“Very well. I shall tell you everything.”
“And leave no detail out.” Camelia beamed.
Iris hesitated before she began to confess the truth. “We tried to sabotage the duke.”
Camelia gasped. “What do you mean, Iris?”
“It was harmless, little jests like weak tea every morning, and the furniture and flowers mysteriously returning after he ordered them removed. The staff and I orchestrated every small rebellion we could think of to make him uncomfortable and unwelcome.”
Camelia’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open for a moment. Then delight sparkled brightly in her gaze.
“You wicked thing! I cannot believe you turned the entire household into a campaign of polite sabotage. And he tolerated it?”
Iris gave a small, rueful smile, her cheeks warming at the memory.
“Barely,” she admitted with a reluctant smile. “But I am beginning to reconsider whether any of it was worth it. Or even fair. I have been far too reckless, Camelia.”
Camelia leaned forward, intrigued. “You sound as though you are rethinking the entire arrangement.”
“I am. And staying under the same roof with a man while unmarried… is just not proper and not safe.”
“Then marry him,” Camelia said simply.
Iris frowned. “No.”
“Why not? Does the idea of marriage with him soundthatterrible?”
Quite the opposite.
Iris brushed the thought away quickly.
“No. Marriage to Blaise is not something I even wish to contemplate.”
“Blaise?” Camelia’s lips curved knowingly. “And when did you begin calling him by his name?”
“That hardly matters,” Iris muttered but felt her skin burn with embarrassment.
“It does, and you are denying it.” Camelia teased. “Well, it is disappointing to hear that you are not interested in marrying him. He does seem rather charming in that dangerous, brooding sort of way.”
“He does?” Iris asked her sister sarcastically.
“Oh, hush! Where is he, by the way? I had hoped to meet him again.”
“He has been away for a few days,” Iris replied softly as she fought the excitement that bubbled up inside of her for his return.
“Did something terrible happen?” Camelia asked with a troubled look.
“I believe so. He received word about one of his horses in Surrey, and he left rather suddenly.”
Before Camelia could press further, the sound of the front door opening drew their attention, and footsteps echoed in the entrance hall.
“That must be Pamela,” Camelia said brightly. “She said she might join us after her lesson.”
“A guest for Lady Hentley,” Blaise’s butler announced.
Iris frowned; she did not expect any visitors.
“I will see who this is,” Iris said, rising. She smoothed her skirts and stepped into the hall, walking briskly to the entrance.
