“Oh, Theo.”
“Oh, Theo, yes?”
“Yes,” Iris whispered. “Yes. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He kissed her then, long and deep. When he pulled back, they were both breathing hard.
“I know this seems fast, my sweet, and yet we have known each other forever.”
“We have.” She smiled. “But what about Henry?”
“I would be honored to be his father when he is ready for me to do so. Until then, I will be his friend.”
“Thank you,” she whispered as the tears started to fall.
“No crying. Now eat your food while I attempt to explain the path my life took.”
She ate, and listened, and marveled at what he’d done. At the life he’d chosen to avenge his parents that had turned into so much more.
“You lived the life as Lord Plunge for so long. I doubt I could have carried it off.”
He smiled. “Society saw what I wanted them to, but it all changed when Mary became part of Alexius. With her came the Devilles, and they are a forceful lot who broke through my carefully erected barricades.”
“They are.” He took the second half of her muffin and ate it in three bites. “Do you want to stay in society, Theo?”
“Not especially, but I should miss people if I left completely. Plus, I think you could enjoy parts of it, and Henry has friends to make.”
“Then that is what we shall do.” He caught her hand as she raised it to her mouth to lick the jam off her fingers and drew her thumb into his mouth.
“Oh,” she managed to get out.
“We will be married soon,” he whispered. Iris could only nod as he continued to lick each of her fingers with great care.
…
Two weeks later, Iris arrived at the king’s fete at Carlton House with Zach and Mary. Theo was to meet her here.
“I’m nervous,” she whispered. “I have no idea what is about to happen, only that something is, and Theo is involved.”
“All will go well,” Zach said, patting the hand she had clenched on his sleeve. “Monty will carry it off like he does everything. The man has been living a lie for years, after all. That takes intelligence and courage.”
“Well said, my love,” Mary said from his other side.
“It also takes an intelligent man to know one.” He smirked.
“You know what is going to happen, don’t you?” Iris asked.
“I have no idea what you speak of,” Zach said, not meeting her eyes.
Dark had fallen, but the sky was lit with hundreds of torches. One huge tent seemed to cover a great deal of ground outside.
“Prepare to be amazed,” Zach said.
And it was certainly that. Grand on every scale, and so much so that Mary and Iris walked about with their mouths open. Opulence was everywhere they looked. Exotic treats to eat and performers to watch.
She looked for Theo, but as yet there was no sign.
“What do you think is about to happen?” Iris asked. “Theo said very little to me yesterday when last I saw him.”
