Ives Heaton - Chapter 1
April, 1842 – Cornwall
Easter with the Heatons was a mad house. Typically it was crazy with the five children celebrating Easter at the Cornwall estate. However, with Dominic's best friend, the honourable Adam Valente running loose with Dom the house was pure chaos.
"Lady Ives," Parham called to Ives as she descended the stairs heading for the peace of the music room. "Lady Ella was searching for you."
"Where is she now?"
"The library, I believe," the butler responded.
Ives nodded and changed directions, heading for the library instead of the music room. She liked Parham much more than she liked Drake – although she could remember very little about the other butler. She could remember how stuffy Drake always seemed to be and how he would always sigh when either her mother or her siblings ran through the house without shoes. She had even seen her Papa do it once or twice. Parham however, was much more suited to being the Heatons' butler. He could act as a stiff and sombre London butler when required, but around the family, he was informal but always proper.
She smiled when she saw her sister engrossed in one of Shakespeare's plays. When Ella did not look up, Ives smiled; Ella did not know she was there. She crossed to where Ella was sitting and plucked the book from her hands.
"Parham said you were looking for me." She settled onto the ottoman at her sister's feet. "Now, what is it that you wanted to speak to me about?"
"We are leaving for London at the end of next week," Ella stated.
"Yes, I know."
This would be her fourth Season. It was not that she had not had any offers of marriage, she had had at least two each Season. Her father had refused all of the men permission to ask for her hand. Ives had to admit that she did not really mind; she could not image spending the rest of her life with one of those men.
There was always something she did not like. One man disliked the country, another could not ride. Several were only interested in her because of her dowry.
"Do you think you will accept an offer this year?" Ella asked. "I have seen some of the gentlemen who have called on you, Ivy. The London gentlemen are very handsome."
Ives shook her head. "Oh, Ellie, how many times must we all tell you that there is more to finding a husband than his looks? The gentlemen in London are so very different to the country gentlemen we have grown up with." Ives gave a sigh. "Besides, I would like to marry for love like Mama and Papa."
"Do you love William Greene? He is every inch a country gentleman."
"William!" Ives repeated in shock. "Ella, William is something of an older brother. Nothing more. Besides, Papa would never allow me to marry William. He is determined that we all marry into the peerage."
"I think he wants you to marry a duke. Could you imagine marrying a stuffy peer?" Ella dissolved into giggles.
At breakfast, Ives sat to the left of her father. She was already dressed in her riding habit. William rode out most mornings after breakfast. Today, Ives was determined to join him. She would have few opportunities in the coming week.
Erik noted Ives' dress and smiled. "You are going riding. Is anyone joining you?"
Ives shook her head. "No, Papa. I thought to spend the morning with Maud and Queen Bess. Bess will not like being restricted to sedate walks when we are in London."
Erik nodded. He was pleased that like his children, Ives loved her dog and realised that Maud was her responsibility. He thought giving dogs to the children for their tenth birthday was a suitable way to teach the children some responsibility. They all need to be raised with the awareness that they are part of one of the most powerful families in all of England. Particularly Roderick; he will be the Marquess of Renton one day. Erik would rather teach them their lessons without lecturing.
"Just be careful, Ives. I do not want you falling and hurting yourself."
"I will, Papa," Ives promised, pleased that her father fussed over her so much.
"What are you and Adam doing?" Tilly asked Dominic brightly as she took a big bite of her jam-covered toast.
"We're going riding," Adam responded.
"Oh, can I come?"
Dom glared at his sister. "You cannot even ride yet, Tilly. Why would you want to come with us when you cannot even ride a horse? Besides, we were going to go to the cliffs. You know that's where the spriggans like to hide."
Tilly's eyes widened at the thought of those nasty creatures, guarding their treasure. They would hiss and spit at anyone who came near them! She had seen pictures of them in books and hoped that she would never see one; they were ugly with a big head on their little shoulders.
"You aren't going to the cliffs are you, Dom? The spriggans will get you!"
Feeling sorry for her, Adam offered Tilly an encouraging smile. "I am sure Dom and I will be fine."
"If we don't return in time for dinner, Tilly, you will know the spriggans got us," Dom continued.
Christine shot Dom a reproving look. "Do not tease your sister so, Dominic. Remember how scared of the spriggans you were when you were Tilly's age. Promise that you will both behave yourselves and be careful at the cliffs."
"I promise we will be careful…so long as the spriggans stay far away from us." Dom was determined to have the last word.
"Dominic, leave Tilly alone," Ives joined her mother in chiding her brother.
"Do not act as if you never joined in our teasing, Saint Ives!"
Ives glared but said nothing. She had endured her siblings calling her Saint Ives after her namesake for much of her life. There was nothing to be done about it. There were worse names, she reminded herself.
"Dominic. You are not to be foolish near the cliffs. I will expect you home in time for tea. If you are even one minute late, Dominic, you and Adam will both be confined to the house. Do I make myself clear?" Erik demanded sharply as he fixed the two boys with his best officer look.
The boys nodded and promised they would behave. "Perhaps we will join Ives; she will keep us out of trouble."
Ives gave her brother a warning look. She did not want Dom and his friend following her around. Dom gave a wicked grin. Shaking her head Ives picked up the jam pot to cover a muffin.
Dominic grinned. "What jam is that, Ives?"
She glanced at her brother with a frown. She could not imagine why he was asking her a question she was sure he knew the answer to. "Rosella."
"They make this jam out of crimson rosellas. Papa had the jam imported from Australia," Dominic informed Tilly with a wicked smile.
He loved teasing his little sister – she was the only one he could tease. Being the second youngest, he was near the bottom of the pecking order. He could not tease the others and was often the victim of Ella's bad moods.
Adam looked between the siblings a little grin lighting his face. Since he had travelled to Cornwall to spend first Christmas and now the Easter break with the Heatons, he learnt that his friend's family life was very different to his own. If he had tried to tease his older sisters, his father would have clapped in across the ear.
Poor little Tilly always fell for her brother's teasing. It did not take much to upset the girl. That was why Adam could never take part.
"Dominic," Christine chided. She knew this would upset her daughter greatly. That Dominic could make a joke about making jam out of a bird was terrible!
Tilly set her toast down with disgust and pushed the plate away. She then turned on her father with a fierce frown. "Papa, how could you? How could you allow the people in Australia to do that to the poor birds? How could you even think of buying this horrid jam?"
Erik bit his lips to stop the smile that was trying to escape. He had never seen his daughter look so furious before. The dark look was so contrary to her young and bright nature.
Tilly picked up the jam pot and was about to order Parham to throw it away.
Unable to control himself, Dom burst into a fit of giggles. He waved his knife at Tilly. "You silly thing, Tilly; I was teasing you. They don't use birds to make the jam; they use flowers!"
"Maybe you're right, Dom," Tilly admitted slowly with a little laugh. "Bird jam would not be tasty. But I think I would like blueberry jam better. Roderick, may I have the jam, please?"
Tilly loftily ignored Dom's laughter as she prepared another slice of toast.
"Tilly, don't be mad at me; I was only teasing you. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you. Rod, Adam and I were going to play billiards this afternoon; if you like you may join us."
She nodded eagerly then frowned. "I am always on your team. That would not be fair."
Roderick smiled. "You can be on my team if you like, Tilda. I am sure it will be a fair game. Perhaps Adam will be able to help you, Dom!"
Erik and Christine laughed at Roderick's rejoinder. Although she was still learning how to play billiards, their daughter was indeed a better player than Dominic. In a few years time, she would be a match for Roderick.