Iris thought it might be. “Marriage is designed to keep women out of mischief, and to get them intotrouble!”
As everyone bellowed into laughter, Iris let out a breath of relief. Maybe now she could actually be seen as one of the gang, she could be included which was all she everwanted.
“That is very true!” someone agreed. “And veryfunny.”
“Good one, Daisy.” Alice patted her on the back. “Even funnier than Matthew’sjoke.”
Even Matthew laughed and Victoria gave her a sweet smile. Her expression seemed to suggest that nothing would be the same anymore, and Iris took that to be a good thing. It certainly could not get any worse. Now, with Amy letting her in, and the other staff speaking to her as if she was worthwhile, Iris’s heart lifted and she felt herself soar higher than air. This was the happiest that she could ever rememberfeeling.
Maybe, just maybe, this was about to be the best day of herlife.
“So, Daisy, tell us more about the home you worked at before,” Alice asked innocently enough. She couldn’t possibly understand how much that made Iris panic inside. “Were you there for a longtime?”
“Just a short while,” Iris answered carefully. She wanted to be honest, but not too truthful. Even if these people would accept her, she couldn’t risk exposing Daisy. “But it was a home quite similar to this one. Maybe not as grandthough.”
“What was the girl like that you workedfor?”
Iris spotted Victoria’s eyes widen in a panicked shock. She tried to give her a reassuring smile, but the poor girl still looked stressed out. Iris was going to have to prove to her that she could keep up the façade bytalking.
“Oh, well she was a lovely girl. A little troubled, at times, but overall very pleasant to work with.” She tried to combine herself with Daisy as she explained this, to create a caricature for the girl she worked for before. It was the closest she’d gotten to daydreaming in a very long time. “I feel like working with her has helped me to understand Amy a little better. I can anticipate her needs in a much quickerway,”
“You certainly have lasted the longest, and I haven’t seen anyone get through to Amy like you have.” Alice’s kind words touched Iris very deeply. It felt wonderful to know that her presence was welcome. “I think you have been a very good addition to the house. Amy is lucky to have you for ahandmaiden.”
“Thank you very much,” Iris gasped with glee. “That is very kind of you tosay.”
Eventually, other people made their way over to where Iris was sitting to speak with her. Alice had opened the floodgates, she had made it acceptable for people to be friends with Iris, and now everyone wanted apiece.
Iris was the center of attention, and for the first time in her life, she loved it. The eyes upon her felt nice, the words spoken to her thrilled her immensely, she had stepped out from her wallflower position and it felt wonderful. Even Victoria came for a chat, and while they still had a lot of tension between them because of all the things they could not say to one another, it was much better thanbefore.
As far as Iris was concerned, things were lookingup.
* * *
As Iris layin her bed later that night she couldn’t go to sleep even if she wanted to. Her brain was buzzing with excitement, her body shivered with happiness, she could not remove the smile from her face however hard she tried. This was the best that she’d everfelt.
Everyone liked her, they really seemed to want to be around her... it was amazing. The more relaxed she felt around the other staff, the more she felt like herself. Of course, she still had to be careful with what she said, but it felt wonderful all thesame.
Maybe shewouldwrite Daisy a letter after all. She might not be able to send it today, but she would find out Duke Pembroke’s home address eventually. At least this time she could write somethingpositive.
Iris twisted in her bed and she flicked on her tiny lamp. It would be a strain to write under such dark conditions, but she needed to get it out of her system now, while her brain was filled withit.
DearIris,
I hope you have found as much happiness in your new life as I have. I am enjoying my new position very much, thank you very much for organizing it for me. You were right, it is an enjoyable place to work. I have friends, a lovely lady to work for, and a warm and comfortablehome.
Of course, I have not met the master of the house yet, but I do not believe that will change much. If he is away on business a lot, then I cannot see that his presence will affect anything. I can onlyhope.
I would love to see you again at some point, I am not sure if it is possible but if we could arrange it that would be lovely. There are many things that I would love to speak with you about, if the opportunityarises.
Ever yourfriend,
Daisy
Iris’s last few days with Daisy had been nothing more than a blur. She wished that she had made more of them, she could not even recall saying goodbye. She hoped that somehow she could make that up to her friend. She did not want it to end thatway.
As Iris lay back down, she allowed her mind to wander in a way that she hadn’t done since entering the Oakley household. She was actually daydreaming... only this time the subject of her fantasy was not a prince coming to whisk her away. In fact, there was no romance at all. This time, Iris daydreamed about meeting up withDaisy.
She saw herself being invited to some grand home, one that was even bigger than this one, where she would meet with ‘Lady Iris Pembroke’. She imagined seeing Daisy in the most beautiful lady-like dress she’d ever seen, Iris could just see her swishing gracefully in it, looking much more comfortable than Iris everdid.
