Victorian Phantoms

Summary: Lady Ives, Lord and Lady Renton's oldest daughter, is used to men courting her for her money. But when she meets Lord Nicholas Rotherwick, she is convinced she has finally found a man who loves her. What will Erik think of his daughter's man? What secret is Nick hiding from Ives? (Inspired by Joan Overfield's Belle of the Ball).

As always, a special thanks to my beta for picking up my mistakes and for all of your wonderful support.

I do not own Phantom of the Opera.

Ives Heaton - Prologue

May, 1841 – London

Lady Ives Heaton, with her brothers and sisters rode through the park in the early hours of the morning. She was not up as early as she would have been if she had been in Cornwall, but she and her siblings were most certainly up far earlier than most Londoners. Ives rode alongside Roderick. Together, she and her brother conversed quietly as her youngest sister, five year old Matilda ran ahead with Nanny. Nanny shook her head and ran after Tilly.

Dominic was atop his horse conversing with another boy around his own age a short distance away. Dom's dark hair contrasted with the boy's blonde head. The other boy grinned and lightly punched Dom's arm.

Roderick frowned as he saw the two boys laughing and shoving each other. "Do you know who he is? They are going to fall off their horse if they are not careful."

Ives shook her head. Of the four of them – Tilly had not yet started her riding lessons – Dom was by far the best rider. There was no way he would fall. "I have never seen him before; he is certainly a gentleman's son."

"I cannot be sure he will be a good influence on Dom," Rod observed. "If his friend is in town, he may have been sent home from school in disgrace."

As the oldest son who had grown up with the knowledge that he would be the future marquess, Roderick took his role very seriously. He saw it as his responsibility to ensure his siblings behaved properly and acted according to their station in life in his father's absence. He would often take his position so seriously that he forgot that he was not the oldest.

"Or, perhaps, Roddie, his friend is tutored at home, as we all are."

Suitably chastised, Roderick surrendered and said nothing further about Dominic and his new friend. "Tilly seems to be enjoying London," he said as he watched his sister tumble on the grass. She jumped to her feet and smiled cheekily, her white dress stained with grass – much to Nanny's dismay. "You seem to be enjoying your Season, Ives. I've noticed quite a few gentlemen have taken an interest in you."

Ives pursed her lips as she considered her brother's words. The gentlemen who had taken an interest in her, appeared to be either fortune hunters or in search of the benefits that came with marrying into the Heaton family. She recalled the day that she had been informed that she would no longer be Miss Heaton but would now be called Lady Ives.

Her parents were sitting next to each other. Her mother's eyes were filled with unshed tears and her father's jaw was ticking the way it always did when he was upset or angry. Erik's hand rested protectively on his wife's stomach; Christine was expecting their fourth child. Ives' younger brother Roderick was next to his mother, stroking her hand soothingly. Two year old Ella was sitting on the floor cuddling her doll.

"Precious, come and sit with us, Papa and I have something important to tell you."

Ives settled herself at her parents' feet and waited for the important news. The important news was that had upset Christine was that Erik's older brother, Benedict, the Marquess of Renton had died. He had been so devastated when his son had been stillborn that he had ordered his horse and just rode. His tiring horse had stumbled, sending Benedict flying and to his death.

"What does that mean, Papa?" Ives asked with a confused little frown.

Erik grimaced. He had never wanted the title or to be yet another marquess. "It means that I am now a marquess, your mama is my marchioness." He smiled at Christine. "And you all, my little loves, are lords and ladies."

Christine smiled. "You will now be Lady Ives, and you, Roddie, will be Lord Roderick."

Ives' eyes filled with tears. She had never met her Uncle Benedict or her cousins. She just knew that her Mama and Papa were very upset by something Uncle Benedict did a long time ago. It was a big change to lose her uncle and cousin all in one day.

Lady Ives shook off her dark thoughts when Lady Ella went racing by. Roderick shouted at her to slow down. As usual, Ella, the rebel of the family ignored his orders. For a moment, it looked as if Ella had lost control of her horse. Roderick was just about to spur his horse on to save his sister when a gentleman appeared out of nowhere.

"Lass, you are very brave to be out racing this early," the man said with a grin when he pulled Ella's horse to a halt.

"Am I brave to be out early or brave to be racing?" Ella asked with a teasing smile. She had never tried flirting before. There was no one to flirt with back in Cornwall…except Aaron Greene. She turned her nose up as she thought of flirting with Aaron. But when carried out with an attractive parti it was quite enjoyable.

"Both, lass." His grey-green eyes shone with laughter. "Very few young ladies would dare to be up and about at this time of morning."

Ella did not dare tell her mystery saviour that she was only fifteen. But then, he looked only a few years older than Roderick. "I grew up in the country; I am used to being up early."

"Ella!" Roderick snapped at his sister as he and Ives drew even with Ella and the man. "Come along, we had best be returning home."

"Thank you for your assistance, sir," Ella said with a pretty smile as she turned her horse around.

"Ella, how many times must we remind you that the gentlemen here in London are not like our neighbours?" Ives gently chided her little sister when they were out of the stranger's earshot.