Chapter 317: Acting normal [3]
Zayne made his way down to the garden, thinking over what to say to Iris as he handed her the flowers. Despite trying to slow his pace and settle his nerves, he reached the garden rather quickly and found Iris sitting alone, seemingly lost in thought.
"Have the flowers made you sad? I do hope not, since offering you more might just tip you into a full depression," Zayne said, announcing himself.
Iris looked up, startled since she hadn’t heard him approaching.
Iris moved to make room for him. "No. I was only thinking of my family. I promise your flowers won’t be the thing to depress me," she said, taking them from him and lifting them briefly to breathe in their sweet scent. "I didn’t know you’d be arriving today, or I would have greeted you properly."
"My visit was a surprise to everyone, myself included," Zayne said, settling beside her. "If you don’t mind my asking, what exactly were you thinking about your family?"
"I was hoping my brother was preparing to leave town, since there’s little need for him here. If he wasn’t, I was busy plotting how I might knock him unconscious and ship him off to his wife. Though I haven’t the faintest idea where she resides," said Iris.
"Iris, it troubles me greatly that I cannot tell whether you’re serious," Zayne said, unsure whether to laugh or look concerned.
"I am entirely serious. I want my brother returned safely to his wife and their unborn child. I could never forgive him if he put himself in danger here and left her alone to face it. Sorry," Iris said, believing she was overwhelming him. "Perhaps we shouldn’t speak of my family at all."
"Why not? I’m the one who asked," Zayne pointed out.
"Any talk of my family tends to be either depressing or dreadfully dull. I don’t wish to bore you," Iris explained, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.
"You’re plotting to strike your brother unconscious and send him home to his wife. How could any of that be boring?" Zayne asked with a low chuckle, clearly delighted. "I like hearing you speak of your family. I like that you don’t hold back with me."
"Because none of it is worth hiding any longer. The whole town already knows everything about my family. Well, except for the fact that my brother is married and soon to be a father. That should remain a secret," Iris said, bringing the flowers back to her nose.
"Why?"
"Well, we ought to keep something for ourselves. Like the way no one knew I’d been working as a maid. Not every personal matter needs to be laid bare for the town to gossip over. I’d rather his new family stay quietly out of it, for now," Iris explained.
"But surely he’ll return to town eventually, with his wife and child? You can’t expect him to stay away forever. You need your family close, Iris."
"Says the man who despises company in his own home. Don’t forget I worked there once," Iris said, though she took his advice.
"I haven’t forgotten a moment of it. I do let my family visit now and again, hence all those old dresses left behind in the guest chambers. Even I know there are times you’ll want your family near. I could help you drag your brother out of town and back into it, should the need arise," Zayne offered.
Iris lifted the flowers just enough to hide the smile tugging at her mouth. "Now I truly cannot tell if you’re serious."
"With an uncle who happens to be a prison warden, I could convince him he’s being carted off to the prison itself," said Zayne, entirely too pleased with the idea.
Iris lowered the bouquet back to her lap. "We don’t often speak of your family. Are they still pressing you towards marriage?"
"They still wish it for me, though the suggestions stopped once I asked them to end it. They’ve promised to step back so long as I take part in the season properly, and I’ve promised I would," Zayne shared.
"I imagine they’re expecting you to court the daughter of some-"
Zayne leaned close, near enough that Iris’s words caught in her throat and her rambling stopped. "I have money enough that I don’t need to marry for more of it. Have you been sitting here, imagining the sort of lady I should marry?"
Iris pressed her hand flat against his chest and pushed him back. "Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve given no thought whatsoever to who you might marry."
Zayne caught her hand instead, holding it lightly against his chest. "You did mention it once before, you know. You needn’t fret over it. My mother isn’t nearly as strict as you’d imagine since she simply wants to see me settled down."
"And your uncle?" Iris asked, curious.
"Is not my parent. He has plenty of his own children to manage without adding me to the list. Do you have any relatives I need to worry about, besides Eloise and your brother?"
"No," Iris shook her head slowly. "They’re scattered across the town and kingdom. Since not one wrote to me or came to see me after my father’s arrest, you don’t need to concern yourself with any of them. I only need Eloise and Reece."
"Oh! My brother’s meant to arrive today," Iris added suddenly, her eyes widening. "You’ll need to be gone before then."
"Would he truly try to pull us apart?"
"Reece seems to believe it’s his sacred duty to frighten you a little. Though if he’s leaving soon, this might be our one chance to introduce you before he returns. Would you mind?" Iris asked, leaving the choice to Zayne.
"I wouldn’t mind in the least. I look forward to meeting your elder brother and being thoroughly entertained by the attempt to scare me. Before he arrives, shall we keep walking the garden together, or are you comfortable enough just here?" Zayne asked.
"Let’s sit a while longer and talk. I do miss the days we’d sit together in your chamber, speaking of whatever came to mind. I don’t miss tripping over furniture in the dark," Iris laughed.
"My home isn’t nearly so dark any longer. Thank goodness, since I’ve realised the maids were rather slacking in their duties. Particularly the one assigned to my chamber. Would you care to visit and see for yourself?" Zayne suggested, only for Iris’s hand to fly up and cover his mouth.
"What sort of man invites an unwed woman to his home? To his bedchamber, of all places. Only a brute would suggest such a thing," Iris said, lowering her hand slowly.
"If we brought Eloise and Damien along, it would be perfectly proper," Zayne said, unbothered.
Iris shook her head, though the corner of her mouth betrayed her. "I’m not ready to return to your home, so don’t you dare plot such a thing. I am a lady."
"A lady presently plotting to harm her own brother," Zayne reminded her.
"And her suitor," Iris added.