Page 54 of Iris
“Who?”
“Her name is Ms. None of Your Fucking Business.”
Abruptly he turns from me and steps back, looks to the ceiling and then he faces me once again, rubbing his temple.
“You mean Stephan’s hot agent?”
Dark color streaks along his cheekbones and throat. “I know you were there. And I punched him.”
“Heath!”
“Ha! I knew you knew him.”
It’s my turn for heat to burn in my face. “You can’t go hitting people. And why were you in the Lower Side, in some despot drinking place?” I force myself to stop pushing it. “Anyway, it could have been anyone.”
“With hair that red?” He crosses his arms. “I know that little witch, almost as well as you and wherever she is you are. Guaranteed.”
“We’re not joined at the hip.”
“Are you sure?” Heath says. “You made me a promise to date some guys, to give them a chance, to not cause scandal.”
“The Season hasn’t really started.”
He raises a brow. “You have already caused some trouble. Not one mother has mentioned you being at the meet the Monarch thing.”
“Those gossipmongers?” I narrow my eyes. “I was late. Not my fault.”
“It better not be. She’s going to announce the Luxe, and Mom’s beside herself.” He frowns at me. “You know I have better things to do than deal with this bullshit, right? I don’t care about this stuff, but Mom does, society does, and you girls being mated is our ticket out of scandal and the ruin hanging over our heads. Do you know how much this place costs to run?”
“Then let me get a job.”
“It’s not done, Iris. Besides, what can you do besides annoy the shit out of people?”
“Are you finished?” I let the ice drip in my voice. “Because I’ve got shoes to get for the next event. Maybe even a dress.”
He doesn’t answer for the longest time. Then he says, “Make it pretty. Penrith sent a message. It’s going to be Rivers of Light. Candles, water, the barges. What could go wrong.”
I nod tightly and push past him. I’m almost free when he catches my arm.
“And Iris? I mean it about the Black Briar. There are stories. They’re smugglers, and there are some very unsavory stories about Killian and his business partner from the mainland. Things like murder, beatings, extortion. A woman.”
I wait for him to expand on that. He doesn’t.
And I somehow don’t take the bait. “I’m grown up, I understand my duty in this life.”
“I mean it, Iris. The talk of a rebellion? I wouldn’t doubt they’re stirring up trouble. Nothing will come of it, but be careful and keep away.”
He lets me go. Mom pokes her head in. “What are the two of you doing?”
“Setting Iris on the right path,” Heath says.
“She doesn’t go to bars, and if the Hyde girl does, it doesn’t mean Iris does.” Mom’s eyes plead with me as she says this.
She loves Quinn, but if she thinks I’m being led astray…
“No one goes to bars.” I put on a bright smile. “I’m getting shoes with Mari.”
Before I wanted to escape Heath’s wrath, now I just want to escape.
