Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Mr. Tibbitt, might I ask you a question?” Iris began as she spread marmalade across her toast; she liked it spready thickly, smothering every inch of toast that she could.
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“How far from here is the local village?”
“Oh…” Mr. Tibbitt blinked. “Not far, Your Grace. Just half a mile down the main road.”
“Wonderful.” She picked up the piece of toast and prepared to take a bite. “I might wander that way once I am finished here.” She nodded once at the decision and moved the toast to her mouth, only to pause when she saw the Head of Staff grimace. “Is something the matter?”
“You mean to head into the village?”
“I do.”
“Alone?”
She laughed. “I think it will be perfectly fine, Mr. Tibbitt. This is Philip’s duchy, is it not. And they are his tenants. What could possibly go wrong. Besides, I would very much like to meet some of them. It is right that I do.”
“It is not that, Your Grace.” Mr. Tibbitt was fidgeting nervously with his hands. “There is no danger, per se.”
“And yet you are behaving as if I asked to go swimming with sharks.”
He chuckled awkwardly. “The truth of the matter is that His Grace expressly asked that I warn you off heading to the village. In fact, the implication was that he forbade it.”
She scoffed. “Did he now?”
“He did, Your Grace.”
“And when did the two of you have this conversation?”
“The evening that you arrived, Your Grace,” Mr. Tibbitt told her. “He was quite adamant about the fact.”
She laughed and shook her head, not in the least bit surprised. “Where I have no doubt that His Grace said such things, I am inclined to believe that much has changed since then.”
“But, Your Grace—”
“This is not a conversation, Mr. Tibbitt.” She raised an eyebrow at him and laughed to see him so stricken with panic.
“I am doing this, and there is nothing you can say to stop me. And despite your reservations, I am certain that Philip will not mind nearly as much as you seem to think.” She smiled at that. “Not anymore.”
“As you say, Your Grace…”
Iris was not at all surprised by Mr. Tibbitt’s warning, just as she was not surprised to hear when it had been given. Four days ago, when Iris had still been a stranger in this house, the duke as much of one to her, had been rather strict concerning what she could and could not do.
Granted, she still would have done as she planned, even if she thought it would upset Philip. As I made perfectly clear the last time, this is my home and I am to treat it as such.
However, she also didn’t think it would be a problem, and that Mr. Tibbitt’s reservations were somewhat outdated. Four days ago, such things were perfectly predictable. Now they were a thing of the past and not worth the worry.
Oh, how quickly things had changed.
What had happened between Iris and Philip that morning in her bedroom was indeed the catalyst. A most unexpected moment that Iris had convinced herself she did not want until it was upon her.
Even now, four days later, and rarely did an hour pass where her mind did not go back to what she and the duke had done.
How he had tempted her, teased her… and punished her because of it.
There was no doubt in her mind that she wanted it to happen again. But not just the kiss. She wanted more. She could not stop thinking about how he had called her a bad girl, the threat of punishment, and she wondered just how far he was willing to go…
Her sickness had drawn the duke to her bedroom the following morning, and that had changed everything. Perhaps the previous day was the spark but her illness was the match, and it had lit between them a mode of companionship that Iris was still wrapping her head around.
For now, it was companionable. They spoke kindly to each other.
They no longer fought and argued. They both seemed to be of the mind that this marriage, for how it had started, might lead to so much more and if there was a chance of such a thing then it needed to be explored.
A chance taken that neither thought they wanted but were now edging closer toward with each passing day.
Did Iris miss the arguing? Yes, only for the most obvious of reasons. But she was determined not to focus too much on that, figuring that for now being kind to one another and treating this relationship with respect was what mattered most.
With that in mind, what might have appeared as nothing more than a casual visit to the local village was so much more than that.
Despite everything, this marriage is starting to feel like it has real promise. And if I want such a thing, which I think that I do, I need to prove it. No more half-measures.
Iris was a duchess now. This village was a part of her realm. No doubt its villagers had known the duke his entire life, as he had known them. It was time they got to know her as well.
Finishing with her breakfast, Iris washed herself, put on her day wear and left the manor in her rear.
Philip was out for the day, and she was excited to see him this evening and tell him where she had been.
Further proof, she believed, that she was taking this marriage seriously.
Hopefully also, it would give the duke permission to do the same.
“I really do wish you would reconsider,” Mr. Tibbitt urged her as he followed Iris from the front of the manor. “Just until His Grace returns.”
