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“Yes. I will marry you, and gladly, my Lord.”
“Iris, are you certain?”
It was her father who spoke, and she turned back to discover him, with her mother and Thorne, but a few feet away. He looked deeply worried, as did her mother, and she knew that they were torn between wanting to avoid scandal if they could, and wanting only the best for Iris.
“Yes Father, I am certain. This is what I wish, no matter how… unusual… the circumstances.”
Her father studied her, as if trying to see if she told the truth, then nodded.
“So be it then. It would appear that we have an urgent wedding to arrange.”
>>>
Leon sat there, an odd warmth filling him, a sensation he had never previously felt. He had been mad enough to do as his grandmother had demanded, and Lady Iris had said yes. There had been nothing but care for him in her eyes when she had done so, no hesitation. To have someone look at him like that, to want to marry him, filled him with hope. He had not known just how deeply he needed to be wanted, until now.
Despite what he would face when Lady Iris first met Maggie, despite the challenges which would follow, in the moment, all he cared for was the fact that she had said yes, and he was quite sure that it was not simply to preserve her reputation.
Chapter Five
They had left the soiree rather rapidly after the dramatic events in the music room, surrounded by the scandalised whispers of the guests. Tomorrow, Lord Greenleigh and his mother would call at Elbury House, and arrangements would be made. There would, Iris knew, be a special licence obtained, and the marriage would be quiet, private, and very soon.
Her mother was annoyed with her – not, she suspected, because of the scandalous nature of events, but because the situation, combined with the ongoing mourning for the King, meant that there was not to be a large wedding – and her mother loved arranging large weddings. Now, as the carriage conveyed them home, there was an uncomfortable silence. Iris had never felt uncomfortable with her family before, and found herself quite lost and unsure of everything. Everything, that was, but for the fact that she was to marry Lord Greenleigh. That was something which she was pleased by, and most certain about, no matter what anyone else might think or say.
Once home, they went into the parlour, and called for a tea tray. The Duchess fixed Iris with her sternest expression and sighed.
“What have you done, Iris? I never thought that you might act so! You’ve always been so well behaved! You must go through with this now – there is no turning back.”
“I am aware of that Mother. And… I am quite content with marrying Lord Greenleigh.”
“How can you be? You barely know him.”
“I know enough to be sure, Mother.”
The Duchess shook her head, and turned to her husband.
“Then it seems, husband, that we must discuss many things before the morrow brings Lord Greenleigh to our door. We will leave you here, Iris.”
The Duke took the Duchess’ arm, and patted her hand reassuringly.
“Let us settle in my study, and plan it all out. Good evening Iris, Thorne.”
The Duchess looked back at Iris just as they went out the door.
“Make sure that you rise early tomorrow – there will be much to do.”
And then her parents were gone, leaving Iris sitting with her brother in the silent room. The mantel clock ticked loudly, and the fire in the grate crackled, reminding Iris that soon, this would no longer be her home – that this warmth and comfort which had always been hers would not be so, anymore. She would need to find new comfort in a strange place.
For the first time, the prospect of what she was about to do seemed a little frightening.
“Iris…” Thorne’s voice was soft, “are you truly sure that this is what you want? There would be scandal, yes, but if you do not wish to marry him, we will find a way to break the betrothal.”
She lifted her gaze from the flickering flames of the fire, and met his eyes. That her brother cared enough for her happiness to be willing to brave that sort of scandal, if she wished it, warmed her and reminded her that her family truly loved her.
“I am sure, Thorne. I… I think that I have been half in love with him since the very first time that I saw him, at Lady Ormondston’s musicale. It is no hardship to marry him. I am sorry that it has come about in a scandalous manner, and that I have deprived Mother of her chance to organise another extravagant wedding celebration, but I do not regret it for one moment.”
“Then I wish you well of it. You know that, should you ever need help, you can always call on me?”
“I do, but I do not expect to need to.”
