Page 52 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
It was a mode of being that Iris felt she had outgrown. And not just because she was older now and no longer sickly, but the duke…
“We shall see what Philip has to say,” Iris offered instead. “Once he comes down from bed.”
“Oh, yes.” Her mother looked about as if expecting to see him. “Still sleeping, is he? At the very least I should wait until he presents himself. It would be rude not to.”
“Perhaps something to eat?” Iris turned to gesture at the table, only to see Percy still sitting there watching them. She hadforgotten about him completely, and she winced at how rude she had been. “Oh, I am sorry! Where are my manners? Mother, this is Philip’s younger brother, Percy.”
Her mother’s eyes widened when she saw Percy sitting at the head of the table. And there was something in the look she gave him… a knowing smirk on her lips… a sense that she had met the man before. Although that was impossible.”
“The duke’s younger brother?” she said, holding that smirk. “Not Lord Robert…”
“Afraid not.” Percy rose from the table and stepped around it, presenting himself before her mother with a short bow. “Think of me as the better-looking sibling. More charming. And infinitely better company.”
“I am sure.”
Nothing was said for a moment, but only because Iris’ mother used that silence to assess Percy in a way that one might look upon a rat that had wandered into their home.
Iris looked between them, noticing immediately how uncomfortable Percy was in how her mother looked at him, while noticing how judgmental her mother’s stare had turned.
“Percy, is it?” she asked.
“That is right.”
“Yes…” She laughed to herself. “Now that I think of it, I believe I have heard of you. Tell me, you are not living here? That would be quite odd.”
“No, no,” Percy assured her. “I am on a break from Eton. Only a week or so and then I will be gone, leaving the newlyweds to themselves.”
“Eton?” Her mother said with surprise. “Truly? I find that surprising.”
“Oh?”
“Forgive me, but I did not think a college as prestigious as Eton would let someone of your…” She offered a forgiving smile. “Of your unfortunate background into their establishment.”
“Mother!” Iris cried.
“I meant nothing by it,” she assured Iris, all the while watching Percy like a hawk might a mouse. “He knows I do not speak cruelly. But you must admit, the circumstances of your upbringing are nothing if not cause for worry. From the point of view of Eton’s reputation, is my meaning.”
Percy blinked and leaned back, his usual good cheer and confidence melting. “I… that is not… both my brothers attended. It is expected that I do the same. Nothing strange about that.”
“Brothers from your mother’s side,” she corrected. “Not your father’s. They are the sons of a duke, where you are…” She tittered. “Forgive me, for I do not know the exact phrase. But you understand, yes? I cannot be the first to have mentioned it.”
Iris had never seen Percy so put out. But he wasn’t angry, as she might have expected. Rather, he looked positively distraught. Despite his cheer and good nature, this was clearly a topic that affected him deeply and no doubt the words her mother spoke were ones he had heard before often.
“Yes, well… I… that is not…” Percy attempted to respond, unable to find the answer, his sense of worth fading like the sun smothered by a thick cloud.
Iris looked from Percy to her mother.
Times were that she had never been able to stand up to her mother – after all, that was half the reason she was here in the first place. But she was not that same little girl that she had once been and with how much things had changed in her life, it was time that she did too.
“Mother, that is enough.”
Her mother frowned, turning her gaze from Percy for the first time. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me well, Mother,” Iris said bravely. She was shaking, having never stood up to her mother like this. But it felt good…it feels right.“I will remind you that this is my home, and that Percy is not only my guest but the brother of my husband. He will not be spoken down to like that.”
“I meant no offence.”
“You did,” she said. “And it simply will not do. In fact, I think you need to apologize.”
