Page 55 of The Duke of My Heart

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It tookall morning for Iris to work up the courage to say anything to anyone. Unfortunately, it was Alice that she spoke to, notEwan.

“My father has been very sick.” She gulped as she lied, hating the way that it sounded. “My sister fears that he might die soon, I do not know what todo.”

“Did your sister write toyou?”

“She did. I received the letter yesterday, what do you think that Lord Oakley would say if I asked him for some time off to go backhome?”

“He will not mind. I am sure Amy will not mind either.”Of course!Iris had not even considered the idea of speaking to Amy. That was terribly wrong of her, it would be her most affected after all. “Go and speak tohim.”

“But I have only just started working here, do you think that will work againstme?”

Alice touched Iris’s shoulder and gave her a comforting squeeze. “I do not know what happened in your last home, but the Lord believes that family is very important. He will want to help you in any way that he can. If you need to go and tend to your sick father, he will allowit.”

“Yes, alright, I hope that you are right.” Alice’s words did make Iris feel a little more confident, but she still feared that her previous association with Ewan would work against her... especially after her dream last night. “Maybe I will speak to Amyfirst.”

Of course, as to be expected Amy was wonderful with Iris. As she explained her fake situation – using her real life experience to help her to get through the lie – she comforted her, insisted that she must go to see her father, and even said that she would speak to her brother on Iris’sbehalf.

Admittedly, Iris was tempted. She could let Amy do the hard work for her, leaving her free to go back home with ease, but in the end, she refused. She could not go back home and return leaving things so up in the air. She needed to make things right with Ewan or she might not be able to come back at all. Elizabeth might ask her to stay with her, and Iris might be tempted to never return if things were still sostrange.

No, she would arrange a meeting and she would speak to Lord Oakley herself. Maybe if they just acknowledged what had happened back in the hallway of the Warwick household then they could moveon.

It would not be what Iris wanted, but it was better than things beingchallenging.

“Mr. Shipman?” she enquired as she finally came across him in the hallway. “Can you please let me know when Lord Oakley is free? I have urgent business that I need to speak with himabout.”

At first, he sighed loudly, which gave Iris the distinct impression that he was about to refuse her. Yes, they were not friends, but she thought that they had come to a place where they could at least be civil with oneanother.

“Yes,” he finally declared with gusto. “I will find out what his schedule is and let youknow.”

Phew.That was another difficulty that she didn’t want to come backto.

“Thank you very much, I really appreciateit.”

The ball was rolling now; the plan was forming. Now Iris just had to find a way to make it work in the way that she so desperately needed itto.