Page 43 of The Duke of My Heart

Iris’s heart leapt up into her throat, it was almost too good to be true. This was the sort of offer that she had been hoping for, ever since she set foot in this household, but just because Alice wanted her didn’t mean the others felt thesame.

“Oh, I do not know if that is a good plan. What if I am not wanted? If the others fear me, then they will not want mearound.”

“You let me take care of that.” Alice insisted. "I will explain that things are not as straightforward as they seem. You may need to tell them a little bit, like you did me, but they will let you in. You'llsee."

Iris nodded slowly. She had to be honest, or as much as she could, to have friends. She could do that. By this point, she was willing to tryanything.

“Thank you very much, Alice, I very much appreciate that. It is too kind. I do not want you to get in troublethough.”

“Oh, I have been here far too long for that. You do not need to worry aboutme.”

Alice reached out and she grabbed Iris’s hand. She squeezed it tight, trying to convey how serious she was. Alice hadn’t agreed with it from the start, she did not like it when the others were nasty to anyone, but this was the first time that she had ever felt brave enough to say anything aboutit.

It couldn’t continue now, there was no reason to be nasty to this young lady. They had all noticed a subtle change in Amy too which was a positive step in the right direction. Amy was normally so sullen and snappy with people, but with Daisy in the picture, she was starting to shine just a little bit more. When Alice watched her walk to her lessons earlier on today, she appeared much freer. She even had a small smile on herface.

Daisy was good for the Oakley household, now she just needed to make the others seeit.