The color drained from Iris’s face as she stared at the bird in horror. Before she could gather her thoughts to respond, three more gossip birds landed beside the first, each taking up the cry with slight variations, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of scandal:
“Half-blood breaks wealthy lord’s heart!”
“Star-witch refuses diamond ring!”
“No respectable family will have her now!”
“Get out!” Iris shouted at the creatures, losing her composure. “Get out of my room this instant!” The birds obeyed,launching themselves from the windowsill with indignant squawks before continuing their relentless chorus.
In the terrible silence that followed, Iris stood frozen, the magnitude of what had just happened crashing over her. The gossip birds’ shrill voices still echoed in her ears, but she knew they were now carrying those same cruel words to every corner of Bloomhaven—every drawing room, every garden party, every shop.
This was not the careful, private dissolution of an engagement she and Hadrian had intended. This was not the discreet conversation that might have preserved some dignity for both parties. This was public humiliation laid bare in the worst possible way—twisted, embellished, and broadcast without mercy.
As she turned slowly and met her grandmother’s devastated gaze, the full weight of her actions settled upon her shoulders. In a single morning, she had not merely disappointed her family or complicated their financial situation, she had utterly, irrevocably ruined the Starspun name.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Iris burstthrough the kitchen door of The Charmed Leaf, heedless of propriety, her breath coming in ragged gasps as tears streamed freely down her face. The midday lull had settled over the tea house, filled only with the light clatter of kitchen pixies washing dishes, the soft snores of Orrit dozing in his corner, and the quiet movements of Mama Saffron arranging the remaining scones and pastries upon silver trays for the afternoon patrons.
“Youknowhow I feel about running in my—” Lady Rivenna began sharply, poking her head out of the pantry. Her words died abruptly as she took in Iris’s tear-streaked face and trembling form. Her expression shifted, the stern lines softening. “Ah. Lady Iris,” she said as she stepped out of the pantry, a bunch of fresh herbs in her hand. “Given the news that’s been circulating, I confess I was unsure when you would return here.”
At Rivenna’s unexpectedly gentle tone, the last thread of Iris’s control snapped. A sob tore from her throat, raw and desperate, followed by another and another until she found herself unable to stem the tide of emotion.
“I—I’ve ruined everything,” she choked out, her voice catching on a sob. “The gossip birds—they’re all overBloomhaven—they know I broke my engagement to Lord Hadrian and they’re saying the most horrible things?—”
“Take a breath, child,” Lady Rivenna instructed, setting down the bundle of herbs on the main worktable. The kitchen pixies paused in their work, tiny heads turning in unison to observe the scene unfolding before them. Even Orrit stirred and looked up.
“I cannot take abreath!” Iris wailed, her hands twisting together. “Not when I’ve made such a dreadful mess of everything! I thought perhaps I might salvage something by attending the Summer Solstice Ball as planned, that if I could just present my magical display with dignity, show that I’m not utterly disgraced—but Grandmother says we cannot possibly show our faces. We would be the laughingstock of all assembled. It would only make matters worse.”
Iris pressed her fingertips against her temples, a fresh wave of despair washing over her. “They’re sending word to my parents even now, telling them of what I’ve done. Of how thoroughly I’ve ruined everything they hoped to achieve by bringing me to Bloomhaven. And it’s not merely the Starspun name I’ve tarnished,” she added, guilt twisting like a knife in her chest. “Lord Hadrian’s family will suffer for this scandal as well. He has been nothing but kind and is deserving of far better treatment than I’ve shown him. But instead of the discrete separation we had agreed upon, the entire affair has been laid bare in the worst possible manner, and it’s entirely my?—”
To Iris’s astonishment—and indeed, to the astonishment of everyone in the kitchen—Lady Rivenna stepped forward and drew Iris into an embrace. Somewhere behind her, a spoon clattered to the floor, dropped by a pixie no doubt too shocked to maintain its grip.
Iris sagged against Lady Rivenna, her arms coming up around the older woman’s back. “Are you going to cast me out?”Iris mumbled against Rivenna’s shoulder, her voice still shaky with emotion.
Lady Rivenna drew back, genuine surprise crossing her features. “My dear, why ever would I do that?”
“My presence will ruin the reputation of The Charmed Leaf,” Iris whispered, dropping her gaze.
“Not to diminish the gravity of your present circumstances,” Lady Rivenna interrupted, her tone firm but not unkind, “but I must inform you that this particular scandal hardly registers when measured against the multitude of indiscretions these walls have borne witness to throughout the years. I can assure you with the utmost confidence that no patron shall cease their attendance due to your presence here. Indeed, I daresay the opposite may prove true—many will likely flock to The Charmed Leaf in hopes of glimpsing the now-infamous Lady Iris Starspun.”
“But that will only?—”
“And when they observe you conducting yourself with grace and dignity, continuing your apprenticeship as though all were perfectly well,” Lady Rivenna continued with a wry smile curving her lips, “they shall swiftly discern that the gossip birds’ vicious pronouncements hold little substance. Society’s attention is remarkably fickle, my dear. They shall move on to the next morsel of scandal before the week is out.”
Iris felt a flutter of hope stir within her chest, fragile but present. “Truly?”
“Well, perhaps it might take a little longer than that, for the gossip birds have indeed crafted quite the sumptuous feast from your particular circumstances. Nevertheless, the end result shall be the same. By the time the Summer Solstice Ball concludes, some fresh indiscretion shall undoubtedly capture everyone’s attention.”
Lady Rivenna guided Iris toward a stool at the central worktable. “Now, pray be seated and attempt to compose yourself.”
The kitchen stirred back to life. Two pixies fluttered over, carrying a lace-edged handkerchief between them. One patted Iris’s arm with its tiny hand while the other scurried up to her shoulder, attempting to dab at her tear-stained cheeks with a corner of the delicate fabric. Iris accepted the handkerchief with a watery smile, finishing the task herself while the pixie on her shoulder settled for smoothing an errant lock of her hair with surprising gentleness.
Lissian appeared at her shoulder then, reaching past her to place a steaming cup of tea on the table in front of her, the distinctive scent of Iris’s own ‘Autumn & Pine’ blend rising in fragrant tendrils from its surface. Even Orrit had risen from his cushioned nook and was now pushing a plate of scones toward her while Mama Saffron hurried over with another plate containing two small bowls of jam and cream.
“Thank you,” Iris whispered to all of them, unsure how to adequately express her gratitude for this unexpected circle of compassion when she had expected only judgment. She lifted the cup to her lips, inhaling the familiar scent of her own creation. The first sip spread warmth through her chest, bringing with it the steady clarity she had come to associate with this particular blend. The world seemed to settle around her, the frantic pace of her thoughts slowing to something more manageable.
“Tell me truthfully, Lady Iris,” Rivenna said, settling onto a stool beside her. “Do you regret your decision regarding Lord Hadrian?”
