The bird songs were frequent and pleasant that morning. The air was clear, warm, and fragrant with the recent rose blossoms that filled the grounds. And Lord Robert Stone was meandering slowly down the long, winding drive up, hoping to reach the new home of his eldest brother before luncheon. Otherwise, he knew, his brother’s new wife, Agnes, might never forgive him.

Robert loved the fresh air and chose to walk, rather than take a carriage. He whistled as he strolled, twirling the small package he had in his hands as a gift. He had seen his brother only briefly after they returned from their honeymoon and had not yet had a chance to ask them how they enjoyed their month-long tour of the countryside. Many couples spent time in London, Bath, or perhaps at the summer home of their families. But not his brother and his wife; no, they decided that moving from village to village, visiting various friends and family members was what they wanted to do. Robert thought their honeymoon choice sounded exhausting. He hoped that when he was married one day, he and his wife would go somewhere quiet, where they could spend time alone, getting to know one another.

He ran his hands through his thick auburn hair that never seemed to stay where he put it. The marriage of his brother caused every member of his family to think about their own future marriages, including his three younger sisters. His sisters would have no issues securing suitable matches, as they were the daughters of the Duke of Edgefield, one of the richest dukes in England.

Being a son, but not the heir, had been a point of contention between Robert and his brother, John, for as long as he could remember. It was not as if he despised his brother’s birth order. Robert wasn’t even jealous of the wealth his brother would inherit. No, it was that as a middle child, and a man, not a woman, his position in his family was very much glanced over.

There would be no grand land he would inherit, and most women would look over him for other men for their status. He knew his family was very well respected, and that alone could secure him a decent match. However, he hated the politics of marriage. He was a simple man with simple wants; how was it so hard for everyone to see that?

Robert’s maternal grandfather had been the one person that cared deeply about Robert’s future. The two had always been close. His grandfather suggested that a respectable thing for Robert to do was to join the church.

Robert scoffed at the idea. The son of a duke? A vicar? It seemed preposterous. He had higher hopes for himself. He wished to see the world, travel, and perhaps spend time in London studying literature and science. He would have much rather become a professor at Oxford, rather than a shepherd of a flock.

It certainly was never that he had a lack of faith; in fact, he was perhaps the most devoted to his beliefs and his love of the Lord of his whole family. So much so that he was quite dogmatic about what was right and what was wrong. It often got him in trouble as a child.

Over time, he began to wonder if joining the church was not such a bad idea. He would have a meager living compared to his current lifestyle, but his connections with his family would certainly help. He could provide for a family and still remain close to where he grew up, near his family, and hopefully, near his future wife’s family as well.

The large manor across the hills came into view, and Robert smiled, as he was looking forward to spending time with John and Agnes. He was pleased that they were home again. The home that his brother and his wife moved into was not as grand as the estate that his father and mother owned, where he currently resided, but it was larger than some homes that he had attended balls in, and he knew his brother would be proud of it. There was a large lake out back and a large apple tree in the side yard that Agnes—his brother’s new wife—was looking forward to making use of in the fall. All in all, he was happy for his brother. It was where he was meant to be for his entire life.

It only took him another half an hour to reach the manor. Robert was eagerly greeted by his brother’s butler, Mr. Garrison, who came highly recommended by a friend. John was pleased with the butler’s kind demeanor, and Robert immediately liked him when he noticed his genuine smile.

“Brother!” He heard from the front of the foyer. He looked up to see John standing inside the hall, wearing a casual weekend outfit. A tall man with sandy blonde hair and a thin frame, he was handsome and had been sought after by quite a few women, but he and his wife had an arranged marriage, and Robert was now glad for it. He had not been so at one point.

Robert all of the sudden felt very overdressed, yet he crossed the distance to his brother and embraced him.

“It is good to see you,” Robert said, clapping his brother on the shoulder when they separated. “And you look well.”

John smiled and nodded. “I am well. It has been the most wondrous few days, getting settled into my own home. I must tell you, brother, it has been very strange to not hear you or our dear sisters chattering away at all hours of the day. I have actually had a chance to do some reading in peace.”

Robert smirked. “Well, I am glad to hear it. Where is your lovely new bride?”

“Upstairs. Can I give you the full tour?”

Robert rolled his eyes. “It is not as if I have not been in this house before.”

