“Yes, well, I am not one to mince words, sir.” Her teeth would start chattering soon, it was so cold. She longed for the cloak she’d handed over upon her arrival.
“I can see that.”
He was tall like his elder brother the earl, but his hair was lighter. Not black or brown, but somewhere in the middle. The ends brushed his collar and curled up at the back, which he likely did not realize, but she did as she’d been watching him all evening. Her and plenty of the other women present.
Ivy had deliberately ushered her aunt into the seats one row behind Mr. Haddon and his family for the concert, hoping she could speak with him. The opportunity had not presented itself. She’d watched him laugh with his family; they interacted with the familiarity of those who loved each other very much. Ivy had swallowed down the pain of the memory that she and Jackson had once been like that.
When he got up to leave the room, she followed, at a discreet distance of course.
He had a strong face, according to Lady Brookvale, who had told Ivy’s aunt once that she’d thought him an excellent catch for any young woman, even if he had rakish tendencies as many young men tended too. Her eyes had rested on Ivy when she was saying those words.
“I have followed my brother’s footsteps for the past two weeks, Mr. Haddon. He has not once returned to the house, but has visited the rooms of a friend, and this is where I confronted him. At the time he was extremely agitated and only said he would take care of whatever it is that is troubling him.”
“You went to a man’s rooms?”
“I did, and it had to be done, so please halt any further recriminations regarding my right to be there or what it would do to my reputation, Mr. Haddon. It is of no consequence to me.”
“No consequence? Are you quite mad? It’s of every consequence. You will not find a husband if your reputation is sullied.”
“Yes, because there is surely no greater hope for a young lady than to find a husband, after all. How could any other thought possibly enter her head?” Ivy could do nothing to swallow down the sarcasm.
“And I repeat, challenging.”
“I don’t want a husband and am unlikely to get one, given what is required. They’re extremely taxing and would insist I behave a certain way, which I assure you I will not be doing.”
His bark of laughter sounded loud on the still night air.
“This is not a laughing matter, Mr. Haddon.”
“Forgive me, I just hadn’t realized that Jackson’s words regarding you were quite so accurate. I thought he was embellishing your character, as siblings are wont to do.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Your brother said you were the most annoying sister a brother could ever have because you were devilishly intelligent and could talk your way out of anything.”
“Oh.” Ivy refused to weep. She’d done enough of that in her rooms at night.
“It was a compliment, Miss Redfern. I always knew your brother loved you very much.”
“Thank you, Mr. Haddon, that is very kind of you to say.”
He didn’t say anything further, just watched her. Large and silent, waiting for her to speak again. Ivy was rarely silent or still. It was an enviable trait.
“If you cannot help me, then could you direct me to someone who could? I tried to employ the services of an investigative person, but that failed miserably.”
“Failed how?”
“The man wanted more than money from me. I set him to rights, I assure you.”
“I have said ‘I beg your pardon’ a great deal more in your company than I have in many weeks, Miss Redfern, however it is the only phrase I have for this moment. Could you please explain how you set the man to rights?”
“It all started when I saw an advertisement for an investigative service in the paper. I should have realized by its location and the shabby state of the office that the man was not reliable.”
“Where was the office?”
“Broom Lane.”
“Good Lord, that is not a place you should be frequenting.”
“I had few choices open to me, so that was the one I took. I told the man what I needed. He said payment up-front, which I did not agree to, as I am nobody’s fool.”
“Clearly.”
“So he got angry, then advanced on me, intending to take liberties upon my person.”
“Good Lord.”
“Indeed. I soon alerted him to his mistakes. He will not be walking straight for some time.”
Another loud bark of laughter. “May I ask how you disarmed him?”
“Does it matter?”
“I’m intrigued.”
“I have a footman who teaches me things and accompanies me most places. He was outside the door, so I had to take matters into my own hands.”
“Things?”
“It is of no consequence. Now will you answer my question, please. Do you?”
“Do I what?” He moved closer, and Ivy fought the urge to scurry backward. She never scurried, that was not her way, but still, he was an intimidating presence. Handsome, and she’d noted he smelled good. This she’d deduced from following him; his scent had lingered in the air.
“Know anyone who can help me if you will not?”
“Can I ask first what your brother said to you when you confronted him?”
“As I have explained, he said he would take care of it. I asked what ‘it’ was, why he had not been home, and what was making him behave erratically.”
“And what was his response?”
“He pushed me out the door and locked it.”
“Very wise.”
“How is that wise?”
“He was saving your reputation.”
“I doubt that. I could smell the alcohol on his person!”
“There is no need to shriek, Miss Redfern, I am right here.”
Ivy swallowed down her next words.
“What is it you want me to do?” A dark brow rose. He was now close enough for her to make out every feature on his face, even in the weak moonlight. His eyes were brown. Deep and dark, they seemed to look right inside her, such was their intensity.
“Go to the places I cannot.”
“Miss Redfern, surely your brother is simply doing what many are? High spirits, enjoying his time in London?”
Ivy loathed being dismissed as if she was a hysterical female overreacting.
“It is not high spirits,” she gritted out. “My brother inherited a reasonable income from our father. Unlike other second sons, he refused to simply live off his brother, join the army, or enter the church, Mr. Haddon. He invested wisely, and Jackson was to continue the course my father had set for him and ensure a comfortable life for us all. As we have so far been visited by two people wanting payment for goods they’d delivered, I don’t believe that is the case. I managed to break into his desk and found more unpaid accounts, but as I am a female and therefore clearly an idiot, I cannot go to the bank to check what funds are still available, if any.”
“I can’t imagine anyone being foolish enough to call you an idiot.”
“The point here is I am out of ideas and need help. Will you do so?”
“Help?”
“I have just said as much,” she said, trying not to sound testy.