Iris was not sure how to take this change within Ewan, it was almost too much for her to handle. He had spent the previous day subtly letting her know that nothing could happen between them because of her status, and now it seemed that he was acting as if that statement had never left his lips. He was giving her the distinct idea that the opposite was possible.

Just as Iris had accepted that Ewan was out of reach, he took her on an unexpected rollercoaster of emotions. She felt dizzy and confused with it all.

“So, what will you do once your responsibilities are gone?" Iris leant in ever so slightly as she spoke. There was a slight lilt to her voice that had not been there before, but she chose not to wonder what it meant. This was the best conversation that she'd ever had with Ewan, she didn't want self-doubt to wreck it. “Once Amy is married, what will you do with yourself?”

“I have not thought about it much,” Ewan admitted bashfully. “I guess I have spent so much of my life making things right, that I have not had time to plan what will come next?”

“What do you mean ‘making things right’?” All Iris wanted to do was know him, really know him, even the boring parts that most people might wish to miss out on. To her, all of it was fascinating.

“Well, with both of our parents dead, there were a lot of things that I had to take control of. As it turned out, my father was not the best with money, he lost a lot while gambling which came as a bit of a shock to me. I have had to ensure that my family has kept afloat financially to ensure that my sister and I do not lose everything. It was a lot of responsibility for someone so young.

He had been a boy when it had happened, which forced him to grow up far too soon. Maybe that was why he enjoyed breaking the rules with Daisy, he had spent longer than most following them.

“But you have done so well,” Iris replied admirably. “You would not be able to tell that your family has suffered any money worries. You must have worked very hard.”

“I have been fortunate that my trading business has been successful,” Ewan replied modestly. “But thank you for your kind words. It is always nice to hear that you have done right with your life.”

Iris did not want to wonder whether or not she had done right with her life, that was a subject far too complex for now.

“Maybe it will be time for you to do some travelling then.” Iris smiled as she decided to stick to the safer topic of him. “You could travel on one of your boats and see the world.”

Ewan enjoyed thinking about that, it was a wonderful idea to imagine seeing the world, but it was only a fantasy, it could not ever be real. After all, even without his responsibilities to his sister, he would still need to keep the estate going, and society held certain expectations of him. Just because he did not go to as many events as he would like, it didn’t mean he could give it up completely. He had a name to maintain, and over the years that had become everything to him. It would have all been a waste of his time if he turned his back on it now.

“Yes, maybe that is what I shall do. I will find a brand new world to live in,” he teased, going along with the idea for now. He enjoyed the idea of at least sounding exciting, even if that was not the case.

“I have always heard that America is wonderful.” Iris paused for a moment before another thought hit her hard. "Why have you not married?" she enquired curiously. "The Oakley name would surely attract a wealthy lady with a large dowry for you. Surely, that would help you to ensure that you keep financially afloat.”

Ewan’s expression darkened. He looked like this thought pained him. “I have received that advice before, but it is not for me.” He blew out a deep breath of air, recalling that everyone seemed determined to wed him. He did not enjoy the concept of a marriage of convenience one bit. Maybe it was a silly notion, but he wanted more... or not at all. “I even met a selection of young ladies who wanted to be my wife, but that only confirmed that it was not what I wanted.”

“Why ever not?” To Iris, that felt like the obvious solution. That way he could have enjoyed his youth much more. He did not need to work so much.

“I would much rather work hard and marry for love.”

Marry for love. Those words struck a chord with Iris, it was all that she’d ever wanted in her life. The notion that she wanted to marry for love was the reason that all of this had happened. If she hadn’t spent so much of her life daydreaming about finding the perfect man for her, she would be wed to Duke Pembroke now. Marrying for love was the only thing that had kept her going. Having someone share that sentiment blew her away.

Ewan's words were a revelation, but still, something needed clearing up before she could truly think it through. “Marry for love, as long as she is born with the right family name.” She smiled as she spoke, trying not to let her bitterness through, but she could feel it seeping out regardless. “You have left yourself a very narrow window of opportunity there.”

"Yes, maybe too small," he mused while tapping his finger thoughtfully to his chin. “I think I might have been wrong to make my options so limited.”

Then he gave Iris such a heart-stopping look that she knew, he meant her. Despite all the odds being stacked against them, he was suggesting that he might like to marry her. The sweet desire behind his eyes said it all.

Iris’s suspicions were right. Maybe Ewan had been lying awake all night long thinking about her, and the conclusion was that he wanted to be with her no matter who she was, just came to him.

Iris was not sure whether or not she should be elated by that news. It certainly sounded positive, but complications remained. She wanted to be nothing but happy, she could feel that emotion deep within her... but there was no escaping from the fact that it was not her he loved. He loved ‘Daisy’. Yes, it was only really her name that was different, but could Iris enter a loving marriage with a man that did not know her true identity? Daisy hadn’t shared that sentiment, she had married Duke Pembroke pretending to be someone else, but then her wedding was not one for love. Maybe that made a difference.

“Why have you not married?” Ewan asked as he tried to bring the conversation back around. He did not like the distant look she now had in her eyes. “I imagine you have had plenty of interested parties.”

He was grateful that she hadn’t because it had led her to him, but he could only imagine the amount of attention she must have received with that gorgeous face of hers. That sweet buttery blonde hair, and her big blue eyes, never mind the softness of her features. She was so beautiful that even he was considering breaking all of the unwritten rules that he’d given himself just to be with her.

There was no way he was the only one who felt that way.