John grinned. “Yes, but you have not been here when it has been mine. Come, luncheon is not ready yet, and then we shall enjoy some tea out in the gardens. Agnes dearly wished to spend the afternoon with her horse; she has not had the chance to do so since we have returned.”

Robert sighed. “All right. Let us have the tour.”

Robert patiently allowed his brother to describe the home in detail in each room, and he spent special time in the library. Most of his favorite books had been moved from their father’s library into this one, and he was most pleased with how he had decided to arrange them.

“Ever the perfectionist,” Robert said.

John sighed. “What, do you not appreciate it?”

“It’s not that,” Robert replied, laughing. “I just know you. That’s all.”

“There you are!”

Robert and John turned to see Agnes step into the room. She was closely followed by a woman, likely her new lady’s maid, with the brightest shade of red hair that Robert had ever seen. It reminded him immediately of fire; bright and powerful, and yet, it belonged to a very gentle-faced woman with pale grey eyes that were wide and curious.

Her gaze met his, and he felt as if his tongue caught in his throat. She was absolutely stunning, and Robert was entirely sure that he had never seen another woman like her. She had high cheekbones, a pointed chin, and pale pink lips. She was very fair, and she was not very tall.

“It’s so wonderful to see you, brother!”

He felt arms around him and quickly realized that he had not been paying attention to a single thing that had been happening outside of the red-haired woman. Agnes embraced him, and Robert returned her embrace.

“Agnes,” he said cheerfully, greeting his sister-in-law. “Or should I say Lady Bridgewater?”

Laughing, Agnes replied, “Oh, Robert! Isn’t my new title grand? I love the way it sounds.”

Robert looked over to John, who was thrilled with his wife’s happiness.

Robert continued his conversation with Agnes. “It is good to see you in such good spirits. I trust you are settling in well?”

Agnes nodded, moving to stand beside her husband.

Still, the young woman with the red hair stood patiently beside the door, her gaze moving quickly between him and Lady Bridgewater.

“Everything has been marvelous since we began our life together here. I have my own space, my own stables, and my own dining room. The home has begun to look as if it belongs to us and not just an empty shell any longer.”

“That’s wonderful,” Robert replied.

“I am especially pleased that my maid from home has followed me and has been promoted to my lady’s maid.” Agnes gestured to the red-haired woman, who bowed deeply to them. “This is Miss Alice Thompson, and I have known her for many years now. I consider her to be like family.”

Alice smiled at those words, and Robert could see the warmth between the two women. It drew a smile to his own face.

“Darling, was there something you needed?” John asked, putting an arm around her.

“Oh, of course,” Agnes said, and she appeared suddenly like a bird with her feathers ruffled. “Gentlemen, it is time for luncheon.”

And without another word, she turned and made her way from the room.

Alice spared the men a glance, being careful not to make eye contact, curtsied to them, and followed.

The men joined Agnes as she began her descent to the dining room, and Robert conveniently found himself walking beside Alice in the long, narrow hall.

Agnes and John paid Robert no mind, for Agnes had already started upon another subject, and John was patiently listening to her.

Robert could see that Alice was very well respected by Agnes; why else would she have insisted on her moving to her new home? He tried to discern something from her face, but her eyes were fixed on the floor, just behind Agnes.

“So, Thompson,” Robert said to Alice as he clasped his hands behind his back casually, hoping he could make her feel more relaxed. “How do you like it here at Bridgewater?”

The poor girl nearly stumbled, apparently not expecting to be addressed in any shape or form.

Her wide eyes finally met his, and he smiled reassuringly. She quickly gazed bac down, obviously trying to be respectful. She’s such a young, pretty thing, he couldn’t help noticing.

Her cheeks flushed the same color as her hair, and yet, she composed herself as if she had the grace of ten women.

“I find it most pleasant, my lord, thank you for asking.”

Surprised a little himself at his body’s reaction to her voice, Robert tried not to trip down the stairs as they began their second flight down. Her voice was confident for someone who had seemed as timid as a mouse a moment before. It was as if suddenly she had poise, charm, and astounding presence. He was pleased that Agnes knew her as well as she did, for this sort of thing would be sure to make any other woman uneasy.

He cleared his throat.

What on earth happened? Why am I so nervous speaking to a servant?

