Page 85 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
“Of course I was,” she said with a sigh. “And it’s not because I am not angry with what Robert did. I am not about to forget it. But it takes a certain type of man to ask for forgiveness, however late it might come. Just as it takes a certain type of man to give it.” She raised an eyebrow at him, hoping her meaning to be clear. “You want Robert to change? You want him to be different? How can he possibly be that, if you won’t forgive him for his mistakes?”
“But… everything he has done…”
“Is in the past,” she pleaded. “Which is where they belong. Your brother wants a second chance and if you do love him like I know you do, you’ll give it to him. Even if it means accepting that you too have made a mistake—and before you say that you have not, know that to be a lie…” Her expression was pleading, and she could see it working with effect on Philip’s stubbornness. “Everyone makes mistakes. We all err. But it is how we come back from those mistakes that matters. And…” A smile next, shared with both brothers. “And that we have someone there to help us move on. Someone willing to forgive…”
She could see her words resonating with Philip. More than that, she could see him realizing the subtext to them. As much as this was about him and his brother, their own mistakes were no different. Just was their need to forgive them.
“I am sorry, Philip,” Robert said finally. “I have done so much wrong. More than I should be forgiven for. And if you do not wish to, I understand. I just want you to know that I am sorry. For everything.”
“And if I don’t forgive you?” Philip asked. “What then?”
Robert considered and then shrugged. “Well, that will be your mistake now, won’t it. But don’t worry, I’ll happily forgive you for it.”
The joke had the needed effect of forcing a smile from Philip’s lips that was soon joined by laughter. Philip shook his head and groaned. “You… I’m going to regret this.”
“For once, I don’t think you will.”
Robert stepped forward with his arms held wide and Philip embraced him. And then, for a few seconds, the two brothers hugged through their history and found forgiveness without the need to say it.
And Iris watched on.
As the silence built, she felt her heart begin to race. Now that Robert was dealt with, she was forced to wonder at the true reason that Philip had come here. Or if his reason might have changed, now that he was willing to forgive.
The brothers parted, smiling at one another.
“Thank you,” Robert said. Then he looked to Iris. “And thank you, Iris. I don’t deserve it, but you have no idea how much this means to me.”
“You are welcome.”
Philip cleared his throat. “Robert, you and I still have much to speak of. But if you do not mind, I didn’t come here to talk to you.” He was focused on Iris, his expression severe and unreadable.
“Right. Yes.” Robert cleared his throat. “I will just be going.” He was quick then to hurry across the garden and from sight.
And that left Iris and Philip alone for the first time since she’d left him. For days now, she had convinced herself their parting was for the best, that it had to happen because they could not work together. But to see him here now, before her, and after what she had just witnessed…it was all a lie.
Iris still cared for Philip. In fact, she was starting to suspect that she loved him, for what else could it be? How much pain she had felt? The sorrow that had followed her? The inability to move on? Yes, it had to be love, and it was just now that it hit her.
But how she felt was irrelevant, and that was the scariest thing of all. In the end, what might happen between them would come down to Philip and what he was willing to admit… if he even wanted to. The future was still uncertain, to be defined fully in the next few minutes.
And Iris, her heart racing, hope daring to peak its head out like the sun rising of a morning, dared to dream…
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“I…” Philip’s nerves surged to the fore, suppressed earlier when he’d confronted his brother, now well and truly taking him. “You look lovely,” he said lamely.
“Thank you,” Iris responded simply. “As do you.”
He hadn’t been expecting the confrontation with Robert. Dammit, he hadn’t been expecting to see his brother here at all. When Philip had decided that he needed to see Iris to tell her once and for all how he was feeling, that he was ready to admit it to himself, the last thing he had wanted to do was fight with his brother right in front of her.
And it had very nearly gone as badly as he could have predicted.
As luck had it…or maybe it was fate?Iris’ being there had made all the difference. Philip had come here to admit everything to her. How his past had affected him. How it was still holding him back. How he struggled to forgive himself, unable to see thatpast mistakes were not worth losing her over. And in Robert, he had his chance to prove this once and for all.
He very nearly hadn’t done. He had come so close to forgetting his promise to himself. But Iris… she was the calm in the storm, reminding him what he was doing this for.
If he’d had any doubts concerning whether this was the right thing to do or if he were too late, they faded like mist in sunlight. And what was more, from the look in her eyes, one of adoration and even love, he was certain she was on the same page as him.
“Iris.” He gave his head a shake and firmed himself. “You and I need to talk.” Nervous laughter. “Although I feel that we’ve needed to do so for some time.”
