“So what happened? You are married to him, are younot?”
Iris’s heart pounded loudly, this was the part that she was most scared about saying. “Iris Warwick is married to theDuke.”
“Yes?” Elizabeth screwed up her face in confusion. “That is what I said, is itnot?”
“No, you do not understand.Iris Warwickis married to theDuke.”
It took a few moments, but realisation finally washed over Elizabeth. Her mouth fell open in utter shock. “You mean; you are stillswitched?”
“Yes, weare.”
Iris held her breath and she waited. Elizabeth went through a range of emotions, they all flittered across her face until eventually, she settled on a stunnedacceptance.
“So, Olivia knows? You are now working for her, or do you just live in your old room? I have not seen her since she moved back into the family home, so I have missed out on alot.”
“No, Olivia does not know. You are the only one who knows. Well, aside from Daisy’s cousin. I took a handmaiden job in anotherhousehold.”
“You are a maid? No, I cannot have that. I will speak to my husband and you can come and livehere...”
“No, Elizabeth,” Iris giggled. “I appreciate it, but I am happy. I like my work and I feel more comfortable than I ever did as a lady. I adore the young lady that I work with, I am having a good time withher.”
“But you cannot be amaid...”
“Elizabeth, I cannot give it up, If I do, I risk exposing Daisy. I need to keep up therouse.”
“Why did you come here then?” Elizabeth could not wrap her head around the idea that Iris did not want her help. Even though she could not always complete what she wanted to do, she always liked to try her best. “What can I do foryou?”
“I wanted you to know,” Iris shrugged simply. “I did not like having this huge secret from everyone in my family, especially you. Plus, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that you will see ‘me’ eventually and you’ll realise that it is Daisy. Then everything will fallapart.”
"Right, of course, because when Olivia and I see our sister, it will not be you...” That was too much for Elizabeth to digest, this whole plan seemed insane. “I guess you did not think everything through when you concocted thisscheme.”
“It was never supposed to go this far, I admit it spiralled out of control when Daisy confessed to me that she wanted to marry theDuke.”
“And you did not mindthat?”
“Truly not, it saved me having to marry him, and now I work for LordOakley.”
Her true emotions when it came to Ewan must have shown across her face as she said his name because Elizabeth jumped on that immediately. "Do you have feelings for this Lord? Could you not marryhim?"
“I do not think so,” Iris replied sadly. “Because he knows me only as Daisy, the lowborngirl.”
“But you are notlowborn...”
“But if I told him the truth, my reputation would be ruined, you and Olivia would be affected, as would Daisy. I think that she is happy now, at least I hope so. I have not spoken to hersince.”
Elizabeth stared her sister up and down, still trying to process everything. None of it made much sense, but she could not deny that there was a newness to her sister. Iris looked shiny andjoyful.
“Well, I do not think I like any of this,” she said cautiously. “But you do seem a lot happier now than I have ever seen youbefore.”
“Oh I am, I really am.” Iris clapped her hands together gleefully. "I really am, my life as it is, now suits me so much more than it did before. I guess that is why I am so worried that things might fall apart. I do not want to lose what I havenow."
“I suppose I will need to speak with Olivia then, ensure that she understands what ishappening.”
“Yes, please. I know it is a lot to ask of you, Elizabeth, but I would really appreciate it if you could help her to understand. You have always been much better at explaining things than me.” Iris paused, just for a second. “I would also like it if you make contact with Daisy, to see how she is doing. I would like to know that she is doingwell.”
“Of course. It may also help her to learn that I know the truth. Maybe she has been just as worried as you. I will write to you as soon as I havenews.”
Iris did not bother to comment that Daisy wasn't the one who worried in the way that Iris did. Elizabeth did not know her as well as Iris, she had spent much less time with her. "Thank you so much, Elizabeth. Just remember to address the letter toDaisy."
“So, you will be Daisy forevernow?”
“I do not know.” Iris shrugged helplessly. “At the moment, I am just taking it a day at atime.”
“Wow.” Elizabeth fell back in her seat with a thoughtful look on her face. “So much has changed. Olivia and her children are back home, father is gone, Daisy is married to the Duke in place of you, and you are now amaid.”
“You are the only one who has things thesame.”
“Actually, no.” Elizabeth gave her a cheeky smile. It seemed that she had some news of her own to share, which excited Iris. “I have some news of my own. I am actually about to have ababy.”
