Esther spent the next two days in a dream, her mind foggy from everything that had happened. She managed her responsibilities well enough, but found her thoughts constantly turning to the Duke pushing the idea of marrying her firmly to one side. How humiliating it had been. Remembering that he was most likely a rake with a stellar reputation amongst both the ladies of the ton and the household staff, she told herself that he would not have made a good husband—but her heart refused to listen.

It was Sunday, and most of the servants had the afternoon off. Esther was enjoying sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea. Bernard was a true gentleman, and she knew they would, most likely, get along quite well. But what of the Duke? Shaking her head, she realized how ridiculous she was, hankering after the man. He already made his position quite clear.

A sudden cough caught her attention. The butler informed Esther that the master wished to speak to her and was waiting in the study. Taking a deep breath, she drank the last of her tea before making her way up the stairs, wondering what the Duke wanted.

Taking a breath and shaking her hands out in an attempt to get rid of her nervousness, Esther knocked on the door and walked in, not lifting her eyes.

Amos let out a frustrated sound. “Lady Esther, you need not act so deferentially now, considering I know your true status. Please, sit.”

She did so, sitting carefully on the chair opposite him and folding her hands in her lap. Even though he’d requested it, she could not help but keep her eyes on the ground, still feeling a keen sense of embarrassment.

“Lady Esther,” Amos began, feeling a little flustered. “I wished to speak to you about our situation.”

“Yes, Your Grace?” she replied, not lifting her eyes for a moment.

Amos clenched his jaw, trying to think of a way to express what he had wanted to tell her all day. “Yesterday, Lord Heber proposed marriage to you.”

“He did,” Esther said, wondering where this was going. “It was very kind of him.”

“Are you going to accept him?” Amos asked, his voice quiet.

Esther shook her head. "I have not yet decided, Your Grace. Why? Are there some concerns you wish to share with me?"

“He is a dear friend to me,” Amos began, still not sure how to express his feelings. “I should not wish him to be hurt in any way.”

Esther sat quietly, but her face began to burn with both anger and shame. Did he really think she was deliberately going to hurt Bernard in some way by accepting his hand?

“We have been friends for a long time,” he continued. “Bernard is a good, kind man and someone on whom I depend on.” And that is why I am struggling to tell you that I want you to marry me and not him, he wanted to say.

Esther got to her feet, her eyes flashing as she looked at him for the first time. “I would not upset or hurt Lord Heber for the world,” she cried. “You forget that his mother is my godmother, and I, too, have known him since I was a child. Although we do not know each other well, he is a most generous man, and it is only because of his kind nature that I have taken some time to consider his proposal.”

Amos got to his feet, startled by her sudden ire. “Lady Esther, that is not what I meant—”

“After my mother died, I was left completely without help,” she continued. “It is only because of my godmother that I have managed to find any kind of sanctuary away from my father and Lord Thompson. Do you think I wished this for myself? Wished it for Lord Heber? I did not, I assure you! I want Lord Heber to have his own choice of bride, not to feel compelled into matrimony with a woman he barely knows.” Her chest heaved as she spoke, tendrils of blonde hair coming loose as she gesticulated wildly. “I had hoped that going into hiding would have been enough of a stain on my reputation for Lord Thompson to reject me completely, but according to my godmother, it appears I am still in a dire situation.” She paused for a few moments, her green eyes filling with sudden tears. “But you are right, Your Grace. I do not wish to injure Bernard in any way. It is not fair. I shall refuse his proposal, so that he will have a chance at happiness.”

Esther’s voice grew quiet and her face fell, her whole body relaxing into a depression. Her gaze moved from his face back to the floor as she felt the enormity of her decision crashing down on her.

“Then what will you do?” Amos asked, softly, moving a little closer to her.

She raised her eyes, water-filled emerald pools, to his own. “I shall marry Lord Thompson,” she whispered. “I can see no other way out.”

His mind going wild at the thought, Amos strode to her, catching her up in his arms and pinning her against the wall. His breath came hard and fast as he watched astonishment climb into her eyes, her mouth opening slightly at the suddenness of his actions. Without even thinking, he dropped his mouth onto her own, kissing her with such a ferocity that she was momentarily stunned, unmoving under his caress. Slowly her resistance began to thaw, and she allowed her arms to twine around his neck, softening her lips as he continued to kiss her.

