His face shuttered. “That’s different.”
“Is it? Because you’re asking for consideration you’ve never shown me.”
“I’m asking you to be careful. For all our sakes.”
“And I’m telling you that I know who I can trust.” She shifted Evie, using the motion to step back from him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, she needs changing.”
She made it halfway to the door before his voice stopped her.
“Iris.”
She paused but didn’t turn back. “Yes?”
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing. With Evie.”
The unexpected words made her throat tighten. “Thank you.”
“And Felix… he’s a good man, ultimately. I’m glad you had him this past year.”
Now she turned back and searched his face for mockery. She found none. All she saw was her husband. He looked oddly vulnerable in the afternoon light.
“He was,” she whispered. “A good friend when I needed one.”
Something flickered across his features too quickly to identify. Then, his mask slipped back into place.
“The candidates will arrive tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll have Peters set up the morning room for interviews.”
Back to business. Of course.
For a moment, she’d thought…
But no. He had made his feelings clear from the beginning. Whatever softer emotions she’d glimpsed were probably just her imagination.
“That’s fine,” she muttered. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Actually, I have a meeting?—”
“Your Grace.” She met his gaze steadily. “You insisted that I make the time to dine with you. I would appreciate if you would extend me the same courtesy.”
His mouth tightened, but he nodded. “Of course.”
Iris left him standing there while Evie snuggled warmly against her shoulder.
She’d won that small battle, at least.
In her room, she changed the baby’s napkin quickly then settled Evie in her cradle before sinking into a chair.
What was she doing? Clinging to this abandoned child because she had no one else? Building a family from lies because the factthat her husband couldn’t bear her company was too painful to face?
Evie stirred, making the soft sounds that usually preceded a bout of crying. Iris lifted her automatically, already learning her rhythms.
“It’s all right,” she cooed. “I’m here.”
The words were for Evie, but they felt like a promise to herself too. She was here. She would endure. And maybe, if she were very lucky, she might even find a way to be happy—even if that happiness was built on secrets and held together by a child who belonged to neither of them.
CHAPTER 6
“Your Grace! Just the man we were discussing.”
