Page 89 of A Bloom for a Blacksmith

The following day

Despite the delicious soreness she experienced upon waking earlier that morning, Iris couldn’t keep from displaying a grin as she went about her day. She had been the one to wake up first that morning, a quick glance at Angus’s pocket watch showing it was nearly three o’clock. She slipped from his hold to hurriedly dress and see to her toilette before heading downstairs.

Iris hummed softly as she set a pot of water to boiling and stuffed her snap tin with the leftover fruits and cheese. She thought of how it was she could spend her morning arranging bouquets without blushing. Just by looking at her, she was sure the entire world would know she and Angus had made love.

When Angus joined her a few minutes later, his dark hair in disarray and his eyes barely open, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her until she almost forgot where she was.

“Good morning, my beautiful bloom,” he murmured.

“Good morning, my brawny blacksmith.” She rubbed her hands on his upper arms, remembering how solid they had felt the night before. “Did you sleep well?”

He chuckled softly. “Too well. I don’t remember you leaving the cot.”

She grinned. “Would you like some fruit for breakfast?”

“I’ll eat an apple on the way,” he replied. “Are you… well this morning?” he asked, concern evident on his face.

“I have never felt better,” she replied, a blush heating her face. “I’m nearly ready to go,” she said. “I just need to fill a bottle with some water.” She had her snap tin set on the table, a glass bottle next to it. “Would you like to take some water with you?” she asked. “It must get terribly hot working near a forge all day.”

He nodded. “My flask is in my valise. I’ll be but a moment.” He disappeared up the stairs while Iris saw to banking the fire. When he returned, he held his flask as she poured the steaming water into it, and then he did the same for her bottle. He watched as she stuffed a cork into the opening.

Once they were downstairs, he opened the back door for her, the morning chill bracing against his newly shaved face.

“Do you have money for food?” he asked, lowering his voice now that they were outside. He rummaged in his trouser pockets as she saw to locking the door. He offered her a sovereign as they made their way to the mews.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the coin. “That will buy a lot of food,” she said, gingerly taking it from him.

“Mrs. Agremon gave it to me for helping with your move,” he said. “It’s only fair I share it with you.”

“Thank you,” she said. “When Jacob was alive, my wages went for food while he saw to the rent,” she said.

“You shouldn’t have had to pay for anything,” he said.

“I didn’t mind. I like working with flowers for my living.” At the end of the mews, they met the stable boy holding the reins of a horse, the phaeton already hitched up and ready to go.

Angus helped her up the step and hurried around to the other side. When he was up on the bench and had the horse in motion, he asked, “Will you still wish to do it once we are wed?”

“Of course,” she replied.

“What if I…?” He stopped speaking.

“What if you… what?” she prompted.

“What if I could support us both? So you don’t have to work for the Joneses?”

Iris dipped her head. “I will not give up being a flower girl,” she said. “I enjoy seeing my customers and making bouquets for the big houses. I don’t know how I’d fill my days otherwise. The colors, the scents, the shapes of the flowers are, to me, kind of like the paints the painters are using to make our walls look like they’re made of marble. It’s a kind of practical art. Anyway, I don’t want to stop doing it.”

“Even if we have children?”

She giggled softly. “Plenty of girls bring their babes to market with them,” she said. “But perhaps then I might be inclined to only work at the bookshop.”

The answer seemed to settle Angus.

“I’m going to ask Mr. Agremon if I can borrow his dray cart. See if I can’t move my bed today,” he said, waggling his brows.

She grinned. “We’ll be tightening the ropes every night, won’t we?” she teased.

He cleared his throat. “Actually, there are no ropes.”