Chapter 36
Iris’s emotionsonly soared after the wonderful night of the party, it felt incredible for her to know that everything was finally coming together. It might not have been the smoothest fairy tale in the world, but now she had her prince and her happy ever after. She had everything that she’d everwanted.
Nothing worth having came easilyanyway.
“I cannot believe that you are leaving,” Alice and Victoria crowded Iris as she got ready to finally say goodbye to the Oakley household that had brought her so much joy. “But I am sure you will have lots of fun inAmerica.”
They shared a look then, which Iris understood all too well. Rumours were spreading, and she found that this time she didn’t mind. She was the center of attention, and she truly did not mind. The official story was that Iris was to help Ewan with his new business venture across the world, but there were some not so discrete whispers that suggested everyone could see through the lie anyway. Iris did not mind them knowing that she and Ewan had fallen in love, she just did not want them to see that she was not who she purported to be. That was a secret that still needed to bekept.
Victoria knew, of course, but she would never tell. She had her cousin’s interests at heart, as well as herown.
“You, Lord Oakley, and the Lady all leaving home in the same week," Alice continued obliviously. "It is going to be a very quiet place without youall.”
“I am sure you will find ways to amuse yourself,” Iris teased. “You have always been very good atthat.”
She embraced them both, in turn, mentally saying goodbye to two people that had made her feel wonderful during her time in the Oakley household. Maybe she had been closer to Amy, but she still enjoyed the company of these two verymuch.
Although the hugs she shared with these two did not gut her in the way hugging Amy for the very last time had. At that moment, she felt like she was about to lose a limb. As happy as she was for her soon to be sister-in-law, it was a struggle to let hergo.
Still, things had to change for better things to come in their place. If this whole experience had taught her anything it was that the grass was always greener if you were willing to reach out and grabit.
“Daisy?” Mr. Shipman, the butler that had once caused her nothing but issues, grabbed her attention. “You have a visitor at the door, a young lady who says she wishes to speak with you before youleave.”
“Oh.” Confusion flooded Iris, she could not think who this could be. Her sisters had agreed to see her as she boarded the ship so as not to blow the cover, so it could not be them. “I see; did she say who shewas?”
“She did not give a name, but she was extremely keen to seeyou.”
Iris raced to the door with a sense of panic deep in her chest. She did not know anyone, not in this life, apart from her sisters, so she honestly could not work out who it would be. She had the horrible feeling that everything was about to be unravelled just as she was about to get itall.
“Oh my goodness.” Her hands clapped to her mouth as she saw the vision in the door frame. “Oh my goodness, I do not even know what tosay.”
Her heart stopped beating, she felt elated, confused, happy, and intensely shocked all at the same time. Of all the people she thought this might be, she never assumed that it would be this sweet face looking back at her. This was the one person that she assumed she would never see again. She had placed a metaphorical line in the sand, even if there was not anyclosure.
Now though, it seemed that all of that was going tochange.
“Come here,” Daisy exclaimed gleefully. “I need to hugyou.”
Iris fell into Daisy’s arms, finding great comfort in this familiar environment. They never got to say the proper goodbye last time, if she could get it now then she could truly move to America with everything sorted backhome.
“Oh my goodness, Daisy,” she whispered into her hair. “I have missed you so verymuch.”
Daisy pulled back and she stared into Iris’s eyes. There she could see a true happiness in her face. Despite all the odds being stacked against her, Daisy seemed to have found happiness with theDuke.
Iris examined Daisy in her beautiful new fashion; her flowing pink dress, her buttery hair was curled to perfection, she had jewels decorating every inch of her. She looked as if she had been born into thislife.
“Is there anywhere that we can talk?” Daisy asked pointedly. “There must be a room where we can catchup?”
Iris thought carefully, but there was nowhere that she was not certain that they would not be overheard. Now that she finally had Daisy back in her life, even if it was only for a moment, she wanted to be able to talk freely with her, to find outeverything.
“I think we should take a walk around the gardens? It is such a niceday.”
It was not that nice really, but Daisy understood. “Of course, that sounds wonderful, although I might need to find a seat. I do not know if you have heard about mycondition?”
Iris smiled brightly. “I have been informed that you are expecting. That is wonderfulnews.”
The girls said nothing else until they were fully outside and far enough away from the house that they felt safe. Almost simultaneously they burst into laughter at the madness of how far they had come. The last time they were truly together, they were working on the switch, now they were living in the results ofit.
“So, Elizabeth has informed me that you are moving to America. Is thistrue?”
