“Yes, it is that too. I am sure that youunderstand.”
Iris hung her head low and she allowed a deep sadness to cross herface.
"I am here for you if you need a friend," Alice insisted. "You do not need to suffer this pain alone. I have to get to work now, but I am around later on if you wish to talkthen.”
“Of course, thank you, Alice.” Iris was touched by her friend’s kindness. In all her confusion, she had forgotten how well accepted she was here. “I appreciate it very much. I shall see you lateron.”
As Alice walked up the stairs, Iris decided that she would make time to see her friends. It was not right that she had pushed them all away. She could not discuss her true issues with anyone, not without being honest about absolutely everything, but having warm, kind people around her would leave her muchhappier.
And then she was completely alone again, so she tugged the letter out from her pocket and she raced into her bedroom where she couldfinallysee what Elizabeth had to say. She had been waiting for this moment ever since she left her sister’shome...
So why could she not go through withit?
She perched on the edge of her bed and she fingered the paper slowly. It was a high-quality paper, and the handwriting was absolutely beautiful. Elizabeth had clearly taken a very long time to write this. She had even taken care to ensure that there were no signs that this had come from a lady. She had done a fantasticjob.
Just open it,Iris scorned herself.What on Earth is wrong with you? It surely cannot say anything too harmful... Elizabeth would have come if it was terrible news. She would want to protectyou.
With that one decisive thought in her mind, Iris tore at the envelope and inside she finally received thenews.
DearDaisy,
I hope that you are well. I would love to hear more about your new position in the Oakley household, I hope that you are very happythere.
I am writing to you to share some news about some people than I feel certain you wish to knowabout.
Iris’s heart pounded noisily, a thick ball of emotion lodged into her throat, she had to lay the paper down to stop it from shaking violently along with herfingers.
My friend, Iris, is extremely happy in her new marriage. I visited her in the week and she is very pleased with her new life. She feels that her father chose very well for her. She even believes that she might be withchild.
Wow! That was more than Iris was expecting, but at least Daisy was happy. She had feared that she might discover that her friend felt trapped in her marriage to the brutish Duke Pembroke and that she thought it was amistake.
Her sister, Olivia, is also happy to learn that her sister is doingwell.
Iris blew out a deep breath of air, she felt her lungs slacken. She needed to know that Olivia was on board. A lot of the plan had hinged onthat.
She would like to visit soon though, as I am sure you can imagine. She wants to see her happy sister. I think that we should make it a meeting of all of us, then we can really catch up. The next time you are in the city you should let me know, so we can planit.
I miss you a lot, but I am glad to hear that you are doing well. I would love to receive a reply from you, even if it is simply an acknowledgement that you have read mycorrespondence.
Love,
Elizabeth
Iris rolled over and she chuckled to herself. This was perfect, everyone was happy. She could not have received better news! If Daisy loved her marriage and she had a baby in her belly that would get the life he or she deserved, then it was all worthit.
Yes, it made her mind up for her when it came to her identity, she could not tell anyone now that there was an innocent unborn child in the mix, but it did not truly matter. Everyone had gotten what they wanted, everything was right with theworld.
With an eagerness overwhelming her, Iris grabbed the pen and paper that she had used to write Daisy a million and one letters during her time here, and she set about writing her reply toElizabeth.
She just needed to be just as cautious as her sister, on the small chance that the letter might beintercepted.
DearElizabeth,
It is wonderful to hear from you; I was very excited to get your letter. I am very pleased to hear how well everyone is doing. It is lovely that Iris is so happy in her marriage, and that she is having a baby. It is what she has always wanted, afterall.
I love the idea of meeting up with you, Iris, and Olivia. It has been a very long time since all of us have been together, I am certain that we have much to discuss. I will see when I can make it to the city next so we can arrangethis.
As for my job, I am still very happy working in the Oakley household. I enjoy working with Amy, and my chores are fulfilling. I have no issues to complainof.
