The next few days passed with little to concern Amos. He had met once with Esther to tell her exactly what he expected. After that, he saw neither sight nor sound of his housekeeper. She had obviously spoken to the other servants, as his favorite meals were prepared and his home was in perfect order, as it had been when his mother lived at the estate.

According to his valet, Mrs. Edwards was quite the house manager. Quiet, but efficient, the staff had immediately taken to her, and the house ran efficiently. He felt relieved. Perhaps Mrs. Edwards would be the answer to his prayers after all.

Esther, on the other hand, had struggled with tiredness and her quiet demeanor. It had been a challenge to get all of the maids to respect her given her youth, but after the threat of dismissal, they all came around. She worked hard from before dawn until the late evening, sometimes even into the early hours of the morning. It was hard work, but not once did she regret her decision. She hoped she would grow hardier as she worked and that the weariness she felt would not always be so all-consuming.

“Duke!”

“Heber? Come in!” Amos grinned at his friend entering his study. “A little early in the day for you, isn’t it?”

Bernard scowled, “At my mother’s insistence, I have become reformed. Rising before noon, even!” He let out a long, painful sigh. “Apparently, I am to find a wife.”

“Ah, back to her old schemes, is she?”

“It is the time of year,” Bernard acknowledged. “Mother always wishes for me to find a bride come the start of every summer. Although, she has begun a little late this year.”

Amos chuckled, seeing the morose face of his friend. “Surely, Heber, it cannot be that bad. There must be some lady who catches your eye.”

“They are all too young for a bachelor of my age,” he sighed. “I am well over thirty, and the youngest ladies are but seventeen. Just out of the schoolroom, by my estimation. That has not dissuaded my mother, of course.”

Amos replied, "Come now, many marriages with significant age differences take place. Consider your own parents."

“I have,” Bernard replied quickly. “That is precisely why I will not do it. My father died an old man, leaving my mother alone and in perfect health. I should not like to do that to my own bride.”

“How romantic,” Amos quipped drolly. “I know. I shall host a dinner party here on Friday. I will invite a number of eligible ladies—not all newly out, I assure you—and you can see if anyone sparkles enough to capture your interest.”

“Very well,” Bernard replied, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. “It may put mother off haranguing me for a while.”

“I shall invite her as well,” Amos replied. “I will have to speak to the housekeeper to ensure she has adequate time to prepare." He pulled the bell.

“Have you heard the latest?” Bernard asked, changing the subject entirely. “It appears that Lord Bertram’s daughter has gone missing.”

“Missing?” Amos echoed, searching through his desk for a piece of paper with which he could begin to scribble a guest list. “When?”

“Only recently, it appears,” Bernard continued, nonchalantly. “There is no suggestion that she has run off with someone for, by all accounts, she was to marry Lord Thompson.”

Amos’s mouth fell open. “Lord Thompson? The man is practically as old as her father, surely? I have never met the lady, but I do know her father.”

Bernard shrugged. “I don’t believe it was a love match by any means.”

“It does not sound like it!” Amos interjected, wondering how a man could do such a thing to his daughter. “That man is vile; it is no wonder she has run away.”

"You believe she has run away from home then?"

A knock on the door interrupted Bernard, and Amos called to allow the housekeeper entry before turning his attention back to Bernard.

“Of course! Any woman would run away from such a prospect. Lord Thompson, indeed!”

A sudden gasp interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see his housekeeper's face drained of color.

“Mrs. Edwards! Are you quite all right?”

Esther struggled to regain her composure, hiding her shaking hands in the folds of her skirts. “Quite, Your Grace. It was just the mention of Lord Thompson that quite startled me.”

“An old employer, I imagine,” Bernard said, not looking at the woman. “Quite a brute, by all respects.”

Not knowing what to say, Esther simply nodded.

“This is Lord Heber, Mrs. Edwards,” Amos interrupted. “You shall see him often, but he needs no special treatment. He has practically taken up residence here.” He winked, and Esther struggled not to blush.

“Regardless, Duke,” Bernard continued, ignoring Amos’s well-placed jibe, “The lady is missing, and her father is apparently desperate for her return.”

“I can only imagine why,” Amos said, dryly. “A daughter running from an arranged marriage must be a stain on any gentleman’s reputation. Not under her father’s thumb, I assume?”

“Certainly not, by all appearances,” Bernard replied. “Although if what you say about Lord Thompson is true, I can only applaud her for escaping such a dreaded prospect.”

There was silence for a moment, with Amos struggling to remember why he had summoned the housekeeper. Her appearance was plain, as was required of a housekeeper, but her green eyes captured his interest once again. Despite himself, Amos found himself musing on how long her blonde hair would be.

“You are quite young to be a housekeeper,” Bernard said loudly, deliberately breaking the silence.

"Yes, my Lord," Esther replied, remembering not to look him directly in the face. "My talents at organizing and running the household became apparent at a young age."

“Well spoken, too,” Bernard murmured, sweeping his gaze down her slim figure and away from her face. Amos found himself irritated by Bernard’s perusal, clearing his throat to regain control of the situation as well as recapture his friend’s attention.

“Mrs. Edwards, may I first commend you on how well you have stepped into the role. My house is back in order again, and I feel quite at peace.” He smiled at her, noting with interest the slight pink tinge to her cheeks. “The maids have kept away from me also, which I am sure is your doing. You have done an outstanding job thus far.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Esther murmured, keeping her eyes lowered deferentially.

“Now, pay close attention, Mrs. Edwards. I wish to have a dinner party next Friday evening.” He continued, “I shall be sending out invitations today. I expect to have ten guests, plus myself and Bernard.

“And my mother,” Bernard interrupted.

“And Lady Heber,” Amos grinned. “So, that should be thirteen.”

Bernard let out a mock gasp of horror. “You cannot have thirteen, Amos! It is unlucky to have that number of guests!”

Amos raised his eyebrows, saying nothing.

"You must tell him, Mrs. Edwards," Bernard implored, raising his eyes heavenwards. "Tell him he cannot have such a terribly unlucky number of guests! I have heard that there has been a tragedy at every single dinner party that hosted such a number!"

Despite her stomach churning over the mention of Lord Thompson and of her father, Esther tried to hide her smile, keeping her tone serious as she agreed with Bernard.

“Lord Heber is quite right, Your Grace,” she said, quietly. “You must, of course, have fourteen guests or reduce your number to twelve.”

“Very well,” Amos huffed, rolling his eyes. “I am sure I can think of another guest.”

"I know," Bernard replied eagerly, sitting upright in his chair. "You must invite Lord Bertram! He is the most spoken about man within society at the moment, and it would certainly liven up your dinner."

“We shall find out the truth about this missing daughter of his,” Amos mused, liking the idea. “A perfect idea, Heber. Well done! We shall invite Lord Bertram.”

Neither of them noticed the housekeeper’s pallor, Amos only nodding his permission to her whispered request to leave his presence. Nor did they notice the way her trembling hands struggled to open the door. Tears began to make their way down her face.