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Rose allowed it. Ordinarily, the girl would have pulled away, lusting for her freedom, but today she seemed happy to walk side by side with Amanda. Perhaps it was the fact that she was in an entirely new place. Many things had changed, and very quickly. Amanda herself felt timid and uncertain in this house, so it was easy to understand how Rose might feel the same way.

“I’ll show you to your room first,” she said as they crossed the threshold and entered the foyer.

Rose stopped and looked around. “This is overlarge,” she said skeptically. “Why does the Duke of Mortridge need such a large entryway? Does he bring his horses into the house?”

“No, silly,” Amanda said. “Though I suppose he probably could, couldn’t he? With a space as big as this?”

“If this was my house, I would just keep my horses right here all the time,” Rose declared. “There would be no need for a stable.”

“I imagine the house would begin to smell rather badly after a while,” Amanda grinned.

“It would smell like horses. I like that smell.”

They ascended the stairs. “Is the duke here?” Rose asked as they started down the hall.

“He isn’t. He went out this morning. You’ll meet him a bit later.”

“I don’t mind not meeting him,” Rose said. “He’s scary.”

“He isn’t so bad,” Amanda said. “A bit stern. And I know you worry about the scar on his face…but really, he’s all right. You’ll have to meet him eventually, you know.”

Rose scowled and said nothing.

They reached her bedroom. Amanda opened the door and stood back to let Rose in first. The little girl walked in and turned a slow circle, taking it all in.

Amanda tried to see it through her eyes, as if for the first time. The big window that let in so much light. The bed with a canopy—that would capture the imagination of a child. The small shelf with a few books on it. It occurred to her right then that Sampson must have selected the books himself, and her heart warmed slightly at the thought of such consideration. He really was a decent man.

Rose went to the window and climbed up on the window seat, peering out at the grounds. “This is all mine?”

“All yours.”

“It’s much bigger than the room I had back at home.”

Amanda nodded slowly, wondering how long it would take for Rose to begin thinking of this place as home. It wasn’t something she wanted to force. She herself was having trouble with the idea. At the same time, though, Rose’s life would be easier when she learned to settle into this new place and treat it as her own. It wouldn’t be good for her to constantly yearn for the house they’d once lived in. Those days were behind them.

She’ll move on quickly enough. It’s not as though we were so happy in Father’s house! He made us miserable.

“Will you continue to give me lessons?” Rose asked, turning back to Amanda.

“You’re to have a governess,” Amanda said. “You and I will go on reading together, though.” Her time reading with Rose meant a great deal to her, and she was loath to give it up. “For the rest of your lessons, you’ll be taught by the governess. Mrs. Linden is her name.”

Rose’s eyebrows shot up, her eyes wide. “You’ve already hired her? Without even asking me? I don’t want a governess.”

“It was the duke who made the hire,” Amanda explained. “Mrs. Linden was here when I arrived.”

Rose shot to her feet. “He thinks I need to be governed! He doesn’t even know me!”

“Rose, calm down,” Amanda said firmly. “Sit back down, please.”

Rose remained on her feet. She folded her arms and glared. But she was waiting for an explanation, and that meant she was listening, so Amanda decided to cede the point.

“His Grace was not trying to offend you,” she said. “He was trying to do the two of us a kindness. It’s a very normal thing for a child in a noble household to have a governess. I had one when I was your age. He thought it would be of help.”

“I don’t want a governess.”

“You’re going to have to try to get along with her,” Amanda said firmly. “The woman believes herself employed, and she’s done nothing wrong. You wouldn’t want to dismiss her from her employment, would you?”

Rose hesitated. “I suppose not,” she conceded reluctantly.