The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

"It doesn’t matter what I know. It matters what my father will do and if you will encourage him. Before I become more disappointed in the two of you, I ask that you leave me alone. I want to be alone," Iris requested, needing time to herself.

"Whatever you think you know is not true. Eloise doesn’t have any evidence that your father killed Thomas, and as for the home, it is better suited for your father to have it. Eloise is not in her right mind," Agatha argued.

"Mother, you only make me hate you now when you speak, and I don’t want to hate you. Please, just leave me alone. I don’t want to speak," Iris said, turning her back to Agatha.

Agatha stared at Iris, trying to think of ways to change Iris’s mind. Her anger switched to Clive since he did a poor job of keeping Iris in the dark.

"I will speak to your father, and then I will return to you. You don’t get to shut us out while you are living under our roof, and you have lessons to finish. No matter what you feel now, you are to do good this season and marry, so I suggest you end your cries before I return," said Agatha.

Iris stayed silent. She didn’t bother to ask about the debts since she might only be lied to.

Agatha walked out of the bedchamber and returned to her sorry excuse of a husband.

Agatha slammed the door shut and placed her hand on her hips. "You were not to speak of this anymore, especially when I wasn’t present. What did you do for Iris to believe you killed Thomas?"

"Nothing. I swear to you," Clive answered, his body starting to feel unbearably hot. "I came home from the court and found her here going through my belongings. All that is here are debts to be paid and documents from the court. I didn’t write about any of it."

"Then why does Iris believe you killed him? Did a letter come here? Did Eloise return?" Agatha asked and started to pace around the room as she tried to come up with an answer."I will not be able to show her to suitors in this state."

"I do not know if a letter came. She has always been close to Eloise. It was only a matter of time before she calmed down about the betrayal and started to have questions. You must tell her that this is all for her sake," Clive suggested, pushing the task onto Agatha.

"I will not do such a thing. We shall stick to the story we told from the very beginning. Speaking the truth to Iris may only put you in harm’s way. She might run to Eloise, which is why we shall do as you said. She will not be allowed to leave our home without us," said Agatha.

"Agatha, I do not know how long I can go on like this," Clive confessed. His body started to feel weak.

Clive leaned back on a wall, using it for support. "All I can see now is his face, Agatha. He was my little brother."

Agatha strided over to Clive and grabbed his shoulders. "It is too late for you to feel any guilt. You cannot take back what you did, so do not dwell on the past. You are so close to getting the home and getting rid of your debts. Just a bit more and you will have some ease."

Agatha rubbed Clive’s shoulders.

"I understand your feelings, and wish it hadn’t come to this, but you were the one who decided to end his life, Clive. You cannot make the rest of us be punished for what you have done. Think of me. Think of your children," Agatha said, her hands moving to palm Clive’s face.

Agatha forced Clive to look at her. "You once trapped me in this marriage when I became pregnant with my son. I have finally found peace in this marriage, and I will not have you make me become the wife of a murderer. Gather yourself and fast."

Clive tried to keep himself composed, but against his will, the tears started. He cried like a boy before Agatha.

Agatha rolled her eyes and moved her hands. She turned away from Clive and touched her forehead, trying to think of what to do now. "For Heaven’s sake, Clive. Why did you harm him if this is how you would be now?"

"I cannot carry the burden of having to face the town, calling you a murderer while finding Iris a husband. Our son has not yet taken a wife. Do you not see how we will be ruined if you do not remain strong?" Agatha asked, facing Clive with teary eyes.

"I know," Clive softly spoke. "I know what you would all face. This family is my only concern, but I am not strong enough to face these thoughts I have. I see his face constantly. Now, I think of what my mother would say to me if she were alive."

"You must stop thinking about him. Think only about the family you have in this home. You have submitted the will to the court, so it is now all in their hands. From now on, I shall take over matters of his family so you can have some rest," Agatha offered.

Agatha remained confident that Iris could have a good season and would not let Clive’s actions ruin it. She could have peace and wealth through Iris.

"If there are any visitors, I will tend to them. You should go to your bed and rest for now. I will bring you a drink and a plate of food. You have not rested these last days. You need to sleep, then all will be well," Agatha said, kissing Clive’s lips.

"Indeed, I have not rested well since it happened," Clive admitted, rubbing his head. "Bring me the strongest wine we have, or go to find rum if you must. I will rest until it is time for dinner."

"You must. I will speak to Iris and end her anger towards you. I will go to her now to fix this, so please, go to bed," Agatha pleaded.

Clive nodded his head and hugged Agatha before dragging his feet out of the room to go to bed.

Agatha sighed, relieved that one problem was settled. She walked out of the study and returned to Iris’s bedchamber, ready to scold her. "Iris, you-"

Agatha’s eyes widened. "No, no, no," she repeated.

Iris’s bedchamber was now empty, and the window was wide open. She rushed to the window and leaned forward, hoping to see Iris, but Iris was nowhere in sight. "No," Agatha whispered.

Agatha turned around, ready to yell for Clive’s help, but she thought of Clive’s current state. He would go back to his pathetic state if he knew Iris was missing.

"I have to get her," Agatha said, dreading Iris sharing too much. She ran out of the bedchamber and out of the house, knowing where Iris would be heading.