“Good. You should change the house too, in that case.”
Adelaide paused, looking at her in the mirror. Was that not the one thing Iris had always refused to change? Then again, it had been Cassian who asked, and she had made it clear that she loathed him, even if she had never explained why.
“Would you like that? I thought you liked everything as it is.”
“I did, but then I changed my mind.”
“I… I see. And what would you like now?”
“At my age, I would like not to be the one to make such decisions. I would like to live a quiet life, rather than continuing to perform a role that is no longer mine.”
Adelaide could not make sense of her, but she knew that people changed with age. What mattered was that Iris seemed to accept that things had to change, which was all Adelaide could ask for.
She neared the top after a while, and for some respite, she pushed it all forward to show her the progress.
“Your hair is so lovely,” she said softly. “Do you like it so far?”
For the briefest moment, she could have sworn there were tears in the woman’s eyes. But just as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone.
She pulled back the hair and continued brushing it.
“I look like a lady,” Iris said softly. “You almost make me look pretty.”
“You are beautiful,” Adelaide assured her.
“Not anymore,” Iris sighed. “I am old and scarred, not at all like you. I suppose you have been praised often for your beauty, yes?”
“Not particularly. I have always been treated like other ladies.”
“Then I will have to exchange words with my son, for I will not have you feeling any less than beautiful.”
Adelaide thanked her, but as she lifted her hair again to check it, she saw something that made her freeze.
On Iris’s right shoulder, there was a patch of leathery skin, dark and dull. Adelaide had not been able to see it through the mess, but once she noticed it, she could not ignore it.
“I wanted to ask you something,” she began carefully. “I do not want you to feel as though you must accept it, though. I know that you would not do that, of course.”
“You would be correct in your assumption. What is it?”
“We have been invited to a ball tonight, all three of us. Lord and Lady Poulston had not invited us, as we were on our honeymoon, but Cassian has said that we are open to events now.”
“And you are certain that they want me there? What has my son said about it?”
“He is happy for you to attend, but only if you wish to. We can find an excuse if you do not.”
Iris turned to look at her properly, her eyes narrowing. Fortunately, Adelaide was being honest. Otherwise, the older woman would have seen through the lie instantly.
“I suppose it would not hurt, though I shall have to find a gown. I have not attended a ball in many years now. Could you help me choose one?”
“Of course.”
Adelaide did not know why she was suddenly so welcomed, but it was not something she wanted to give up. It was what she had wanted when she learned that she had a mother-in-law, and it brought her comfort to know that she could still have a mother figure.
She needed to write to her own mother. She had forgotten, with everything that had happened since her arrival, and she felt like a terrible daughter because of it.
Once she finished brushing Iris’s hair, Adelaide set about looking for the perfect gown. She did not know if Iris was aware that she had seen her scars, but she chose one that was modest all the same. It was dark green, with intricate black lace on the bodice. She held it up, and Iris turned away from the mirror.
“This one is beautiful,” she remarked.
