Captain Jones's Temptation - Audrey Harrison Page 0,2

leading out of the town,” Samuel pointed out unnecessarily as the two gentlemen rode side by side. They had travelled into the town by the north side of Sidmouth and after riding the length of the small seaside town were now heading out of the south side of it.

“Apparently it’s a little way on the outskirts,” Matthew explained. “Fortunate for us if it can be easily patrolled.”

“You do realise the nearest civilisation is Bath, don’t you? If that is the best on offer it’s going to be a tedious time,” Samuel said with a sigh.

Matthew shrugged. “As we shan’t be accepting any invitations that will take us away from the child, it doesn’t matter where we are.”

“Wonderful. We’re rusticating with a school full of girls, with no light relief.”

“Think of it as a forced period of quiet. I’m sure we’ll both benefit from the scheme.”

“If there is quiet, I might be inclined to think. That is a prospect that makes me shudder,” Samuel said.

Matthew shot his friend a sympathetic glance. They had both seen sights that were impossible to forget, and although outwardly they sounded the same as they had before they had experienced the reality of war, each still suffered from their experiences on the battlefields they had fought on.

“Perhaps it will help ease our minds,” he offered.

“I doubt that, but it seems we have little choice in the matter,” Samuel responded.

“No. Especially as I am visiting my elder sister, to recuperate from my trials and tribulations. Our histories are sure to be questioned and spoken about.”

Samuel brought his horse to a sudden stop. “Now this is a surprise.”

They had come to a stop at the gatehouse of a large manor house. The house could be seen at a distance, through a copse of trees separated by a drive. They knew they were at the correct place as the name, Corless House, was engraved in the stone of the gateposts.

“It’s a large building for a school for young ladies,” Samuel pointed out as the gatekeeper came out to greet them.

“Ah, you must be Miss Esther’s brother,” the gatekeeper said, addressing Matthew. It was a reasonable assumption for the man to have made, since Matthew’s wound was very much visible to all who saw him. He had a large scar across his left cheek, the result of the slash of a bayonet. It was an ugly scar and had altered the otherwise angelic features of a handsome man. He had been lucky to survive the attack, which fortunately for him had been more like a glancing blow than a well-aimed lunge. He would never have survived that type of hit.

Their friend Miles Longdon had named Dunn and Jones his guardian angels, as they were both equally blonde haired and blue eyed, against his own darker colouring. Their looks had gained them welcome wherever they ventured, but now, Matthew was very often greeted by a shocked expression at his new facial feature. It was a stark and constant reminder of his past.

“I am indeed,” Matthew replied easily. “This is my good friend and fellow officer Captain Jones.”

“You’re very welcome here, the both of you,” the gatekeeper said, opening the gates for the two gentlemen. “It’s good that Miss Esther has found some of her family. The old gentleman would be pleased as Punch she was no longer on her own in the world. That she was the last of her family was his biggest worry, God rest his soul.”

Samuel and Matthew exchanged a look but didn’t respond to the comment. Thanking the gatekeeper for his service, they urged their horses down the path leading to the house.

“It seems our hostess has a story attached to her,” Samuel said.

“She must be respectable, or the child wouldn’t have been sent here in the first place,” Matthew answered.

“I admit, I was expecting a more modest establishment. This building seems out of the ordinary.”

“Yes, I agree. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a large house being used as a school. This is very unusual.”

It was true. Most schools were of a reasonable but modest size as the owners were making a comfortable but small living from their enterprise. This house, however, would be fitting for any baronet or earl. It was of Bath stone, golden in colour. A large portico flanked the magnificent wooden door. Five windows on either side of the grand entrance suggested that a generous number of rooms filled the ground and next two floors, with a range of servants’ quarters