Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
“You have another brother?” Iris asked as she followed Philip from the room.
“I do,” he said without looking back. Gone was the playfulness from earlier, replaced by a far sterner disposition.
“I don’t understand,” she said as she tried to puzzle through his reaction. Thinking on it, Iris had heard something to the effect of an illegitimate brother, but not enough to think of it as being true. Or to understand it at all.
Again, I am reminded of how little I know about my husband. Worse than that, how little he wishes to tell me.
“There is nothing to understand.”
“But—”
“Iris, please.” He turned on her, anger flashing behind his eyes, quickly replaced by a pleading stare. “All you need to know right now is that I do indeed have a younger brother. He is dear to my heart but for certain reasons I do not make a habit of speaking about him freely.”
“Reasons?” she frowned. “What…”
“There is a time for this conversation,” he said. “Now is not it.”
Had this most random occurrence taken place earlier, Iris might have pushed.
When the duke was purposefully ignoring her and cutting her off from his life, she would have demanded that he tell her because she was sick of being kept in the dark, just as she was sick of being treated like she did not matter.
But in his eyes she saw how hard this was for him. More than that, things were not as they had been.
Whatever it was that was happening between them, a bridge had been crossed, and she understood well enough how big a deal that was.
Their marriage was slowly on the mend, they were both willing finally to see where it might go, and Philip’s refusal to explain the situation to her was not personal. If anything, he appeared embarrassed.
“I understand,” she said gently, even reaching out to take his hand. He did not pull it back, which itself was a huge sign. “But just know, I am here for you. And I do not judge.”
He sighed and squeezed her hand back. “I know it, Iris. I am just…” A shake of the head. “Caught off guard, is all. But my younger brother is a kind soul. Likely, the two of you will get on well.”
“Is that a compliment?” she teased.
He scoffed. “If that is how you wish to see it.”
Iris’ body was still flushed from earlier. And still, she struggled to control the way it was shaking. Philip being forced to suddenly stop what he had been about to do was not meant as a punishment, but dammit if it didn’t feel like it was.
I will need to remind him later that he still owes me my reward… that thought alone had Iris smiling. Oh, how far they had come in such a short time.
Then, together, Iris and Philip started down the hall to meet this mysterious younger brother.
He was waiting in the foyer for them and when he heard their footsteps approaching the top of the staircase he spun about and beamed to see the two.
“Brother!” he cried joyously, holding out his arms. “Is this not a sight for sore eyes.”
“Percy.” Philip smiled warmly and it looked genuine. And then, letting go of Iris’ hand, he hurried down the steps to greet his younger brother. Which he did, wrapping him in a tight hug that told of how he felt about this particular sibling.
Iris was slower walking down the stairs, watching the interaction with extreme curiosity, for this was a side of the duke she had not seen before but wondered now if it spoke to his true nature.
Percy was young, his late teens by her guess.
And unlike Lord Robert, he had the same over-sized features that Philip did, although his hair was a lighter shade.
Not quite as tall either, he was still strapping and stood with confidence as joy emanated from him in a way that Philip had never been able to do.
“What on earth are you doing here?” Philip asked as he pulled away. “Don’t tell me…”
Percy laughed. “It is nothing as bad as that. Eton is on a break and where some of my chums chose to remain on campus, I thought it might be fun to surprise my surly older brother.”
“Eton?” Iris asked as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
Percy looked past Philip and beamed; his smile was sweet, as was the look in his eyes.
“And this must be Her Grace. I was told to expect a beauty, but words hardly do you justice.” He stepped around Philip and came to Iris, taking her hand and giving the back of it a kiss.
“I hope my brother appreciates how lucky he is.”
She could not help but laugh, as the young’s man energy was infectious. “Not nearly as much as he should.”
Percy laughed also. “Typical!”
“Percy is enrolled at Eton College,” Philip explained as he stepped around his brother and placed himself beside Iris. Then, most strangely, he slipped a hand around her waist. “Which is where I expected him to be right now.”
“As I said, we were given a break.” He shook his head. “See how he distrusts me.”
“Can you blame me?”
Percy grinned. “Oh, how I love coming back. I forgot how easy it is to upset you.”
