“Then why did Mrs. Sutcliffe feel the need to hurry to her father, almost alarmed?”
“There are two reasons,” she answered. “The first is that everyone knows how important the grapes and wine are to the estate and if something were to go wrong or the wine did not turn out as it should, it could jeopardize their positions, Hallaway included, which would affect Caroline and her daughter.”
Sterling nodded because it was something that he could understand. A bad crop of grapes could lead to a financial loss and the need to let employees go.
“What is the second?”
“Caroline gets overly concerned for her father,” his motherexplained. “She is a doting daughter who sees her father as an aging man who should not work so hard or spend as many hours in the sun as he does. His walking the fields and tasting the grapes are not so much a concern, but his participation in the harvest does give her concern. No doubt she is going to lecture him that he will supervise the cutting of the grapes then stop him from taking part.”
“Is Hallaway infirm?” Perhaps he needed to interview William soon to see if he would be up to the task of taking over his father’s position.
“He is not; I can assure you.”
“If that is not the case…”
“She is an overly protective daughter. Hallaway may be getting on in years, but he can still supervise the harvest. That man knows more about grapes and the making of wine than your father ever did.”
Such a statement took him aback because Sterling had always believed his father knew everything and that nobody could know more than he did. But he had also been a boy when he had made those assumptions.
“Perhaps I should join her. I would like to know more about how Hallaway can tell that the grapes are now ready when they were not yesterday or that they will be tomorrow. Is it because of color? Is it because of taste?”
His mother sat forward and this time it was her who was alarmed. “Oh, that is not necessary. You will only be in the way.”
In the way? Why did his mother and Caroline want to keep him from the vineyard? He had every right to be there—he bloody owned the estate.
Sterling placed his cup in the saucer that rested on the table. Then stood. “I think will visit anyway. And I promise to stay out of the way.”
Caroline and his mother were behaving oddly. All was well until his mother informed Caroline that they would begin to harvest thegrapes tomorrow. It was then that her entire demeanor changed. The smile was gone and there was concern in her brown eyes and then she could not wait to be away from them. What truly had her concerned?
Yes, Hallaway was older but from what Sterling had seen he was quite capable to continue in his duties.
Something was very odd and he wanted to find out exactly what.
“I have an excellent idea, Sterling,” his mother called after him.
Sterling stopped and turned to face her. If she was going to offer a suggestion that would keep him here instead of going to the vineyard then he would know that the two were hiding something from him, though Sterling could not imagine what that would be.
“What is it, Mother?” he asked with barely veiled impatience.
“Go fetch Caroline and bring her back.”
That was not what he expected. “Why?”
“She will fret when there is no reason. I do not think you realize how much she fusses and she needs a distraction.”
He had yet to see Carolinefretorfuss.Though he had only once been present when the father and daughter were together so he really could not judge their relationship.
“Visit Table Mountain,” she offered brightly. “You have not climbed it since you were a boy when you were accompanied your father.”
“But never you,” he reminded her.
“I do not do well with heights and climbing in a skirt is difficult.”
“Then will not Mrs. Sutcliffe have the same difficulty?”
“Oh, Caroline does not wear a skirt when she ventures up to Table Mountain. At least, she hadn’t when she visited last year when William returned from England.”
If she didn’t wear a skirt… “I will fetch her and return shortly,” he announced. “Please make the arrangements for a wagon, horses, servants, a picnic…whatever we will need.” He tried to sound authoritative, just solving a difficulty, and hoped that his mother had no idea the thoughts that flashed through his mind. If she wasn’t wearing skirts, then that could only mean that Caroline would be in trousers, which was something he wanted to very much see.
