"You have committed an act for which you can never be forgiven, but you can do what is right and turn yourself in to the town guards. Give Eloise some peace in knowing there is justice. Take away some of her heartbreak. Please," Iris pleaded, hopeful her father had an ounce of humanity left to him.

Clive locked eyes with Iris, but he quickly looked away before she could break him.

The sound of Iris’s tears pricked at his chest.

Even if Clive were to regret what he did, he could not confess to it now. Not only would he ruin his life, but he would ruin this family.

Iris had yet to find a husband, and if it was revealed now that her father was a murderer, no good gentleman would want to take her hand. Iris would end up in the hands of a man who wouldn’t treat her poorly.

"Father!" Iris’s cries filled the room. Clive broke her heart further by continuing to deny what was now obvious. "There is no point in lying now. If you care for Eloise, you must confess to what you did. You should feel awful for what you did, and it is the consequence of your actions."

Clive clenched his fist, his nails digging into the palm of his hand. "I have tried my best to raise you into a fine young lady, yet you would accuse me of killing my only brother. My little brother." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"You know what you did. There is a chance for you to ease Eloise’s heart of pain if you confess to what you did. Please, father. Do not be like this," Iris said, clutching her dress as her emotions overwhelmed her.

"You forget that she is the one who stole Lord Hawthorne from you. I see now that your mother was right. I shouldn’t have allowed you to get so close to Eloise. It is good you know about the debt," Clive said, deciding to be honest with Iris. "Now you know how important it is for you to find a good husband."

"So, this all falls on my shoulders? Am I your only child?" Iris asked and wiped her tears. "I did not place us in debt."

"No, but you have a good life because of my hard work. It is time that I be repaid for the life I have given to you. I deserve to be cared for now!" Clive demanded.

Iris chuckled, but it lacked the usual warmth. "I see. That is all you want out of my marriage now. Were you planning to marry off Eloise to a man who would pay your debts? You were quite adamant about her meeting with suitors. Is that why you wanted her with Percival?"

"You are a monster," Iris concluded before Clive could answer. "And I shall never forgive you for what you have done."

"There you two are," Agatha’s voice filled the room. "Iris, why are you crying?" Agatha asked, walking over to Iris in a panic.

Agatha touched Iris’s face. "Did Eloise return?"

"No, she did not, and I think she should stay away from this family. I must leave," Iris excused herself.

"You do not have my permission to leave this house. Agatha, she is not to go outside without one of us at her side," Clive said, pointing at Iris as though it would stop her.

"I would like it if one of you could tell me what has happened. I had an awful day, and now I come home to disarray. I must see Iris first," Agatha said, following Iris.

Agatha didn’t know what upset Iris, but she hoped the news she had concerning Eloise would place Iris back in a good mood.

Agatha entered Iris’s bedchamber without knocking. "Iris, what has happened now? I left you two alone for a few hours and returned to you in tears. Tell me, what did I miss?"

Iris wiped her tears. "I don’t want to speak of it. I wish to be alone."

"I will grant your wish, but first, I have good news to share. The town has turned on Eloise. Her change to Lady Hawthorne will not be an easy one after stealing the man her cousin wanted to wed. Ladies of all standing will speak of her, and the Hawthorne name shall not help her," Agatha said and awaited Iris’s mood changing for the better.

Iris faced Agatha, annoyed that her mother acted without speaking to her. "Why would you involve the town in this? My issues with Eloise are between Eloise and me. I didn’t want anyone else to know of it to offer their opinion."

Iris continued, "I certainly don’t want her to be chastised by the town. I said that I would move on from wanting to marry Lord Hawthorne, so why go to the town?"

There was disappointment after disappointment with her parents.

"I did you a favour so you would not be laughed at. You were the one meant to marry first, but your cousin, who spent most of her life in the countryside, came and took the man of your dreams. I have ensured you are still desirable," Agatha said, annoyed that Iris was not grateful.

"No, you are fueling a fight between Eloise and us when we are still family. I can be angry with her and not want the town involved. You know how the townspeople are. They don’t care about me or you. They want gossip," said Iris.

"I want them to gossip. I shall make it so she is ostracised from all social groups for what she did. You are right to move on from Lord Hawthorne. There’s nothing special about being his wife. I can find you a far better man. A duke, or far wealthier man," Agatha offered.

Iris stared at Agatha, wondering if her mother was ill. Just as Iris looked away from Agatha, a chuckle slipped between her parted lips.

"I spent the early weeks of the season and the weeks before saying it would be an honour to marry Lord Hawthorne. To say otherwise now would be a lie," Iris said, refusing to go against what she claimed before. "I won’t join you to lie."

"You silly girl," Agatha said and struck Iris’s arm. "You were set up to have a good season and marry a good man. You disappoint me."

"If my season is ruined, it is not because of me. You should speak to your husband about what he has done, but I know you are aware. The truth will come out, and denying it now will be the true cause of our ruin. I wish to be alone," Iris said, unable to look at her mother a second longer.

"You," Agatha said, realising what had happened. "What do you know?"