“Send word to Hallaway and his son that they are not required to meet with Wyndham until tomorrow.”
“Very good, Lady Wyndham.” George nodded and left quietly.
“Livia and I should be going as well.” She held out a hand to her daughter.
“May I inquire, do you live with your father or are you visiting?”
“We live here,” Livia answered happily as she skipped toward Caroline.
“I found it necessary to return to my father after my husband was killed in the Battle of Dresden,” she added.
Wyndham frowned. “You have been a widow for over three years?”
Why did he seem surprised? There were women younger than she who were widows.
“Have you lived here since?” Wyndham asked.
Oh dear, he was going to ask her to leave. “Yes. My mother also died not long after and my father needed my assistance while my brother, William, was still in school.”
Wyndham frowned. “Assist how?”
“His household, Lord Wyndham,” she answered tightly. “Further, I was without financial support and had no choice of where I might live.”
She hoped he would allow her to remain and ask no further questions.
“If there is nothing further, I shall take my daughter home.” Caroline grasped tightly to Livia’s hand and slipped out of the room before any further questions could be asked.
Her pulse pounded and her hands shook as she returned to the kitchens, where the servants were preparing the evening meal.
There was no warmth to Lord Wyndham and she wasn’t certain he possessed kindness either.
What could happen if he found displeasure with the estate, her father or…Caroline groaned. She must make certain that nothing went amiss while he was here.
“Have you seen His Lordship?” a maid asked quietly after she entered the kitchen.
“Yes, he is with Lady Wyndham.”
“What of your father and brother?” another maid asked.
“They will meet with him tomorrow morning.”
“Lord have mercy,” a maid whispered.
The situation was not so dire. “All will be well. I am certain of that,” Caroline said even though she lacked confidence. Perhaps a few prayers to see them through this situation would not be remiss.
Chapter Three
At least henow had a name to the woman who had exposed a good portion of her leg when she rode by the window, but Sterling had not expected her to be old enough to be a mother either. He’d really only glimpsed the leg and long dark hair. What had been missed was that she was nicely formed with a full bosom, long neck, plump red lips, and large expressive brown eyes framed in thick dark lashes.
Did she have a purpose in the household or were her duties limited to her father’s home, and did she make it a habit to allow her daughter to go where she wished?
“I do insist that you join me to tea.” His mother’s voice broke into his thoughts.
Sterling had intended to remind his mother that she had no right to insist on anything from him, nor did he want to sit and force pleasantries with his mother, but when the service was delivered by a footman and he noticed the small sandwiches of ham, cucumber, and cheese, scones with clotted cream and jam, and small cakes, his stomach grumbled. He’d not eaten in hours and meals on the ship were not always appetizing, especially after being at sea for nearly three months, and reluctantly he took a seat across from her.
It was only because this would satisfy his hunger until dinner.
As his mother poured, he filled a small plate with one of each item provided.
