Did he even truly know her?
Perhaps that was what angered him the most. While he was falling in love with her, Caroline was dishonest about who she was. Had their friendship been real or was she just doing what she thought necessary, including becoming his love, so he would never learn the truth?
Sterling returned to the desk and settled back in his seat and took a sip of his brandy. “I now know what my mother meant when she said that you have more responsibility than I knew and that you deserved a holiday. I assumed she meant being a mother along with everything else. That wasn’t it, was it, Caroline?”
She did not answer but glanced down at her hands.
“And now, after today, I have come to realize that not only are you the companion, housekeeper, and sometimes gardener, but you are also the estate manager for Wyndview Farm, is that correct?
“Yes,” she finally answered.
“In fact, you might as well be the Mistress of Wyndview because you manage not only the estate, but the house, everything inside and out.” His voice rose. “Is that what you truly want? Is that what you were hoping to gain?”
Caroline looked up, her brown eyes hard and her once pale cheeks flamed red.
“I have never aspired to be the Mistress of Wyndview. I assisted where I was needed. Whether you approve or not is not my concern. Your mother was happy with my position here.”
“She does not own the estate, Caroline, I do.”
“Oh, I am aware, Lord Wyndham.”
“What was your game? What were your intentions? Did you have an ulterior motive for becoming my friend? My lover?”
“You think so little of me?”
Sterling truly did not know what to think and was still coming to terms with the revelations of today. But, instead of answering her, he shrugged, which was not well done of him.
She straightened and glared, right before she slapped him soundlyacross the cheek.
“I had no ulterior motive for anything that I did, Lord Wyndham. Did you?”
“What does that mean?”
“If you think so little of me, then maybe it was because I meant so little to you. A dalliance to keep you entertained before you sailed away.” She turned and stalked to the door. “I hope that it made your stay at Wyndview Farm enjoyable.” Then she was gone.
Sterling hurried after her. “I am not done with our discussion, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
She whipped around and glared at him. “I very much am, and I will be going. It is my daughter’s bedtime and I must see to her.” With that she turned and stomped to the door leading to the terrace before she turned. “If you would have but asked, I would have explained, but I will not tolerate being demeaned in such a manner, especially after…it shows that I was mistaken about you.”
“As I was about you, Mrs. Sutcliffe.”
Sterling stood there for a moment then turned around and strolled back to his office, settled behind his desk and lifted the glass of brandy. He may be angry and hurt over her deception, but there was no woman that he admired more.
He took a sip of the brandy and closed his eyes as it burned down his throat. He also still loved her. It was a shame that he could never trust her and maybe that was why he had condescended to her to coolly—so that she would hate him and then he would never know if she could have loved him or if she would have rejected his offer of marriage had it been made.
*
Caroline stormed intoher house and then her chamber and slammed the door and started to pace. How dare he accuse her ofwanting to be the Mistress of Wyndview? How dare he accuse her of having an ulterior motive for becoming his lover?
Caroline may not have wanted brandy when she was with Sterling but she certainly wanted one now and marched out of her chamber and went to her office where she grabbed the decanter and a glass before returning to her room and shutting the door again.
She poured then took a deep drink and gasped at the burn before taking a more moderate sip.
She knew why he was angry. He had every right to be because she had not been honest with him. However, that did not give him the right to treat her with such cold disdain. It was almost as if he hated her, which made her question whether he had ever cared at all.
Had their forming a friendship come about because he had nothing better to do while he was waiting for the harvest? As for being his lover, was that for the same reason? She knew that men enjoyed bedsport. She had heard rumors before she was married and understood it fully once she was a bride. Was that all she had been to him?
To think she had fallen in love with him!