“No, no one wants to marry me.” Iris blushed, but she also grinned as she spoke. "But that does not matter because I have not found the man that I want to marry either.” Iris jutted her chin out defiantly as she giggled. It felt good to pretend that she wasn’t married through choice...although technically it was the truth. Sort of. “If someone is going to be mine forever, they have to be a very special man.”

“Yes, I can see that,” Ewan nodded seriously as he tried to imagine Daisy married to someone that was not him. The fact that the image caused him a physical pain in his chest was evidence enough that he had to ensure that it was him whatever the cost... somehow. “Your husband and the father of your children will have to be a very special man.”

Iris rubbed her belly automatically, picturing a child growing within there. Even the process to make that happen did not seem like such a terrifying idea with this gorgeous man sitting in front of her. She felt like she might not have minded carrying Ewan’s child.

But only if he knew the truth.

“Well, we shall see. Maybe that is what my future holds, maybe that will be my life adventure, I am not so sure.”

“Yes,” Ewan replied. “We shall see.”

Eventually, Ewan forced himself to stand up from the table to put an end to their conversation for now. He hated to break the magic when they were having such a wonderful chat, but he was acutely aware that they had a journey to continue on with.

“We must go, I have my business meeting, and you need to attend to your father.”

Iris instantly rearranged her features as Ewan said that. She remembered what this trip was supposed to be about; her father’s untimely death. She dragged up the feelings she had felt when her father was actually dying and her face immediately fell. It did not matter that she was not close to him, it was still very sad to lose the man who raised her.

“Now, where is your home so I can give the driver your address?”

As Iris reeled off where Elizabeth lived, she suddenly recognized her mistake. There was no way that she could pass off being Daisy Jones if she was headed towards a grand building such as that. She had to think of an excuse and quickly.

“That is where my sister currently works anyway,” she continued rapidly, hoping that she could pull it off. “She has requested that I meet her there, I hope that is not too much trouble.”

“Not at all, anywhere you need to go. My business is near that area anyway.” Ewan gave Iris a caring smile. “And you take as long as you need. If there is anything I can do to help, you must let me know.”

“Thank you, but you have already done enough.”

Iris could not have Ewan helping her because she had told him a lie, but it was lovely of him to offer. His words touched her deeply as she imagined what it’d be like if she was telling the truth. She pictured him assisting her and her sister with their father’s funeral and falling even deeper in love with her as he did.

Then her mind raced towards the kissing again, without her even meaning it to, and Iris could feel her face flame with embarrassment. She could not think about such things while sitting right in front of Ewan, it was bad enough that she thought such things when she was alone!

“Shall we leave then?” Ewan interrupted her thoughts, bringing her right back to the present moment.

“Yes, we should,” Iris replied gratefully. “We still have far to go.”

“Are you sure you have eaten enough?”

Ewan seemed concerned as if he thought Iris might not eat again for a very long time. She supposed that maybe he truly did feel that way if he thought she was returning to the home of a lowborn family.

“I have eaten better than I have done so in a very long time,” Iris replied honestly. “Thank you, I am ready to leave now.”

They left the dining hall and walked back through the reception area. Ewan thanked the owner of the home and waved goodbye to her. This time, Iris did not hide behind him, she stood proudly and thanked the lady too. She felt less and less like she had anything to be ashamed of. The judgement of others did not affect her in the way that it once had.

Iris felt a bounce in her step as she left the guest house behind Ewan because there was that much excitement balled up in her. The closer she got to Elizabeth, the happier she felt about it. It had been such a long time since she’d seen her, and now she would have the chance to spend some time with her. Even if there was no telling which way it would go, Iris felt positive.

Something about this day felt wonderful and she hoped that would continue once she reached her sister’s home.

As her carriage pulled away from the guest house, Iris gave it the long, lingering look she had given the Oakley home, just for a different reason. That was because the house was her home, this was because Ewan had allowed her to see a piece of his true self within those walls. He had opened himself up to her and made her fall for him even deeper.

She just wished that she could give him the same. It was a shame that she had to hold so much of herself back. Iris felt like it was a real shame that she could not share any of her own childhood stories with Ewan, nor could she discuss with him any troubles that she had faced. That was the reason she could not consider really marrying him, even if she was in love. She would never be able to keep the mask fixed in place forever. Eventually, she would slip up and everything would unravel.

It would be kinder for her to keep her distance now. It might hurt them both, but the pain would only be temporary. Eventually, they would be able to move on with most of their hearts intact.

Maybe. Iris had made no solid decision about what she intended to do next. Maybe if things with Elizabeth went well she would gain the courage, to tell the truth about everything. By this point anything was possible.

It seemed hard to accept now that once upon a time, Iris led a very stable and boring life. She remained in her bedroom, hidden away from the rest of the world, and she was truly content with that. She might have remained that way forever had she not been forced to change... but if she hadn’t, then she would not have come on this wild adventure. She would not have experienced time with this wonderful man.

Even if their time together hadn’t always been easy, she wouldn’t want to change it for the world. That would be the truth even if things did not turn out the way that she wanted them to. The memory of this love was worth all the heartache that was sure to follow.

As the carriage bumped along the road, Iris felt her eyes fluttering shut. It seemed the lack of sleep that she’d had over the last few weeks was finally catching up with her, and she could take it no longer. Or maybe it was because she finally had a sense of peace within her, which was strange considering what she was about to do. Her head slumped forwards, her eyes blocked the world out, even the sounds faded away.

It was the most uncomfortable position ever, but Iris fell into the deepest, most dreamless sleep that she’d had in a very long time. It was the sort of rest that would allow her to wake up refreshed, if not a little stiff.