Zayne was certain Iris’s presence would bring trouble, but he felt pity for her. He couldn’t send away anyone in need of help, and since she was Eloise’s cousin, there was a soft spot.

"If Damien or Eloise finds out that you are here, you must say that I didn’t have any clue who you were. I will deny knowing you are her relative, even if you claim it. I’d like to avoid getting in the midst of your drama," said Zayne.

Iris sighed, relieved Zayne was adamant about not exposing her.

"I don’t want either one to know that I am here, so I promise, I will not speak your name. I have not told the other servants that I am a Wilkins because of my father’s case. Can you not use my last name?" Iris pleaded, clasping her hands.

"I will try my best not to. Just because you are Eloise’s cousin doesn’t mean you will be given special treatment. You will work just as the other maids work, and I would appreciate it if you don’t inquire about the Hawthornes," Zayne listed his rules.

Iris nodded, agreeing with the rules. "I don’t want any special treatment. I wish to blend in with the maids and work so my mother doesn’t find me."

"That sounds like trouble," Zayne said, followed by a sigh. "Are you close to your cousin?"

"I am. I love Eloise with all my heart. I know you might seek to push my father’s actions onto me, but I didn’t have any part of it. I am not my father," Iris said, tired of having his actions placed on her.

"I am not going to fault you for what your father did. I am going to judge you based on what you do now. Keep your head down, don’t share my personal affairs outside my home, and you’ll do well."

"Now, come inside a little more. I have to show you what I want done," Zayne said, waiting for Iris to follow.

Iris caustically followed Zayne, remembering her mother’s words about being alone with a man.

"I am not going to bite you, nor attack you. You can ask any of the maids, and they will assure you that I have never been inappropriate with them," Zayne assured Iris.

Iris didn’t believe Zayne.

All the young masters were said to be familiar with their maids. At least, that was what her mother said.

"Unless I have business to tend to, I sleep until noon. You may let light into the chamber when I am away from home. What else?" Zayne muttered, inspecting the chamber. "You will only need to help the maids bring water for my bath and leave after."

"When you are not cleaning my chamber, you will go to the headmaid for work. The pay is a little better when you are assigned to my chamber. Do you have any objections?" Zayne said, his gaze going to Iris.

The more he stared at Iris, the more Zayne started to see the family resemblance.

"I am not in a position to object to any work. Can I start now by tidying the chamber?" Iris questioned, wanting the job to be over with. She was not yet used to being alone with Zayne.

"You may. I will allow you to pull the drapes aside so you can see, but you must quickly know your way around in the darkness. May I ask you a question?" Zayne questioned, growing interested in Iris. "Your cousin is now Lady Hawthorne. If you are on good terms, why not turn to her?"

"My family has troubled Eloise enough. I don’t want her to have to take care of me after my father tried to steal from her. I am quite able at working, and you must know that her husband wouldn’t be fond of me being on the estate," Iris said, certain that Damien wouldn’t allow it.

"No, he wouldn’t be fond. Well, I admire that you turned to work instead of expecting a handout. Most ladies would have found the nearest gentleman to marry and live a soft life, or go back to their mothers. I don’t mean to insult you or other ladies," Zayne said, regretting how he worded it.

"No. It is fine since I did consider finding a man to marry behind my mother’s back. I have come to realise that marriage would bring me more problems than take them away. A marriage is what my mother wanted. It was what I wanted before I faced reality," Iris admitted.

"Well, what do you want now?" Zayne questioned, intrigued by Iris’s view.

"Truthfully, to make enough money so I don’t go hungry again. So I do not need to worry about where I am going to sleep. My parents prepared me to be a wife, but I wish they had taught me how to survive. I cried the first night I ran away," Iris confessed, laughing at her actions. "I know it is silly."

"I once ran away. I lasted an hour because Damien wasn’t home, and I wasn’t in the mood to go to anyone else. It seems that you are learning to survive quite well, and you have found yourself doing good work. I am curious how you fooled the head maid into getting hired."

Iris flashed a smile. "I might have told a lie. The only home I have ever helped clean was my family home, but even then, my mother insisted on my father hiring a maid. This is all new to me, but I promise you, I will be the best maid you ever had," she promised. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"I will take your word for it. I won’t allow you to stay if you can’t work. You can get to work," Zayne said, not wanting to disturb Iris any longer.

"Yes, young master," Iris curtsied.

"Young master," Zayne repeated, shaking his head. "I don’t feel so young at the moment. Now, let’s see what my uncle wants," he whispered, opening the envelope.

Zayne read the contents of the letter and sighed. "That bastard."

Zayne crumpled up the paper, wishing there was a fire started so he could burn it. "Don’t send me more letters from my uncle. Tell the other maids to set them aside. I am going to rest for another hour, so have my bath ready by then," he said as he dragged his feet back to the bed.

"Yes, young master-"

"No, no. Just say yes," Zayne ordered Iris.

"As you wish," Iris replied.

Zayne fell onto his bed and closed his eyes, immediately going back to sleep without trouble.