Chapter 13
By the timeIris made her way back indoors, she had managed to successfully calm herself down for the moment. Her head was firmly back in the high position, her brain was centered in on the party in which she needed to serve at, and her steps were rapid and in control. She felt like she could tacklethis.
Well, really she felt like a gossamer thin piece of string was the only thing holding her together, but it wasenough...
“Excuse me, Miss?” a deep, male voice called out to her, almost echoing through the hallway it had such a depth to it. It was so smooth and sweet; Iris had never heard a voice like it. It was safe to say that she was intrigued “May I ask the way to the outside area? I could truly use some freshair?”
As Iris turned on her feet, the smile instantly slipped from her lips. For some reason, as she stared at the raven haired man with wonderful cheekbones, her mask seemed to slip away, and she had no rational explanation for that. His piercing green eyes delved right into her soul, and she instantly felt raw and exposed forhim.
Yet, it wasn’t a terrible feeling. She almost wanted him to seemore.
“Oh, erm.” Her cheeks flamed, all of a sudden Iris could not keep still. Her feet moved, her fingers fiddled, her hips swayed, it was utterly bizarre. “It is through thosedoors.”
She sucked in a breath and held it in her chest while she waited for him to leave. Half of her wanted him to go so she could work out what was going on inside of her, and the other half of her desperately needed him to stay. She did not understand the sparkles darting through her body, there could be no reason that her heart was in her throat, it was a strange sensation to have her stomach doing flip flops... but none of it was unpleasant and she wanted to feel more ofit.
“What is your name, may Iask?”
As the man stepped closer to her, Iris’s initial instinct was to recoil. She had never had a man within touching distance of her before, and she did not know what todo.
Of course, if she were herself, there was no way this man would be with her alone out in the hallway since it could easily ruin her, but today she was not herself. She was a maid, and clearly, the same rules did notapply.
“I am Daisy.” It felt strange to say this aloud to this man. She hadn’t actually been asked her name before, so this was the first time she had felt the need to lie. Surprisingly, that made her bold. “And what is yours, Sir?” It was so freeing not to have to worry about rules and expectations, it almost made Irislaugh.
“I am Lord Ewan,” he replied grandly. “But you may call me Ewan. I am not too keen on thetitle.”
"It is nice to meet you, Ewan." Iris considered doing a curtsy but decided against it at the last moment. The time did not seem to call for it. "Are you enjoying theevening?"
“I admit; it is nice to get out.” His expression darkened, and Iris wanted to ask him what was wrong. This time she kept her lips shut. “I feel like I am much older than my years these days, for a man of only four and twenty years, I do not get to attend as many events as I wouldlike.”
“Why ever not?” Iris could not understand. Surely this gentleman would be out regularly trying to find himself a bride? He must not have one, or he certainly wouldn’t be alone talking to her, wouldhe?
Iris had heard of gentlemen being unfaithful to their wives, but she did not wish to think that way ofEwan.
“Business keeps me busy,” he shrugged as he replied evasively. “I am sure you understand. Although maybe not, since you are clearly much younger than Iam.”
Iris spotted the twinkle in his eye as he made this statement, and she got the distinct impression that she was being teased. Without even meaning to, a girlish giggle burst past her lips. She particularly enjoyed this, far more than maybe she should havedone.
“I am nineteen,” she replied proudly, before suddenly recognizing her mistake. She should have added on two years to make herself Daisy’s age. It was only a small error, but itcouldhave catastrophic results if the information reached the wrongears.
“So, do you work at the Warwick household?” Ewan continued, seemingly oblivious to theerror.
“Yes.”
“Ah, so you will know Miss Iris Warwickwell.”
Iris nodded as terror coiled around her chest. She didn’t want to hear this man say anything bad about her, even if he did not know who she was. What would she do if he started spouting all the silly rumours of madness about her? It would be utterlyhumiliating.
“She seems to enjoy the company of the Duke, so all is wellthere.”
“Yes... I suppose itis.”
Ewan narrowed his eyes intently at Iris, as if he wanted to study her in great detail. She did not know how she should stand while this man looked at her in such a way, so in the end, she decided to act in the way that she so desired. She studied him rightback.
She ran her gaze up from his dark coloured shoes, over his well made, tailored trousers, up past his muscular looking torso and broad shoulders, and right back to his beautiful face. She did not do this in a way that was seductive or inappropriate – although for a lady it would not have been right – she simply looked at every part ofhim.
Just because her pulse raced out of control and she felt a little breathless, didn’t make itwrong.
Why, oh why, did he have to be the most handsome man on the planet? He was even better looking than the fantasy prince she had concocted in her mind.Thiswas the sort of man that she could love. If she had been herself, and she had attended this ball to meet potential men to wed rather than one picked out for her, this would be the man that she’d be secretly hoping asked her todance.
