Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,62
you very much.”
“Sentimental stuff and nonsense from someone who has never gone hungry. With the way the business was failing, you and your mother would have been put to work in a far less salubrious way than you had been up to that point, so be careful what you wish for,” Sophie said. “There are worse men around than Boyd, I can tell you, but when your belly is empty and you don’t know when you’ll next receive a penny, it’s surprising what principles you can overcome. I told your mother that if she didn’t agree to Boyd receiving you early, I would sell you to the highest bidder anyway, and then she would have to start bringing in some money.”
Esther felt bile rising in her throat. She stood, needing to leave. “I cannot remain here a moment longer. You are not who I thought you were.”
“I am sure you will get over it when you return to your large house and comfortable living.”
“That same comfortable living that has given you a roof over your head for the last few years,” Esther snapped.
“The difference between us two is that I’m a survivor. You are a dreamer who doesn’t have a sense of reality. Take this house away. I will survive. I did it before you were born; I’ll do it again.”
“One thing puzzles me – why did you approach my uncle? It seems a selfless thing to do, and from what you’ve said, you are anything but.”
“It was purely to get you off my hands. He was the only relative your mother had kept in communication with. I didn’t know you two were his only relatives left alive by the time she died. He welcomed you with open arms, and I was glad to be rid of you. You were a watering pot and useless. Boyd was distancing himself from what had happened, so I knew he wouldn’t come up to snuff, and it was too much trouble trying to find someone else prepared to buy you. A death and an inquest make men wary. We were being given a wide berth anyway. It was a way of getting rid of you quickly.”
“I will never see you again,” Esther said, opening the door.
“I am sure I will muddle on.”
Staggering out into the hallway, Esther was prevented from falling onto the marble floor by Samuel, who seemed to appear from nowhere to wrap his arms around Esther in support.
“Dear God, what has happened?” He was horrified at the stark expression of desolation on Esther’s face.
Turning in to Samuel, Esther gripped his frock-coat collar. “I need to leave this house. Now.”
Samuel spoke to the servant. “Bring the horses around immediately and arrange for our luggage to be delivered to Corless House today. Get Miss Hardy’s outerwear. We are leaving immediately. Move!” Holding on to Esther, he took her to the dining room.
He kept one arm around her as he poured a glass of brandy. “Drink this,” he said gently.
Esther took a gulp and shuddered as the liquid burned down her throat. “I need to go.”
“We are leaving soon. Can you change your attire in here? You need your riding habit, but I do not want you going up and downstairs in this state.”
“Yes. I’ll manage,” Esther said.
“Good girl. This will soon be over. I promise we shall leave as quickly as possible.”
For the first time, Esther looked into Samuel’s eyes. She shook her head sadly. “It will never be over. I have been living a lie. I won’t be able to face anyone ever again, and I don’t know what to do about it. I have lost everything I ever believed in. It has all been a lie. My whole life has been a farce.”
Samuel almost burned with the need to make the situation better for Esther, but he could do little. He had no idea what had gone on in that room, but Esther was reeling from whatever she had discovered. He wanted to ease her pain more than he had ever wanted to do anything. If he could have swapped places with her, he would have, but for now getting her home was his first priority. He was an expert at dealing with the practical. The emotional care would come later, and although he was wholly inexperienced at it, he was determined to give it his all.
He had to. For if anything happened to her, he had no idea what he would do.