“It will not be comfortable travels, Lord Wyndham, and I simply wish to make you aware.”
“I am made of sterner stuff, despite my title, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
Oh dear. Now he was going to go along simply to prove himself to her, which was the exact opposite of what she wanted.
“As I accept that the next few days may be grueling and the most unpleasant that I have ever experienced, I vow not to complain and now ask what time we shall depart?”
Caroline forced a smile. “At sunrise,” she answered wondering how the conversation had gone so terribly wrong when she hadintended that she not travel at all.
More concerning, however, was what Lady Wyndham had been thinking to send them both to Stellenbosch?
Though Caroline would wager that Lady Wyndham had just invented a reason to travel to Stellenbosch since they would not be traveling to Cape Agulhas. Caroline just didn’t understand why she had to go anywhere.
She would have asked the older woman but Caroline never got the chance and when she arrived at the wagon the following morning, Lord Wyndham was already waiting.
“Good morning.”
“Mrs. Sutcliffe,” he greeted her boisterously.
It nearly took her aback because she had not expected him to be so…well…happy, especially at this time in the morning.
“Malik has gone inside to retrieve the basket of foodstuffs that Cook has prepared. Kaya is gathering what other necessities we might need,” he informed her. “I am not certain what those items are but I have been assured that we will need them.”
Caroline eyed him warily. Why was he so jovial?
“By the way the two were looking at each other, I would assume they are smitten. Are they?”
She also would not have expected someone of Wyndham’s station to even notice such about servants. Then again, if it had been just the three of them before she arrived, the courtship would have been obvious since Kaya could not help but watch Malik whenever he was about and he did not miss an opportunity to brush her hand byaccident.“Are there rules against courtships between servants?” She did not know of any but that did not mean they did not exist.
“Do they work in similar positions and encounter each other often?”
“Malik works in the stable and Kaya is a kitchen maid. They rarely see the other while they are at their duties.”
“Do they tend to those duties without distraction or interruption? Do they perform at least adequately?”
“Each of your servants serve you well, Lord Wyndham, and are diligent in their tasks.”
“Then I do not see why a courtship should not be allowed. Is that the reason you chose them to accompany us—because they are courting?”
“Your mother can be blamed. I believe the visit to Stellenbosch is more for them than you.”
“She said you were traveling there,” he reminded her.
“I can assure you that I only learned of my plans to do so when your mother announced them.”
He frowned, blond brows drawing over his nose. Perhaps he was wondering what his mother was about because Caroline certainly was.
Malik came from the house, hamper in hand and placed it in the back of the wagon, then took Caroline’s valise and placed it there as well. Kaya returned only moments later with blankets and pillows which offered some comfort while they traveled.
“Is all ready?” Caroline asked.
“It is,” Malik answered then offered his hand to help Caroline into the back of the wagon. He then turned toward Kaya, smiled and held out his hand to assist her.
Wyndham stood there as if he were not certain what to do.
“Your place is on the bench next to Malik,” Caroline advised. “He will drive the wagon.”
Wyndham frowned at her. “Why should I not sit back here with you?”
