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His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, and then he looked away. It was quick and intentional, as though he’d determined that he had stared at her too long and wanted to make sure he stopped.

But why, she wondered? She had told him she wasn’t frightened. She knew her voice had been steady. Surely he had believed her. She had her anxieties about this marriage, to be sure. But she had no fear of him. He had seemed to find that difficult to believe, though. And now he was looking away.

Had something changed? Was there something in her answers that he had found unsatisfactory? What was wrong?

He stared out the window, and she thought she could sense a darkening in his mood. She wanted to ask about it, but suddenly her voice failed her, and she was afraid. Not of him, but of what lay ahead. Of what awaited her at the end of this carriage ride.

She had spent so much time now thinking about the prospect of who she might marry that she hadn’t taken any time to ponder the marriage itself. What was that going to be like?

What would be expected of her now that she was going to be a duchess? What would her role be in Sampson’s house? These seemed like the sorts of things they might have discussed in advance if they’d had the time, but now she was about to enter the house that would be her home from now on, and she had no idea what to expect.

Just as she was thinking that, the carriage drew to a halt.

Her heart thudded.

It was time, then. Time to face the future. Time to see what her life was going to be now that she had taken on a role she had never imagined would be hers.

Sampson—he had been the duke when they’d left the church, and in the space of a short ride he had become Sampson—opened the door and stepped out of the carriage. He held out a hand to help her down after him. Though the fear had her well and truly by the throat now, she knew there could be no avoiding whatever came next.

And besides, Rose is relying on this going well, she reminded herself. She needs me. I can’t be afraid to face this.

She let herself be helped down from the carriage and took a deep breath as her feet hit the ground. Looking up at this place, it was impossible to think that it was her new home. It felt like somewhere she was just visiting, and that before long reality would reassert itself and life would begin to make sense once more.

But deep down, she knew it wasn’t true.

This was reality now.

This was her life.

She would just have to find a way to live it.

CHAPTER 7

“Welcome home, Your Grace,” said Worthington, the butler, as Sampson stepped into the foyer.

He’d hung back, trying to allow Amanda to enter first, but she had seemed as if she wasn’t sure what to do. It must be hard, he’d decided, coming to a place you had never been before and knowing that you were expected to make that place your home. So, he had walked in ahead of her, glancing back to ensure that she followed.

“Worthington,” he said. “I’d like to present my wife, the new lady of the house, the Duchess Amanda of Mortridge.”

“Welcome, Your Grace,” Worthington said.

“Thank you, Mr…?”

“Mr. Worthington. At your service, Your Grace.”

“Would you please summon the rest of the staff, Worthington?” Sampson asked. “I want to introduce everyone to the duchess, and after that I’ll take her on a tour of the house.

“Of course.” Worthington disappeared.

Sampson turned to Amanda. “I want to make sure you know everyone serving in this household,” he said. “They all know that they’re to follow your orders just as if they were mine. So if you need anything at any time, you mustn’t hesitate to ask the appropriate member of staff.”

“I understand,” Amanda said, but she wasn’t looking directly at him.

Sampson had the same feeling he’d had back in the carriage—the same concern that perhaps she was frightened. She had said she wasn’t, but she did seem hesitant. Perhaps she had realized he had been staring at her. He hadn’t noticed himself at first, but he really had spent far too long looking in her direction, taking in her appearance, studying her face and trying to make it feel familiar to him…

She must think he was uncouth. That he had no idea how to behave himself appropriately. He would make up for his behavior in the carriage by giving her a perfect tour, so that she felt completely comfortable here by the end of the day.

The staff members were led out, and he went down the line and introduced her to each of them. He stopped at a tall, thin woman with steel gray hair. “Mrs. Linden is to be the governess,” he said. “You didn’t mention bringing one of your own, so I thought it would be appropriate to hire someone, but if you would prefer it, we can make other arrangements.”