Either way, she didn’t have a thing to fear from Iris.
Not anymore.
“I warned you he might not kiss you, Iris,” Honora persisted, twisting her hands together in her lap. “He’s a gentleman.”
A short laugh escaped Iris, and even she could hear the note of panic in it. “Yes, you did, and you were quite right. When I tried to hint a kiss would be welcome, he scolded me as if I were a naughty child.”
“But he made you an offer.” As far as Lady Honora was concerned, this settled the question of his affections. “Why should he do that if he didn’t care for you?”
Iris couldn’t bear to admit he’d chosen her because he thought her dull and predictable, or worse, that she’d begun to think it of herself, especially after she’d seen the way Lady Beaumont raged and teased and tempted. That moment, when she’d sunk to her knees in front of him…
Iris had only been able see her red, silk-swathed back through the gap in the branches, but whatever she’d been doing, it had to do with Lord Huntington’s breeches.
Not just his breeches.
She cleared her throat. “I think he regretted his offer, so you see, it’s really for the best if we don’t marry.”
Violet looked like she wanted to argue, but whatever she saw in Iris’s face made her pause and bite her lip. “You haven’t told Grandmother.”
“No. I meant to, every day.” Iris gave Violet a pleading look. “I should have done so at once. I’ve only made this worse by keeping quiet, but—”
“Oh, dear God, Iris. You have no idea how much worse you’ve made it!”
“What do you mean?” Iris sank her fingers into the velvet seat cushion to steady herself, because she was sure she wasn’t going to like whatever Violet said next.
“Charlotte and Captain West invited Lord Huntington to their house party!”
“Oh, no,” Lady Honora moaned, burying her face in her hands. “Oh, Iris. It’s going to be dreadfully awkward for you.”
“Why would they invite Lord Huntington?” It was a foolish question. No one knew she’d jilted him, so why wouldn’t they ask him to come? As far as they knew, he was her betrothed.
“Grandmother suggested it to Charlotte. She thought you’d be pleased.” Violet reached for Iris’s hand. “I’m so sorry for it.”
Iris gave her sister’s hand an absent pat. “It would be awkward indeed if he were to come, but he won’t.”
Lady Honora frowned. “But why shouldn’t he?”
“Think of it. Charlotte, Captain West, and Grandmother don’t know I’ve jilted Lord Huntington, but Lord Huntington certainly does. Why would he accept an invitation to attend a house party with the lady who’s just jilted him? I’m certain he’ll stay far away.”
“Yes, that makes sense.” Lady Honora’s face cleared. “He won’t come.”
Violet wasn’t as hopeful. “Perhaps not, but what of the other problem? You’ve refused a marquess, Iris, and not just any marquess, but the Marquess of Huntington. Grandmother is going to be apoplectic, and that’s to say nothing of your future prospects.”
I have no future prospects.
“My prospects are bleak at best, but I’m willing to entertain brilliant suggestions, if either of you should happen to have one.”
A long, grim silence followed, then Violet straightened against her seat. “I do have one idea.”
Lady Honora leaned forward. “What is it?”
“Lord Derrick will be there. You could encourage him.” Violet kept her gaze on her lap, suddenly absorbed with smoothing the wrinkles from her skirts. “It would go a long way toward soothing Grandmother’s hurt feelings over the loss of Lord Huntington if you had another suitor to replace him.”
Iris was fond of Lord Derrick. He had lovely brown eyes, and to look into them was to see into the heart of him. He might be the one gentleman left in London who wasn’t harboring a shocking secret, if only because he couldn’t hide a thing in those melting brown eyes.
But he was Lord Huntington’s dearest friend, and even if he did happen to show an interest in her, Iris would discourage him despite her enjoyment in his company, because Violetalsoenjoyed his company, and with rather more fervor than Iris did.
Violet fussed with her skirts to avoid Iris’s gaze, and Iris felt a rush of warm affection for her sister. How dear Violet was, to offer up the gentleman she herself favored. “No. Lord Derrick is a kind, charming gentleman, but I don’t think we’d suit.”
