I have looked up all the Esmes I can think of-following my earlier post-and have come up with nothing convincing. Over to the superior intellects out there.
I should have said earlier that I am pretty certain about the intersecting clues and that the s and e are right. It is perplexing and does nothing for my phobia with short clues and- more pertinently- answers.
Also the e is part of a series of interlocking clues. If I go into all these I will give away half the crossword and spoil the fun of people coming later.