She cleared her throat. “That is, it will be the height of the Season.”
Caroline cocked her head.
“Sterling did mention that he…thatyoumight be interested in…” Oh, dear, this was exceedingly awkward. “He mentioned he wanted to have a hand in choosing your husband.”This time aroundhung unspoken in the air around them.
The dark-haired woman gave a little laugh. “Yes, he would.”
“Is that something you want? To become engaged again?”
“I suppose so,” she replied, drawing out the words. “That is, I wouldn't want to find myself a spinster, and I do want children. Though to be honest, I would be much more cautious after…what occurred.”
“Cautious?”
She ducked her head. “It was all very distressing.”
Annabelle mentally kicked herself. “Of course. I fear I’ve been terribly insensitive, broaching the matter.”
“Not at all.” Caroline sent Annabelle a reassuring smile. “And after all, he was your brother. You must miss him very much.”
“Yes,” she murmured. But did she? The truth was complicated. He could be so charming. So wickedly funny. Drawing everyone to him so they practically fawned. But when they did not, he was decidedly less charming, and his humor turned cutting rather than clever.
She gestured towards the needlepoint in Caroline's lap. "What is that you're working on? It looks to be a horse. Is that Sterling's horse, Zeus?”
“Actually, yes.” She gave a self-conscious laugh. “Itismeant to be Zeus. It's a birthday present for Sterling. It's a long-standing joke between the two of us, for me to gift him with a needlepoint because he thinks them a terrible waste of human effort and because I'm so dreadful at it. He’s amassed a substantial collection over the years.”
Annabelle was delighted by this admission. It was so unlike anything between her and her brother or anything that would have taken place in her family.
And then the significance of what her sister-in-law had just revealed struck her. "Are you telling me Sterling has a birthday coming up?”
“Yes. Tomorrow, as a matter of fact.”
“But I had no idea.”
“I am not at all surprised by that. My brother is not one who likes to be fussed over. He's more in the way of taking care of everyone else, but try to do something forhim.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s impossible that way.”
Oddly, that sounded exactly right. "Has he always been like that?”
“Always?” She screwed up her face, seeming to consider. “Being the older brother, he tended to be the one left in charge. And then, around my sixth birthday, our mother contracted an illness of the spine. Even with a governess, it made it hard for her to mind three children, two of them under ten.
“Naturally, our father became distracted, preoccupied as he was with getting her the best treatment money could buy. Without being asked, Sterling donned the mantle of being the ‘in charge’, and I'm afraid our parents went along with it for far too long, so that it became something of an ingrained habit. And then what happened to his friend Dillon seemed to cement the role.”
"Oh yes, he told me about that. Dreadful.”
Caroline looked up in evident surprise. “He told you about that? That is unusual. It is not something he usually discusses.” She sent Annabelle a brilliant smile. "You are good for him.”
Warmth suffused her.
“Annabelle, am I right in assuming you are content with the way things turned out?”
“He has proven to be…rather accommodating.” She eyed the needlepoint and grinned. It really wasn’t the best she’d seen, which only made her like it, and the woman making it even more.
“Caroline, I would like to give him something for his birthday. Some small token or perhaps…I can see that a special dish is prepared? If you do not mind helping me, that is.” In truth, she did not know the first thing about what comprised his favorite dishes, or what he collected, other than books on astronomy—and his sister’s artwork.
"I think that would be lovely." Caroline glanced out the window. “It is not yet late, and the weather does seem to be quite fine despite a few snow flurries.” She turned back to Annabelle. “Have you been into town? Aside from the old abbey, there’s not much to see. But there are a few shops. Perhaps we should head down and see what we can find. If we leave now, we’ll get back before Sterling even knows we’ve gone.”
Chapter 29
Rather than take the time to saddle two horses and risk any difficulty finding a proper place to tie them off in the village, Annabelle and Caroline decided to walk. It would take slightly longer this way, and Annabelle did enjoy riding more than most any other pastime, but in this instance, walking seemed preferable. It would give her more time with Caroline, and she did so enjoy the woman’s company.
