Page 51 of Iris
“You’ve no idea what he’s like, Mar. None. To your mother, your family, he’s courteous, but he’s a cruel guy?—”
I open my eyes, and I don’t really want to. I know the voice, one of the servants that Penrith gave us, the handsome nerdy one, Reese.
He’s got to be talking about his brother: dark, brooding who I thought would be Mari’s type because it would be so her to fall for the wrong type, her antithesis.
Instead, she’s made friends with his brother, who is usually shy or soft spoken, someone who stays in the out of the way and?—
What am I thinking? A relationship with a servant isn’t a thing that would ever be allowed.
“Hi, Mari, Reece.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Gardener,” he says, bowing—actually bowing—at me, “I didn’t realize you were there.”
Mari, who’s always agreeable, shoots me a dark look. “His brother’s giving him a hard time.”
“Siblings.” I shrug, but inside things tighten, crush down. Am I causing her to not be herself?
I don’t care if she’s friends with a servant or not.
I don’t care if she’s buddies with the poor or a king.
Scratch the last one. No one would care about that.
“I’ll leave you both to it. Do you still want me to bring your easel, Miss Gardener?”
“No,” Marigold says stiffly, “I’ll talk with my sister a while.”
He turns to go and I know I’ve dropped the ball with her, that I didn’t notice, really notice, their budding friendship. Reece looks at Mari with longing because what dude wouldn’t?
She’s more buxom than me. Dahlia’s built, but she hides it. Mari…Mari’s Mari, she has a figure that she’ll show off if she feels like it, all on the side of taste of course.
But guys notice. They notice the blue eyes and full mouth, the dark-gold touched hair, the way she has a sensuality about her that’s more than sexual, but comes from the lack of filters, that comes from her utter enjoyment of everything.
Reece has it bad for her.
But that isn’t a crime.
Mari…does she…?
I can’t tell, she likes him, but I can’t tell if shelikeslikes him…
“Reece,” I say, “I’m cool with you two being friends, and just…just keep it on the backburner with my brother.”
His face flames.
“Mr. Gardener has my utmost respect, as does your sister. I’m a loyal servant.”
With that, he turns and starts to walk away.
“Mom keeps extra sleeping potion in the highest shelf in the pantry. A few drops will make your brother loopy. If you want revenge.”
He doesn’t turn back, but his step is much lighter as he crosses the grounds.
My sister smacks my arm. “Iris! Did you have to basically tell him you think we’re dating?”
“I did not!”
“You embarrassed him. And there’s nothing wrong with being friends.” She flops down on the blanket I’m on and kicksoff her sandals. “It’s not nice. And I didn’t think it would bother you.”
