Chapter 18
The following morning, Adelaide squared her shoulders, prepared for battle.
Despite what Cassian had said, she was rather optimistic. It had been a surprise for Iris to ask her to brush her hair, and it was rather daunting, but it was something that needed to be done.
She knew how she felt when she was not dressed nicely, with her hair pinned the way she liked it. She felt unkempt, and that made her feel ugly. She knew the power that came with being taken care of, and it made her hope that such a small act would make a tremendous difference.
When she arrived at Iris’s door, she braced herself before knocking. As with the assembly, she felt like she was going to war. She had to say and do everything perfectly if it meant achieving what she wanted.
She knocked, and moments later, Iris opened the door.
“Come in,” Iris said simply.
Adelaide was taken aback by how dark the room was. The curtains were thick and dark, covering every single window. The only light that came in was from the slightly open door, and Adelaide wondered if her mother-in-law expected it to remain that way.
“Might I open a curtain?” she asked. “I will need light to see what I am doing.”
“One. I do not like the sun.”
She was not going to push her. She opened the closest curtain to the mirror and drew it back until it was bright enough. When she turned back, Iris gave her an approving nod.
“Did you bring your comb?”
“Indeed. Do take a seat, and I shall begin.”
Irish scowled at her own appearance.
If there was one thing Adelaide wanted to change, it was that scowl. She wanted to see a genuine smile instead. She wanted her to be happy.
She started with the ends, carefully pulling the knots apart. She was as gentle as she could be, not wanting to cause her any pain. Mostly because she did not want to hurt her, but also in part because she did not want her to call an end to it so soon.
“Were you a messy child, then?” Iris asked. “You said this happened often.”
“I was not as quiet as I should have been. I was very spirited, much to my father’s bemusement. He wanted me to be a lady when I was all but seven.”
“And what did your mother say? I assume that she simply agreed with him.”
“Not quite. She would say the same things, but more nicely. She wanted me to be a lady eventually, but she also wanted me to have a happy childhood.”
Once the ends were done, Adelaide edged her way upward. Mercifully, Iris’s hair looked far worse than it actually was, and she realized halfway through that there was a gentle wave to it. It would be beautiful once washed and combed properly.
Adelaide smiled at that.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Iris asked.
“I like making a difference. I feel proud when I realize I have made something better.”
“Good. You should change the house too, in that case.”
Adelaide paused, looking at her in the mirror. Was that not the one thing Iris had always refused to change? Then again, it had been Cassian who asked, and she had made it clear that she loathed him, even if she had never explained why.
“Would you like that? I thought you liked everything as it is.”
“I did, but then I changed my mind.”
“I… I see. And what would you like now?”
“At my age, I would like not to be the one to make such decisions. I would like to live a quiet life, rather than continuing to perform a role that is no longer mine.”
Adelaide could not make sense of her, but she knew that people changed with age. What mattered was that Iris seemed to accept that things had to change, which was all Adelaide could ask for.
She neared the top after a while, and for some respite, she pushed it all forward to show her the progress.
“Your hair is so lovely,” she said softly. “Do you like it so far?”
For the briefest moment, she could have sworn there were tears in the woman’s eyes. But just as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone.
She pulled back the hair and continued brushing it.
“I look like a lady,” Iris said softly. “You almost make me look pretty.”
“You are beautiful,” Adelaide assured her.
“Not anymore,” Iris sighed. “I am old and scarred, not at all like you. I suppose you have been praised often for your beauty, yes?”
“Not particularly. I have always been treated like other ladies.”
“Then I will have to exchange words with my son, for I will not have you feeling any less than beautiful.”
Adelaide thanked her, but as she lifted her hair again to check it, she saw something that made her freeze.
On Iris’s right shoulder, there was a patch of leathery skin, dark and dull. Adelaide had not been able to see it through the mess, but once she noticed it, she could not ignore it.
“I wanted to ask you something,” she began carefully. “I do not want you to feel as though you must accept it, though. I know that you would not do that, of course.”
“You would be correct in your assumption. What is it?”
“We have been invited to a ball tonight, all three of us. Lord and Lady Poulston had not invited us, as we were on our honeymoon, but Cassian has said that we are open to events now.”