It was all in good fun and Iris could see Philip smiling through the banter. He looked upon his brother with true love and adoration, no indication at all that he was ashamed as she thought he might be. Why was he so cautious about what I might think of Percy?
It was that protective side of Philip that Iris was starting to notice. He was all fire and brimstone when he wished to be, but just as caring when he needed to be.
“Sorry I couldn’t make the wedding,” Percy continued then. “Although in fairness, I wasn’t the only brother who didn’t.”
Philip’s expression darkened. “You haven’t heard from Robert, have you?”
“Not a word.”
Philip scoffed. “He’ll turn up soon, I am sure. Likely drunk and filled with excuses.”
“I feel bad for him already,” Percy laughed. “Finding himself on your bad end is not a place I envy.” He then leaned back and studied Philip and Iris together, his eyes sparkling. “Although, I can’t help but sense that his err was your gain, aye?” He winked. “Tell me true, Your Grace—”
“Iris, please,” she spoke over him.
He laughed further. “Iris then. Tell me, how is married life to my brother? And don’t lie, I can always tell.”
Again, had this been just a day ago, who knew what answer she would have given.
But the mere act of a single conversation between herself and Philip and so much had changed.
An understanding reached, one that was desperately needed, and where Iris wasn’t going to start fawning and waxing lyrical about love and happiness and all that…
she wasn’t about to dismiss Philip entirely.
“Hard work,” she said. Percy cried with laughter. “But not without gains,” she followed up. “It is still rather early, to be fair, but we are getting there.”
“Sounds promising.”
“If you don’t mind…” Philip cleared his throat. “I would appreciate you not sticking your nose into my married life.” His hand around her waist and he pulled her in a little closer. “At least not while I’m present, Percy.”
“Always the shy one,” Percy joked.
“Always the chatty one,” Philip shot back with a wink of his own.
As strange as it was, with the arrival of Percy, the atmosphere between Iris and Philip was as comfortable as it had been since her first day here. And for the first time, Iris was starting to feel as if this house, this life, was her own.
Soon, the three of them found their way outside. The day was warm and sunny, and they sat at a table beneath an oak tree as tea was served so Percy could tell them of Eton and what he had been up to.
“You know well enough what it is like,” Percy said with a dismissive wave. “You went there yourself.”
“Years ago,” Philip said.
“I assure you, nothing has changed,” Percy sighed. “And it is not nearly as fun as you might think, being in the shadow of your older brother. Although our brother Robert made it a little easier on me,” he added with a grin. “His is one reputation I have quite easily surpassed.”
Philip sighed. “At least he is good for something.”
Iris sat in silence mostly, listening and observing so she might form her own opinion. It was clear that Percy was a favorite of Philip’s, and she wondered further to the true nature of their relationship.
She also got the sense that Percy wasn’t nearly as happy with his time at Eton as he was letting on. He said the right words. He spoke well of the educational institute. But she could hear in his tone a derision, the implication that he did not like it as much as his brother hoped.
But the afternoon was pleasant, and Iris was glad for Percy’s arrival.
Even if his reason was suspicious, she felt that with him at home her marriage to Philip would strengthen.
That he would be given a reason to try; Percy seemed to remind him of the positives of having a family and what that meant.
Unfortunately, the afternoon was brought to an end sooner than she hoped by Mr. Tibbitt.
“It cannot wait, Your Grace,” he informed the duke of some business he needed to attend. “Parliament meets shortly, and they need your approval.”
“Oh, is something the matter?” she asked, not considering that she might be butting in where she should not.
Philip sighed. “Not particularly. Just a bill that has been on the floor for months. One that I…” He shook his head. “It is busy work and nothing more.”
“Important busy work,” Mr. Tibbitt interjected.
“The life of a duke!” Percy chortled.
Philip groaned and rose from his seat. “I’ll need to be going—just my office,” he added. “There are some papers I need to read and sign before sending off.”
“Fear not,” Percy cried. “We will manage without you.”
Iris laughed. “I promise I will not corrupt your brother, if that is your fear.”
Philip laughed softly and then looked between them. There was a smile in his eyes and the sense that he had no urge whatsoever to leave. But not because he was worried, but because he was enjoying himself.
“I’ll see you both at supper, yes?”
“Without a doubt,” Percy said. “The food at Eton…” He made a face. “I am looking forward to a good meal.”