Chapter 21
Oh,mygoodness.
Iris felt like she was going to be sick. Her stomach churned, her chest fluttered, her knees knocked together with fear. Seeing Ewan had unleashed a lot. In all honesty, it made Iris realise just how insane this whole planwas.
How on Earth did she think that she was going to pull this off forever? Why hadn’t she thought this through properly? Yes, she and Daisy had managed to keep her sisters away from the ball, but they wouldn’t remain out of her life forever. Eventually one of them – probably Elizabeth – would want to visit her in her new home. Maybe to see how she was coping as a newlywed. Elizabeth had been very worried about Iris. She was the one who warned her against marrying the Duke because of his reputation in the first place. The sudden decision to go through with the wedding after all had probably come as a huge shock toher.
Then eventually Daisy would have children. There would be no keeping either of Iris’s sisters away then. What would happen if they came to visit? Maybe Daisy would be able to placate Elizabeth with the right words, but there was no way she’d be able to convince Olivia. The whole debacle would be exposed and everyone would beruined.
Iris would never be able to be seen again, Daisy’s life would be wrecked, the entire Warwick family would be ruined. Duke Pembroke would suffer as well, as would Elizabeth’s husband and Olivia’s daughter. Ewan and Amy would be impacted as well. There were too many people that could be affected by this, Irishadto make sure that the secret would bekept.
But how could she doit?
Iris paced up and down inside her tiny bedroom as terror swallowed her up. She couldn't let this defeat her, somehow she needed to come up with a good plan to ensure that nothing would ever come out. This was absolutely massive, and it had to be handleddelicately.
At first, Iris considered writing a letter to Elizabeth. That was an address that she knew well, but it felt too dangerous. Not only could the meaning easily be lost in translation, the information could also fall into the wrong hands. Maybe someone would read it along the way, or Elizabeth’s husband would see itfirst.
No, that was something that Iris could not risk. Elizabeth’s husband would never be able to keep thesecret.
There was also the chance that Elizabeth would visit her here, which would be a nightmare. There was no way that she could explain that oneaway.
Really, there was only one way that this could be solved, but again it came with a lot of risks. She needed to go and visit Elizabeth. At least at first, she would be enough. If Iris could get Elizabeth on her side, then maybe everyone else would come aroundtoo.
But she could not just go to the city alone. If she left the Oakley household without permission to do so, she would end up losing her job. She did not want to have to give up her life here, even if it was more challenging with Lord Oakleyaround.
Still, he was a busy man, he did not spend much time in the house. It would not always bedifficult.
As Iris came to the conclusion that she would have to ask the Lord for his permission to go back home, she could almost feel the mask that she’d built up for herself slipping away. It was as if she’d spent the last few weeks disguised at a masquerade ball, and now someone had come along and ripped off hermask.
Iris felt raw, exposed, a little muddyinside.
She forced herself to lie down on her bed and to close her eyes. Iris would have to speak to the Lord at some point, she needed to face her fears, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it right now in the middle of the night. She absolutely had to get some sleep before exhaustion came forher...
* * *
“Daisy, I remember you.”Ewan smiled at her in the same way that he did on that wonderful night. They stood in the hallway outside his office, only this time Amy was not there. Maybe that was why Ewan felt like he could speak so much more freely. “It is so good to see you again, I have been trying to find you ever since that night. You made such an impression on me that I have not been able to think of anyoneelse.”
“Oh, Ewan,” Iris gasped happily. “It is so good to hear you say that, I thought you did not want to know meanymore.”
Ewan grabbed hold of Iris’s hands and he pulled her in closer to him. As her body pressed up against his, Iris felt those explosions all over her again. No one would ever make her feel this way again, it was only him. This had to be love, there was no otherexplanation.
Iris hoped that made everything else about thisalright.
“How could I not want to know you, Daisy? I fell in love with you that night, and I have wanted nothing more than to dance with youagain.”
He moved his body and music burst out around them. It was as if they had a personal orchestra just for them. Iris fell into the same dance mode as she had on that magical night. She did not worry about steps or timing, she simply enjoyed the way that Ewan made her feel. With her heart racing and a bright smile on her face, she was happy oncemore.
“I love you very much,Daisy.”
Ewan’s face moved nearer to hers, Iris could feel her lips tingling withanticipation.
“I love you too, LordOakley.”
“Please, like I told you, call meEwan.”
All of a sudden, Ewan’s lips had gently brushed up against Iris’s and she felt even more wonderful than she knew possible. Even in all of her daydreams, a kiss had never felt sowonderful.
As Ewan pulled back, Iris fell into the deep pool of his eyes. There was so much warmth there, a tenderness that she loved. How could she not love this man? He was everything that she’d ever dreamed andmore.
