“He thinks that I amyou.”
The penny dropped, it hit the ground hard with a thump. Daisy wanted to make the switch permanent, she wanted to become Iris Warwick, eventually Mrs. Pembroke, she wanted to become a lady through her. That way, she would have the name and the dowry... everything that the Duke needed to wedher.
“But he is a horrible man.” Much as the idea was tantalizing, Iris could not allow Daisy to go into the situation without her eyes wide open. “Please, remember what Elizabeth toldme.”
“Yes, he is gruff, and maybe a little unkind.” Daisy shrugged as if this did not bother her. “I understand well why people might not like him, he is not an amiableman.”
"So, why would you want to be his wife?" Iris asked incredulously. "You wish to have a lifetime of misery withhim?"
“But I will not be miserable.” Daisy’s face broke out into a wild grin. The idea of being a lady was much too wonderful for her, none of the other stuff mattered one bit. “I will be a lady with money and parties to attend. I will only need to be near the Duke for long enough to give him an heir, he will not be a problem for me. I will be pleasant enough for the both of us, so his moods will not matter onebit.”
“But... what about love?” Iris asked, sounding much younger than her years. “Do you not want a husband that youadore?”
Daisy didn’t want to tease Iris for seeing the world this way, the girl was a dreamer, but Daisy had been hardened to life. She felt like she knew so muchbetter.
“Iris, love is for some. There are people in this world who will go on to have the greatest love stories of all time. I am not one of those people.Thisis what I want, not love. I want a life worth living, and this is the closest that I will ever get. The Duke can offer me a life that people in my position can only dreamof.”
Just because Iris did not share her opinion, she could not ignore her friend’s passion. Maybe this was what she wanted, and Iris was the only one who could give it to her. She owed her friend that much, after everything she had done for her, didn’tshe?
“I know it is not for you,” Daisy continued, sensing that she was starting to get through. “But I feel like a bird whose wings have been tied down. I need to spread them wide, tofly.”
Iris’s mind instantly went to the painting that hung above her father’s office. The bird, soaring above the world with all the freedom it could possibly want. She understood that, it was a sentiment that she needed to experienceherself.
And honestly, this was the only way that they could come out of this with her reputation still intact... although it would no longer be her reputation anymore. It would be Daisy’s. She would become Iris Warwick with all the expectations hanging off ofher.
Iris could not see how that would make Daisy feel free, but it was not up to her to judge. Losing all of that would certainly make Iris feelfree.
Butstill...
“What will become of me?” She suddenly realized that would be an issue. “Where will Igo?”
“I will make sure that you have money,” Daisy answered excitedly, proving that she had already considered this. “It is your inheritance after all, and I do not believe that the Duke needs it. Not all of it. If you would like to continue working in the way that you are, I can get you a job in another home. The one that my cousin, Victoria, works in. She is very happythere.”
Playing at being a maid for a short time was one thing, but doing it permanently was a massive commitment that she was not sure she couldmake.
“Who’s home is it? Will it be veryfar?”
“I spoke to her about tonight two days ago, she said that her master would be attending the event at this house tonight, so it must be within the area.” Daisy did not want to come so far just for the opportunity to go away. Now that she’d realized how much she needed it, the fiery obsession to get it burned brightly within her. “You would only need to try it, if it does not suit then I will find you work somewhere else. I will never let you be unhappy,Iris.”
Iris supposed that she had to start somewhere if she was really going to give up her life. Much as she’d always wanted to sacrifice her title, her inheritance, her name, could she actually do it inreality?
Then again, she had never got on well with people who shared her background. Even before she retired to her room for six years, she always felt like an outsider looking in. She had the right look and some of the grace, but it always felt like an acting part that she had to play. In her room, with Daisy, and downstairs, with the other staff, she felt like she could beherself.
There was a sense that she fit in, which was all she everwanted.
Iris weighed up the pros and cons in her mind before she answered, and Daisy sat back to let her debate. She knew that if she pushed her too hard, Iris would snap and that would have the opposite effect. In her mind, she begged like crazy, but outwardly she remained cool, calm, andcollected.
“Yes,” Iris eventually whispered. She wanted to make her friend happy, and she also needed to escape being her. Just because the thought was terrifying, didn’t mean it wasn’t the right one to make. “Yes, alright, I shall doit.”
“Oh, thank you!” Daisy jumped up and she embraced Iris wholly. She had no idea what she had just given her. Neither of the girls expected the switch to go this far, but now that it had it felt good. They both could be free of themselves and the lives that made them unhappy. “I shall make contact with Victoria tomorrow, and set up the arrangements. I know it feels like it is happening too quickly, but we need to get started before Oliviaarrives.”
Iris’s head spun, she had no idea what to think anymore but that much was correct. She needed to get out of the house that had kept her safe and warm for the past six years before her sister came... and also before she managed to talk herself out of it. Maybe if she could stay in her home, she would shut this down immediately, but that was out of the question. She had to go somewhere, it might as well be somewhere that she could be happy.Maybe.
“I think I need to sleep now,” she gasped as she moved away from Daisy. “We have a big day ahead of ustomorrow.”
“Oh yes, of course, goodnight.” Daisy barely listened, she was lost in her own dream world, imagining how wonderful her existence was about tobecome.
Lady Daisy... no, Lady Iris Warwick, Lady IrisPembroke...
