Page 51 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
“Mr. Tibbitt,” Percy sighed with humor. “I have been here since yesterday. You really should be paying more attention.”
“It is not that,” Mr. Tibbitt said, ignoring the jibe. “It is your mother, Your Grace, the dowager countess. She is here.”
Iris blinked and leaned back as if she had been slapped. “My mother…”
“Is here, yes,” Mr. Tibbitt confirmed. “She arrived just now and asked to see you. I told her that you were not decent, and that I would check to see if you were. But if you wish for me to send her away…”
Iris frowned to herself, caught completely by surprise.
On the one hand, she should have been glad to see her mother, as the two had always been close. And no doubt she was here to check on her youngest daughter, likely having been racked with guilt over what had happened. Yet, on the other…
She still cannot let me go. This does not feel so much like her worrying, but more her not trusting me to be capable of living my own life. And to have come all the way here… she is not even being subtle about it.
“It is quite fine,” Iris assured the butler. “Please, send her in.”
“Are you certain, Your Grace?”
“Of course,” Iris said to him. “She is my mother, after all. She should not be kept waiting.”
“At once, Your Grace.” Mr. Tibbitt bowed, turned about, and hurried from the breakfast room.
“Your mother?” Percy said, looking to where Mr. Tibbitt had run off too. “What is she like?”
“You are about to find out…”
Iris’ mother was a woman of many faces. She could be as kind and caring as a mother bird watching over an infant, filled with love and care because at the end of the day she only wanted what was best for her daughters.
She could also be cold and manipulative and strict. Not used to not getting her way, the matriarch of her household, she was as likely to fawn over Iris as she was to chastise her for reasons that Iris could not imagine but was likely soon to find out.
It was a moment later when her mother swept into the room, and the smile she wore, paired with glistening eyes, suggested at least that in this instance her mother was in a good mood.But will it last…
“Iris!” she cried, holding her arms wide as she came for Iris. “Oh, look at you.”
“Mother…” Iris rose from her chair and stepped away from the table, accepting her mother’s tight hug. “This is a surprise.”
“A good one, I hope.”
“Of course,” Iris assured her. Her mother then pulled back, clutching her by the arms to better look at her. “A surprise, but one I am grateful for.”
“You look…” She pushed her lips together as she studied Iris. “Have you been eating, dear? You look a little worn.”
Iris’ face dropped.So, it is going to be that type of visit.
“This was quite the trip to make,” Iris said in a bid to change the topic. “I thought you might have sent ahead, Mother? If we had known you were coming, we would have prepared for you. I feel you have caught us a little flat-footed.”
“Oh, nonsense.” She released Iris and waved her down. “In truth, I am on my way to see your sister.”
“Sister?”
“Eveline, dear,” she corrected. “The Blackwood Estate is but a few hours from here, so I figured why not stop on the way and pay visit to my special little girl.”
Iris winced, as she had always hated how her mother called her that. “So, you won’t be staying for long?”
“Perhaps…” Her mother frowned at her. “Although, there is no rush. What is an extra night if I can spend it with my daughter? Surely, that won’t inconvenience you? I would hate to think that I was.”
Iris hesitated, not sure what to say.
She did not want to appear rude and dismissive, as if she was trying to get rid of her mother. And she loved that her mother had thought to visit her, knowing she only wanted the best. But already she felt them falling into old patterns, she the sick little girl, her mother the protector who would not dare to see her come under harm.
