Page 22 of In Just a Year
“And my innocence?”
“You lose it.”
“Where?”
Hannah laughed. “It’s not about where but with whom and when. I lost mine with Arnold and I don’t regret it one bit. He was gentle, tender, and loving, and he has been the best husband and father I could ever imagine. Drink your tea now.” Hannah’s voice reverted to her motherly tone but Esther wasn’t having any of it. She needed her to be a big sister now, not a makeshift parent.
“Do you think Ben can do this for me?”
Hannah set her cup down and slumped her shoulders. Then she gave Esther a grave look. “I hope so, sweet Esti, for you are a gift in my life and should you honor his life with your love, he will hopefully understand the gravity of the situation.”
“I think he is a good boy. And from a good family.” Esther needed to defend him from her big sister’s warning tone.
A knock. Arnold entered. A stack of envelopes with neat red wax seals on them. “Am I interrupting?” He cast Hannah a questioning look and avoided Esther’s gaze.
Hannah held out her hand and he came to the settee, leaning over her back. “What have I missed?”
“Hannah didn’t tell me what happens after the insertion. I can’t picture it,” Esther said cheekily.
Arnold jerked his head back and cleared his throat more than necessary.
“Oh, it’s late. Aren’t you tired?” Hannah mock-yawned, and Arnold joined her immediately, rubbing his eyes as if incredibly exhausted.
“Sure has gotten late. Well then, good night, Esther.” He offered his arm to escort her to the door.
“It’s five o’clock in the afternoon,” Esther protested.
“Long day, very late indeed,” Arnold said as he opened the door.
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” Esther ventured as she rose and cast Hannah one last look. Then she turned to Arnold and waited.
Arnold grinned. “No way. I’m sure Ben can manage that on his own.”
Hannah slapped his arm jokingly, her eyes ablaze with a fire that Esther had never seen before. “Have you been listening?”
“No, Caleb told me downstairs. Apparently, there was quite a declaration of love when Ben left and Esther ran—”
“Stop! Please!” Esther’s cheeks burned. When Ben left, she’d needed to claim a last kiss, but she hadn’t thought it through and ended up doing it in front of his family. He’d left, and she was left explaining something to everyone she couldn’t quite understand.
“It was quite the French kiss on the sidewalk, Hannah. Caleb said—”
“Arnold Ehrlich, watch your tongue!” Hannah feigned shock, but a smile was building that she could hardly hide from her not-so-little sister.
“I’d ratheryouwatch it—” he said jokingly, and Hannah squealed as he shut the door, leaving Esther alone in the hallway contemplating what she had just learned.
So kissing happened, and then much more.
Interesting.
Esther trailed her hand along the railing, absorbed in thought. Just a few steps from here, in this very corridor, she came after Ben and asked him about the peck on her … Esther’s lips swelled and burned. Thinking of the kiss, the one that led to another, and even though it had felt better than she could have ever imagined, it left her wanting more.
CHAPTER11
Madras, August 8, 1817.
Dearest Esther,
We arrived safely at the old palace. I don’t know in which order my letters shall reach you for I sent one from each port. The trip from Suez to Bengal took 40 days. Prior to that, we spent a further 8 days via Venice to Alexandria, a total of seven weeks.
