His Wicked Revenge

Chapter 5

“Iris, do not display your teeth when you smile and keep your back straight. Remember, walk gracefully and by any means do not run like you do in our house…” As the carriage neared the gates of the castle, Lady Penelope’s anxious heart started to instruct Iris about what and what not to do.

“Mother, ease your heart. I’m not going to behave out of the line.” With her eyes fixed on the majestic gates of the white palace, Iris comforted her paranoid mother. In a mocking tone, she continued “Mother, we did not enter the palace gates yet and here you are looking like an anxious toad!”

“Language, my dear!” Lady Penelope’s voice was on the verge of breaking down, in a hurried tone she spoke “There will be servants waiting on the outside to receive the family assigned to them. For sure, they will observe the young ladies of each family and report it back to the Queen.”

“Mother, even if I behave like a shrew they wouldn’t dare report me as such to Aunt Rosemary.” Blinking her eyes, Iris continued in a smug tone “You know that my aunt loves me. But, since I love you more,I promise that I will behave well.”

Lady Penelope had initially wanted to give her daughter a piece of her mind, but now she was too stunned to speak.

The first reaction to her daughter’s words was absolute disbelief. Then it was followed by amusement. In the same tone, she questioned her daughter “Is that a confession my dear?”

With her back facing her mother, Iris placed her hand against her hot cheeks to conceal the apparent blush staining them, in a tone laced with embarrassment she let out a low hum in response.

Though bemused, Lady Penelope bit her lips to stifle her laughter. She didn’t want to embarrass her daughter who had finally complimented her.

…

“The Blackwood family…” Pushing up his round full framed spectacles, which concealed the wrinkles near his eyes, Carlos, the sixty one year odd aged butler announced in his usual polite voice, the one which they obtain after years of practice.

The head servant who was dressed in plain but expensive robes stepped forward, with a respectful bow, he handed over the token to the old butler.

Examining the old token for any traces of tampering by rubbing the metal with his stubby hands, Carlos handed it over to the young servant after assessing it as a genuine. And with the token being returned back, the permit to pass was automatically granted.

“The Blackwood family is the royal family’s guest of honor and please guide them to the Queen’s residence.” Carlos announced, his not so low voice attracting the attention and the envy of the rest of the families stranded in the queue.

Two of the servants with the royal identification attached to their chests, climbed on the carriage and settled down next to the driver. With a loud neigh of the horses, the Blackwood family carriage made it’s way to the Queen’s residence under the instructions of the servants.

“Mother, being the sister of the Queen sure has it’s own perks.” Iris spoke, her tone low.

Her aunt was too straight-forward in showing the bias and Iris was sure that most of the noble women are now waiting to see the daughter of the Blackwood family.

The daughter makes a mistake, the mother gets blamed.

Iris knew of this ridiculous saying and she vowed that she would never make her mother bow her head down.

“Sure, the queen’s family has more perks than the Queen herself. We do not have to bear the responsibilities of a Queen and that itself is rewarding. As much as the Queen is respected, so is the burden on her shoulders. I would rather enjoy my life in a carefree manner with your foolish father.”

Foolish father? Does he know of his evaluation in his beloved’s eyes?

Not wanting to think further, Iris turned her attention to the outside of the window completely ignoring her mother’s chatter.

...

The hallways were in a pristine white laced with golden embellishments, the roses bloomed along with the graceful tulips in the heavily crafted floral vases, the carvings on the walls resembled a garden come alive when they were reflected on the nearly transparent mosaic floor.

Footsteps were not heard, it was only the soft gliding of the ladies skirts along the rich floor.

If Iris was impressed by the intricately designed palace, then Josephine was stunned beyond words. The little maid could only look around the place with open mouth and large round eyes.

Taking in her surroundings, Iris followed the old but active maid gracefully.

The old maid stopped before a plain redwood door, turning around the woman bowed slightly “My lady, these are your chambers. We’ve furnished the chambers and if there’s anything lacking, please don’t hesitate to ring the bell.”

“Thank you for your trouble madam, I don’t think I would need anything extra after what the Queen has provided for us.” Iris spoke, with a smile she dismissed the old lady “Please rest well madam.”

Lifting the hem of her dress, Iris stepped into the room while Josephine closed the door gently after entering in. Even with the bland wooden door greeting her, the old lady stood still, apparently shell shocked.

She had seen many young ladies just nod politely and flash a fake smile at her, but, none had ever thanked her much less asking her to rest well. And, for sure, no one called her as madam. Feeling a little giddy, the old lady walked back to the Queen’s chamber to make the report, her steps incomparably light.

Not knowing the weight of her words in the old ladies heart, Iris rolled on the fluffy silk bed after tossing away the gloves on to the night stand and her boots on to the floor.

After placing the trunks in the corner, Josephine sat on the couch disregarding the norms of the society. Iris barely batted an eye at her behaviour as she was the one who brought out the woman and friend out of the maid called Josephine. It was only out of the Blackwood estate that they behaved as per the norms of the society.

“Josephine, I need you to promise me something.” Iris began, just as the maid was wondering what her lady was going to say, she heard the lady say “If you set your eyes on any man, be it nobility or a common man, you have to tell me.”

Startled, Josephine raised her head “My lady, what do you mean?”

“It’s Iris or Ava for you.” Iris rolled her eyes, in a smug tone she continued “You can tell me if you fancy a man, I’ll help to set up a rendezvous for you. If he’s worthy, then you can marry him. I will help you in your marriage.”

“Miss Iris Ava Blackwood! I am younger than you by two years. It’s not me that is in need of a rendezvous, it’s you. I’ll gladly help you in setting up such secret trysts.” Josephine raised her brows, her words making Iris bury her head in shame.

“Josephine, you’ve turned so bad!” Iris accused.

“Thanks to your training, my lady!” Josephine defended.

…

“Oh! Did she say so?” Dressed in her inner robes and with a wine glass twirling in her hand, Queen Rosemary leaned against the couch. A lazy smile danced across Queen Rosemary’s lips as she digested the report of her head maid. Her niece had not let her down.

In a genuinely happy tone, she turned towards Penelope, who was pouring the wine into the glasses “Penelope, you’ve taught Iris well.”

Draining the wine down her throat, Penelope cast a proud look at her elder sister, in a tone reflecting the same she spoke “I’ve never taught her anything to be precise. It’s only when I received your invitation that I started to teach her etiquette and all the nonsense. She managed to learn everything in just six months, that too at perfection.”

Queen Rosemary sighed “She’s the splitting image of her father and she inherited your sharp tongue. She’s going to break the hearts of many.”

In a curious tone, the Queen questioned her younger sister “How did you manage to change her tomboyish ways? She’s cute like that, there’s no need for you to change her. If she takes fancy to any man, then I will just bestow him upon her.”

“Elder sister, it’s you who spoils her the most.” Penelope mused. Rosemary was a mother of two boys and not having a girl child of her own, she doted on Iris the most. Iris was the daughter she never had. She loved Ruby too, but the hotheaded and brave Iris had a special place in her heart.

“It’s her who wanted to learn decorum, she doesn’t want to be a blemish on Ruby in the future.”

Now, it was Queen Rosemary’s turn to be surprised.

“The girl had truly grown up then.” Queen Rosemary whispered, but in her heart she wished her niece to have her old spirit even when she dressed up as a lady.