“It is.” Iris blushed, but she knew she could share the truth with her friend. “I have finally foundlove.”
“With the Lord? I knew it. I always knew you would find some well to do man who could love you wholly.” Iris did not even need to confirm that Daisy’s assumptions were true, they both knew it was the case. “Is that why you areleaving?”
“We are leaving to protect everyone, but also to be free.” Iris pursed her lips before she launched into her next question. “How have you been, Daisy? I have heard a little, but I think of you often. I want to know that you are happy with what hashappened.”
“Oh, Iris, I have found true love,” Daisy swooned. “I know you might not think much of the Duke, and I understand why people think of him as a hard man, but I have gotten underneath his exterior and he is not all bad.” She paused for a second as if she was thinking through her next words carefully. “He does not say much, but fortunately I talk enough for the both ofus.”
Iris let out a deep breath that she had not even realized she was holding in. Daisy was happy, truly happy, and in love. Her joy was based on more than just a title. She found great solace in that, and it felt good to know that her friend had itall.
“We started off a little awkwardly, I found his silence challenging and I did not know where to place myself, but now I love our home and our lifetogether.”
“Is he away often, like youfeared?”
“He has his work, but he is home often enough for me. I am verycontent.”
“Good.” Iris rested her hand on Daisy’s. “I am truly glad that your life has been good toyou.”
“And you have been alright? You have done well working in Lord Oakley’shome?”
"I worked with a wonderful young lady," Iris smiled at the memory of her time with Amy. "I was to her what you always were to me. I became her friend and her confidant. I got her to a place where she is now married and veryhappy."
“Well that is wonderful news,” Daisy exclaimed. “I always thought that you would be much happier with a purpose in your life. What purpose will you find inAmerica?
“I do not know,” Iris admitted. “But I am certain I will findsomething.”
The Lord had money to look after them but Iris knew for sure that she would not simply sit around and do nothing. She needed a true purpose to keep hergoing.
"I did not tell anyone who I am at the door because I was not certain what peopleknew..."
"Oh, no one knows anything," Iris reassured her rapidly. "The Lord knows the truth and Victoria. Lady Amy knows some, but not much. I have been very careful with the information because I know that it affects youtoo.”
“I only had to check because of my unborn child, please do not think that is the reason Icame.”
“I would never thinkthat.”
“I have not told the Duke either. He assumes that I am Iris Warwick, and I am happy for him to believethat.”
Iris nodded, she did not mind but she also could not have done that herself. She could never have started her love story on that one massive untruth. But maybe her identity meant more to her than it ever didDaisy.
“Are you used to your newname.”
“I am, actually. It is a goodname.”
They paused for a moment and smiled serenely at one another, both in the knowledge that they had both found truehappiness.
Iris knew that Daisy needed the goodbye just as much as she did. They had been friends for far too long to simply vanish from one another’s lives. Iris felt bad now that she had planned on doing just that. She should have been the one to make theeffort.
“I suppose I must be going,” Daisy declared sadly. “As must you, for your big worldwideadventure.”
Daisy’s eyes misted as she realized that this was the end. She was glad that so many wonderful things had become of the switch, but she would have loved to hit the pause button for just a second. She would have loved to go back in time, to have lunch in Iris’s room one lasttime.
Although it was not Iris’s room anymore, or even Iris’s home. The house belonged to Olivia and she and Iris both had their ownlives.
“It has been so wonderful to see you,” Iris gasped. “I am so glad that you came before I left. I do not know how I would have felt without truly knowing what had become ofyou.”
As they held one another, all the unsaid emotions flowed between them, they remembered everything that had gone between them, all the times they had supported one another. If they had not met, if Daisy didn't work for the Warwick family, who knew what would have become of theirlives?
They would never have been able to findhappiness.
