*
Caroline slowly strolledback to the cottage following dinner and visiting with Wyndham’s family. She still couldn’t believe that theywould be sharing the same cottage. A one room cottage. Certainly, there had to be one relative with space for him, shouldn’t there be?
Except, the extended family she met tonight had large families so likely every bed in their houses was taken.
This still wasn’t right. She was overcome with a nervousness that she had not experienced since the first time she spent the evening with her husband and that had been the night after they wed.
Of course, her nerves were for different reasons as she had known that she would become a wife in truth and was not certain what to expect. Tonight, she would just sleep in her own bed while a man she desired to fulfill her growing needs was on the other side of the room. Thank goodness there were two beds because she wasn’t certain what she would have done had there been only one.
She nearly shivered at the possibility then reminded herself that she was a respectable widow and that Wyndham was her father’s employer. She was a companion to his mother, among other things at Wyndham Farm. Despite how cordial and friendly some of their conversations had been, there would be nothing more between her and Wyndham.
Wyndham pushed open the door of the cottage then lit a lamp. Caroline was grateful to find that someone had already been there and a rope had been tied down the center of the room from which blankets hung. It would save them from having to figure out how to do it themselves.
She then realized that the bed she usually chose was the one closest to the door. If Wyndham needed to leave for any purpose, he would have to cross over to her side, which she did not like.
“Do you mind if we switch sides?” she asked.
He arched a blond brow, humor in his blue eyes. “Not at all, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
“Thank you.” She picked up her valise then slipped between the slight gap where two blankets met.
Lord Wyndham followed her, and Caroline was startled when he joined her.
“I am only retrieving my bag.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” she nearly stammered.
Why was she being such a ninny?
Despite what anyone would believe, she would stay on her side of the room and Wyndham on his, well, as soon as he returned to it and they would not see each other again until morning after they were once again fully dressed.
“Good night, Mrs. Sutcliffe,” Wyndham said as he crossed back to his side of the cottage.
It was then that she opened her valise and drew out her nightrail. Caroline glanced back at the blanket shielding her from him.
Did she dare slip out of her dress and into her nightrail? To do so would leave her exposed. Or did she sleep in her shift?
What if the blanket fell away?
She could not take such a risk and put the nightrail away. She would sleep in her dress. It would not be so uncomfortable. Then tomorrow, after he had left the cottage, she would change into a fresh dress.
Yes, that is what she would do.
“How often do you visit Stellenbosch?” his voice came from the other side of the blankets.
“Once a year. Sometimes twice,” she answered. “Your mother enjoys visiting her family.”
“And this is where you stay each time?”
“Yes.”
“What of my mother. Where does she sleep?”
He likely assumed that his mother had better accommodations. “We share this cottage,” she answered as she removed her boots.
“What of her maid and whatnot?”
“Your mother can survive without a maid, and she had me.”Caroline rolled down her stockings and draped them across the end of the bed.
