Chapter 16 #2
“Yes…” She laughed to herself. “Now that I think of it, I believe I have heard of you. Tell me, you are not living here? That would be quite odd.”
“No, no,” Percy assured her. “I am on a break from Eton. Only a week or so and then I will be gone, leaving the newlyweds to themselves.”
“Eton?” Her mother said with surprise. “Truly? I find that surprising.”
“Oh?”
“Forgive me, but I did not think a college as prestigious as Eton would let someone of your…” She offered a forgiving smile. “Of your unfortunate background into their establishment.”
“Mother!” Iris cried.
“I meant nothing by it,” she assured Iris, all the while watching Percy like a hawk might a mouse. “He knows I do not speak cruelly. But you must admit, the circumstances of your upbringing are nothing if not cause for worry. From the point of view of Eton’s reputation, is my meaning.”
Percy blinked and leaned back, his usual good cheer and confidence melting. “I… that is not… both my brothers attended. It is expected that I do the same. Nothing strange about that.”
“Brothers from your mother’s side,” she corrected. “Not your father’s. They are the sons of a duke, where you are…” She tittered. “Forgive me, for I do not know the exact phrase. But you understand, yes? I cannot be the first to have mentioned it.”
Iris had never seen Percy so put out. But he wasn’t angry, as she might have expected. Rather, he looked positively distraught. Despite his cheer and good nature, this was clearly a topic that affected him deeply and no doubt the words her mother spoke were ones he had heard before often.
“Yes, well… I… that is not…” Percy attempted to respond, unable to find the answer, his sense of worth fading like the sun smothered by a thick cloud.
Iris looked from Percy to her mother.
Times were that she had never been able to stand up to her mother – after all, that was half the reason she was here in the first place. But she was not that same little girl that she had once been and with how much things had changed in her life, it was time that she did too.
“Mother, that is enough.”
Her mother frowned, turning her gaze from Percy for the first time. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me well, Mother,” Iris said bravely. She was shaking, having never stood up to her mother like this. But it felt good… it feels right. “I will remind you that this is my home, and that Percy is not only my guest but the brother of my husband. He will not be spoken down to like that.”
“I meant no offence.”
“You did,” she said. “And it simply will not do. In fact, I think you need to apologize.”
“Iris…” Percy interjected carefully. “There is no need.”
“There is.” Iris raised an eyebrow at her mother in expectation.
Her mother looked bewildered, as if she was seeing Iris for the first time. “I… yes. You are correct.” Her frown deepened, confusion if nothing else, before she turned to address Percy. “I am sorry if my words offended you. I hope you realize I did not mean anything by them.”
Percy sighed with relief. “It is quite fine. No offense was taken.”
Iris’ body was tingling from the thrill of having stood up to her mother. From having proven that she could. And now that she had, understanding the real reason her mother was here, Iris was taken by the sudden urge to push things further.
“On that note, Mother, perhaps it is best if you do not stay overnight.”
“Excuse me?” Her mother turned on her.
“I would love for you to do so,” Iris assured her. “But Philip and I have only just married, and it would not be proper for you to stay here. Perhaps in a few weeks, or on the way home from seeing Eveline?” She smiled. “If you send word ahead, we would love to host you.”
Her mother continued to look perplexed. “But Iris, that is not…” She reached for Iris’ hands. “I know that you are feeling more confident—I can see it. Truly. But you need me here, dear. You know that you do.”
Iris sighed. “I know no such thing.”
“Do not be foolish,” her mother pressed. “You… you are my baby. Married, yes. But that does not mean you are suddenly grown. What if you fall sick again? I am the only one who knows how to protect you!”
It pained her to see her mother like this. She only wanted to do what was best. But that meant knowing that she could not look after Iris forever. She had someone else for that now.
And then, as luck had it, that very someone strode into the breakfast room.
“Lady Grayhill,” Philip announced himself. He walked right to her and then, he slipped in beside Iris and put a hand around her waist. “This is a surprise.”
“Your Grace!” her mother cried. “I… I was just telling my daughter, I was hoping I might spend the night. If it pleases you? I do not wish to be a bother, but seeing as I have come all this way…” She looked hopefully at Philip.
He kept his arm around Iris as he looked at her mother. “Might I ask you a question first?”
“A question?” her mother blinked.
“Who am I?”
Again, she blinked in confusion. “I don’t… I do not understand your meaning.”
“Who am I?” he repeated.
“You are His Grace, the Duke of Crayford. I don’t know what you—”
“I am your daughter’s husband,” he cut her off.
He did not raise his voice. He did not bark his words.
Rather, he spoke them simply, keeping a tight grip on Iris’ waist. “And while I appreciate that you feel a need to protect her, as is a mother’s first instinct, you should know that as her husband, that task now falls to me. ”
Iris’ mouth dropped open.
“It… it does?” her mother said, taken aback.
“It does,” Philip confirmed without hesitation.
Iris’ heart began to flutter then. She felt his hand around her waist. She felt that protection he spoke of as if it wrapped her like a cloak. She had known already how Philip felt, but to hear him say it clearly like this, to announce it, was another thing entirely.
Iris found herself smiling as she moved her arm around his waist so that she was holding him right back. If there had been any doubt at all about them, she felt those doubts wash away.
“You are always welcome to visit, of course,” Philip continued. “I only ask that next time you send word ahead. Surely, that is not too much to ask.”
Her mother looked between them. She saw the way they held one another. She sensed the truth in the words, and how little power and influence she now had. “That is… that is perfectly agreeable. And again, I am so sorry for the intrusion.”
“Not at all,” Philip said simply. “As always, it is good to see you.”
Iris’ mother did not spend much longer at the manor.
A few more minutes of awkward conversation and she was quick to dismiss herself.
Iris was sure to thank her once again for visiting, but as she watched her mother leave, waving at the carriage pulling from the driveway, she felt something in her that she’d never felt before.
I want to say it’s freedom… but no, that isn’t it. I never felt trapped by my mother, it was more that she held me back. Now, there is nothing holding me back and every reason to want to grow.
And with Philip by her side, knowing now how he felt, she knew this to be possible like never before.