by Ruby Hill
“Your father is insisting you marry Lord Thompson?” Agnes asked, quietly.
Esther groaned. “Godmother, he is almost in his dotage! He is corpulent and, from what I have heard, he has quite a temper.” Her face went a shade whiter. “I cannot contemplate life with him. I simply cannot!”
“But your father says that you must,” Agnes stated.
Esther nodded, feeling sick at the thought. “He demanded I do so. I asked him to give me time to find my own suitor, but he has refused. He deems himself the best judge of character, apparently.” She put her head in her hands, wishing she could think of a way out. “If I cannot leave my father, he will force me to go through with this marriage, Godmother! Whether it be with threats, intimidation, or guilt, I know my father will get what he wants in the end.”
Trying not to think of her kind, loving mama, Esther remembered how her father once was. He had loved her mother dearly; she was sure of it. They had laughed together, and she never heard a cross word from either of them. Her sister, Josephine, had met and married Stephen before their mother had died, and Esther had never seen her parents so happy. They had looked forward to the impending birth of their first grandchild with great anticipation, but a sudden illness had taken their mother from them only a month before the child’s birth. Now, their father seemed to care very little for the young boy, even though it was his own flesh and blood.
Esther knew that her sister was pained over the loss of their father’s good character, but at least she had a supportive husband. Josephine and her family moved away from London, living near the border to Scotland on her husband’s estate, and Esther rarely saw them. Not that she could blame them, of course. She was glad she still had her godmother and did not feel completely alone.
"Mother?" Bernard blustered in, completely unaware that his mother had a guest. "Oh, I do apologize." He bowed to the lady, hardly noticing her puffy face and red eyes.
“Bernard, you remember Lady Esther Bertram, my goddaughter?”
“Of course,” Bernard replied, kicking himself for his lack of clarity and blaming it on the copious amount of alcohol he drank the night before. Its effects had still not quite worn off. “It has been some time since we have had the pleasure of your company, has it not?” he asked, his eyes on the lady.
“Indeed,” Esther nodded. “I have been caught up with my work at home, I confess, and have not visited my godmother as often as I should.”
“Well, I am sure she is glad of your company now,” Bernard smiled, directing his gaze to his mother. “Mother, I have just returned from the Duke’s townhouse. It appears he is in great need of a housekeeper, and I did say I would ask for your recommendations.”
“Alas,” Agnes replied. “I do not know of any suitable...” She trailed off, her eyes alighting on Esther.
“Mother?”
“What I mean to say is I do have one perfect lady in mind who would be an excellent housekeeper.”
“Really? Would you be so kind as to send her to the Duke’s townhouse at your earliest convenience?”
“Certainly,” Agnes replied, a brilliant smile on her face. “He will accept her without question, I hope, given my recommendation?”
“I am sure he will,” Bernard snorted. “The man is desperate for a replacement, given that he had to send the housekeeper away this morning!”
“This morning?” Esther gasped. “Whatever did she do?”
Bernard felt his face flush. “Nothing that I can share with genteel young ladies such as yourself, my dear. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall write to Amos directly.”
“Tell him that I shall bring the woman to his house tomorrow afternoon,” Agnes called after him. “I want to ensure he accepts her without question.”
“Very good, Mother,” Bernard replied, shutting the door firmly behind him.
3
As soon as he left, Agnes turned to her with shining eyes. “Don’t you see, Esther? This is your way out.”
“What is?” Esther asked, confused.
“The housekeeper. You shall become the new housekeeper!”
"Me?" Esther gasped, getting to her feet. "Godmother, how could you consider such a thing? I am a lady, not the hired help!"
Agnes took on a more serious tone. "Do you want to escape from Lord Thompson, or don't you? Well, here is the only way you can escape him and hide from your father for a while.”
Esther began to pace over the plush carpet, thinking hard. The very thought terrified her, but no more than marrying Lord Thompson did.
“I don’t know how to be a housekeeper, Godmother!”
Agnes exclaimed. "I can’t imagine it’s that hard, dear. The Duke of Hawdon is just lovely. It’s the perfect opportunity for your predicament."
“The Duke of Hawdon?” Esther gasped. “Now I am convinced that you have lost your senses!”
"He will not notice you, my dear!" Agnes cried, sitting up straighter. "Such a man does not take notice of his servants. He will expect you to run his household to perfection, as you are quite capable of doing. That will be it. You will barely see him, and, since he has never met you within society, there is no concern over him recognizing you."
Esther could hardly think straight. It would mean crossing the upstairs-downstairs divide, and not in her favor. She would have a housekeeper’s quarters, which would be slightly more comfortable and certainly more private than the other servants’ quarters. It would mean taking meals with the servants, being under a duke’s authority, and she could easily be removed from her position if she made a mistake. The whole idea seemed foolish. So why was she even considering saying yes?
“I shall need an entirely new wardrobe,” she said, flopping back down to the chair. “I do not have any gowns suitable for a housekeeper.”
Agnes’s eyes gleamed. “That is of no concern, my dear. I shall a few dresses prepared for you. Also, you shall have to spend some time learning about how to behave,” she said, gently.
