Chapter 333: Bitter truth [4]
After nearly two hours of sitting with Clive, their time had run out, and they were escorted out of the prison.
Iris lowered her gaze to the floor as she weighed what her father said to her.
"That went well," Reece said, attempting to break the silence that pressed between them.
"No, it didn’t. You can try to convince yourself that it did, but I won’t. That was dreadful. Still, there was a small comfort in seeing him. Our mother should have been here, yet at the same time, her presence would have brought more trouble," Iris replied honestly.
"Do you think it went poorly only because he refused to address you at first?"
"That was part of it. I don’t know why I expected anything good from the start. I had hoped he would have stopped clinging to his innocence, but he was stubborn as ever. How did we turn out well?" Iris wondered, her eyes searching Reece’s face for an answer.
"Truly? I do not know. Perhaps because I left them as soon as I came of age to work, and you were social enough to see how others lived. If we had not turned out well, we might have been inside the prison with him," Reece said, glancing at the walls that started to haunt him.
It often crossed his mind that had they not shown kindness to Eloise, Damien would have marked them as enemies.
"I would hate to come here again. It is unbearable," Iris said, trying not to let her eyes linger on the filth. "The stench clings to the air, and the sounds of chains dragging as well as men groaning will haunt me through the night."
"I never thought of committing a crime, but this is reason enough never to do so. I’m sorry," Reece murmured, lowering his voice as the guard turned his head.
"Why apologise? You spoke the truth. You are too soft to survive here," Iris said, shaking her head.
"You mustn’t say that. It wounds my pride," Reece replied.
"That is precisely why I said-"
"Wait," the guard interrupted, stretching out his hand to halt them. "The warden is passing."
Iris perked up, surprised she would be so lucky to see him. She leaned to the right, straining to see past the guard.
A group of men moved in close formation, following behind a tall figure in a dark uniform. The warden’s presence seemed to thicken the air. His eyes swept the corridor, and for a fleeting moment, they landed on Iris.
Iris straightened quickly, her heart thudding. "That man is terrifying," she whispered. "No wonder he fears him."
"That is the family you wish to marry into," Reece whispered back.
"Surely, we would not see him often. Or perhaps he is secretly kind with his family. Maybe he tells jokes, perhaps he smiles when he is at home," Iris said, her voice hopeful, searching for Reece’s agreement.
Reece shook his head. "I cannot lie to you. He looks as though that grim expression never leaves him. Fortunately, the prison cannot be without its warden for long, so he cannot spend much time at home."
"I hope so. Now that you have seen our father, will you be leaving town soon?" Iris asked, eager to shift the conversation.
"My wife aside, why are you so intent on sending me away? Are you plotting with that man?" Reece asked, deliberately avoiding Zayne’s name.
"No. I merely want you to return to your wife. The sooner you settle, the sooner she will wish to come here and meet us. I would join you, but that would disrupt what I am building with-"
Reece swiftly covered Iris’s mouth, his eyes darting to the guard who was listening too closely. He lowered his hand and whispered, "We must not speak names."
"You must be quiet from this point on," the guard ordered.
Iris smiled, turning her face away from Reece, saving her words for the carriage.
Meanwhile, back at the estate, Eloise sat watching Jane flick through her dresses as she tried to decide which to wear to Viola’s home.
"You have saved me," Jane said, glancing back at Eloise with relief.
"How so?" Eloise asked, her eyes lingering on the restless girl. "And from what?"
"We are going to Viola’s home at the same time my aunt hosts her gathering. When my peers ask why I was absent, I shall say I was meeting a countess," Jane explained, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
"Would it truly be so wrong to admit you are at odds with Camille? It will become evident when I am not invited to future gatherings," Eloise pointed out.
"I believe you shall soon find yourself receiving an invitation. She will want to appear gracious, eager to mend all quarrels. It is what I would do if I were her," Jane said confidently. "You should invite her here to the estate before she does."
"I will not invite her when your brother forbids her presence. I shall never spoil my marriage to spite Camille. The first dress you chose was lovely," Eloise said, hoping to ease Jane’s worries. "Viola will not judge you."
"I know, but I intend to look my best wherever I go. You never know who is watching," Jane replied, continuing to search for the right dress.
"I see. Then continue with your plans," Eloise said, returning her gaze to the book in her lap.
"I have been thinking since yesterday that you and Damien must have a girl. Perhaps two," Jane said suddenly, remembering what Iris told her.
Eloise looked up, startled. "What brought this on?"
"You were missing with Damien, and Iris said that if we don’t disturb you, there might be an heir. Everyone wishes for boys for the estate, but you should have girls too, so I have nieces. One girl would not be enough," Jane insisted.
"You have two other brothers. Why must I bear the responsibility of giving you two nieces-"
"Because you are wise, and the children would be here. There is no telling what kind of women those two will attract, or if they will ever marry. My only hope is with you," Jane explained. "You should have many children."
"That is far too much pressure," Eloise said, clutching her book to her chest.
"Which reminds me," Jane leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Is the act of making a child exciting?"
Eloise froze, her cheeks warming. Fortunately, the door opened just then, and Damien strolled inside.
"Oh, thank goodness," Eloise sighed, relief flooding her voice.