“And you are certain that they want me there? What has my son said about it?”
“He is happy for you to attend, but only if you wish to. We can find an excuse if you do not.”
Iris turned to look at her properly, her eyes narrowing. Fortunately, Adelaide was being honest. Otherwise, the older woman would have seen through the lie instantly.
“I suppose it would not hurt, though I shall have to find a gown. I have not attended a ball in many years now. Could you help me choose one?”
“Of course.”
Adelaide did not know why she was suddenly so welcomed, but it was not something she wanted to give up. It was what she had wanted when she learned that she had a mother-in-law, and it brought her comfort to know that she could still have a mother figure.
She needed to write to her own mother. She had forgotten, with everything that had happened since her arrival, and she felt like a terrible daughter because of it.
Once she finished brushing Iris’s hair, Adelaide set about looking for the perfect gown.
She did not know if Iris was aware that she had seen her scars, but she chose one that was modest all the same.
It was dark green, with intricate black lace on the bodice.
She held it up, and Iris turned away from the mirror.
“This one is beautiful,” she remarked.
“It is my favorite,” Iris revealed. “I have not worn it in so long.”
“Then it will be considered new. It is perfect.”
“Should I wear emeralds with it, do you think?”
They continued to piece everything together, and by the end, Iris was excited for what was to come. She kept stealing glances at herself in the mirror, and that was how Adelaide knew that she had made a real difference.
Once they had settled everything, Adelaide set about finding Cassian to tell him what was to come. He was in his study, and when she knocked, she heard him grumble before standing.
She bristled at the sound, not wanting to disturb him, but when he opened the door, she could tell from the look on his face that his reaction had not been because of her.
“Ah, it is you.”
“It is.”
“Of course. My mother never wastes the energy to knock. Come in.”
“She will accompany us,” she announced. “I managed to brush her hair. It took a long time, but it was not too difficult.”
“You are most impressive. Did she say anything to you?”
“Anything unkind?” she clarified. “No, not at all. She was pleasant, actually. I also selected a gown for her, one that covers her shoulders.”
He tensed, and she could tell that he knew precisely what she had meant.
“And did she tell you how she got those scars?”
“No. She does not know that I saw them.”
He relaxed at that.
Adelaide could tell that something was wrong, that something was being kept from her, but there was no use in asking. Nobody seemed willing to tell her anything, and though it was frustrating, she knew that some secrets were too awful to share.
Even so, she wanted to know the truth.
“Will your friend be there?” she asked.
“Rowan? Yes, he should be. Why do you ask?”
“I thought he was an interesting gentleman. I would not mind seeing him again.”
“I see. Well, as long as you do not leave with him.”
She tilted her head to the side, wondering why he had said that.
After a long, awkward moment, he spoke, “Because—because we cannot afford speculation. Our appearance yesterday was a success, but our situation remains precarious all the same.”
Adelaide nodded, but there was a slight thrill in her heart. Her husband seemed jealous, and though it was supposed to be a terrible trait, she could not help but feel excited about it.
Whereas Hargrave’s possessive tendencies had disgusted her, she liked Cassian’s a great deal.
“I shall keep my distance, if that is your preference,” she teased. “I would hate for you to lose your composure.”
He took a step closer, looming over her with a smile. He tilted her chin up to look at him, giving her a playful look.
Adelaide could not fathom the flutter in her stomach, but she tried to ignore it. He only wanted a friendship at most, and he had made it clear that it would not change.
“I will never lose my composure,” he promised. “Do you know why?”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because you would never do anything to make me do so. Would you?”
She could not look away from his intense gaze. She did not know what to do, for it was the very opposite of what she had been told to expect, but she knew that she liked it.
“No,” she whispered. “No, of course not.”
He chuckled, stepping back, and her heart flipped.
She wondered how she was going to cope with the evening ahead, for she would be unable to look at her husband without remembering the way he had made her feel in that moment.
But as she left the study, she was struck by another thought.
She had not wanted to think about it again, but she could not help herself.
How did Iris get that scar? And, more to the point, why was Cassian so unsettled by the fact that she had seen it?