3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

T he afternoon sun caressed Iris's face as she stood amidst the vibrant blooms of Lady Ashworth's renowned garden. She struggled to maintain interest in the idle chatter surrounding her, her thoughts drifting unbidden to a particular brooding Earl.

"Oh, Lady Iris!" A breathless voice drew her attention. Miss Cecilia Worthington, a petite blonde with an abundance of enthusiasm, hurried towards her, her blue eyes alight with excitement. "Have you seen him? Viscount Ainsworth has graced us with his presence today!"

"Ainsworth…"

"Yes, Lord Thornbrook's cousin. Look at him!"

Iris followed the direction of Cecilia's gaze, her eyes alighting upon a tall, handsome gentleman holding court amongst a group of tittering young ladies. The Viscount cut a dashing figure in his perfectly tailored coat, his golden hair catching the sunlight as he laughed at some witty remark.

"He is rather handsome, is he not?" Cecilia sighed, her cheeks flushing and becoming pink.

Iris nodded in agreement but found her gaze drawn inexorably to a solitary figure standing beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree. Lord Thornbrook stood apart from the crowd, his striking features set in their customary scowl as he surveyed the scene before him.

"I suppose," Iris murmured, her brow furrowing slightly. "Though I must confess, I find his cousin far more intriguing."

Cecilia's eyes widened in surprise. "Lord Thornbrook? But he's so... forbidding! And after everything that's happened..."

Iris turned to her companion, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean? What has happened?"

Cecilia glanced about furtively before leaning in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You mean you haven't heard the rumors? Oh, it's positively scandalous!"

Despite herself, Iris found her interest thoroughly roused. "Do tell, Cecilia. What could be so very shocking?"

"Well, they say that before he inherited the title, Lord Thornbrook was involved in a torrid affair with a married woman in London. The lady's husband discovered their liaison and challenged his lordship to a duel."

Iris felt her breath catch in her throat, her gaze once more drawn to the solitary figure of Lord Thornbrook. Could it be true? The man she had encountered seemed far too rigid and proper to engage in such behavior.

Emboldened by Iris's rapt attention, Cecilia continued her tale with relish. "But that's not the worst of it! On the very morning of the duel, tragedy struck. Lord Thornbrook's parents and younger sister were traveling to London, presumably to stop the duel, when their carriage overturned. None survived."

"Good heavens," Iris breathed, her heart constricting with an unexpected pang of sympathy. "How dreadful for him. "

"Indeed," Cecilia nodded solemnly. "They say he was never the same after that. He abandoned society entirely after he inherited his late father's title, retreating to Thornbrook Hall like a hermit. Some whisper that he is to blame for their deaths and that the guilt of his actions drove him to self-imposed exile."

Iris found herself staring at Lord Thornbrook with new eyes, her earlier disdain giving way to complex emotions she could scarcely begin to untangle. The man she observed seemed a far cry from the rakish libertine Cecilia's tale painted him to be. And yet, there was no denying the air of tragedy that clung to him like a shroud.

"Of course," Cecilia added hastily, noting Iris's pensive expression, "it's all just gossip and speculation. No one knows for certain what truly transpired."

Iris nodded absently, her mind whirling with this new information. Her mother's arrival, who swept towards them airily, saved her from having to formulate a response.

"Iris, my dear," Lady Rosier said. "Lord Ashworth has expressed a desire to be introduced to you. Do come along, child. We mustn't keep him waiting."

With a final glance towards Lord Thornbrook, Iris allowed herself to be led away, her thoughts in turmoil. As she curtsied and murmured the appropriate pleasantries to Lord Ashworth, a portly gentleman of advancing years, she found her gaze continually drawn back to the enigmatic Earl.

Why did she find herself so inexplicably drawn to a man who had shown her nothing but disdain?

Iris played her part dutifully for the remainder of the afternoon, smiling and nodding at all the appropriate moments. Still, her mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of Lord Thornbrook and the tragic tale Cecilia had shared.

As the Rosier family's carriage rolled away from Lady Ashworth's estate, Iris gazed out the window, her brow furrowed in contemplation. She was so lost in her musings that she barely registered her mother's excited chatter.

"...and Lord Ashworth seemed quite taken with you, my dear," Lady Rosier said, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "He's a widower, you know, possessing a most handsome fortune. It would be a most advantageous match."

Iris suppressed a sigh, turning to face her mother with a forced smile. "How kind of you to say, Mama. I'm certain Lord Ashworth's interest was merely that of a polite acquaintance."

