She needed torun.
Without even thinking, Iris turned on her heels to move, but before she could get anywhere Amy called herback.
“Daisy, come here a moment, meet mybrother.”
Iris slid her eyes closed and she groaned internally. Why could she never catch a break? Still, she couldn’t defy what her lady wanted, and she certainly couldn’t ignore her master. She just had to hope that he wouldn’t remember... although, if he didn’t remember her that might crush hertoo.
“Ofcourse.”
Iris could hear her footsteps breaking the silence as she walked. Every step that she took brought her closer to what could possibly be the end. Ewan could decide that she wasn’t suitable to have around, he might find her presence far too distracting. He had hinted that he liked her as they shared a dance, which could prove to be aproblem.
Iris thought that she had forgotten his sweet words on that night, but with him here they all came flooding rightback.
“It is a shame that you are not in the grand hall wearing a fancydress.”
“If you were a lady, you would already know the steps, but then again I might not want to dance with youthen.”
“I do not like to play by therules.”
He had been so lovely with her, it was unbearable to think that could be herdownfall.
“Ewan, this is my new handmaiden. Her name isDaisy.”
Ewan's eyes slowly moved off the piece of paper in his hand. Clearly, he was so involved with the business that he was currently attending to that he hadn't even realized that she was there. As their eyes connected and bolts of electricity raced through Iris's system, she waited with baited breath to see how he wouldreact.
At first, there was a blankness to his expression, he showed no emotion in his eyes. Then recognition hit him hard. He knew this girl; she was the beautiful one from the ball. Here in his home. He went from happiness, to shock, to fear, and all the way to disappointmentagain.
“Hello, Daisy, is it?” The only thing he could do was deny allknowledge.
“Erm, yes.” Iris curtsied, this time it felt like the right thing to do. “It is nice to meet you, LordOakley.”
“Daisy is wonderful, Ewan, I love her a lot.” Amy seemed completely unaware of any tension surrounding them all. “We have a great time together, don’t we, Daisy? She has been a good friend tome.”
The tears that balled up behind Iris’s eyes were half because of Amy referring to her as a friend, and half because the man of her dreams was in the house and there was nothing that she could do about it. If Iris was going to stay in the Oakley household, she would have to witness Ewan marry, and possibly fall in love with another woman right in front of her veryeyes.
It would be absolutelytorturous.
Then again, what else could shedo?
“Well, I am glad to hear that you are having such a nice time.” Ewan’s back straightened, his face hardened. He needed to escape this situation before it overwhelmed him completely. “I need to get back into my office now, I would like to remain undisturbed all daylong.”
On the one hand, that meant Iris would not be having her very awkward meeting with the master of the house, but on the other, she would not be able to clear the air at all. That was going to be reallyhard.
Again, she was back in a world where she didn’t have a say. Iris didn’t totally feel like her wings had been clipped, but they’d been tied behind her back. She squeezed her lips tightly together while she tried to figure out what to donext.
“Of course, I will let everyone know.” Iris curtsied once more, deciding to remain professional. If Ewan wanted to keep up the pretense that they did not know one another then she would do the same. At least for now. “It is nice to meet you, LordOakley.”
