* * *
Another nightof very little sleep, Iris stared at her weary face in the mirror, noticing the darkness under her eyes. Her skin was also a little pale, like it needed much more beauty sleep. Unfortunately, that seemed to be the one thing that Iris could not offer it. She had done a little makeup to cover up the worst of it, but she couldn’t hide it all. She was exhausted, on the biggest day of herlife.
It is finally time to face the music, today is the day I will seeElizabeth.
There was one wonderful thing to this, at least she would get to spend some time with her big sister. It was going to be fraught and stressful, but this was someone who knew the real her inside and out. Someone that she didn’t need to hide a single thing from. The mask could slip totally away. Iris felt like she could finally let out a deep breath that she’d been holdingin.
But first... breakfast. She could vaguely recall a mention of food being served in the dining area this morning, and although no plans were made she assumed that was where she would be meetingEwan.
After one final check that she had packed all of her belongings away, and a last glance out of the window, Iris clicked the door to her guest house bedroom behind her. Then she slowly made her way down the spiral staircase until she spotted a selection of fine-looking men and women entering aroom.
Iris did not care that she was underdressed when she spotted Ewan standing next to the queue as if he was waiting for her. What did it matter what anyone else thought of her when this man didn’t mind being seen with her? He did not mind that she had a simple pale dress on, or that her hair flowed freely down her back. If Ewan was not worried, then she couldn’t beeither.
It seemed that Ewan cared about how he appeared in society, but seemingly not today. It felt like another sweet moment that was just for them. Just another memory that they could take with them when everything changedtomorrow.
As Ewan’s eyes connected with Iris’s, she instantly felt her pulse race. It was almost as if her knees had turned to jelly and she could barely hold herself upright any longer. Then he smiled and she actually trembled alittle.
“Good morning,” Ewan smiled brightly as he spotted her. “Are you hungry? I thought that we could eat something before we startagain.”
“Yes, that sounds wonderful, thankyou.”
Iris almost went to curtsy, but fortunately, she managed to stop herself at the last minute. She did not want to make their apparent differences so obvious when they were having such a nice time acting almost asequals.
Ewan’s hand hung near hers as they walked into the dining room, which made Iris feel even more excitable. There were electrical bolts fluttering all over her body until she was almost out of control. The knowledge that he could just reach out and touch her at any moment was too much tohandle.
He did not touch her, he didn’t take her hand, but that didn’t stop Iris fromdreaming.
They took their plates of food and sat at one of the smaller, mahogany tables opposite one another. There was something very intimate about the moment, they were nearer to each other than when they were in the pub, but for some reason, Iris felt much less awkward thistime.
She wasn’t sure if it was her, or if it was Ewan, but someone was very different, and that change affectedeverything.
Ewan had dreamt of the beautiful young woman that sat in front of him all night long, and although he knew that none of what had happened in his imagination was real, it had felt that way and now changedeverything.
He knew that he shouldn’t love Daisy, she was a lowborn maid who would wreck him, but he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t intend to make any life changing decisions without speaking to Amy first, but he already had a feeling that she would not mind. From what he understood, Amy adored Daisy and would want her around no matterwhat.
Or so hehoped.
Now that he’d made the choice to live his life in a much freer manner, he could not take his eyes off of Daisy. He didn't even care if anyone saw him gazing at her like she was the most beautiful woman on the planet... that was exactly how hefelt.
He wanted to tell her that he’d changed his mind about everything and that he didn't mean to let her believe that he did not like her because she was lowborn, but he did not know how to form the words. Nor did he think it was wise to get her hopes up when they might be dashed oncemore.
He also wanted to be cautious of the fact that Daisy was about to lose her father. This was a sensitive time for her, and she could be very emotional. He did not want to throw this into themix.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked her kindly, deciding to stick to a safe subject. “You look really welltoday.”
“I do?” Iris gasped in shock. She had seen herself in the mirror this morning, she knew that she looked worn out. “Oh, well thank you.” Despite that, she didn’t want to argue with Ewan’s kindness. “I slept perfectly,” she lied. “Thank you. You look well yourself like you are very prepared for your business meetingtoday."
“Ah, yes, my meeting,” Ewan mused. “That should be a lot of fun, I amsure.”
“It sounds terribly exciting to me, working with boats and trade. It seems like anadventure.”
“It can be,” Ewan nodded and smiled. “But as with everything, the amount of paperwork involved can be a nightmare. I am certain you canimagine.”
Iris smiled but didn't answer that. "I think I would love to cross the ocean," she commented idly. "To see other lands. I imagine it would be a lot of fun to get to know newcultures.”
“You mean societies without as many rules,” Ewan only half-joked. “Yes, it would beexciting.”
“So, you have never been anywhere else? You work with boats but you have not ever beenanywhere?”