Lady Rosier waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, child. I saw the way he looked at you. With a little encouragement, I'm sure he could be persuaded to make an offer."

The thought of encouraging the attention of a man old enough to be her father filled Iris with a sense of quiet desperation. She opened her mouth to protest, but her sister's excited interjection saved her.

"Oh, Mama!" Maude exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. "Did you see Mr. Hartley today? He was ever so attentive, don't you think?"

Lady Rosier's attention immediately shifted to her elder daughter, much to Iris's relief. As Maude regaled them with a detailed account of her interactions with the eligible Mr. Hartley, Iris allowed her thoughts to drift once more to the mysterious Lord Thornbrook.

Later that evening, as the family gathered in the dining room for supper, Iris found herself uncharacteristically quiet. She pushed her food about her plate, her appetite diminished by the tumultuous thoughts in her mind.

"Iris, dear," her father's voice broke through her reverie. "You've scarcely touched your meal. Perhaps you ought to retire early this evening."

"Oh, but you simply must hear my news first!" Maude interjected, her eyes shining with barely contained excitement. "Mr. Hartley called upon us this afternoon while you were resting, Iris. He was ever so charming, and Papa has given him permission to call again tomorrow!"

Lady Rosier beamed with maternal pride. "Indeed, Mr. Hartley is a most amiable young man. And from a very respectable family, too. I have high hopes for this acquaintance, Maude."

Iris felt a twinge of something uncomfortably close to envy as she observed her sister's obvious delight. Maude had always been the paragon of propriety, effortlessly conforming to society's expectations of a well-bred young lady. Iris mused how simple it must be to find contentment in such a prescribed path.

"That's wonderful news, Maude," Iris said, striving to inject warmth into her tone. "I'm certain Mr. Hartley will prove a most attentive suitor."

Maude's smile faltered slightly as she regarded her younger sister. "You must not despair, Iris," she said, reaching across the table to pat her hand. "I'm sure you'll secure a splendid match of your own soon enough. Perhaps with Lord Ashworth? Mama says he showed a marked interest in you today."

Iris fought to keep her expression neutral, even as she felt frustrated. "How kind of you to say, sister. Though I assure you, I'm in no rush to 'secure a splendid match,' as you put it."

"Iris," Lady Rosier's voice held a note of warning. "You would do well to take your sister's advice to heart. A young lady of your age and station cannot afford to be too particular in matters of matrimony. "

The Marquess cleared his throat, sensing the rising tension. "Now, now, my dear. There's no need to press the issue. Iris is still young, after all. There's plenty of time for her to find a suitable husband."

Iris shot her father a grateful look, though she could not quite quell the restlessness that had taken root in her breast. Her thoughts drifted to Lord Thornbrook again as the conversation became more mundane.

What would it be like, she wondered, to love with such passion that it could drive one to scandal and tragedy? The very notion both thrilled and terrified her. And yet, she could not deny the pull she felt towards the brooding Earl despite his brusque manner and the rumors surrounding him.

As the family retired for the evening, Iris found herself unable to settle. She paced the confines of her bedchamber like a caged animal. On an impulse, she moved to her writing desk and withdrew her leather-bound journal, a gift from her father on her last birthday.

With trembling fingers, Iris opened the journal to a fresh page and began to write:

25th July, 1814

Today, my world has been irrevocably altered, though I scarcely know how to put my feelings into words. At Lady Ashworth's garden party, I found myself once again in the presence of Lord Thornbrook, the most perplexing and infuriating of men. And yet, not his usual disdainful manner captured my attention, but rather the whispers and rumors surrounding him like a tempest.

I am consumed with curiosity, longing to unravel the mystery surrounding this enigmatic man. Is he truly the scoundrel that society paints him to be? Or is there more to him? Whatever the truth is, I cannot deny the strange fascination he holds for me nor the way my heart quickens at the mere thought of him. Heaven help me, for I fear I am treading a dangerous path indeed.

Iris set down her quill, her hand cramping slightly from the fervor with which she had poured her thoughts onto the page. She read over her words, a small thrill of excitement coursing through her at the boldness of her own musings.

Sleep claimed her soon after she prepared for bed, and her dreams were filled with stormy grey eyes and the haunting strains of a pianoforte. She stood before Lord Thornbrook, her heart racing as he regarded her.

"Lady Iris," his low and rich voice sent a shiver down her spine. "Come to me…Don't be afraid of me…"