“What a person does out of love carries different consequences. She did not deceive you out of malice but to protect her family.”
He knew that, but she should have trusted him with the truth. Maybe not at first, but later, after they had become close. Yet she hadn’t, and he doubted that she had ever cared.
“She was dishonest. That is all I need to know.” Sterling yanked open the front door. He could not stand there and argue with his mother any longer. His decision was made because Caroline had takenhis heart and stomped on it just as she had the grapes. Except he bled red, not wine.
“If you walk out that door and sail away, you are no better than your father—stubborn with no room for forgiveness. Demanding and unyielding, no room for understanding. Expecting everyone to rise to an impossible standard that you have set then sending them away when they fail or leave them behind.”
“This is different, Mother.”
“It is not, Sterling, and for that I am sorry.”
“Goodbye, Mother.”
“What of Caroline and her family?” his mother called after he was seated in the wagon. “Who will be your estate manager?”
“William or Caroline, it does not matter. Let Hallaway be in charge of the grapes and wine for as long as he wants. I no longer care.”
*
Caroline remained inher home, as did her father and brother. They were not certain what to do. She assumed that when the decision was made, Wyndham would come and tell them. A part of her wanted to start packing, believing it was inevitable that they would be asked to leave. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to do so. Maybe it was because she was nearly paralyzed with fear. Where would they go and what would they do?
The anxiety also temporarily overrode the pain in her heart. That ache deep down that she had lost love.
The knock on the door startled her but she could not move. She looked at her father then William. Her father was only here because neither her nor William would allow him to go the vineyard until their fate was decided. William had paced and waited to learn their fate.
Caroline took a deep breath, crossed to the entry and opened thedoor only to find Lady Wyndham standing there.
“Did you need something Lady Wyndham?”
“No, Caroline, I came to see you.”
Her heart sank. She was going to tell her that Sterling was gone. She should not be surprised because there was no longer a reason for him to remain, but it hurt deeply.
“What of our circumstances?” William asked.
“To quote my son after I asked who was to the estate manager, ‘William or Caroline, it does not matter. Let Hallaway be in charge of the grapes and wine for as long as he wants. I no longer care.’”
Her brother let out a sigh of relief and part of her fear eased.
“Walk with me Caroline.”
She did as Lady Wyndham asked and stepped outside onto the terrace.
“I am sorry things did not turn out better.”
“We have our positions and we still have a home. I can assure you that we are very grateful.”
“That is not what I meant.”
She did not want to discuss Sterling, especially with his mother.
“I really thought he had changed. I thought he found happiness here. I wanted so much for the two of you, I hoped…Why else would I make certain you were with him every time I sent him away? The two of you were prefect for each other.”
Caroline could only stare. First the manipulation so Sterling could remember where he came from. The second manipulation was because Caroline needed to take more time for herself. Now, to find out that there had been a third and that it was because his mother decided to be a matchmaker was too much. Had she not interfered, Caroline would never have come to know Sterling so well, nor become his lover, and she would not be hurting so badly right now.
Oh, she wanted to give Lady Wyndham a piece of her mind but knew that it would not do any good.
“It was never meant to be, Lady Wyndham. And even if there had been a possibility, I destroyed any chance by my deception.”
