“William met with him,” her father dismissed.
“William is not the estate manager, you are,” she reminded her father. “If you do not meet with him, there is a very good chance that you will be sacked. If that happens, you will never be able to work with the grapes again. You will not be able to tend the vines that Mother cultivated. They will belong to another. We might even be forced to return to England and you will not be able to visit mother any longer. Do you understand me?”
He drew in a heavy breath before he blew it out. “I understand, Caro. I will do as you ask, but only for you and your mother’s vines.”
“Why wait until tomorrow when we can discuss the estate now?”
Caroline whipped around to find Sterling standing at the entry to the sitting room. His blue eyes were hard and jaw tight, looking very much the gentleman from that first day he had arrived at Wyndview Farm.
Behind him stood William, helplessly holding his arms out.
Her heart sank to her stomach.
“Good evening, Lord Wyndham,” Caroline greeted him.
“Are you drunk, Hallaway?” Sterling demanded.
“Tipsy, perhaps.”
Why couldn’t he claim to be drunk? Then maybe Sterling would put off this interview.
“Then there is no reason why you and Mrs. Sutcliffe cannot return with me to the house. I have a few questions regarding the estate.”
“I thought William answered them all,” her father returned.
Oh, she did not need her father to be difficult. He had just promised her that he would be prepared…tomorrow.
“He is not the estate manager. You are the one who currentlyholds that title.”
Her father was going to be sacked and they would all be forced to leave. It was exactly as she feared.
“Come along.” He looked at Caroline, his blue eyes boring into hers. “You as well.”
Oh God. He knew.
Chapter Forty-Four
Betrayal ate athis soul.
How could he have been so wrong about Caroline?
She had lied to him from the moment they had met. While he could understand her duplicity at first, he thought they had become close enough that she could tell him anything and he would understand, even the truth about her father.
Instead, she’d said nothing and pretended that she was simply a daughter who assisted her father.
He harrumphed and took a deep drink of brandy while he stood at the window and kept an eye on the terrace below, awaiting the return of hislover.
She’d made a fool of him while he had fallen in love with her.
Her duplicity hurt deeper than if someone would have plunged a knife into his heart and Sterling was not certain what he should do or how he should even react. However, when he finally saw Caroline and William return to their home with Hallaway, he decided not to put off his plans until tomorrow and followed. He had not even bothered to knock but entered. He did own the home. When William saw him and started to object, he motioned for him to be silent then walked to the sitting room and listened as Caroline begged her father to prepare for the meeting.
She was scared.
When he returned to his house and office, Sterling assumed theyfollowed. When he stepped behind his desk, he noted that they both hovered near the door.
“Please take a seat.”
Caroline drew in a deep breath then did as he asked.
