“Nor do I intend to. I will find my bride in my own time and in a place of my choosing.”
“Did you ever consider that the nearly three-month voyage back to England might be more pleasant with a companion?”
“Yes, I have.” He stood. “For that very reason, I will not be seeking a bride here because I will not be in the Cape Colony long enough to know if a woman would suit, which could make for a most unpleasant trip to England without an escape if she does not.”
“You are the one who insists on leaving as soon as possible when there is no reason why you cannot remain long enough to make certain that your bride is not among the guests.”
“I have already been gone too long and will not prolong my journey for courtship. I need to return to England as soon as it is convenient for me to meet with Mr. Hallaway.”
Caroline wanted to shrink into herself and wished that she had not witnessed the argument between mother and son, but there was nowhere to hide and they did not seem to mind that she witnessed them.
“Oh, very well. You are as stubborn as your father,” Lady Wyndham said right before she turned her attention to Caroline. “Come along, dear. Just because my son does not care if he has a happy future, I insist that you do. It took me long enough to get you to a ball and I do not want you wasting your time out here when there are prefect candidates for a courtship inside.”
Why did the woman suddenly want her to wed? The topic had never been mentioned before but now it seemed extremely important. Did she even realize what could happen at Wyndview Farm if she wed and left the estate? Or did Lady Wyndham hope that by the time ithappened William would have full control of the estate manager’s duties and therefore Caroline was no longer needed?
No longer wanted!
Slowly she stood and joined Lady Wyndham and began their return to the ball.
“I know that there are several men who have land and estates here,” she was saying. “I will not introduce you to those who might return to England because I am certain you would not want to be parted from your father and brother.”
“That is very kind of you, Lady Wyndham, but I have no intention or desire to wed again.”
“Nonsense. You are young and have a daughter to support, therefore, you need a husband.”
Caroline glanced back at Wyndham, helpless and not certain how to make Lady Wyndham stop what she was doing, but he was too busy glaring at his mother to be of any assistance. Caroline was on her own and would have to do her best to discourage anyone who may want to call on her.
Well, unless there was someone of interest.
Maybe Lady Wyndham was correct in that she should marry again.
At least she would have a companion who could turn into more.
As Caroline stepped into the ballroom, she glanced around at the male guests and for the first time truly considered if she should remarry, after her brother was installed as the estate manager, of course.
Chapter Sixteen
His mother wasmeddling where she should not!
Irritation burned in his gut that she would even attempt to organize his life after she had been absent for the past ten years.
He would not have put up with it even if they had never been separated and nothing irritated him more in London than gossiping woman and matchmakers who could not mind their own business. And now, she was managing Caroline’s potential future.
Why was it now so important that Caroline find a husband?
His mother had accepted her declination of invitations before and he was curious as to why this ball was different.
It was not possible that it had anything to do with him since he had only arrived a few days ago, so why was it so importantnow?
Maybe she had forced Caroline to this ball because she thought it would be easier to manage him and he’d remain polite if her companion was present. If so, his mother had been mistaken because Sterling did not care who overheard them argue.
Irritated, Sterling found another glass of wine and a place where he could support the wall. He was only polite without encouraging whenever his mother brought someone over for an introduction. He had no intention of engaging in more meaningless and shallow conversations, especially since he had been having the most enjoyable one with Caroline. She had truly been interested in his travels and not just pretending as a miss in search of a husband would have. And sheasked intelligent questions about marble, ruins, rose windows, and if what she had read of such places was correct. She had truly wanted to know and had an appreciation for the places he had visited.
His aggravation only increased as the evening continued all while watching Caroline dance with one man after another.
The color was high in her cheeks and the ringlets about her face and neck grew damp.
She had to be miserable in the heat but would not disobey his mother. She certainly could not have been interested in any of the men who asked to partner her, could she? There was no doubt that had probably been complimented and then asked how she found the weather enough times that she wanted to scream. Her smile was not even genuine, not like the one she had when they had been in the garden discussing his travels.
