The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

"Reece, you must calm yourself before you spoil this moment for me. I was the one who pulled him here because I wanted to kiss him without the maids seeing. I was the one who said I wanted to be engaged now," Iris explained quickly.

"You should have spoken to me first," Reece said, backing away from Zayne.

"It was in the spur of the moment. I didn’t confirm with Eloise that I was going to do it now. He merely happened to show up at the right time," Iris tried to explain, her words tumbling out in desperation. "Can’t you calm your anger and be happy for me?"

"Isn’t this good news for you to leave town on?" Iris asked, hoping to soothe him with reason.

"It is good to know that your future with him is set, but you must understand why this is difficult for me. You are my one and only little sister. I thought there would be some time before I thought of you as an engaged woman," Reece said, covering his face with his hand.

His memories of Iris as a child, clinging to his sleeve, laughing at his stories, now collided with the image of her as a woman making her own choices.

Iris frowned, her lips twitching. "Reece, please don’t cry. You know I always have an urge to laugh when I see your crying face."

"I am not crying. I am facing the fact that you have grown up. Iris, I ask that you excuse us so I may have a word with Zayne again. Just for a moment," Reece requested.

"Must you do this again? You have done it before, and now we are engaged. I am quite tired of all the secret talk," Iris said, folding her arms.

"It is fine, Iris. I want to speak to your brother as well," Zayne said, ignoring Reece as he eyed Iris.

Iris sighed. "Very well. It will give me a chance to escape before we are all seen leaving together. Zayne, I like my brother in one piece," she said before leaving.

Reece turned to Iris, offended. "Why is it always like this? That you are asking him not to hurt me?"

"Because I have eyes, dear brother. I can see which of the two can hurt the other. If it were Lord Hawthorne standing before you, I would tell him the same. I am returning to Eloise," Iris shared just before opening the door and leaving.

Reece sighed once he was alone with Zayne. "She’s going to be a headache for you, but she’s a lovely headache. I am not going to argue with you or tell you what to do. You two will do as you wish."

"I do understand why you would be upset to see us alone, but as she said, a kiss was all that happened," Zayne promised.

"You could have done that where the engagement happened. I remember the moment of getting my wife to say yes to marriage and the feelings that followed. Coming to a closed space like this wasn’t needed. I don’t trust you," Reece said bluntly.

"I expect this. You’re never going to fully trust your little sister’s husband, but think of what you faced with your wife’s father. I urge you not to get too deep into your feelings and ruin every moment I have with Iris," Zayne requested.

Reece thought it was a reasonable request.

"Iris isn’t going to be pregnant before we get married. I am a gentleman to not do so. I will treat her with the same respect as every lady in this town. We were excited in the moment and kissed. That is all," Zayne promised one last time.

"Right. That is understandable," Reece replied, nodding his head. "I let my anger blind me when I saw you two. She is my precious little sister, and she has endured plenty, so promise me that from now on, she will do more smiling than crying."

"I will try my best to do so. I don’t want to see her crying. Well, unless it is good tears. Not all crying is for bad moments," Zayne said with a smile.

"I also noticed that there wasn’t a ring on her finger. Due to my finances, it took me a while to get a small ring for my wife, but you are in a better position. Please place a ring on her finger to make it official," Reece instructed Zayne.

His thoughts lingered on the symbolism of the ring. A promise made visible to safeguard his sister’s honour.

"I already informed her that by the time she returns from the countess’s home, there will be a ring ready for her. Perhaps I could rush to do so now and get it to her before she departs," Zayne realised. "I cannot stay for long. I must go."

"I shall give your goodbyes to Iris," Reece said, watching as Zayne rushed to the door. "In case she didn’t tell you, they don’t leave until noon tomorrow, and by the morning, I will have departed to get back to my wife."

"Iris now knows how to find me and my wife, but once it is safe for her to make the distance, I will bring my wife and her family here. I hope to receive an invitation to a wedding then," said Reece.

"You will. I cannot stay for much longer. Excuse me," Zayne said, leaving the library with urgency.

Reece relaxed as he no longer had to worry.

"Oh!" Zayne’s return startled Reece. "Inform Damien that I will be back soon, so don’t go ahead with his plans until I am back. I will help him with Hayden."

Reece didn’t get the chance to respond as Zayne was already out the door again.

Reece stepped out of the library and, to no surprise, Iris was waiting for him close by.

"We didn’t argue, nor did I scold him. I only asked that he place the ring on your finger," Reece explained. "I am not against your union. I only want it to be done properly."

"I am aware, which is why I am not angry with you, but no more requests to pull him to the side. He has dealt with it enough. Come join me in helping Eloise pack," Iris said, offering her hand to Reece.

Reece approached Iris and held her hand. "I’m going to miss these moments. Perhaps I should move back to town."

"No," Iris said, shaking her head. "I’d rather not have you constantly intruding on my time with Zayne. Stay out of town. Only return for visits."

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