Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,74

have many guests at the wedding of a base-born chit.”

“Please let me kill him, my dear,” Samuel said. His tone was affable, but he had squeezed Esther a little harder, an indication to her that he was trying to maintain control of his temper. “I promise the magistrate will understand the extenuating circumstances when I deliver Mr. Boyd’s dead body to him.”

“If we are to have a happy marriage, you shall please refrain from using the term ‘my dear’, or I might have to kill you,” Esther said. “With regard to Mr. Boyd, I would like you to get rid of him in any way you see fit.”

“This is exactly why I love you,” Samuel said. He knew he was a cad for taking advantage of the situation, but he kissed Esther briefly on the lips. Releasing her, he looked at Mr. Boyd. “We have some business to see to, but we shall do it outside.”

Mr. Boyd had taken a step back towards the door, but he sneered at Esther. “She’s a doxy who deserves to end in the gutter.”

“Those words may have cost you your life,” Samuel said, and with one fluid movement, he jumped over the back of the sofa and chased the now running Mr. Boyd out of the room.

Chapter 24

Esther moved to the front of the sofa and sank onto the seat. She could hear a commotion in the hall but had not the urge to go and see what was going on. The result was a foregone conclusion: Samuel would give Mr. Boyd a beating he would not soon forget, until Dawson managed to drag Samuel off him. Esther was convinced that Dawson would prevent Samuel killing Mr. Boyd, a circumstance she was not as concerned about as she had been before the meeting started.

After about fifteen minutes, Samuel entered the room, stretching his knuckles and with a grin on his face. “I should feel remorse for beating a far older man, but I am afraid I don’t. He deserved every punch.”

“Are you injured?” Esther asked.

Receiving a look that spoke of incredulity at her even suggesting such a thing, Samuel came and sat next to her. “You did very well. It was amusing to hear him on the back foot. I think he was expecting to meet a frightened young girl, not a magnificent tigress.”

“I am so angry with them both. I have never felt so furious.”

“Good. If it makes you stand up for yourself I hope it happens more often.”

“How could she continue to work against me? To even consider that I would wish to marry him is madness after everything that happened.”

“You weren’t considered at all. Two very selfish people were working together for their own advantage. They should marry each other. I suspect they are the perfect match.”

“Although I have to say, my credibility will be lost a little when it turns out I am not opening an orphanage after all,” Esther said. So many of his words had affected her deeply, but she had to concentrate on the thing that would be easily found out.

“Oh, are you not? I thought it was a splendid idea, especially after you weren’t certain of all your pupils returning. Do you not think it would give you even more of a sense of achievement when they are sent out into the world as upstanding citizens? Children who have truly had the worst possible start in life, and yet they can have hope of a happy future.”

“It has its merits, but I would not know where to start.”

“That’s where I come in.”

“You don’t like children. You did nothing but glower at Isabella!”

Samuel stood up and walked away from Esther. She had noticed that when he was experiencing a strong emotion, he usually took it out on the fire. Restraining from smiling too much, she watched as the poor coals were prodded and poked with vigour.

Eventually he turned to face Esther, his expression as serious as she had ever seen it. “How important is respectability to you?”

“I don’t understand,” Esther said.

“How much do you care about respectability?”

Esther’s stomach dropped. “Are you offering me some sort of carte blanche, Captain Jones? For if you are, you can jolly well get yourself back to London this instant.”

“What? No! I am asking you to marry me!”

The room stilled.

Esther’s hand went as if to cover her mouth, but it fell into her lap, not quite reaching its intended destination.

“This isn’t a good sign.” Samuel tried to sound flippant, but his eyes