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“Or I could simply stay in my room. If anything, he should be the one coming to me, introducing himself to me, trying to make a good impression on me! Father only passed away a few days ago, and I just want to be alone.”

“I know, and in so many ways, I feel the same way. Sadly, however, it isn’t that simple. Can you please try? If not for your own sake, at least for mine.”

Amber’s large green eyes shot to look at her. “Mother,” she sighed. “Please, you know how I feel about this.”

“I do, and I understand where you’re coming from. You’ve been through so much. I only wish you could have been married before this happened.”

“Please, this isn’t fair.”

“Amber, I need you to listen to me on this one.”

Before Amber could reply, the sitting room door opened, and a footman stepped in. “The new Earl of Heathfield has arrived. He will be coming in shortly.”

“Thank you,” Grace got to her feet. “We will be right down to greet him. Won’t we, Amber?” She shot her daughter an imploring look.

She sighed, tossing her embroidery to the side. “Very well. If I must.”

“You must.”

She got to her feet and trailed after her mother.

As they walked, Amber tried to force herself to look on the bright side. She had been rather lonely, and her cousin was close in age to her. Maybe they could be friends.

“Do you know anything about him?” she asked.

“So now you want to know about him? Ever since I told you he was coming, you said you didn’t want to hear about him. Why the change in tune?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Amber crossed her arms.

Grace gave a half-hearted smile, sadness still tinging the edges. “To tell the truth, no, I don’t know much about him. Only that he’s around your age, and he’s new to London. He grew up in a small town out in the country and was originally training to be a lawyer before he got the letter letting him know what happened.”

“Did he send any reply?”

“Yes, but all it said was the day we could expect him to arrive. Then we got another one letting us know he was less than a day out.” She huffed out a breath. “I must say, I thought he’d be in by now. The footman said he’d be in any minute now.”

“Perhaps he got distracted taking in the view. If he’s never been to London, you can hardly blame him.”

“Still, you think he’d at least want to come inside and freshen up from his travels first.” She frowned, looking around the empty foyer. “I do hope he doesn’t find the place too old-fashioned.”

“If he has any taste, then I’m sure he’ll love it. You worry too much.”

Before they could say another word, the door swung open, and he stepped inside. Amber immediately couldn’t help but think her mother’s worries might be more founded than she wanted to admit. She had to resist the urge to grimace at the sight of him. He looked worse than anything she could have dreamed up.

He was a tall man with slicked back black hair and duplicitous green eyes glinting out from behind narrow, wire framed glasses. He wore an ill-fitting suit made of a fabric his previous means would have made unaffordable. Amber could feel herself shutting down before he’d even introduced himself.

After a few moments of him not saying anything, Grace stepped forward, a tight smile on her face. “Lord Heathfield,” she curtsied, motioning Amber to do the same.

She gritted her teeth and complied. She may not like the man, but she hardly wanted her mother to look bad in front of him.

“Dowager Lady Heathfield,” he offered only the barest minimum of a bow that decorum required. “And that must be your daughter, Lady Amber.”

“Indeed it is. It’s wonderful to meet you. I only wish it was under happier circumstances.”

“I’m sure you do,” he said, eyes still staring past them as he scanned over the house, occasionally muttering to himself.

“Is there something I can help you find?” she asked, her smile growing more strained.

“Oh no. It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. I’m just looking things over, trying to decide what I’m going to do with it.”