“You knew him?” Joseph said, taking the gloved hand the elderly woman held out.
“I did. Wonderful man. We were all in love with him, but your grandmother won his heart.”
Moving slightly to the right, Rory leaned down to talk to Miss Redfern. “You need to hurry if it’s an eclair you’re after. My sister and sister-in-law have a ferocious appetite for them.”
Her eyes went from him to the table.
“Go on, you know you want to.”
“I certainly do not. I don’t like eclairs.”
“Oh, come now, who doesn’t like eclairs?”
“I’d much prefer the almond biscuits.”
“I must admit I like them also. Come, we shall endeavor to get one before my family devours everything.”
“Oh, but—”
“No one knows we have conversed or the reasons why. Your brother is an old friend of mine, so us talking or eating together will not raise eyebrows.”
She gave him a curt nod, then walked to the table.
“Miss Redfern, this is my sister-in-law, Lady Ellsworth, and sister, Lady Thurston.”
“Oh, but we are acquainted.” Ellie smiled, and Miss Redfern replied with one of her own. Rory had to admit it suited her. Her face changed entirely. Softened.
Seeing gossip was in her future, he wandered to where the fruitcake and his eldest brother stood.
“She has the look of Jackson. I’d not noticed it until this evening, but then I hardly remember seeing her,” Joseph said.
“I think she’s something of a wallflower.”
“Well, that explains it. Now, do you want to tell me what is concerning you?”
“Nothing is concerning me.” He shot Miss Redfern another look. Ellie was pointing to the eclairs, and she was shaking her head.
“Perhaps I can help?”
His brother always knew when he had something on his mind.
“Very well, but keep what I am telling you to yourself, as I’m not entirely sure as yet there is a problem.”
“You know I will.”
“Miss Redfern approached me earlier. She has grave concerns for Jackson.”
“What concerns?” Joe’s hand beat Rory’s to the final almond biscuit. “You will need to be quicker than that.”
“Yes, well, stop trying to distract me and I will.” Rory’s words were testy as he grabbed the inferior shortbread.
“Continue, and I will eat my biscuit and give you sage advice.”
“She thinks he’s gambling or something equally nefarious. It seems he’s spent a great deal of the family money and creditors have started to call. Miss Redfern said Jackson has been missing for a few weeks now, and while she has tried, as yet she cannot ascertain his whereabouts.”
“Where has she tried?” Joe took a crab patty.
“Bastil’s is one she named.”
“You’re not serious?”
“She’s an extremely determined woman, it seems, but has a footman who accompanies her, and it is now he who enters places she wishes to check.”
“Is that admiration I hear in your voice, brother?”
“No. I told her that she’d risked her reputation by doing what she had, but apparently Miss Redfern feels her disguise was up to the task.”
Joseph choked on the crab patty, which allowed Rory to whack him on the back.
“Will you help her?” his brother said when he could speak again.
“I’ve said I’ll meet with her tomorrow to discuss the matter further.”
“Good. I believe there is only Miss Redfern and her aunt left in the family, besides Jackson, so whatever you can do to aid them is a good thing. However, have a care and don’t step into anything without telling me or Charles first.”
“Manure?”
“Anything but manure.”
“Puddle?” Rory chewed on his biscuit as he watched Miss Redfern chat with Milly and Ellie. Their eyes caught and held briefly. It was she who turned away.
He felt a strange sensation in his stomach. Perhaps he’d eaten that fruitcake too quickly.
“The point I am attempting to make, Rory, is that I have no wish for you to walk into danger because a woman has directed you to.”
“Wrong brother, I believe. It is Charles who does things like that, not I,” Rory said, watching Miss Redfern take a large bite of the eclair she had told him she did not like. No dainty nibbling for her.
“We all are capable of doing foolish things when a woman is involved.”
Looking at his brother, he saw Joe’s eyes were on Milly.
“And yet I feel nothing for Miss Redfern. Her brother, however, was a friend and deserves that someone find out what is going on with him.”
“If you say so.”
“I know so,” Rory said.
“And yet your eyes have stayed on her continually since she entered the supper room.”
“No, they haven’t.” Rory turned his back on Miss Redfern. He then searched for something else to discuss. He watched as Lord Trockler picked up a cake and his wife took it out of his hands and put it on her own plate.
“That woman is nasty. Now, you’ll excuse me, brother. I am standing in the supper room but as yet have not eaten an eclair,” Rory said before he walked away. Taking the long way around the table, he pretended to study the array of food before reaching Miss Redfern’s side.
“I thought you did not like eclairs, Miss Redfern?”
“It is surprisingly good. Your sister urged me to try one.”
“Miss Redfern is a lover of almond biscuits like you, Rory,” Ellie said.
“Is she? Well, that shows she has good taste.”
“Or is clearly uneducated as to which food is superior,” Ellie added.
“Such messy things, eclairs,” Miss Redfern said, wiping her hands on a napkin.
“And where is it you will retire this winter, Miss Redfern?” Milly asked. He couldn’t remember if the Redferns had a country house or not.
“We are to stay in London. My brother has business here.”
Their eyes met and held, and both knew that whatever business Jackson was undertaking, there would be no end result that benefited the Redfern family.
Chapter Five
Ivy had lain in bed last night for hours agonizing over her decision to tell Mr. Haddon about Jackson. Her worry had not lessened when she opened her heavy lids this morning.
He was calling to speak with her soon, and she couldn’t stop wringing her hands. Ivy never wrung her hands. As far as she was concerned, that was for silly women who should know better. It seemed she was now one of those.
She’d changed her dress twice, and her maid was looking at her strangely, as she never did that either. Ivy was not really aware of fashion like some.
“I am being silly.” She walked slowly around the room and stopped at the window that looked down to the street. He was there again. Every time she left her house, she saw that man. Once he’d followed her up and down Bond Street. Another time he’d walked past the window when she was purchasing her aunt’s favorite toffee.
It had gone beyond coincidence. Why was he watching her? Ivy had a feeling it was to do with Jackson, and the shiver of fear accompanying that thought was not pleasant. Moving away, she clutched the back of her chair. Looking at her things, she tried to focus. She must be alert for when Mr. Haddon arrived.