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“Do with it? I had assumed you’d be living in it.” She let out a nervous laugh.

“I will be, but it’s going to need a lot of work to get up to my standards.”

“I see. Well, if there’s anything I can do-”

“I’m sure the people I’ve hired will manage. Don’t worry. I doubt I’ll need much from either of you.”

“I see,” she hesitated. “May I ask if you intend to have us remain in the house or if you’ll be putting us up somewhere else?”

He frowned. “Yes, the will did specify that I am to ensure you are both looked after until Amber marries.”

Her smile relaxed a touch.

“I don’t see the point in putting you up someplace else, so if that was a concern for you, rest assured I have no intention of having you go anywhere.”

“Well, now that that’s settled,” Amber cut in, “I think I will retire to my embroidery.” She turned to leave the room.

“Yes,” Grace agreed. “This has all been rather hard on her, the poor girl. We even had to push back her coming out, given the circumstances.”

Amber clenched her hands into fists. She could understand why her mother wanted to keep the peace, but she wanted nothing more than to scream.

“I can understand that,” he said, voice filled with mock sympathy. “There’s no reason to push her to come out before she’s ready, and Amber deserves plenty of time to mourn. We can talk about that in a little while. Give time for things to settle first.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to rush her. It was very important to her father, and is still very important to me, that she finds a good match.”

“I can understand that. You don’t need to worry. I will look after her from here out.”

Amber squeezed her hands into fists, eyes locked on the floor. “May I return to the parlor now?”

“In a moment. Let me get a good look at you first.”

She forced herself to stand perfectly still as his eyes scanned over her, evaluating her. Finally, he stepped back with a sigh.

“Not bad,” he said.

“Excuse me!” Grace exclaimed.

“I only meant that she is bound to make a good match when the time comes, but there’s no need to rush that.”

“Right, of course.”

Amber cleared her throat, glancing towards the door.

He sighed. “Very well. You may go.” He turned away. “I’m going to go have a look around. I might see you all at dinner, or I might not. We’ll see.”

Then he walked off, leaving them alone.

Amber turned back to her mother. “He’s awful!”

“He certainly isn’t what I expected, but perhaps first impressions can be deceiving. Maybe if we just give him another chance, things will improve with time.”

“Perhaps,” Amber frowned. “But I am finding it rather hard to hold on to hope.”

“Then you had better start looking for a husband. As unfortunate as it is, you are at his mercy until you wed.”

Amber clenched her hands into fists and stomped off. She found herself back in the sitting room, picking back up her embroidery.

She was working on a fish. It was an uncommon motif to be sure, but that was a huge part of the appeal for Amber. She loved seeing what she could make. It was almost like painting, an art that despite her best efforts she never developed any talent for.