His Imaginary Courtship by Summer Hanford

Author:Summer Hanford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Angling to catch the thin rays of morning light, Iris fitted more thread on her needle. Daisy liked the rose buds Iris had done so much that she’d begged for more on a different gown. Iris had hedged, but now with her sister not speaking to her, she hoped the little flowers would thaw Daisy, if only she had the correct gown. She’d been unable to find Daisy this morning to ask her. Her sister rising early to avoid her cut deeper than Iris would care to admit.

Iris wished she could simply tell her sister the truth. She hadn’t stolen Mister Blakley. He’d no intention of wedding either of them. Or anyone.

But Iris couldn’t confess. Much as she wished to make amends, she simply didn’t trust Daisy to keep the secret. If Iris told her sister the truth, the whole of London would know in a matter of hours. She loved her sister, but she’d given her word to Mister Blakley. An explanation would have to come at the end of the Season. Right before Iris married Cousin Bartholomeus.

Iris grimaced. A week ago, she would have settled for Bartholomeus. The thought of wedding him didn’t make her particularly happy, but doing so would be eminently practical. Over the years, she had come to respect practicality.

Then she’d met Adam Blakley. The way he shunned all women, even though his wife had been gone for so long, reawakened her dreams. Men who loved truly and deeply weren’t a myth. There was at least one: Adam Blakley. If one existed, there must be more.

Movement in the parlor doorway drew her gaze. Her father stood, skin waxen, mouth pressed closed in a hard grimace. Though immobile, he vibrated with emotion.

Iris lowered her needle. “Father?”

“Get your maid to help you pack.”

“Pack? For where? For how long?”

“For home.” His words were clipped, edged in anger. “We’re returning to the country.”

Iris shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“Your sister sneaked from this house last night. She has run off with Mister Patrick Harlow. She is ruined. We are a laughingstock.”

Iris stared at him.

“Up. Now. Pack.”

“But where is Daisy? Is she well?” And what of Mister Blakley and her promise to him?

“Daisy is lost to us. She shall know succor under my roof no longer.”

Iris’s mouth gaped open. She pressed her lips closed, then parted them to try a different tact. “Mister Blakley—”

“Cares for you enough to seek us in the countryside to ask for your hand despite this scandal or does not. Go pack.” Father stomped off down the hall.

Iris dropped her gaze to her needlework. Daisy had run off with…Patrick Harlow? Wasn’t that the gentleman their mother had said would not marry this Season? Indeed, her father had said nothing about them wedding. If that was what they’d run off to do, the scandal would be bad, but it wouldn’t be enough to chase Iris and her parents from London.

Iris shoved Daisy’s dress into her sewing basket and stood. She hurried from the parlor and to her room, calling for her maid.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.