“Nonsense,” she said and waved him down. “If he arrives home before I do, tell him I should be back well before evening.”
“How about I join you? A lady should not be—”
“I will be fine,” she sighed. “I do not need to be watched like a helpless child.” She folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow at Mr. Tibbitt.
He grimaced. “As you say, Your Grace.”
She sighed again and shook her head at the theatrics.
Where Iris appreciated his concern, she also found it a little annoying.
Having spent her entire life being looked after like a baby bird, now that she was married, she was eager to assert herself and prove that she was as capable as everyone else.
And that is exactly what she did.
The half mile walk into the village was pleasant and without incident.
A straight path, the road did not bend or rise, and soon enough she spied the little village which sat in an open glade and spread back for half a mile toward the horizon.
It was just a few streets, a few dozen homes and storefronts, and scores of villagers already well into the throes of their day.
“Good morning,” Iris beamed as she entered the village’s main square. There were a young man and his son walking together, carrying between them a pail of water. “It is a lovely day, this one.”
The young boy’s eyes widened, and he almost dropped the pail.
“Y—Your Grace!” The young man moved to bow but Iris held out her hands to stop him.
“Please, no need for that.”
“It is not a problem!”
“It is for me,” she said with a smile. “Truly, I just wanted to say good morning.”
The young man and his son could not have looked more surprised.
They stammered their thank yous and were quick to hurry away.
She watched them go, confused but also amused.
Iris had never visited a small village like this one and she had heard that folk such as these were friendly but a little wary of strangers.
I suppose I am about to find out.
Word of her arrival soon spread through the village.
Not a surprise, as she was dressed finely and far cleaner than most she walked by.
And with a population as small as this village, she stood out like a sore thumb.
But with word of her sudden visit came whispers of who she was and as everyone knew their Duke had recently married, it stood to reason that they would welcome her with open arms.
It helped also that Iris was as friendly as they came and happy to show it.
She spent the morning wandering the markets. It was a small affair, just a few stalls selling fruits and local produce. But she spoke to each owner, even promising that from now on the duke would buy his wares from their stalls.
“Are you sure, Your Grace?” the owner of a vegetable stand, an older farmer, asked in shock. His wares were mostly potatoes, nothing particularly exciting, but she could tell how much it meant to him.
“Of course,” she assured the farmer. “Truly, I am surprised he doesn’t purchase from you already.”
“Oh…” the farmer blinked awkwardly. “As I understand it, His Grace orders most of his wares from London City—not that we mind. I don’t want him thinking we’re complaining…”
“And you aren’t,” she assured him. “Surely, he will be happy to. In fact, I know it.”
From there, Iris found herself at a small modiste, which itself was a surprise as she did not think a village like this one would have such a shop as that. But seeing an opportunity, she decided to take advantage.
“You will have to come to the manor,” she told the kindly old lady who by the looks of things ran the store on her own. “I think it will be easier to do a fitting. Yes?”
The modiste looked hesitant. “I don’t want to be no bother. My meaning is, there is no need if you don’t wish it. Surely there are better places one such as yourself can—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Iris cut her off with a warm smile. “Let me speak with my husband and we will arrange a time. I need new dresses and gowns, and I am certain he is in need of new suits.”
“Thank you, Your Grace!” the modiste cried. “I cannot say how grateful I am.”
“Perhaps save it until after I have hired you,” Iris said with a coy wink.
She was feeling good about herself. The best she had felt since she’d arrived at the estate.
Where these last few days had seen Philip take the time to get to know her so that she no longer felt like an imposition, today was the first where this new home of hers was starting to feel just like that: a home.
And yes, perhaps she got a little carried away.
And likely, it would have been smart to have checked with her husband before making so many promises to the local villagers.
But Iris didn’t let that bother her. Philip liked when she was confident and self-assured, and she was certain that he would take pleasure in seeing her come into her own like this.
It was thus that Iris left the village later that afternoon with a smile on her face and a skip to her step.
Who would have guessed that less than a week ago I went to bed in tears, certain that my life was over. And now… now, it feels as if it is just beginning.
Was she getting ahead of herself? Perhaps she was. But she felt that it was warranted. And when the manor came into view, the sun setting gently behind the square shaped home so that it glowed orange and pink, she knew that she had nothing to worry about.
Philip would be home by now and she could not wait to tell him about her day. Just as she was certain he could not wait to hear it.