Amos’s senses were swimming as he pushed his body closer to Esther’s, finding no objection as he pulled the pins from her hair and dug his hands into the fallen tresses. It glided over his hands as he ran his hands through it, down her shoulders and arms. Grasping her hands in his, he angled his head and intensified his kiss.

A sudden knock at the door threw them apart. Gasping for breath, Esther stared at him with terrified eyes, putting a hand to her unpinned hair.

“Duke, I...” Bernard walked in, closely followed by his mother.

The atmosphere grew tense as they each stared at one another.

Bernard spoke first. “I see,” he said, quietly, moving to a chair. “So this is how it is to be? May I congratulate you, Duke.”

Esther took great gulps of air, hastily pinning up her hair as her cheeks flamed red. Whatever had come over her?

“My dear,” Agnes said, coming over to her clearly distraught goddaughter. “Are you all right?” There was not a hint of disapproval in her voice, but Esther stood, humiliated nonetheless. Agnes patted her hand and walked with her to a small couch.

“Heber, I am sorry,” Amos said, walking to the chair opposite and flinging himself into it. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.” He stapled his fingers and looked honestly at his friend, quite prepared to take anything that Bernard threw at him.

Bernard took a long breath, looking first at Esther, and then back to Amos. “It is quite all right,” he said, heavily. “Whilst I admit I had been hoping that she would become my bride, I know you would not have done this had your heart not been engaged.”

Esther hardly listened, the blood roaring in her ears as she felt her cheeks still hot. She was barely able to look at either man.

Amos swallowed a sudden lump in his throat, hating how humiliated she was. "I must apologize, Lady Esther," he began, using her given name without permission. "I didn't mean for that to happen. I wanted to show both you, and Lord Heber, the respect you deserve, but my heart would not let me."

Esther's head shot up. "I beg your pardon?" she exclaimed. "Your heart?" She let out a mirthless laugh, feeling panic and mortification pulling her under with every moment she spent in his presence. "I know your reputation well, Your Grace. Telling me to make sure the servants do not seek you out for a dalliance? And your previous two housekeepers gone, for similar reasons, I am sure! I am another conquest, no? And I gave in to you so easily."

Amos did not know how to respond, his reputation one of his own making. He had once thought it a good thing, and now it was the biggest stumbling block in his path. Bernard, wishing to ease her discomfiture and the situation, got to his feet and came to sit beside her. Lady Heber, wishing to leave them both alone for a time, got to her feet and moved to talk to Amos, trying to hold back a smile at his embarrassment.

“Lady Esther,” Bernard began, taking Esther’s hand, “I would have married you tomorrow, should you have wished it, but my heart would not have been yours. I know that I said that it did not matter to me, and perhaps it still doesn’t, but wouldn’t you prefer to marry a man who has already starting falling in love with you?”

“It is all a farce,” Esther whispered, refusing to believe it. “I know of his reputation, and I cannot allow myself to be another notch on his bedpost.”

Bernard smiled, patting her hand. "Do not believe everything you have heard about this man," he said softly. "He has encouraged his reputation undoubtedly and, at times, flirted with his staff in a way that ultimately led to their dismissal, but he is not the rake you imagine him to be."

She studied his face for a long time, trying to spot any tell-tale signs of a lie, but she found none. “Truly?” she whispered. “You are not just saying that to make me feel better, Lord Heber?”

He kissed her cheek. "No, not in the least," he said, smiling. "I am not in the slightest bit upset over our proposed engagement being so swiftly at an end. Not when I know you will be vastly happier with him than you could ever be with me.”

Esther got to her feet, thanking Bernard before turning to Lady Heber and Amos. “I am just going to wash my face,” she said, a little tremulously. “When I return, perhaps we can have a conversation, Your Grace.”

Amos got to his feet, moving forward to take her hand. “Please, call me Amos. I will be waiting for your return.”

Gently removing her hand, Esther gave him a wobbly smile before exiting the room.