A/N: Bore da Happy Campers! Here is the next instalment!
Thanks for the new followers and favourites, they are appreciated, as always!
As always, I only own Iris and her interactions - everything familiar belongs to Shonda (as this follows the Netflix show)
The celebration passed without further fuss, Iris, Anthony and Lady Bridgerton had returned to the guests after her heart-warming gift, butterflies erupting errantly in her stomach every time she locked gazes with Anthony over her champagne glass, or over someone's shoulder.
She smiled at Colin as he spoke to Miss Thompson, looking very pretty in a rosy coloured gown, Iris sent a cheeky grin to Benedict as Colin pulled Miss Thompson away.
Benedict approached Iris and led her to the piano forte, encouraging her to sit and play so he could gossip with her, undisturbed. Iris celebrated, whispering gossip and hushed conversations with Benedict the whole time, until Daphne and the Duke were ready to depart, after their guests had left.
Iris became quite teary at the thought of not seeing her friend daily, and embraced her tightly when she descended the staircase. "You simply must write to me Your Grace, she smiled brushing the tears away from Daphne's own beautiful face.
Daphne merely nodded, as Anthony approached them. Daphne embraced her youngest siblings, as well as Francesca who had recently returned from France, who remained indoors with Iris, as the elder brothers escorted Lady Bridgerton and Eloise out with Daphne and her new husband. Hyacinth soon burst into tears and clutched at Iris.
"We will surely never see her again!" she wailed. Iris's heart broke a little at the emotion in the young girl's voice, before she guided the siblings to the parlour where she sat in the centre of the sofa, with Gregory one side, a still sobbing Hyacinth the other as she comforted them.
"Daphne is a grown woman now, and she will likely have a family of her own soon, and she must concentrate on her new role as Duchess."
Iris softly brushed Hyacinths's tears away and cupped her cheek, pulling Gregory into a one-armed embrace. "You absolutely will see her again," Iris continued, smiling softly at the youngest two Bridgertons, "let's just leave her settle before we demand her presence again, would that suit you Bridgertons?" she laughed softly as Hyacinth nodded along with Gregory.
"You wouldn't leave us though, would you Iris?" asked Francesca, who had sat at the piano forte, looking glum.
"I forbid it, Iris," called Eloise from the doorway. She was drying her own tears from her face, "You are, after all, the one sensible sister figure I can turn to with any dilemma," she said warmly, "I could not bear it if you were to marry anyone, and have to leave too!"
Iris laughed softly, and opened her mouth to answer, before a warm baritone at the doorway beat her to it.
"Well, siblings, I might have some news on that matter," Anthony spoke, immediately commanding the attention of his siblings, whose heads all snapped around to look at him. He leaned against the doorway, brown eyes surveying how Iris had instantly comforted his siblings and smiled at her warmly.
Anthony moved into the room, allowing Colin and Benedict to enter the space behind him, Colin admitting that Lady Bridgerton had retired for the day.
Anthony approached the sofa where Iris sat, and offered her his hand. Iris placed her hand in his, standing and approaching his side. Anthony brought her bare hand up to his mouth and pressed his lips against her soft knuckles.
"Iris has agreed to marry me," Anthony stated. There was a beat of silence before cheers came from the siblings who all surged forward to congratulate the couple, none more earnest than Gregory, who elbowed his way past his sisters and threw his arms around Iris's middle.
Iris ran her fingers through Gregory's dark locks gently, a pretty smile blooming across her face as she basked in the celebration.
The next morning, Iris awoke in the Viscountess' rooms and was incredibly disorientated, as she took in her surroundings.
She was further bewildered by a young woman entering her room with Mrs Wilson trailing behind, bringing her usual tray with a cup of tea.
Both women curtseyed her, and Iris fidgeted, as she watched them. "Good morning Miss Edgehill," Mrs. Wilson began, smiling softly.
Iris nodded, and accepted her teacup, as she looked at the two women. "This is Poppy, Miss Edgehill, Lord Bridgerton has instructed me to make her ready to be your Ladies Maid, as he has requested I remain with the Dowager Lady Bridgerton, if that suits you?"
Dazed, Iris nodded.
Mrs. Wilson then began quietly directing Poppy around the room to fetch her dress for the day as Iris rose and moved to her new bureau. She sipped at her tea daintily and steeled herself. She was going to be the new Viscountess, after all, and as Lady of the house she would be due a Ladies Maid.
Iris was brought back to her senses as Poppy began to disentangle her braid and began brushing her golden locks softly.
Iris descended to the parlour in a dove grey day dress, with lavender accents, her hand sliding on the highly polished bannister as she came down the stairs. She smiled at the portraits she had painted of the siblings on the wall, already missing Daphne, when a slim, but firm arm linked with hers and led her a little faster downwards.
"Since we are to be sisters, soon enough, Iris, I hope I can count on you to give me real advice," Eloise pleaded, looking up to Iris's face to gauge her reaction. Iris clutched Eloise closer and smiled, "Eloise, it would be my genuine pleasure," she responded kindly. Eloise nodded once and led Iris to the parlour where the family were enjoying some breakfast. Benedict gestured to the empty seat next to him as Eloise skipped to pester Benedict.
Sitting quietly at the table beside Lady Bridgerton, Iris offered a shy smile, before helping herself to some fruit. Lady Bridgerton waved behind her and Mrs. Wilson entered, carrying a small pile of papers.
"Iris, we should look at planning your wedding soon," she said softly, "Anthony is keen to make the preparations, he seems most impatient to be wed," she added, smiling warmly. Pinking, Iris nodded, and began her day of organising.
Eloise and Frances both offered to help, and so Iris spent the morning chattering with the Bridgerton ladies, and a warm feeling filled her at the thought of her soon to be official family.
That afternoon, Lady Bridgerton took Iris to the Modiste in order to choose her own fabrics. Iris stood on the stool to have her measurements taken, while Lady Bridgerton moved around the fabrics stacked prettily along the walls.
"Bonjour! And what exactement am I measuring you for today, Miss Edgehill?" Moss Delacroix asked sweetly.
Iris took a deep breath, and following the cheery nod from Lady Bridgerton answered "I am to be married, and so I need my gown and other accoutrements."
The seamstress' eyebrows rose and a lovely smile adorned her features, "and so soon after the Duchess! Lady Bridgerton's house is indeed blessed with good luck!" she teased kindly, before pulling out her measuring tape.