Caroline’s cheeks tinged a pretty shade of pink. “No. I merely…That is, we had not discussed any such thing.”
They had not spent a great deal of time together previous to recent weeks, and yet the woman seemed to know her so well. There was an odd comfort in that. “You guessed I’d be displeased—and why, no doubt.”
Caroline sipped her tea, as if buying a moment to frame a reply. “It’s only that I see how…um…”
“You’ve noticed how I foolishly allowed myself to fall in love with your brother and worried how I would react to being sent away. Is that it?”
Her sister-in-law’s mouth gaped briefly, then she blew air out her cheeks. “That is not at all how I’d word it.” She gave Annabelle a frank look. “Yes, I deduced your feelings for Sterling have grown. But I see nothing foolish in that, especially considering that he is no less attached to you.”
Annabelle stared at Caroline. “You believe he…cares for me?”
The corners of Caroline’s dark eyes crinkled with warmth. “Of course. Whether or not he is aware of his feelings is another matter entirely.” She cocked her head. “Well? He told you of his plans for us. What…er…was your response?”
She lifted her cocoa, sipped. “I told him I’d enjoy a holiday so much that you and I would likely stay away the entire Season.”
Laughter bubbled out of Caroline. “And?Hisresponse?”
Heat rushing through her, remembering the passionate interlude, she set down her cup, certain her cheeks flamed scarlet. “He…er…did seem rather put out by the notion.Strongly opposed, were the words he used, I believe.”
Caroline’s expression sobered slightly. “I’ll bet he was. But did he say why?”
“Indeed. He said it was because I was his wife.”
An unladylike snort sounded from her sister-in-law. “Bull and poppycock. What a poor excuse for a…well, excuse.”
Annabelle was well and truly intrigued now. “You think he had another motivation for not wishing us to remain apart from him?”
Caroline arched a dark brow. “Of course. Because he is beyond smitten. The thing is, Sterling has a long practice of shielding himself from the tender emotions.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Annabelle swiped up a biscuit from the tray, never taking her eyes off Caroline.
A considering expression crossed Caroline’s face. “I would say it started after the tragedy involving his friend, Dillon. But he was guarded even before that. Dillon’s death just seemed to cement his tendency to wall off.”
“I can see how that might have contributed,” Annabelle murmured.
Caroline dropped her chin into her hand and smiled a sad smile at Annabelle. “Yes. And the fact that Sterling shared the tale with you—well, that alone gives testament to his trust in you.”
“Trust is a far cry from love,” she said, splashing more chocolate into her cup before picking it up.
“Is it? I’m not so sure. At any rate, my point is Sterling loves deeply. Ask anyone in our family, or any of his close friends, and you’ll see we all agree. But ask him? He would probably look at you like you’d grown another head.”
Annabelle sipped her chocolate, contemplating Caroline’s words. “I know how much he cares for you and your brother, and I do feel he cares for me, somewhat.”
He wanted her. That had to count for something—not that she could say as much to his sister.
But wanting was not love.
“I’m making a muddle of this,” Caroline said with a self-conscious snort. “The point I’m trying to make is this: the waymy brother expresses his love is not so much through words but through small acts of kindness.”
Annabelle glanced at the cup of chocolate in her hands. She thought back to the time he’d changed their travel arrangements from oversea to overland because he knew she was terrified of sea travel. Remembered how he’d allowed her to stay at Stoneford Castle, even paying her expenses, despite her accusations. “Yes, he is a thoughtful and kind man. But surely that is more a testament to his character than his feelings toward me.”
“All right. But not only that, he also expresses his heart through…” Caroline made a sound of exasperation, as if she couldn’t find the words.
Annabelle set her chocolate on the tray. “Through keeping those he cares for safe,” she stated with dawning understanding.
Caroline clapped her hands together and steepled them under her chin. “Precisely. Witness the other afternoon, when he came home and found us absent and the sun on its way to setting. One would think his tantrum an overreaction—and it was. It was also…”
“Proof of his affection,” she filled in. “Yes, I rather worked that out on my own.”