“I am pleased to hear it,” he replied, recovering his own poise. “Are you settling in well enough? Are you finding everything suitable?”

Alice smiled a very kind smile, and she tossed some of her long hair over her shoulder as they rounded the corner into the parlor.

“I am indeed, sir. My quarters are perfectly charming and far more spacious than anything I have had before. Her Ladyship is most pleased with her new home, and that surely makes it easier for me to help her.”

For a moment, he could have sworn that he had forgotten he was not speaking to someone of noble blood. He was reminded of her station when she bowed as Robert, John, and Agnes made their way into the dining hall.

He did not see Alice again until that evening when Agnes requested to see her in the drawing room after dinner. Robert soon deduced that his sister-in-law liked having Alice around, perhaps as a sort of comfort. For as much as she spoke of Bridgewater being her new home, she often dwelled on stories of her youth, many of which included Alice.

“It must be that she is simply homesick, brother,” Robert said when John mentioned the very same thing. “It is quite obvious she is smitten with the place here, and there would be nothing anyone could do to make her give it up.”

John pursed his lips, and sighed. “Perhaps you are right.”

Robert gently squeezed his brother’s arm. “I am right. There is never any one place that we are entirely happy in our lives, brother. That is why our hearts long for heaven.”

John smiled slowly. “You do always seem to have the answer for everything, don’t you?”

Robert grinned in reply. “I do. It’s one of my few talents.”

The men both took sips of the tea in their cups.

“So, Agnes’s family has employed Thompson for a long time it seems,” Robert said, taking the excuse to watch Alice. The two women sat beside one another on the settee beside the fire, laughing like old friends. It was a very informal thing to do, but it was in her home; who was he to question it?

John nodded in agreement. “They have known each other since they were both young, perhaps five? Six? Thompson was the daughter of a maid and quickly became a playmate for Agnes. When Thompson was old enough, she began working for the family. Agnes was quite pleased when she agreed to move with her to Bridgewater.”

John sighed, but his features softened. “It does my heart good to see her so comfortable here, Robert. After all that we have gone through, I simply wish for her to know just how much I cherish her. Anything that I can do to ensure her happiness makes my job worthwhile. And having a friend here is good for her, good for her heart. There are few things she has here that are hers. Providing a link to that what is familiar is the least I can do.”

Robert watched the women, and his heart warmed when he saw Alice smile.

“She’s a charming girl,” he said softly.

His brother’s gaze shifted to him, and he felt him study his face. Robert returned the gaze just as innocently.

“She is indeed,” John replied rather hesitantly.

Nervously, Robert continued, but in as calm of a tone as he dared. “We have had experiences with less than charming servants, and it is far more pleasant to live with the sort who appear to enjoy their work.”

Robert turned and looked into his brother’s face, daring him to challenge his words.

“You are correct, of course,” John answered, and his tone was one without threat or danger.

Robert relaxed.

How silly I am, doting over a pretty maid like a school boy.

Robert retired to his own guest suite early that evening, hoping to rise with the sun in order to accompany his brother out fishing in their well-stocked lake behind the manor. They had spent many long weekends there as children, and he looked forward to returning to it.

Try as he might, he could not put Alice’s face from his mind. Her hair was too vibrant, too easily remembered, and her eyes too piercing. And in the smallest part of himself, he found that he did not want to stop thinking of her beauty, simply because society deemed it wrong. For what was wrong with a man admiring the beauty that God had given her? He had no intention of acting on his attraction to her.

Robert settled into a restless sleep that night and dreamed that his brother, John, accused him of stealing one of his wife’s most precious books, one that could never be replaced. He had insisted over and over again that he had left it right where it belonged, because it did not belong to him. It was just such a beautiful book. So then why was he running through a labyrinth of hallways like a guilty man?

He woke with the sweat of his dreams still on his brow, and the sunlight was already streaming through the trees outside the windows.

The sharp wrap of knuckles on the door roused him from his drowsy state.

“Brother, are you going to sleep the whole morning away and allow me to catch all the fish myself?”

“Not at all,” Robert called back. “My apologies. I shall be right there.”

Robert met his own gaze at the mirror above the wash basin and found that he was not surprised to see the frightened look still upon his face.

It was just a dream. It was only a dream.