“Yes, yes of course.” Daisy’s breaths still fell out of her mouth raggedly, despite Iris’s reassurances. “Thank you, Iris. I appreciateit.”
As they stepped into the hall, Daisy felt that same powerful surge of joy that Iris felt too. Maybe she was nervous – that was understandable considering what she was about to do – but the happiness was theretoo.
After all, who would have ever believed that Daisy, the maid girl, would end up dancing with a Duke? It was a once in a lifetime opportunity... it would be better for her to make the most ofit!
It wasn’t long before the hall was filled with music and chatter. Everyone that had been invited attended the event. As Iris stood against the wall looking in, she couldn’t help noticing how well Daisy was doing being her. She had challenging questions fired at her from every angle, people trying to discretely ask why she had spent so long in her room and how she now felt about losing her father as well as her mother, but she was doing her best to handle them withgrace.
It was almost as if she was meant to be Iris, and Irisher.
“Will you come into the kitchen?” Eloise asked her quietly. “I think Betty wants to seeyou.”
Iris did not feel ready to go, it filled her with panic to leave Daisy to defend herself, but she hadn’t asked for her once. Actually, she hadn’t even glanced at her yet, which was the only thing that caused Iris to nod and agree. She knew where to find her if the time cameanyway.
The kitchen was a busy hive of activity as the plates of snacks were arranged for the party. Other staff from the household kept coming in and out of the kitchen to exchange empty trays for full ones. Iris hadn’t ever realized how much went on behind the scenes at events such as this. It was fascinating to see the other side of things. Iris much preferred it on thisside.
“Are you okay,Betty?”
As Betty turned to face Iris, she mopped sweat from her rounded, bright red cheeks. Despite the stress, Betty had the look on her face of someone who was proud of a job welldone.
“I am, I just wanted to check in on you.” Betty had started to feel like a surrogate mother to Iris, she couldn’t stop worrying about her however hard she tried. “How are you doing? I know this might be difficult foryou.”
“Daisy is doing really well, no one has realizedyet...”
“No, I am not worried about Daisy,” Betty smiled. “I know she will be just fine.” All the serving staff had noticed how easy it was for her to slip into the role of a lady. Maybe it was jealousy speaking, but none of them felt like they could have done it. “I just want to check to see how you are.Emotionally.”
Iris dug deeply into herself, trying to work that much out for herself. As she did, she realized that she’d pushed all of her feelings deep down because she didn’t want to acknowledge them... just in case. But actually, she was okay. Much better Daisy out there thanher.
“I am fine, Betty, thank you for asking.” She gave her such a warm smile that the tension slipped away from Betty’s face. Iris could see that her genuine declaration had been believed, which was wonderful. Iris wouldn’t have known how to explain herself coherently if not. “Is there anything you would like me to carry outthere?”
“Oh no, I do not think so.” She averted her eyes and glanced towards the floor, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward. “You may keep in the background, to be there for Daisy if she needsyou.”
Iris furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Betty was trying her best not to say something, which meant the part she was avoiding was the most important thing. What could it possibly be? Did she not believe that Iris could handle speaking toanyone?
"I can do this, Betty," she insisted quietly while resting her hand on her shoulder. "I do not mind speaking to people when they will not look at me. Look how well I have been doing recently. It is almost easier when I am not beingmyself."
Betty did not say anything to that, she simply handed Iris a plate and indicated for her to leave. The instinct was there to protect her, she could not help that, but if Iris wanted to spread her wings to fly then she couldn’t stand in her way. All of them wanted Iris to finally come out of her shell. She had been in there for far too long. It was lovely to see herblossoming.
Iris made her way back into the grand hall with her head held high. She might have tried to play down how far she’d come in front of the others because she did not want a fuss, but she was very proud of herself. It was not such a long time ago that the idea of walking into a room full of people filled her with such an intense, overwhelming sense ofdread.
Now, she felt totally relaxed goingin.
Her steps were purposeful, her posture straight, she had never felt so strong... that was until she made her way into the hall and she saw a sight that made her heart fall into hershoes.
Daisy was standing by the wall on the left side of the room, and she was not alone. The tall, dark, brooding man who towered over her could only be one person. There was only one man in the world who would be that close to her, talking away, making her gigglegirlishly...
Duke LoftusPembroke.
Iris’s blood ran cold, she could feel her knees turning to jelly, she did not know what to do. She instantly wanted to protect her friend from this brute, she wanted to tear her away from the man that her sister had described as‘an unpleasant man’with‘a horrible reputation’and‘an angry temper... especially with the women in his life’.She wanted to race up there and put an end to the whole thing, but Daisy did not look like she neededsaving.
As the Duke spoke to her, she angled her body ever so slightly towards him. It was an action that no lady would usually do, it was Daisy’s one downfall, but no one was paying her any attention. She was actually flirting withhim.
Iris’s mind went into a tailspin, she felt vomit rising up from her stomach and into her throat, this was not the plan. Daisy was not supposed to flirt with the man, she was not supposed to like him, to be nice to him, she was supposed to put him offher...
Unless maybe thiswasthe plan. They hadn’t actually discussed what she was going to do when she met the Duke, they had gotten bogged down in other details. Iris did not like this plan at all, it didn’t sit well with her. She had the horrible feeling that it would ruin her reputation for good. Since Iris knew that people would probably already be speaking about her, another rumour about her would destroy her forgood.
Maybe one day she would change her mind about getting married, and then she would not be ableto.
Iris pushed the plate onto the nearest table to her and she twisted her body to rush from the room. With her mind spinning so violently, there was no chance of her keeping up the pretense. Just for a moment, Iris needed to be alone while she organized her thoughts. The last thing she wanted to do was somethingrash.
In her state of panic, Iris raced to the one place she felt safest in the world, even if she had not been there for a few days. She ran up the stairs and headed straight towards her bedroom, needing the comfort from the familiar fourwalls.
Daisy,flirting.
Daisy, liking theDuke.
Daisy, ruining her reputation... what on Earth would shedo?
But as she rushed through the door, she stopped dead in her tracks. Nothing was the same anymore, the room offered her absolutely no comfort. Daisy hadn’t physically moved anything, but nothing felt like hersanymore.
It was almost as if Daisy had completely taken over her life, and Iris was terrified of where that might go next. Maybe there was no coming back from this afterall...
