“I do not know,” Iris replied honestly. “I think I will never be totally comfortable with it, but what can Ido?”
Daisy could not think of any suitable response to that, so she fell into silence and gave her friend a very sad look. Despite the fact that Iris was trying her hardest to appear upbeat, she could see the strain in her expression. Iris wouldn’t do well in this marriage, that much was already clear. There was only one thing to bring her out of her shell, and it was the one thing that was incredibly unlikely tohappen.
Iris Warwick needed to fall inlove.
She was a dreamer, a person who lived in the stories that her brain created. If something just as wonderful was to happen to her in real life, then there was a chance that she would finally find the happiness that she was searchingfor.
“Unless you really want to swap, that is...” Iris continued with a smirk. “Of course, you were probablyjoking.”
“OfcourseI was joking!” Daisy insisted a little too quickly. “I would never really suggest such a thing. I mean, can you imagine? What would even happen to you while I was acting your role?” Much as she’d spent her whole life wanting to be like the Warwick girls, she didn’t actually meanit.
Well, notreally.
“Well, I would be you, of course! I would clean and cook andserve...”
“You say it like it is a glamorous life!” Daisy could not believe what she washearing.
“To me, itis.”
“Trust me, Miss Iris,” Daisy replied while shaking her head. “You will not enjoy it the way you think youwill.”
Iris’s stilted silence said it all. She really did feel that way about the idea of a switch, which was utterly ridiculous in Daisy’s mind. Still, if her brain was taking her down that route then maybe there was a reason forit.
Maybe it was time for Daisy to take action... whatever that mightbe.
“I cannot swap with you, Miss Iris. That was only a joke, I truly didn’t meanit.”
“Oh, I know. It is just medreaming.”
Iris’s head fell into her hands, she looked so glum it tugged at every single one of Daisy’s heartstrings. She needed to avoid another bout of depression, she couldn’t stand to see it, so she said the first thing that came into hermind.
“But Icanhelp you to act in a way that might put the Duke off.” She was half joking again as she suggested this, simply trying to find a way to get her friend smiling again. “I can help you to unlearn all of the grace and manners that you have beentaught.”
This idea was more to have fun than anything else, but Iris leapt upon it as if it was her saving grace. “Are you serious? You would do that forme?”
"I... I would, but are you sure this is what you want? Would you not rather spend time with your betrothed first, to see what he islike?"
Iris clutched onto her chest and her face contorted as if she was in physical pain. “I cannot stand it, Daisy. You do not see how bad this is for me. The idea of marrying someone that has been chosen for me is almost too much to bear. I know you have suggested to me that the rumours surrounding the Duke might be false, but I do not believe that I will ever be able to get them out of my head. It is a marriage that is doomed from thestart.”
Daisy rapidly weighed up the pros and cons of this decision before she finally settled on the one that she thought was right. “Yes, okay, we shall dothis.”
She knew that by going through this rigmarole she would get to a place where Iris actually met the Duke. She still firmly believed that Iris needed to make up her own mind by actually be in his presence, and if she didn’t feel like she had any control over things then she would probablyrefuse.
If Daisy could get her there, that was half thebattle.
She hoped that they would concoct this silly plan, that they would have some fun for a few days playing around with being uncouth, role playing how the other half lived. She prayed that they would do all of this, then the moment Iris laid eyes on her betrothed she would change her mind and it would all be fornothing.
And if that did not work, she hoped that the Duke would cut off the engagement rapidly, without much fuss and that her uncle would see what Iris needed and he’d allow her to marry a man of her choosing. She also hoped that said man would be able to see past a previous broken engagement and that he would love her enough to treat her well regardless of her state ofmind.
If Iris truly did fall in love, maybe her state of mind would not be an issue anymore. Maybe she would finally find that missing piece of the jigsawpuzzle.
Maybe she was aiming much too high, but Daisy felt responsible for Iris. She was only two years older than her, but she felt like a mother figure to her. Elizabeth and Olivia could only do so much, mostly it was up toher.
“Oh, Daisy!” Iris’s pale blue eyes danced excitedly. “You have no idea how much this means to me. You are giving me a chance to live my life in the way that Iplease.”
“The way that you please seems to be my life,” Daisy exclaimed, still in shock about that part. “I cannot understand what on Earth makes you think that I have things so wonderful, but if that is what you want,” she shrugged, “then I will help you in any way that Ican.”
Iris tucked into her food with much more gusto than she had before. She knew that Daisy did not totally understand it, and she couldn’t blame her friend for that, but this was perfect. Maybe she could even convince her uncle that she was totally unlovable, then he would allow her to have her dowry to do with it what shewanted.
