Her stomach tightened. Did he believe an omission was the same as a lie?
“It has been a difficult position,” she answered honestly. “Except, I think that after Stellenbosch, I went along not so much because she asked, but because I wanted to share those adventures with you.” She gazed into his blue eyes so that he would know she was sincere.
“That is good to know,” he chuckled. “There is still something that my mother said that concerns me.”
Her stomach tightened, because Caroline was certain that she already knew or maybe it was because of her guilty conscious.
“When my mother said that you took on more responsibility than I can possibly know, what did she mean?”
Caroline stood and strolled to the window. “It is her opinion, that is all. I simply do my part in being of assistance where I can be.”
“Companion, sometimes gardener, secretary, and housekeeper?”
Caroline shrugged, not really answering because she could not look him in the eye and lie.
“Has the brandy helped relax you?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered quietly. “Though, I do believe that it will take time before the terror is truly gone.”
He came up from behind and placed his arms around her and kissed her cheek. “Would you like for me to stay with you tonight?”
She did, if only for the comfort of his arms, but feared that her daughter might suffer a nightmare and come to her bed and Caroline did not want Livia to discover Sterling there. First, she did not want to have to explain and second, she couldn’t have her daughter telling anyone.
“It is probably best if you leave,” she finally said. “There will be an early start tomorrow and I may go above and watch over Livia.”
“I understand.” Sterling kissed her cheek again and then walked tothe door “Sleep well, Caroline, I will see you tomorrow.” Then he was gone.
Caroline watched as Sterling crossed the terrace then returned the brandy to her office and washed the glasses so that her father did not ask questions.
There was so much more to Sterling than being an arrogant earl, unyielding owner of vineyards, and an incredible lover. He was strong, yet vulnerable, and a man who had saved her daughter.
He was also her friend and she would miss him terribly when he was gone.
But, most of all, she was in love with him, even more so after he had remained calm to save her daughter.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sterling woke withanticipation of the grape harvest. He wanted to be present and work alongside everyone as his father had done.
After pulling himself from the bed, he dressed in a pair of worn trousers and pulled on an older linen shirt then slipped on his boots. It was going to be hot and grueling work. Sterling grabbed his old leather hat and hurried down to the dining room only to be brought up short to find his mother breaking her fast with Livia. That was very odd but he was certain there was a reason.
“Where is everyone else?”
“Cutting the grapes,” his mother answered. He glanced at the clock. It was eight in the morning. “Already?”
“They start before the sun is up,” Livia said.
“Before the sun?” He looked at his mother.
“Yes, dear. It is hot laborious work so they begin work at four-thirty or five. Torches are placed along the vines and lit so that the workers can see. When it is bright enough out, they are extinguished. When it becomes too hot to work outside, everyone retreats to the shade or in the barn.”
If they started so early, then everyone had been at work for almost four hours. He had wanted to start work with them.
“Thank you, Mother, I will see you later. Enjoy your day, Livia.” He grabbed a piece of bread then headed out of the house and made his way to the slope that led to the rows of grapes and paused to lookdown. At the far edge of the field, workers were bent over, cutting the bunches and dropping them into the baskets beside them. When he saw Caroline, he hurried to join her.
*
When a shadowfell over Caroline, she looked up to see who it was and her heart swelled to see Sterling happy and relaxed. “Good morning, Lord Wyndham.”
