Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,8

noticed by the three adults in the room, but no one reacted to it. Instead they all watched Isabella with interest.

“I am sorry you were hurt. Aunt Sarah said my daddy was a brave soldier before he died. Did you know him?”

“I don’t think so,” Matthew responded, glancing curiously at Esther.

“That is a shame. I would like to meet someone who knew him. I wish I could remember him.” Isabella looked as if to retreat behind Lydia once more.

“Is it true you are an excellent horsewoman? Perhaps you inherited that from your father,” Matthew said.

“Do you think so? I do like horses, and Miss Esther allows me to ride every day usually, but the horses have not been well recently, so I’ve not been able to go.”

“We did not think it wise in the circumstances,” Esther said.

Matthew smiled his understanding. “Fortunately for you, we checked in the stables and have been told that the horses are well now. Would you like to ride out with us tomorrow? If that is allowed?”

Esther nodded her assent.

“Yes, please!” Isabella said.

“We shall be spending quite a lot of time together, Isabella. I am looking forward to getting to know you better,” Matthew said.

Isabella frowned slightly but did not question Matthew’s words, and Lydia soon ushered her back to lessons, leaving the three behind.

“You might consider the matter differently,” Esther said. “But I think the danger will be low whilst she is in lessons.”

“True. No one is going to be foolhardy enough to try to kidnap her when she is surrounded by witnesses,” Matthew agreed. “But it is useful to have a study from which I can keep a weather-eye on her. I expect I shall be reading many books while lessons are going on.”

“It will be inconvenient for you to spend so much time with a child.”

Matthew had seated himself on a sofa when Isabella had left the room. “As it’s our duty, we shall manage.”

“Who has told her the Banbury tale about her father?” Samuel asked.

“I have no idea. It’s the first time she has ever mentioned it. She came to us three years ago, aged seven. I do not know where she spent the first years of her life, except she has mentioned an Aunt Sally occasionally. She never gives any information when we have tried to question her; she just closes her mouth or asks to leave the room. I came to the conclusion her start must not have been a happy one,” Esther explained. She noticed Samuel’s jaw clench and expected a retort, but it never came.

“The poor child,” Matthew said.

Esther smiled at Matthew; he really was a nice person. The gentlemen stood as if to leave. Esther knew it was time to make amends for her earlier behaviour. “Captain Jones, could I have a word, please?”

Samuel turned in some surprise but remained in the room when Matthew left.

“We got off to a poor start,” Esther began.

“Did we?”

Gritting her teeth, she continued. “Yes. I think we did. I did not welcome you in the way you deserved to be greeted. I am not usually so rude. It is this damned situation.”

Samuel raised his eyebrows at her choice of language. “I cannot disagree with you in that regard.” He paused, seeming to reconsider what he was going to say. “We are all forced into this position by people who would be thrown out of society if not for their rank. I apologise for my own brutish behaviour, and although I cannot guarantee we shall become friends, I can promise that there will be no further ill manners on my part.”

Curiosity niggled at Esther’s insides at his comment. She had expected him to be completely supportive of the royal family, yet it seemed not. It was an opinion delivered roughly, as if it truly riled him. She had considered him a shallow dandy. Perhaps she had been mistaken. “Good. Then we shall rub along together to protect Isabella. I am glad we can secure the grounds to some extent. I have not explained why, but I have set the groundsmen, stable hands and gardeners on the alert.”

“A wise precaution. The grounds seem extensive. This is an exceptionally large establishment for a school,” Samuel could not help saying.

Esther smiled. “Yes. A fortunate inheritance from a very lovely man.”

“You were not a teacher previously?”

“No! But I did not wish to waste my money on fripperies, as so many do, when there are children who need a stable home and a good education,” Esther explained.

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