Esther 2:16

So Esther was taken into his house-royal She was not sent back unto the second house of the women, as the rest were, but the king kept her in his own house. In the seventh year of his reign How it came to pass that it was so long before Esther was advanced to succeed Vashti, seems difficult to resolve. But we are to consider, that a great deal of time was spent in gathering the virgins together, and that it was a year after they were collected, before she was brought to the king; and besides, he took some time, it is likely, to try how he liked her wit, humour, and conversation.