“Wait!” Esther said, a thought suddenly coming to her. “What about your son, Lord Heber?”
“What about him?”
"He is friends with the Duke, what if he should recognize me?"
Agnes waved her concern away. “Bernard never looks twice at any servant here, except perhaps his valet. You need not concern yourself about that.”
Esther took a deep breath. "Society will not be inclined to welcome me back," she said, almost to herself. "If I do such a thing, there will be a lot of talk."
"All the more reason to do it," Agnes replied stoutly. "Lord Thompson will surely not wish to marry a wayward daughter with a stained reputation."
“Yes, that is true. However, it also means that other men will have reservations in courting me,” said Esther.
“Well, the choice is yours, Esther.”
Esther nodded. Agnes’s scheme was her best option. She did not want to marry Lord Thompson. She would be looked on with disgrace by society should the truth ever come out, but she didn’t care about her reputation in that moment.
“Very well,” she said, seeing the gleam in her godmother’s eye. “I shall return tomorrow, and we shall go to meet the Duke. I do hope you know what you’re doing.”
Her godmother clapped her hands together. “Excellent, my dear,” she grinned. “It shall all work out in the end, you will see!”
Esther nodded, trying to push away the feeling of impending doom.
* * *
The following day found Esther once more at Agnes’s door. She had brought nothing with her, for fear of raising her father’s suspicion. He had been in his study all morning, and she had not seen him. Esther knew that he expected her to fall in line with his demands as she had always done, but the idea of marrying Lord Thompson could simply not be borne. A part of her wished that she could have kissed him goodbye, but she knew even that would have alerted him to her change in demeanor. It was not a risk she could take. Despite everything, she still loved her father, even though he didn’t respec
t her choices.
“Come in, child, come in!” Agnes called as the butler led Esther to Agnes’s bedchamber. “I am quite prepared for you.”
Wishing she had even half of her godmother's eagerness, Esther tried on various dresses, all in differing shades of gray or brown. They had high collars and were the most modest dresses she had ever worn.
"Perfectly suitable for a housekeeper," Agnes commented while studying Esther.
Esther simply nodded, feeling cold with fright. She had no qualms about her ability to run a household, but Esther was frightfully nervous about her behavior. Her ingrained manners and lack of ability to drop her gaze as a servant were proving to be difficult mannerisms to change.
“Clasp your hands and gaze at his boots, whenever the Duke is speaking to you,” her godmother said, looking over her with a critical eye. “Yes, that’s right. Now,” she continued, looking at Esther’s ornately designed locks. “We shall have to do something about your hair.”
“My hair?” Esther exclaimed, pressing a hand to her head. “What do you mean?”
"Nothing serious," her godmother replied, pressing her into a chair. "We just need to ensure you can put your hair into a style suitable for a housekeeper." She brushed Esther's long hair, the fair color of her tresses catching the light. "You will need to wear it like this every day," she replied, putting it into a simple bun. "Another way is to cut it and then tie it up. Whatever way you choose, you must be able to do such things yourself for there will be no one to help you."
“I understand,” Esther replied, glad she could do both of those hairstyles easily. “I will have to simply try my best, Agnes.”
“You shall do magnificently,” her godmother replied with a smile. “Now, you look the part, and we have everything you need here.” She gestured to a large bag. “Are you ready to depart?”
“We are going immediately?” Esther replied, feeling nausea rise in her stomach. “I don’t even have time to get used to the idea?”
"You've had a lot of time already," her godmother replied, practical as ever. "Now is time to take hold of your new future. I am sure the Duke will be vastly pleased with my selection." She grinned, hugging her goddaughter, trying to push the fear from her eyes. "You know that you will always have a home here with me," she whispered. "No matter what happens."
“Thank you, Godmother,” Esther replied, feeling a lump in her throat. “I shall miss you.”
“And I shall miss you,” came the reply. After a moment, Agnes pulled back, giving herself a small shake. “Let us go.”
4
“Ah, Lady Heber, how lovely to see you.”
“Good afternoon, Duke,” Agnes replied, walking confidently into his study. Esther remained at the door as Agnes had instructed, keeping her head bowed and not even glancing at the Duke.
Amos replied, kissing Lady Heber’s hand. “You must not wait so long in between your visits.”
"Indeed," Agnes laughed, sitting down in a comfortable chair. "You and Bernard have certainly had a long-standing friendship."
Agnes smiled at him fondly, recalling how, as a boy, he had run around their estate in the country. The Duke’s estate bordered their own, so Bernard and Amos had spent much of their childhood together. They had even gone to Eton at around the same time, and their friendship had become kinship. They were like brothers.
“I am grateful to you for finding me a replacement so quickly,” Amos continued, not even glancing at Esther. “The house has been in turmoil since yesterday morning.”
“I’m sure,” Agnes agreed, hoping that Esther would be able to take a firm hand over proceedings. “Why did you have to let her go? That’s been two in the last six weeks, has it not?”
