Chapter 275: A chance [3]
"Truly?" Zayne asked, edging closer to Iris.
Iris placed her hand on his leg, keeping Zayne from coming too close. "But I would have to stop working for you. That is the only way you can court me. It would be seen as inappropriate for you to be openly courting your maid. You also didn’t want the servants to think you would pursue them."
"I can make a list of ten men who are courting their maids and bedding them at this very moment," Zayne said, not seeing it as taboo.
Iris leaned away, her brows knitting. "You are close to men bedding their maids?"
Zayne shook his head. "I didn’t say I was close to them. I listen to gossip, and some men are proud of their secret affairs."
"I see. If I don’t work for you, we won’t need to sneak around. It doesn’t mean we won’t see each other or speak. It just means we would be more appropriate. I cannot shake how I was raised," Iris said.
"How were you raised by the mother who tried to pit you against Eloise?" Zayne asked out of curiosity.
"My mother could have her awful moments, but there were lessons where she did try to teach me the ways of the world. Do you wish to court me or not?" Iris asked, ready to take back her offer.
"I do. So that means I will get to come to the estate to see you. I hope you would attend balls with Eloise so you get to enjoy them again," Zayne said, imagining her at the events. "I still owe you a dress."
"Yes, you do. Unfortunately for you, Eloise doesn’t have an interest in attending balls. We were just speaking of Damien’s aunt, trying to make her out to be an outcast. I’m afraid you won’t see me at a ball for some time," Iris replied, disappointed.
"Then I will host a ball and invite all of you," Zayne declared, determined to give Iris the experience again.
"Who would want to attend a ball in a dark mansion? My goodness, Zayne, have you never shown interest in a lady before? You are acting like a boy with his first crush. Oh," Iris hiccupped suddenly, her cheeks warming. "That explains it."
She covered her mouth with her right hand, embarrassed by the habit. "My mother always said that men of your age were well acquainted with women."
"With all due respect, Iris, you should cast aside all that your mother tried to teach you. You can ask Damien about how I’ve lived my life by being at home or here at the estate. I might drink or smoke before I entertain women," Zayne promised.
"I knew I smelt the faint scent of a cigar in your chamber. I’ve never been with a man, but I’ve pined after a few. You must slow down, Zayne. It is not as though I am going to disappear or be swept away," Iris assured him.
There was no one besides Zayne to show interest in her.
"This is why I wanted to wait until the end of the season to speak of marriage. Let us go slow with each other. Promise me you won’t feel the need to rush. There are still many weeks left in the season," Iris reminded Zayne.
"Right, right," Zayne muttered, silently scolding himself. "Trust me, once you start to attend balls, the bastards will be eyeing you."
"And once they learn who I am, they will lose interest. As I said, there are no balls for me to attend at the moment, so the only man I will have courting me is you. Even if there was another, they wouldn’t have my time. I have many troubles to focus on," Iris said, unable to entertain another man.
"You’re going to search for your mother?"
"No. She always knows how to do well for herself. I am going to search for my brother. Eloise said he is married with a child on the way. I want to send him back to his wife before he finds himself in trouble. My family attracts drama," Iris sighed, feeling tired.
"Good, then I shall always be entertained," Zayne said, trying to turn her troubles into something lighter.
Iris laughed. "I don’t know whether I prefer you like this or sulking in the dark. Why are those two just sitting watching us?"
"Damien is enjoying my current plight, and Eloise must be happy to see you courted. When I come to visit you, it must be in secret so we aren’t watched by those two. We shall not be their entertainment," Zayne said, rising to his feet.
Iris glanced at Eloise, then noticed flower petals clinging to Zayne’s pants. "If you don’t want Eloise to know it was you who fell on the flowers, then I suggest you wipe your pants," she said, reaching instinctively to remove the petals.
Zayne stepped back as she plucked the first petal away.
"Oh. I wasn’t thinking," Iris said quickly, pulling her hand back. "I am so used to cleaning up behind you."
"I do not mind, but if you are going to touch my buttocks, at least wait until we are alone. To do it in a garden is a bit scandalous," Zayne said, glancing around nervously.
Iris stared at him in disbelief. "The nerve of you to think I would want to do such a thing in private or in public. I am a lady. If you are not careful, you will find yourself pushed into more flowers."
"Should I tell your dear cousin that you are threatening to push me into the flower beds to spoil them?" Zayne asked, brushing his pants to remove the evidence.
"Eloise will not care," Iris said, lifting her chin proudly. "You, on the other hand, might get sent out of the estate. How fortunate I am not to stumble into your chamber every morning."
Iris stood, ready to rejoin Eloise. "Now that we have settled this, I am going to be with my beloved cousin. I believe we have given those two enough time to sit and watch."
"I will come again soon to speak to you and bring your belongings from my home. At that time, I would like to speak to you alone without Eloise," Zayne said, eyeing the married pair pretending not to watch. "We should get to know each other without disruptions."
"I agree, but I wanted to search for my brother tomorrow. I must see that he is well and that my mother hasn’t placed him in danger. The day after tomorrow should be fine. That is, if you don’t have plans to rest in your dark chamber," Iris said teasingly.
"Do you see how well you know me?" Zayne asked, proving why they should be together. "I will come the day after."