He took it and read the words slowly. This she knew as it was not a long note. Clearly he was reading and rereading it. When he lifted his gaze, his eyes now had a decidedly frosty glint. Ivy had the ridiculous urge to gulp and slide across the carriage so she could leap from it, no matter that it was moving.
Chapter Eight
Rory looked at the woman inching nervously along her seat. She wore a deep gray coat, the color of the foxes he saw at Greystone. It was buttoned to her chin, and her bonnet matched. Around her neck was wrapped an emerald scarf, the only sign of color on Ivy except for her lips, which were tinged blue because it was bloody icy out here.
“Where are you going, Miss Redfern?”
“Why will you just not leave? This is no concern of yours. I have absolved you of it.”
“And that means I’ll simply walk away and forget you, does it? Forget that note suggesting your brother’s life is in danger and that you are about to plunge recklessly into a situation in the hopes of finding him?”
“Yes.”
“You answered yes to all that?”
“Look, Mr. Haddon, there really is no point in discussing this further. I am going to sell some jewelry, then visit the place I believe my brother is at. Please leave so I can do these things.”
“You cannot be that foolish?”
“It is not being foolish; it is being preemptive.”
“You have given no thought to the danger this could put you in, clearly.” Rory felt ill at the prospect of what she could have walked into.
“Of course I have given it thought! I am not a fool. However, I had no other choice. Don’t you see, I could not risk anything happening to anyone else, so it must be me that does this. I am the only one who can help Jackson.”
“I told you I would help.” He wasn’t sure whether he admired her, or questioned her sanity.
“No. I won’t have you involved. I planned to arrive at Le Plaisir, which is the establishment where I believe my brother is being held, with my footman who will be armed, as am I. My driver also will carry a rifle, and be ready should he be required.”
“Leaving out your questionable decision making for the moment and the terrifying fact you are armed. How have you deduced that your brother is at Le Plaisir?”
“My decisions are not questionable and not something I have come to lightly, Sir. This is my family’s problem and as such it falls on me to deal with it.”
Rory felt sad that she had no one but an elderly aunt to turn to at such a time. He’d always had his brothers.
“We will agree to disagree, now continue with your story.”
“The note stated don’t tell anyone, and as you are… someone, I could not tell you.”
“Have you read no novels, Miss Redfern? The notes always say don’t tell anyone and come alone, but no one ever does. You could have been walking into any dire situation.”
“I don’t read those kinds of novels.”
“Let me guess. You read huge tombs of literary works, stargazing gazettes, or Latin compositions.”
“Don’t make fun of me.” She glared at him now.
Her eyes were almost the exact color of her coat. The scarf brought them to life. Fringed by the dark brows and lashes, they were really quite something.
“Let me assure you, I can find nothing amusing about this situation, Miss Redfern.”
“I read extensively on a variety of subjects.”
“But not Miss Primrose’s latest work, I’m sure. I believe it is called The Tomb of Dread?”
“Is it available?” Her hands fluttered about the place. “I so wanted to know when it was.”
“My sister-in-law has just received her copy.”
“Oh! I will have to go to the bookstore.”
“But we digress.” Rory brought the subject back to her reckless actions. “I will move past yet another lie as to not reading those types of novels, as clearly you do.”
She turned to look out the window, and he studied the curve of her jaw and lines of her cheeks and nose. Strange how he’d never noticed her before last night, and yet here she was, beautiful and frustratingly unaware of the danger she could have placed herself in.
“If I am to assist you, Miss Redfern, I must have your word you will not behave in such a reckless manner going forward.”
“I can’t allow you to help, as it will put Jackson and possibly you in danger.”
“He’s already in danger, and I can look after myself.”
“Would you have left the house without telling anyone, were you in my position, if you believed a member of your family was in danger? Would you have gained the funds, then gone to try and secure his release?”
In a heartbeat.
“We are not talking about me.”
“But would you?” she persisted.
“Yes,” he conceded. “But I am a man.” He raised a hand as she opened her mouth. “And bigger and stronger than you. Plus, a man wandering into a brothel would not raise an eyebrow. You would.”
She made a small pfft sound that had him wanting to smile. Rory swallowed it down. The woman had wrung so many emotions out of him, he wasn’t sure if he was standing or sitting.
“I am going to help you, Miss Redfern. Understand that and things will go a great deal smoother.”
She saw the flare of hope in her eyes as she turned to face him once more.
“But before I do, I must have your word you will do nothing without consulting me first.”
Those lips pursed and then she exhaled loudly. “Oh, very well, you have it, and my gratitude that you will help me.”
“Send word if you need me any time. I will come as soon as I am able.”
She nodded. “I am hoping there will never be a next time as my brother will have returned and I can go to him should I need assistance.”
Rory hoped so too; he just wasn’t sure what state Jackson Redfern would be in when they got to him.
“You cannot go into Le Plaisir.” Rory decided this needed to be clarified before they reached their destination.
“What? Why?”
“Because it is a brothel,” he said patiently. “If you are seen in there at such an hour, actually at any hour, it would ruin you. Now tell me why you believe Jackson is at Le Plaisir?”
She inspected her gloves, clearly forming the words before speaking them. “My footman spoke to a young boy who works there. He found him outside, about to enter. Money was exchanged, and Timothy was told that Jackson was there.”
“He could have been lying.”
“The boy said he remembered Jackson because he’d seen him wearing a red and gray waistcoat. My brother wears this particular item often during the winter months, as he believes color makes people smile when we are experiencing dreary weather conditions.”
Rory had seen that waistcoat.
“Very well. I will go on your behalf to Le Plaisir.”
She didn’t like that. Her hands clenched in her lap.
“It is the only way.”
“Sometimes I do not like being a woman.”
Rory had no reply to that.
“But I know you are correct.” Her shoulders slumped.
“Loath as you are to admit it.”