Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,20

capable of running away, she remained silent. There were times when an argument with Samuel was inappropriate, and this was certainly one of them.

“We’ll go to my study,” she said quietly as they entered the house. Leading the way, nodding acknowledgement to the footman still on duty at the door, Esther walked into the open doorway of her private room. Gasping, she stopped on the threshold of the room.

“What is it?” Samuel demanded, not able to see into the room.

Esther turned to face him. “My desk.”

“You stay there, or I will beat you myself. Understand?” Samuel said to Lizzy. The child nodded. She was too afraid to do anything, his threat making her legs tremble harder.

His hands either side of Esther’s shoulders, he moved her out of the way. She seemed fixed to the spot, all colour drained from her cheeks. The moment he looked into the room, he understood why.

In the middle of the desk, sticking into the green leather of the desktop, was a very large dagger.

Samuel strode over to the window, which was still open, and looked outside. He hadn’t expected to see anyone but still slammed the windows closed in frustration when the view outside was devoid of any movement, servant or otherwise.

Turning to Esther, he caught sight of Lizzy peeping around the doorframe. “Is this your doing?” he demanded.

“No, sir! Honest, sir! I wouldn’t scare Miss Hardy!”

“That’s a point which is open for discussion after what you have done, but we shall leave that for now. Do you know who did it?”

“No, sir! On my honour, I don’t.”

“There isn’t an ounce of honour in your body! Your behaviour this morning would make me doubt every word out of your mouth, but you are fortunate that I don’t think it is you.” He rang the bell pull and waited.

Esther moved into the room with Lizzy almost hanging on her skirts. The child might have done something wrong, but she hoped her mistress would offer some sort of protection against the fierce giant who stood glaring at her from beside the fireplace.

Dawson arrived in a matter of moments and entered the room, looking more flustered than Esther had ever seen him. “Miss Hardy, I have the urchin locked in the laundry room— Dear Lord, what in heaven is that?” His eyes had alighted on the protruding dagger.

“Have you questioned the boy?” Samuel asked, ignoring Dawson’s query.

“Not yet, Captain. I thought you and Captain Dunn might wish to do so.”

“Get Captain Dunn on the task. I am remaining here while we get to the bottom of why this one thought it a good idea to try to kidnap a child.” Samuel glowered at Lizzy, who shrank into herself. “Dunn and I will be questioning all the servants about this,” he said, pointing at the dagger. “Someone must have seen something.”

Dawson nodded and left the room to find Matthew. Samuel closed the door and looked at Esther. “Might I ask the first questions?” He knew that he could demand that he be in charge, but for one of the few times in his life he was responding to the needs of another. She was shocked and upset, he could see that, but there was work to be done. He hoped that by his starting, she would be able to gather herself.

“Of course,” Esther said, starting to move over to the desk but faltering.

Samuel took the dagger out of the leather top. The slash would be a reminder of what had happened today, but he could not do anything about that at the present time. Turning to Lizzy, he indicated the chair on the opposite side of the desk to Esther’s. “Sit.”

Shaking, Lizzy did as she was bid.

“For your own sake, I suggest you start by telling us everything that has happened. I want the complete truth, for if I do not get it, you will be handed over to the magistrate with a charge of kidnap, and the penalty isn’t transportation.”

Lizzy burst into new sobs, and Esther leaned forward from where she had sat, rubbing her hands across her forehead. “Please, Lizzy, shush. Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” she appealed to the child, trying at the same time to ease the headache that was pounding in her temple.

Samuel moved across to a side table and poured a large measure of brandy. Returning to the side of the desk where he had been standing, he handed the glass to Esther. “Drink this,” he said, his tone