Nonsense,” Lady Wyndham scolded. “You may be a widow, but you are still young so it stands to reason that you might wed again. But nobody is going to approach with my son constantly hovering at your side.” She then stepped between Caroline and Lord Wyndham and raised an eyebrow. “The least you could do is greet our host.” She nudged her son away.
Wyndham gave a barely discernable shake of his head and Caroline suspected that he would have liked to have rolled his eyes, then made his way to Governor Somerset.
“Now, let us not see if the gentlemen are more encouraged to approach now that Sterling is not glaring at everyone,” Lady Wyndham whispered and before she barely finished her comment, a military man did start in their direction.
“Ah, Captain Rowling.” Lady Wyndham smiled. “Caroline, may I introduce Captain Charles Rowling, recently arrived and the third son of Viscount Rutledge?”
She dipped into a slight curtsey.
“Captain Rowling, this is Mrs. Caroline Sutcliffe.”
His smiled slipped slightly but he maintained his polite expression.
“A widow, who lost her husband three and a half years ago.”
In other words, Lady Wyndham announced her availability.
“I am sorry for your loss,” he murmured. “I had hoped to ask youto dance, but you may not wish…”
“Nonsense. Caroline would love to dance,” Lady Wyndham announced.
“Excellent.” Captain Rowling held out his arm. “Shall we join a set forming for a country dance?”
She would rather not but since Lady Wyndham had already accepted on her behalf, to decline would be seen as a rejection, which Captain Rowling did not deserve. Therefore, Caroline allowed him to lead her to the dance floor, which was when she noticed Wyndham offer his arm to a pretty miss with blue eyes and blonde hair. The type of miss any earl would consider as a potential wife if he wanted a peaceful life without anyone questioning his decisions.
Chapter Fourteen
Sterling had notplanned on dancing with anyone other than Caroline, but his mother’s interference, which forced him away, had found him greeting the governor and then being introduced to Miss Harriet Smythe, who looked hopeful when couples began gathering for the next dance. He had intended to pretend like he was unaware of her silent plea, but then he saw Caroline with Captain Rowling and found himself asking Miss Harriet to partner him then navigated her through the crowd until they were in the same group as his mother’s companion and the captain.
He told himself that he needed to protect Caroline because neither her brother nor father was here, but he was more concerned that she may be attracted to Rowling and wondered if she were interested in marrying again.
The thought gave him pause, but then Sterling reasoned that if Caroline was courted, then her father might become distracted from his duties at Wyndview Farm, which Sterling certainly wanted to avoid. Therefore, it was his duty to see that all was well with his estate manager’s daughter.
He also knew that his excuses were just that—weak excuses when he really just wanted to be near her.
As the partners changed and he came face to face with Caroline, they clasped hands, danced in a circle, broke apart then went to opposite ends of facing lines.
By the time the dance had come to an end, he was once again parched and after returning Miss Harriet back to her parents turned to approach Caroline to ask if she would care for another beverage. Before he even got close, his mother raised a blonde eyebrow and with the tilt of her chin, sent him away.
However, the gentleman who approached next was welcomed.
Blast!
What was his mother up to?
Did she want Caroline to wed, or did she just not want Sterling to spend any time with Caroline?
But why would his mother want to keep them apart? Especially after she had insisted that he act as her escort earlier.
Sterling watched Caroline dance with one gentleman, soldier, or mister after another. She was flushed, laughing, smiling, and happy.
He did not dance. It was much too hot. Instead, he spoke to others, and walked the ballroom, not staying in one place too long or a miss would become hopeful. However, when he learned that there was to be a waltz, he made his way to Caroline and no subtle warning from his mother would keep him away.
