Chapter 10
“Phew, that was exhausting!”Iris exclaimed gleefully to Daisy as they finally locked themselves away back in her bedroom. She even went as far as to wipe some mock perspiration from her forehead. Admittedly, her body did ache a little but she was riding on such an adrenaline rush that she hardly noticed. “Is it always so tiring to servedinner?”
“Is it, but I assume a lot of your weariness comes from the mask too,” Daisy gasped, sounded a little shell shocked herself. Her brain hadn’t yet processed what had happened tonight, she felt in a completely different place to Iris. “I know that is why I am so worn out. I feel like I have been running forhours.”
“Oh, but you did such a wonderful job.” Iris hugged her gratefully as she finally started to realise just how much her friend had put on the line for her. She could have lost her job and everything over this, even if they had acted like it was all just a little joke. There was no way of telling how her uncle would react. She did not expect him to be so surly. “I started to believe that you were memyself!”
Daisy pushed Iris backwards. She wanted to embrace her and to celebrate, but there were currently more pressing issues that needed to be addressed. "Miss Iris, what will we do with this ball that your uncle wants to hold? He will expect you to meet the Dukethere."
“Yes, I know,” Iris answered slowly as she tried to work out what Daisy’s issue might be. None of that had come as a shock to her. “That is what we expected, is it not? You have got a lot of the dance moves perfectly, and you will only need to dance for two songsanyway...”
“Why is that again?” Daisy interrupted unapologetically. She knew that this was becoming far too real for her now. Every step they took into becoming one another, the more challenging it would become to extract themselves and to return to normal. There was no denying that needed to happen eventually. She couldn’t see any other potentialoutcome.
“It is unseemly to dance more than two songs with one man... and since I, wellyou, are betrothed, you will be expected to dance only withhim.”
“Why can I not just meet him one on one?” Daisy bunched up the soft material of her dress between her fingers. “I think it will be much better that way. A nice dinner or a walk, something likethat.”
“I don’t know,” Iris answered sadly, finally starting to acknowledge this could be a problem. “I wish I could help you with that, but since my uncle is in charge of your introduction it can be only thisway.”
“You still would like to do this?” There was no hiding the panic behind Daisy’s eyes now, she already felt like she was in too deep and that she might end up drowning. “We could put a halt to it now if we wanted, we could tell your uncle thetruth.”
“But you would lose your job,” Iris answered desperately. “And I would still have to get married.” She reached out and touched her friend’s cheek, feeling horrible for what she was asking her friend to do. “If you really cannot stand it, if it is too much for you, I will understand.” She would, even if it’d killher.
Daisy didn't answer Iris. Instead, she wandered towards the window and she stared out over the land. She had often seen Iris doing the same as she daydreamed, and just for once she wanted to lose herself in her imagination as well. Even if she wasn't as good atit.
Aside from the fear she had snaking through her veins, Daisy enjoyed being a lady. She loved the gorgeous dress, the lovely hairstyle, the makeup... it was all very exciting to her. She also loved the way that people treated her with respect. It wasn't a sensation that she'd ever experienced before, and it was reallynice.
She tried to imagine what it would be like to attend a ball as a lady rather than as the help, and actually, it was a picture that she liked the look of. Herself in a beautiful gown, swishing around her, a high-born man with his arms wrapped around her, the life of luxury that she could lead if she went down thatpath...
“How would we ensure that your sisters do not come?” Daisy asked in a dazed tone of voice. Now that she had the idea in her mind, she actually liked the plan. Maybe being a lady called out to her more than she’d ever dared to believe before. “They will see the switch forsure.”
“I will take care of it.” Iris did not want to sound too excited. She hated the thought that she was putting pressure on her friend. Just because she needed this desperately, Daisy didn’t. She was not getting anything out of the arrangement. “I do not know how right now, but I will ensure that it is not a problem. If you want to do this, ofcourse.”
“I think I do.” Daisy couldn’t help it; she was actually thrilled at the idea of having another night of fun living the life of someone else. “Yes, I think Ido.”
“Oh my goodness, you have no idea what this means to me, I am the happiest womanalive.”
Iris's face had the widest smile across it, her eyes sparkled with intense glee, Daisy could see that despite the possible negative outcomes of this plan, she was doing the right thing for herfriend.
“I suppose we need to start tonight then.” Daisy shrugged. “I will need to sleep in your bed, and you will have to sleep inmine.”
“Oh yes, of course!” Again, Iris felt only excitement by the idea. The bed wouldn’t be as comfortable as the one she had up here, and it meant she needed to leave her comfort zone, but this was a situation where she felt like she could handle it. This was for a good cause. “Do you think the other staff will mind me sleeping amongthem?”
“They love you,” Daisy told her firmly. “They love you so much that they agreed to do all of this for you, just like I did. Everyone is willing to put their lives on the line for you. They will not mind you sleeping amongthem.”
Iris’s heart warmed and swelled as a loving sensation filled her. It had been a very long time since she had felt so much kindness around her. It was a wonderful feeling that she wanted so much moreof.
Actually, now that she thought about it, she was looking forward totonight.
"Well, I suppose I should say goodnight then unless you would like me to dress you like a lady?" Iris smiled teasingly. "I'm aware that you can do it yourself, but it is always nice to be treatedwell."
“Oh no, I shall wait until I am a married lady with handmaidens to do that forme.”
Daisy was only joking, but something resonated within her at that concept. She could actually see herself living in some mansion like this with people looking after her. She would be a kind lady, of course, knowing how difficult it was to work with those that weren’t, but she would certainly enjoy being treatedwell.
“Yes, I can see you in that position,” Iris mused thoughtfully. “Maybe it is you that should have been born a lady, and me amaid.”
“Well, that is what we are trying out now! Let’s see how itgoes.”
