Heat flooded Iris’s cheeks. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Felix moved closer and his voice dropped. “Throughout this year, I visited you at Carridan Hall very often. I believe I would’ve noticed if you were pregnant. So, why the secrecy?”
“Because she’s not?—”
The door opened again. The Duke entered. He took in the scene with one swift glance. His expression hardened.
“Lord Halston. How unexpected.”
Felix rounded on him and fury replaced his confusion. “You bastard.”
“Felix!” Iris stepped between them while juggling Evie awkwardly. “Please, let me explain.”
“Explain?” Felix’s hands clenched into fists. “What’s to explain? Your husband abandoned you for a year, and now there’s a baby in your arms who isn’t yours? I may not be a mathematician, but even I can work out those sums.”
The Duke’s voice remained cool. “You’re jumping to conclusions.”
“Am I?” Felix took a step forward. “Then enlighten me, Your Grace. Whose child is my cousin holding?”
“Peters,” Owen called, without taking his eyes off Felix. “Clear the room. No one is to disturb us.”
The butler appeared as if by magic, ushering out a maid who’d been dusting.
When the door closed again, the three of them stood in tense silence. Evie chose that moment to fuss, and Iris bounced her automatically.
“Well?” Felix prompted. “I’m waiting.”
Iris looked at Owen. She saw clearly the warning in his eyes. He didn’t want her to tell Felix anything.
Too bad. She was tired of secrets.
“She was left on our doorstep several days ago,” she said. “With a note asking us to protect her.”
Felix furrowed his brow. “Left? By whom?”
“I don’t know. The note said that her name is Evie and that she’s all that remains.”
“All that remains of what?”
“I don’t know that either.”
“But you suspect.” Felix’s gaze narrowed on the Duke. “Youknow something.”
The Duke remained silent. His eyes sharpened while he held Felix’s glare.
“Felix is family, Your Grace,” Iris said firmly. “He deserves the truth. As do I.”
“Duchess,” he bit out.
She ignored him and explained the next bit to her cousin. “I thought she was the Duke’s at first. The product of some affair. But he swears she’s not.”
“And you believe him?”
“I…” She hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I do.”
Felix laughed disbelievingly. “You believe the man who left you on your wedding night? Who didn’t even bother to?—”
He moved so fast that Iris barely saw it. One moment, Felix was standing there; the next, he was swinging at her husband’s face.
