Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,57

room.

“That one would keep his wife on her toes, should he find anyone brave enough to marry him,” Sophie said.

“He would be awful to live with.” Esther tried to sound nonchalant, but she knew the reason for Sophie’s words.

“Oh, I don’t know. Men like him tend to fall hard when they eventually fall.”

“And squash the women they land on?” Esther stood. “I shall take myself off before you try to convince me that Captain Jones is naught but a little lamb.”

“I would say more like a protective hen, the way he responds to you.” Sophie held up her hands when it seemed Esther was going to speak. “I won’t pester you anymore. I know when I see a deluded girl in front of me who can’t see what’s under her nose. Off you go. I shall see you on your return.”

Only stopping to collect a handful of flowers from Sophie’s garden, Esther made her way down to the church. A smile touched her lips as she walked onto the path leading up to the church and saw the rice rolling across the stones as the wind pushed it into any gaps or edges it could find.

Walking towards her mother’s grave, Esther was filled with sadness at the fact that she would be leaving her mother again. Although it had taken her a while to initially come to the grave, once she had overcome her hesitancy she had visited every week. She had even started talking to the stone, as if she were talking to her mother.

It was strange – Sophie never mentioned visiting, and yet there were always other flowers on the grave. It gave Esther comfort to know that the grave was being tended when she was not there.

Fiddling with the flowers until she was happy with the display, Esther said her goodbyes quietly. She shed a few tears as she spoke.

“Corless House is my home, Mama,” she said quietly. “You would love it there, and the children are a delight. I am going to miss Lydia and Isabella, but with everything that has happened, having three fewer teachers probably won’t be too much of a hindrance. Not initially, anyway. It is so different to how we lived, but don’t think I look back on those days with anything but pleasure. Just me and you against the world. I was incredibly happy, Mama, and I hope you would be proud of me now.”

Brushing a few leaves from the edge of the gravestone, she stood. “It’s time to go. Thank you for protecting me. Goodbye, Mama.”

Turning, Esther stumbled before gripping onto the headstone for support. For a moment she felt as if her legs would give way. Facing her, a few rows away, was the man whose face filled her nightmares.

“Hello, Esther,” he said, taking a step towards her.

She wanted to scream. To run away and hide as she had been doing for years, but she could not move. Once more she was a fourteen-year-old child, afraid and alone. Fearing what was going to happen, but feeling as if there was nowhere to escape.

“I’ve been watching you, Esther. You have grown into a beautiful woman, but I always knew you would, which is why I wanted to make you mine. Why did you say no? Your mother would still be alive if you hadn’t.”

Chapter 18

Esther gripped the headstone of the grave for support. She knew it had been foolhardy returning to Exeter but necessary in the circumstances. But she should have remained indoors.

“What do you want with me?” she choked out.

“I wanted to see you. To speak with you.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Oh, it wasn’t hard. I’ve been visiting your mother a lot recently. I had a feeling you would return one day.”

“You are the one who has been laying the flowers?” Esther’s mind was racing. How could such a man show anything resembling tender feelings? He had not aged well; he looked withered somehow and as if he had aged a great deal more than the fourteen years that had passed since she had last seen him.

“Of course it was I. You might have a low opinion of me, but I would not visit a grave without showing respect.”

“You caused her death. How can you be so hypocritical?”

“My feelings and wishes have never changed, Esther. I want what I have always wanted.”

“I will never agree to that.”

“I do not wish you any harm, Esther.”

“That’s good to know.” The deep, soothing voice of Captain Jones spoke from