Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,55

more tasks you need me to do so that I may maintain my halo?”

“Ninnyhammer,” Esther said, swatting his arm as she returned to her seat.

“I knew the adulation would not last very long. Oh, how I shall repine its loss.”

“You can fool all you wish. You must have worked hard, for once in your life. You forget, I have also communicated with those who are responsible for her. They are not the easiest of people to deal with. Nor are they accommodating, usually.”

“Every child deserves a secure upbringing. It was worth the effort.”

The few gathered were silenced by Samuel’s words. He had no outward interest in Isabella, had never sought her out or engaged her in conversation, but his words, delivered seriously, were heartfelt. It made Esther wonder about his past even more. Would a man secure in his upbringing take so much trouble over someone who meant nothing to him? Some people did, but somehow it seemed as if he would not. He wasn’t a mean-spirited man, but there was something curious about his opinion and subsequent actions, and it increased her yearning to know him better.

The group started to make even more plans about what was to happen after the new family left. Sophie asked Esther if she intended to stay on a little while longer.

“I need to get back to Corless House,” Esther said.

“Will you visit again?”

“I would love you to visit me, but I know you won’t.”

“No. This is my home, and here is where I will stay.”

Esther had always presumed Sophie had stayed away from Corless House because she thought it would remind Esther of her past. It seemed the kind action to stay away in the beginning had now become an unbreakable habit.

“Then I will come to you. Exeter is not the monster it was in my memory. I would like to visit Mother’s grave one last time, after the wedding of course, and then during the afternoon, I shall take my leave.”

Sophie nodded her acceptance of the situation before excusing herself from the room.

“I will escort you to Corless House, if you would accept my company,” Samuel said.

“That is very kind of you. Thank you,” Esther said.

“Then I will continue on to London. I can get an early start from Sidmouth if I stay there one night.”

“I thought you might travel back with us,” Matthew said.

“With newlyweds and a child? I think not. I shall enjoy my own company on the open road, thank you very much,” Samuel said.

“He is terribly upset at being abandoned by me. No one else in the barracks will put up with his foibles the way I do.”

“That, my friend, is the truth.”

Chapter 17

The morning of the wedding of Captain Matthew Dunn and Miss Lydia Bolton shone bright, with no cloud to threaten the wedding party with rain. A small but noisy party walked to the church from Sophie’s house. The groom was already there, with his best man at his side, as he had been throughout many battles.

Lydia was surrounded by her family, along with Esther and Sophie. Holding a small posy of flowers in one hand, she held Isabella’s hand in the other. Since the child had been given the news that she was to be adopted, she could hardly bear to be parted from either of her parents. They were confident that once they were on their journey to London she would become more secure in the knowledge that the situation would not change.

Esther managed to persuade Isabella to let go of Lydia’s hand so she could follow her new grandfather as he escorted her mama to the altar.

Lydia looked resplendent in a new lavender dress with puff sleeves and a delicate flounce along the bottom of the skirt. Her new, very extensive wardrobe was already packed and ready to be loaded on the coach after the wedding breakfast had taken place. Thanks to Esther’s generosity, Lydia would be able to fit easily into her new life. There would be no evidence of the practical, day-to-day clothing a teacher wore, only the perfect attire for the wife of a diplomat.

The couple smiled at each other when Lydia reached the altar. Matthew still looked pale, but he was able to move around far more than he had been since his injury. Being pushed to walk that little bit farther each day by Samuel had meant that he felt well enough to travel to London, although it might take a little longer before he was well enough