this, but I canât bear to go on a journey. Iâve been seeing the Scottsâ footman and was hoping youâd accept Lord Jeremyâs suit so we could be together, but since youâre determined to go on your adventure rather than being sensible and marrying him, I had to take matters into my own hands. With Lord Jeremyâs help, weâve run off to Scotland to be married. I will see you when you return and would be happy to resume my position as your ladyâs maid.
Best, Sophie
Accept her back after sheâs run off like that? Hardly. Cheeky wench! Irisâs cheeks burned, and she crumpled the vellum. What was she going to do now? She couldnât go on the journey without her maid.
âMiss, begging your pardon for bothering you at such a time because I know how much Miss Sophie meant to you, and Iâll miss her too,â Cook said. âBut I need to buy eggs today since our chickens arenât laying, and I need money for the market.â
âOf course,â Iris said. âThe hens seem to know when something is amiss. Iâll get some money for you and leave enough for the household while Iâm gone.â
âYes, Miss. Are you still going on your journey?â Cook shot her a concerned glance, but unlike Sophie had never voiced her opinion of Irisâs actions.
âI need a moment to think.â
Iris went into the office, where she fetched the key for her fatherâs strongbox, and she opened it and counted the money remaining. Even if they were down to a household of twoâand Iris would need another maid if she were to maintain the appearance of her social classâshe needed to bring in an income. She closed her eyes and thought about her optionsâstay and accept Lord Jeremyâs offer of marriage or go on the journey by herself. The thought of his shocked look when she turned him down and the way the scone crumbs clung to his puffy lips made her stomach turn, but thinking about how he would desecrate her fatherâs study and ruin his work made up her mind.
I cannot marry him. Thereâs no other option. Iâll go on the journey unchaperoned. If I return with my reputation ruined, it will be with enough income that Cook and I can go somewhere and start over. And if I donât returnâ¦
She refused to consider the possibility.
A line from Sophieâs letter came to mindâ with Lord Scottâs help. What if she had revealed the plan for the journey to her loverâs employer?
The grind of wheels on the stones outside made Iris grab enough money for two months of household expenses for Cook, some for herself for the journeyâin case of emergencies, she admonished herself, since Parnaby Cobb had promised he would pay their expensesâand slam the lid of the box. She locked it, hid it and the key and ran into the kitchen. Three loud booms echoed through the house, but from the office Iris couldnât tell whether it was the front or side door.
âCook, go to the door and see who it is,â she called. âIf it is Lord Scott, please tell him I am not at home. If it is a porter for my trunk, send him in.â
âYes, Miss.â
Iris dashed upstairs and finished her toilette. She attempted to pin her hair up and hoped her buttons in the back werenât askew, but there was little she could do about either. Her fingers trembled too much.
Cook appeared in the doorway followed by a tall young man whose eyes took in everything about the bedroom including Iris herself. The look he gave her made her stand straighter and lift her chin to show she wouldnât be intimidated. Instead of bowing or looking away, his lips peeled back into the sort of smile one expected to see on the patron of a naughty peep show.
âThese your things, Miss?â he asked, his tone respectful unlike his expression.
âY-yes,â Iris said. The whole situation seemed ill put-together, so she asked, âAnd who