Page 54 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
Iris’ mother did not spend much longer at the manor. A few more minutes of awkward conversation and she was quick to dismiss herself. Iris was sure to thank her once again for visiting, but as she watched her mother leave, waving at the carriagepulling from the driveway, she felt something in her that she’d never felt before.
I want to say it’s freedom… but no, that isn’t it. I never felt trapped by my mother, it was more that she held me back. Now, there is nothing holding me back and every reason to want to grow.
And with Philip by her side, knowing now how he felt, she knew this to be possible like never before.
Chapter Seventeen
There was something happening between them. Something special. Somethingreal. Iris could feel it as clearly as she could the wind in her hair and the sun on her face. And as the day rolled on, she was certain that Philip could feel it too.
“How long were you listening for!” Iris cried as if she was upset, but her laughter gave her away.
“Not too long, I promise you.”
“Promises?” she blew through her lips. “I don’t know if I can believe such things. Seeing as you have given me no reason.”
Philip rolled his eyes. “Barely a minute. Perhaps two at most.”
“See how he fidgets,” Percy joined in with humor. “That means he is lying.”
“I do not remember asking for your opinion,” Philip snapped at his younger brother.
Percy stuck his tongue out playfully. “And yet I am giving it. She needs help understanding your intricacies.”
“I take it that means you are on her side?”
“Obviously,” Percy shot back.
“So, you were standing outside the room for at minimum two minutes,” Iris continued. She raised both eyebrows at her husband, feigning being angry. “Listening to what very well might have been a private conversation.”
Philip scoffed. “Had in the breakfast room. And with my brother there—besides, I announced myself eventually.”
“After all the hard work was done,” Percy added with glee.
Philip leaned back. “If I knew that I was going to be ganged up on like this, I might have stayed home.”
“Likely, you would have followed us anyway,” Percy laughed. “Crouched over in the bushes so you could listen in. You seem to like doing that.”
“Ridiculous,” Philip exhaled sharply and crossed his arms, looking away. “Utterly ridiculous.”
Iris struggled to remember the last time she had enjoyed herself like this.It has to have been years, before my sisters all married and moved out of home. Even then, I cannot remember a specific time. If one ever existed in the first place.
Such was how perfect today had become.
As Percy and she planned, once breakfast was finished with, the three of them had lunch packed for them and took a walk together through the estate. They were in no rush, able to take their time and enjoy the warm weather and pleasant company.
Once the sun reached its zenith in the sky, Philip hurried ahead so he could find a place for them to set up for a few hours. It was on the edges of the forest, a small clearing surrounded by large boulders as if they were cut off from the rest of the world.
And there they sat themselves on a blanket, a helping of sandwiches spread before them, utterly at peace in a way that a week ago might have felt impossible.
“I suppose I can forgive you,” Iris exhaled as if she were giving in. As she did, she shuffled across the blanket slightly so that she was able to nestle where Philip’s legs were curled behind him. In the nook created by his knees, one hand around his waist so the two were wrapped together. “But only because you more than made up for it.”
“Thank you,” Philip said. He then moved his arm around her waist also, happy to hold her close. “It is about time that I am appreciated.”
“Ha!” Percy cried with laughter.
“Careful,” Philip warned him. “I might decide that I am not in the mood for house guests.”
“Good luck getting rid of me.”
