Chapter 395: Sharing pain [3]
Later, Iris came out of her chamber with Jane to speak to Eloise.
"Are you planning a dinner?" Iris asked after coming to stand behind Eloise.
Eloise looked up from the papers she had written her ideas on. "Even better. A gathering here at the estate for everyone we are close to. I thought we could all use something to have the estate lively again."
"Please sit," Eloise said, motioning to the chair beside her.
Iris sat down and looked at what Eloise had planned so far. "A gathering would be lovely. Out of all the ones Zayne’s mother spoke of, I will look forward to this one the most."
"I am happy to hear that, but it also adds to the pressure. I am planning to invite Zayne’s parents so we can all continue to get to know each other. If we are fortunate, Reece will be able to attend. I will make arrangements for a carriage to bring him," said Eloise.
"He has not long left, but already we are stealing him away from his new home. May I?" Iris asked, pointing to the freshly cut fruits.
"You may have as many as you like. I am no longer in the mood to have them," Eloise said, pushing the plate towards Iris. "Damien is the one who had them prepared."
"You usually like fruit. Well, there will be plenty more for me," Iris said, gladly accepting the fruit.
"I do, but not in this moment. Water will have to suffice. Perhaps it is because I am worrying about what food to have prepared for this gathering. Damien is right that I am already worrying too much," Eloise said, feeling stuck already.
"Because you want it to be perfect. I’m sure you’ll find the right answer, and I am here to help you," Iris offered.
"Thank you. I will take your help, but try not to trouble you too much," Eloise promised.
"You don’t need to worry about how I am feeling concerning my father. I am better now, and Jane helped me to face it. We can talk as we normally do," Iris said, eager to move on.
"I was referring to not troubling you since you have a wedding to plan," Eloise clarified.
Iris stared at Eloise for a fleeting moment. "Oh. That is right."
Iris laughed, and Eloise soon joined her.
"It is my fault for not speaking of what I meant at first. I knew you would come to me when you were well," Eloise said, reaching to her right to hold Iris’s hand. "I won’t tiptoe around you to make you feel uncomfortable. I want to continue as we were."
"I would like that as well. For us to continue as if this day didn’t happen. After speaking to Jane, I think I must have one final talk with my mother if she comes around. I’m sure she’s heard the news by now, and she will try to come," Iris said, dreading the moment and the emotions it would stir.
"You must do whatever will be right for you. I have been thinking that she would come to you or go to Zayne. We must hope that she wouldn’t go to his family, but even if she were to, it will be well," Eloise assured Iris with a squeeze of her hand.
"I am not confident that she won’t cause trouble. I need to say a proper goodbye to her. A better one so I don’t feel as I do now that my father is gone. I don’t want to have any regrets, so should she come to me, I will speak," Iris decided.
"I support the decision you shall make, but I must remind you that Damien won’t support her coming inside, and neither do I. I still have my troubles with her," Eloise said honestly.
"I know. I would not disrespect either one of you by bringing her inside. I will speak outside the estate. I have no other choice but to settle this soon, as I fear she might show up at the wedding," said Iris.
"I am a bit surprised. I thought you would be open to inviting her," Eloise said, genuinely surprised.
"I thought of it, but she shouldn’t attend. I would have been open to it if she had changed from her old ways, but I don’t believe she can change so soon. I am open to having a relationship in the future, should she better herself. Is that wrong?" Iris asked, uncertain.
"Well, your biggest troubles with her were supporting your father, then abandoning him, and finding you a suitor not meant for you. I think that slowly the two of you can be in a good place. You have to decide what is right for you," Eloise said, unwilling to make the decision.
"I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. I would like a cordial relationship with her if she is working to better herself, but if she hasn’t changed, we must keep away from each other. I am tired of arguing," Iris said, already drained.
"I feel the same way. I don’t want to hear about Camille any longer. I simply want to move on and enjoy the life that we have now. I don’t even want to argue around the town. Can we truly be granted such peace?" Eloise wondered.
"We can be, but you mustn’t say it out loud, as it would only ruin it. Let us hope that the people who trouble us will one day wake up and be wise. If we are lucky, some will disappear," Iris said.
"I do not think we are so lucky. And what if we disappear because we trouble each other at times?" Eloise asked, making Iris stop in her tracks.
"I didn’t think of that. The men in our lives would be the first ones to disappear. I must take it back," Iris said, followed by laughter.
"We must take it back quickly or be more specific about who must disappear. They must be sneezing, unaware that we are the ones speaking about them. Do you think they get together and speak about us?" Eloise wondered, curious about what Damien and Zayne spoke of when they were alone.
"Of course they do. What else is there for those two to speak of? They must speak of how wonderful their lives have become now that we are in them," Iris proudly said.
Eloise chuckled, humoured by Iris’s assumption. "I see that you think highly of yourself today. Since you are so energetic, please help me with my ideas."
"Let me see," Iris replied, inching closer to Eloise.
Iris relaxed as the sadness she had felt earlier slowly faded away, and she returned to her normal self, comforted by the presence of the people around her.