Amos looked a little uncomfortable. “I admit that both were a little of my own doing. I have, as you know, something of a reputation.” He lowered his voice so that Esther could no longer hear a single word of what he said.
“Your Grace!” Agnes gasped, trying not to throw a worried glance in Esther’s direction. “You didn’t!”
“Of course not, of course not!” Amos replied, hastily. “However, it appears that they were given the distinct impression that I might be interested in them, in that sense.”
“Well, I can assure you that this one will certainly not be seeking such a thing,” Agnes said, firmly, thinking of Esther’s high moral character. “She is a good woman, well-trained, and able to run your household to perfection.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Amos said, relieved. “Let us meet her!”
“Ahem…” Agnes coughed, beckoning Esther over. “This is the Duke of Hawdon. Your Grace, this is Mrs. Mary Edwards."
Agnes and Esther chose the name, Mary Edwards, using Esther's middle name and her mother's maiden name. The staff and the Duke would refer to her as Mrs. Edwards, even though she was unmarried. It was the same for every housekeeper.
“Mrs. Edwards, is it?” Amos asked, looking her up and down. “Welcome. I am sure that if Lady Heber has recommended you, then you must be both competent and efficient.”
Amos did not smile, wishing that he had not felt a sudden attraction towards her. He always had a penchant for blonde hair, even though the woman had hers tied back into a neat bun. Her green eyes were intense, looking directly into his before suddenly dropping to the floor, as a slight blush tinged her cheek.
“You will be able to run my household well and keep my staff in check?” he asked.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Esther replied, remembering that she was now a servant and should never look the master directly in the eye. It had been her first mistake and one she would struggle not to repeat.
Amos fought against himself. He needed a new housekeeper, but he had been hoping for a plain, and perhaps slightly corpulent, housekeeper. He was not prepared for this blonde-haired young woman, whose curves were not altogether hidden within the folds of her dress. He bit back a sigh of frustration. He needed someone to run the household with competency. Agnes would only recommend someone who she believed could do a good job.
“Very well,” Amos said, his hazel eyes serious. “I shall give you the keys at once, and you will have the remainder of the day to make yourself accustomed to the house and your duties. Make sure to introduce yourself to the rest of the staff, and remember that they will all be under your authority. I shall take any concerns you have to be of the utmost severity.” He coughed, trying to think of a way to be both frank and direct. "What you may not know, Mrs. Edwards is that I have somewhat of a reputation in society."
Esther did not move but raised her eyebrows a little in surprise. What sort of man was he?
“I would like you to make it abundantly clear to the maids—from the kitchen maids to the chamber maids—that I am not looking for a physical liaison with any of them. That includes you.”
“Your Grace!” Agnes said, startled. “This woman would never even consider—”
“Forgive me, Lady Heber,” Amos said, interrupting her. “I need to be unambiguous which is why I am speaking so openly.” He turned back to his new housekeeper. “Have I made myself clear?”
"I understand, Your Grace," Esther replied, her voice soft. She felt her cheeks heating and wished she could hide her embarrassment from him. The man was handsome enough, but she would never force herself on a man. "I will make sure the maids are aware of this also," she continued, her voice becoming a little firmer. "I am sure none of them wish to be turned out without a reference."
Forgetting her role, she looked him in the eye once more, her mouth set in a firm line. What kind of Duke allowed himself to get tangled up with not one, but two housekeepers? She assumed that was why he was now short of a housekeeper, having not heard the Duke's previous conversation with Agnes. Her measure of him fell quite short. She would do her job, take on her role, and hide from her father until the threat of marriage to Lord Thompson had passed. But she would not go near this man for anything other than her duties. He could be quite sure that she would not be a
nything like his previous housekeepers.
“Thank you,” Amos murmured, quite taken with the intensity of her gaze. Normally he would have been ruffled by a servant looking at him so directly, but on this occasion, he felt nothing but a sudden interest. She was clearly measuring him up, and by the look of distaste on her face, she had found him wanting. Mentally shrugging, he came around from behind his desk and handed her a set of keys.
"Here you are," he said, almost grandly. "You will find the back staircase along the corridor and to your left. I shall look forward to my household being back in order once more. I have written out simple instructions for you that you will find in your room. If you have any questions, please ask the butler or me."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Esther replied, turning to leave the room.
She wished she could hug her godmother goodbye, but knew she could not. She contented herself with a small smile, directed at Agnes, who returned it with one of her own. She knew Agnes wished her well, and it would not be long before she saw her again; she was sure of it. Making her way to the back stairs, Esther took a deep breath. From now on, she must be Mrs. Edwards, housekeeper to the Duke of Hawdon.
5
The next few days passed with little to concern Amos. He had met once with Esther to tell her exactly what he expected. After that, he saw neither sight nor sound of his housekeeper. She had obviously spoken to the other servants, as his favorite meals were prepared and his home was in perfect order, as it had been when his mother lived at the estate.
According to his valet, Mrs. Edwards was quite the house manager. Quiet, but efficient, the staff had immediately taken to her, and the house ran efficiently. He felt relieved. Perhaps Mrs. Edwards would be the answer to his prayers after all.
