Page 36 of Stolen By the Cruel Duke
And everything else fell away. Suddenly Phineas didn’t feel as if he was in a hot, crowded ballroom, surrounded by onlookers. It was just him and Iris, alone in their little universe.
“I love you too, Iris,” he said.
The words rushed through him. Nothing had ever felt so right in his life. Nothing he’d said before had ever been so true.
“I love you!” he repeated, more loudly, as if shocked by the realization. Really, he just wanted to hear it again, to ensure that she understood he was serious. “I love you so much!”
Iris laughed, then stood up on tiptoe and pressed a small kiss to his cheek. It was scandalous, they both knew, for a married couple to show so much affection to one another in public, but clearly, Iris no longer cared.
They gazed into one another’s eyes as they finished the dance, completely lost in the magic of the moment.
“Let’s go home,” Phineas suggested as he led her off the dancefloor. “I want to be alone with you.”
“Yes,” she breathed. “Let’s go home.”
“And, Iris…”
“Yes?”
“I know I said that we would not live as man and wife, but I would like to change our arrangement if you are amenable to it. I want to live with you, and love you, as a proper husband. But you can take your time to think ab?—”
“Of course, I want to,” Iris interrupted. Her eyes were now shining, and Phineas thought she might cry. “It’s what I want more than anything.”
“Are you sure?” Phineas asked anxiously.
He wanted to be sure that she meant what she said and that she didn’t feel any pressure one way or another.
“I’m sure,” she replied, and he could hear the conviction in her voice. “I want to start a family with you, Phineas. To show our child the love that your parents showed you.”
Those were the best words he’d ever heard in his life.
In the carriage, Phineas couldn’t keep himself from kissing her again, and this time, without anyone watching, they were able to stay entwined for some time.
At last, the carriage arrived home, and the two of them stumbled up the stairs, giggling and finding any excuse to touch each other.
The butler opened the door, and they fell through it. Phineas was about to ask the butler to bring them some champagne when he caught sight of the man’s troubled expression.
“What is it, Malloy?” Phineas asked sharply.
“You have a visitor,” Mr. Malloy announced, his voice as strained as his expression. “Bridget Crampton, the lost Viscountess Carfield.”
Chapter Twelve
“My mother is here?” Iris stared at Mr. Malloy. She was sure she was in shock. Her whole body had frozen, and she felt as if someone had just dumped cold water over her head. “Where?”
Mr. Malloy looked at her warily. “I’ve put her in your parlor, Your Grace.”
Iris swayed on her feet. She thought she might faint. Her mother washere, in Eavestone House. After all these years, she was about to see her again.
What would she be like? Would she recognize her? And what if her mother didn’t like her?
“Iris? Are you well?” she heard Phineas ask. His voice sounded far away. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at him.
“Take me to her,” she managed to utter. “Take me to my mother.”
Mr. Malloy bowed and motioned for her to follow him.
As Iris passed Phineas, he reached out and touched her arm. “Let me come with you.”
