“Oh, but Ivy, it does. You have long wished to see one of your works in the Stargazers Gazette. Haven’t you tried many times to achieve just that?”
“I have stopped now, Aunt Bea. Now, I’m sure Mr. Haddon would like to get on with his day, so we shall excuse him.”
Clearly she wanted him gone. Rory just wasn’t sure why as yet.
“Thank you for the tea, ladies. It was delightful, as were the cherry cakes. Which I may add are my favorites.” The aunt tittered.
“Parslip!” Ivy yelled, causing her aunt to frown.
“You called, Miss Redfern?”
“Mr. Haddon is leaving.”
He bowed, then left the room gnashing his teeth. She’d neatly outmaneuvered him, and now he wouldn’t have a chance to speak with her as to why she no longer needed his help. He walked along the small path and out to the street, then stopped as a carriage pulled up before the front door. Rory looked left and right, then walked back down the side of the house to wait.
Chapter Seven
Navigating the path to the street from their townhouse, Ivy let herself through the gate and made for the carriage.
Aunt Bea had been displeased over the way she’d spoken to Mr. Haddon, censuring her on the correct conduct for taking tea with a gentleman who was clearly interested in her. Ivy had attempted to explain she did not return that interest, and her aunt’s blunt response had been “Why?” Ivy was still struggling to come up with an answer.
Why indeed? Her heart had definitely thudded a little harder when he’d entered the parlor, but Ivy had told herself that was due to worry for Jackson, not Rory Haddon’s handsome face. Of course that was untrue; he unsettled her greatly.
“Good morning, Miss Redfern.”
“Hello, Timothy.” Ivy nodded to her footman. “Thank you for accompanying me. Please take me to somewhere I can sell a few pieces of jewelry.”
“Very well, Miss Redfern.” She saw the questions in her footman’s eyes.
Ivy needed money if she was to gain her brother’s freedom, and had selected pieces that had no sentimental value to sell. She just hoped Aunt Bea didn’t notice they were missing.
“Allow me.” A large hand reached around her and opened the carriage door before Timothy could.
“Mr. Haddon!” Ivy’s heart nearly leapt from her chest as she looked at him. Where had he come from?
“I have this, thank you,” he said to Timothy. “In you get, Miss Redfern. And we can have the chat while we travel to your intended destination.”
“I have no wish to chat. Good day to you, Mr. Haddon.” Stepping into the carriage, she waited for the door to close. It did, but with him inside.
“What are you doing?”
“Accompanying you.”
“Get out at once!” He seemed to take up a great deal of space in a carriage that until now she’d felt was adequate for three or four people.
“Where is it you are going, Miss Redfern?”
“That is none of your business.”
His dark eyes were locked on hers, unwavering, focused. Ivy looked away.
“Last night, the most important thing in your life was finding and saving your brother. This morning, it is not. Care to tell me why?”
“I overreacted.”
“Jackson said you tended to do that, but in this situation I don’t believe that is the truth. Therefore I have deduced from your unease and the fact you wanted me anywhere but in your home that your errand this morning is concerning your brother. That led me to believe—”
“Get out of my carriage, Mr. Haddon, or I shall call my footman to remove you!”
“Please do so.” He sat back, folding his arms.
Ivy quite literally had no idea what to do next, which never happened. She always had a plan and a mind that adjusted to any situation as it arose.
“Do you know what I think, Miss Redfern?”
She shook her head, as no words were forthcoming.
“That you have received word on how to find your brother but you are to come alone.”
“You can’t know that!” How had he known that?
“I’m devilishly clever, ask anyone.”
“My cook has no idea who you even are.”
“Anyone but your cook.”
“My maid—”
“Anyone who knows me,” he clarified. His eyes were laughing now.
“I—ah, I’m going shopping.” Ivy looked out the window.
“Are you in desperate need of a new bonnet perhaps? A Christmas gift for your sweet aunt?”
“I knew what you were about in there, sweet talking my aunt, Mr. Haddon. You’re one of those men who has to ensure every woman likes him.” Her mind had started working again and decided that perhaps if she annoyed him enough, he would leave,
“That’s very kind of you to say. I like you too.”
“Not me, I don’t like you!”
“You wound me.” He pressed a hand to his chest, looking hurt, yet his eyes still twinkled. “But let me assure you, I was entirely myself with your aunt. I like people, and people like me because I am a likeable character.”
“I believe the term is unctuous,” Ivy snapped.
His eyes narrowed. “I can be polite when required, but if someone crosses me, then my halo slips, I assure you.”
“You are no saint, Mr. Haddon, no matter what your family think of you.”
“Oh, they know my faults, Miss Redfern, I assure you. And now that you have run out of insults, let me just say that a woman of at least thirty summers should have a great deal more sense than you are currently displaying.”
“Are you being deliberately insulting?”
“I am returning the favor.”
“I am two and twenty. Now, leave my carriage.”
“So young? I had not realized.” He leaned closer to her. “That does go some way to explaining your rash decision making.”
“I am never rash!” Ivy only just stopped herself from shrieking.
A dark brow rose. “I’ll just say one word. Bastil’s.”
“Leave my carriage,” Ivy gritted out.
“While it is moving? How heartless of you.”
“When it stops!”
“Tell me where you are going, and don’t lie.”
“I don’t lie.”
“I’ve caught you out telling three in the space of an hour, so clearly you do. Plus, you said ‘I—ah’ before each.”
“I—ah, oh bother.”
“You did approach me last night, Miss Redfern. You asked me to help, and I am not the sort to simply forget that. I am worried for you and your aunt, and also Jackson.”
“Oh, dear.” She pressed her gloves to her eyes, as suddenly they wanted to leak. “Forgive me, I did not sleep well.”
“Which is entirely understandable, considering what you are having to deal with. Especially now I realize you are doing so alone.”
“I just want my brother back, Mr. Haddon.” The desperation she felt was suddenly overwhelming.
“I know. Let me help you to achieve that, Miss Redfern.”
“Very well.” Pulling out the note from her reticule, she thrust it at him. After all, he was clearly not going to give up, and she had to get rid of him somehow.