Chapter 1 #2
“Eveline!” Iris widened her eyes at her sister in warning before turning back to Lord Barlow. “Ignore her. She does not mean it.”
“I will try not to hold it against her,” he chuckled, still holding Iris’s hand. “Tell me true, how is it that I have not seen you before? Surely, I would have taken notice of a beauty such as yours. It would be a crime if we had met and I did not remember. I should be locked away!”
Iris giggled at the lord’s flirtation, while Eveline resisted the urge to groan.
She had seen it all before. Dammit, she had heard words spoken almost the same as this, directed at her more times than she could count. The fake compliments. The exaggerated claims of beauty and fawning. It was not real, not honest, and not what her sister was deserving of.
And people wonder why I have no desire to marry? Look no further than Lord Barlow and how false he is – how obvious he is being. Can’t a man be honest just once?
Typically, Iris was already besotted. Not that this was surprising. Iris was the youngest of the six siblings and growing up she had been sickly and sheltered because of it. Naturally shy, not outgoing or bold, rarely had the attention of a man ever found itself focused in her direction.
This was her second Season, but the first where she was truly coming into herself.
Iris was short and lithe in frame, with dark features that clashed brilliantly with her fair complexion.
It made her look brittle but also angelic, while dressed in her pale pink gown and her cheeks brightened with rogue, she stood out in ways that she never had before.
Eveline was happy that her sister was finally starting to find some much needed confidence. And she was thrilled that men were finally starting to take notice of her. She just wished they were the right type of men.
“… your second Season?” Lord Barlow gasped as if surprised by whatever it was that he and Iris were speaking of. “Again, how is it that I have not seen you before?”
“I am not sure,” Iris giggled.
“How will you ever forgive me,” Lord Barlow crooned. “If you will allow it, I plan on dedicating the rest of my life to making up for such a err. Surely, that will go some way toward softening the blow.”
“Will you?” she giggled further, her cheeks flushing. “And how will you…” She looked away nervously. “The rest of your life, you say?”
“If you will allow it.”
“Maybe…” More amused laughter.
“Tell me, Lord Barlow, how many Seasons is this for you?” Eveline cut in.
He blinked. “I… I do not understand your meaning.”
“You are what…” She looked over him. “Thirty or so, yes? And yet somehow you remain single? Is it bad luck that’s to blame?
Do not tell me that fate has conspired against you – oh no, wait.
It has simply manipulated things so you might be single at the same time as my sister.
Be praised, what a coincidence that is.”
Lord Barlow chuckled awkwardly. “I… bad luck, is all. It is not so easy to meet young ladies who – your sister is one of a kind, and I am just glad that now, finally, we have been brought together.”
“Doubtful,” Eveline said. “And where I am sure a line such as that works on many young women, my sister is not one of them.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Now, if you do not mind –”
“Eveline!” Iris snatched her arm and glared at her. “What are you doing?”
“Saving you.”
“Please…” She hissed. “You promised…”
“I know what I promised,” Eveline said. “Which is what I am doing. Protecting you.”
“I do not need your protection.”
“You do!”
“I do not need you constantly --” Iris’s eyes widened suddenly, and she shut her mouth, her hands covering it as a cough ripped from her throat that she tried desperately to strangle. “Oh no...” More coughing, harsh and brutal.
“That’s it.” Eveline took her sister’s hand. “We’re leaving.”
“N – no!” Iris snatched her hand back, still coughing wildly.
“Just to get some fresh air.” She offered Lord Barlow an exaggerated smile. “It was lovely meeting you, Lord Barlow, but if you do not mind…” She went for her sister’s hand again, but was denied.
Iris was still coughing, covering her mouth as she shook her head to deny Eveline. “I do not…” More coughing. “Need to…” More coughing. “I am fine…” More coughing.
Eveline winced to hear her sister cough.
Iris had been sick growing up, a frail little thing that their mother had kept hidden away as a child for fear the ailment that took her might mean she would never aspire to good health like the rest of her daughters.
Now that she was nineteen, the sickness had mostly left her, and she’d grown into herself considerably.
But during times of stress or tiredness, Iris would find herself besieged by coughing fits like this one.
“You need fresh air,” Eveline urged her.
“I… I do… I am…” The coughing was growing worse.
“You know what,” Lord Barlow spoke up. “I believe I see a good friend calling for me.” He looked past the two women. “Ah, yes. There he is. I must…” He stepped around them. “It was lovely meeting you, Lady Iris. Truly, an honor.” He offered her a quick smile and then dashed away.
Eveline sighed with relief. “Thank God he is gone.”
“What was that?” Iris snapped, pushing down the coughing fit so she could focus her anger on her sister. “Eveline, why were you so rude to him?”
Eveline blinked in surprise. “Me? Oh, please. Did you not see what he was doing?”
“He was being nice.”
“He was being false,” Eveline said. “Believe me, you are better off without him. There are better options here tonight for you, Iris. And we will find them. I promise –”
“No,” Iris cut her off. “I am sick of this, Eveline. Being treated like a little girl. I am not a child. Not anymore.”
“I am not treating you like a child, Iris. I am just trying to look after –”
“I don’t need it!” she shouted, louder than was necessary. That had Eveline start , and she noticed a few guests about them turn their heads to see what the cause of the pandemonium was. “I…” She glared at her sister. “I am going to get some fresh air. Alone.”
“Iris…”
“Please!” Iris snapped. “Just… just let me be, Eveline. This one time…” She shook her head at her sister, more sad than angry, before turning and stalking around the ballroom.
Eveline watched her go, caught between wanting to chase after her to make sure that she was not upset, while knowing that if she did, it would only make the situation worse.
I am only trying to do what is best for her.
And one day, she will thank me for it. Although, with how awfully tonight was going, even Eveline wasn’t so certain of that.