“Then I suppose we are at an impasse, Lord Wyndham.”
“What happened to calling me Sterling?”
“I will not do so if you are going to take such a tone.”
For just a moment, he was shocked by her reproach, but soon he was overcome with laughter. Nobody had ever spoken to him that way other than a parent.
“I am sorry, Caroline. Forget my demands and let us enjoy the day.” He didn’t want to spend it arguing. Besides he could ask his mother when he returned now that he knew she definitely was up to something.
*
Caroline was alreadykeeping her own secret and did not want to keep Lady Wyndham’s as well. She was not going to lie to Sterling but she also wasn’t going to pretend that she wasn’t aware that Lady Wyndham had plans for her son. However, if he wished to know what those were, Sterling could ask his mother directly.
It was going to be difficult enough if he ever learned of her deception, and she prayed that he never did.
At first, she feared what would happen if he learned, now she worried about his reaction because she had come to care for him.
Where had that thought come from?
She could notcarefor him.
They could share friendship, desire, and intimacy, but under no circumstances could she develop any deeper emotions.
They were lovers and nothing more and, in few months, he would be gone. She would carry on as she did before and he would do the same. If they were lucky, they would have fond memories and then she would return to doing what she needed to for her family.
“Are you upset with me?”
Sterling’s question intruded on her thoughts.
“No, why would you ask?”
“You not only grew very quiet, but there is also an expression of serious concerns on your face.”
Yes, well, she was worried. “I was thinking about the duties that I have avoided for the fourth day in a row.” It wasn’t necessarily a lie because her duties were exactly what she feared he would learn about.
“Ah, we have arrived.”
Sterling led the horses down a small slope before he dismounted and tied them to a spindly bush then lifted Caroline effortlessly from her mount and lowered her until her feet were once again on the ground.
There was barely any space between them and as she had in the past, Caroline became acutely aware of Sterling. Except now, she had so much more to remember than a bare chest.
He lifted his hand and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear before he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers then pulled away.
“Shall we picnic on the beach or on this rise?” he asked as he untied the basket.
Caroline walked a little further, before some of the small boulders that the beach was named for and the sand began. From here they could see the ocean, and the penguins—the reason they were here.
The waves were gentle and the breezes were light, but still enough to cool their skin in the heat. Dozens of penguins frolicked in the water and walked along the beach while seals sunned themselves on the boulders.
“Here!” she said before she returned to her horse and retrieved the blanket then shook it out and spread it on the ground.
Sterling joined her and set the basket in a corner then took a seat next to her.
“I had forgotten how much I enjoyed watching the penguins when I was a boy.”
At least his mother’s plan was working.
“I am also glad that your mother insisted that we do this.”
