Victorian Phantoms

Welcome back to Ives' story! It's been a while, but after a reminder from my beta, I'll be continuing the Heatons' stories and will updating regularly.

Ives Chapter 3

"Well, you seem quite taken with the Heaton Heiress," Sin said with a grin.

Following the Porthams' ball, Nick and Sin had stopped at their club. They were sitting in front of the fire with a glass of brandy in their hand. Nick had loosened his neckcloth and sat back in his chair. He refused to comment on his friend's observation.

"Lady Ives is lovely, is she not?"

"She is," Nick finally agreed. "She is neither an upstart like Miss Richmond nor is she naïve like Miss Everett."

Sin nodded in agreement. "I am to assume then that you have found your future bride in Lady Ives?"

Ives returned from an early morning ride through the park with her father the following morning to find her mother chastising Tilly in the breakfast room. Through the closed door, she could hear Christine's voice.

"Matilda, leave the card. That is not addressed to you; it is for Ives."

Erik raised a brow at the conversation in the other room. He glanced at his daughter and saw a blush lighting her cheeks. Against his will, a smile softened Erik's face. He could imagine what was going on behind the closed door. He pushed open the door and ushered Ives in before him.

"Ivy!" Tilly jumped from her chair and grabbed Ives' hand. "Look what arrived for you while you were out!" She dragged her to the sideboard where a small bouquet of white roses, tied with a pink ribbon, lay.

Ives lifted the roses to her nose. She grabbed the card, read it and tucked it in the pocket of her riding habit. Her lips curled up in a smile. She looked from under her lashes to find her family staring at her in interest. She bit her lip to hold back a smile and found her seat opposite her mother.

Erik placed a kiss on Christine's cheek. He settled into his chair at the head of the table and pulled Tilly onto his lap.

"Who are the roses from?" Ella asked.

"They are from a boy," Tilly whispered in her papa's ear.

Erik's grin faded quickly when he realised that already Ives had a suitor. How was it that there was a gentleman interested in his daughter that he did not know about. He looked at Christine. He would have to question her later.

"Ella, Tilly, that is enough," Christine chastised her daughters.

She had a good idea who sent her daughter the roses. She was not sure of the man's name, but she was certain that, in the one dance he had shared with her daughter, she had already stolen his heart. Judging by the looks her husband was shooting at her, she had some explaining to do.

"Lord Rotherwick seems truly taken with you," Suzette said with a grin.

Ives rolled her eyes. She was tempted to throw a cushion at her friend's head, but decided against it. She did not think that Godmama Dru would be very pleased to find tea stains on her settee. "Do not start that again, Suze."

"What was Lord Rotherwick like?" Lady Hannah demanded. "What did you talk about while you danced?"

"I am certain there is an unspoken rule that says the conversation between a man and a women during a dance stays private," Suze responded tartly.

Hannah's face screwed up. "Oh, just tell me what he is like! He did not seem to notice any other lady once he had made your acquaintance."

Ives blushed and sipped from her teacup. She and Hannah had called on Suzette and were discussing the latest gossip. She had done her best to avoid any talk about Lord Rotherwick. It was too good to last!

"Well," Suzette said as she sat forward in her seat. "He looks every inch a London gentleman."

"He is a country gentleman," Ives corrected without a thought. The moment the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. Now she could no longer pretend that she did not care for Lord Rotherwick.

"How do you know that, Ives?" Hannah asked with a smile.

Ives blushed bright red. "I – he told me. He has a home in Hampshire and one in Devon. You could tell he loves the country from the way he spoke."

"That was several days ago. Has his lordship showed any interest in you since he danced with you?" Hannah asked with a smile.

Ives blushed again, recalling the roses. She shook her head. Neither of her friends was convinced. Hannah and Suzette shared a smile behind their teacups.

Ives, Ella and Tilly walked arm in arm through the park in the early hours of the morning. Dominic had also joined the sisters and was trotting along beside them on his horse. Being in London for several months of the year was often a challenge for the children. Having grown up with the freedom of the country, the sudden restriction of London often left the children frustrated. Most mornings they would wake far too early by London standards and adventure out into the park.

"Oh, look at that puppy!" Tilly cried as she tried to pull her hands out of Ives' and Ella's grips. She giggled in delight at the dog out for his morning walk. "I want to see it!"

"Matilda, you are to stay with us at all times. I do not want to lose you again." Ives fixed her sister with a frown. She still worried that something terrible would happen to Tilly while she was in her care. The memory of losing her sister in the crowd was too fresh in her mind.

"Look! It is that man who saved me!" Tilly pointed to a man atop a chestnut stallion. She waved to him across the park.

Nick saw Lady Tilly wave to him and, after a brief moment's hesitation he turned his horse towards the Heaton siblings. When he reached them, he threw himself from the horse and bowed to the sisters. Ella watched, intrigued, as Ives blushed and attempted to hold back a smile as she tried to fix up any stray curls that may have escaped her bonnet. She had never seen her older sister act like a little schoolgirl before. It was actually a rather pleasant sight.

"Good morning, ladies."

"Good morning, Lord Rotherwick." She gave him a bright smile. "You have not met my brother and sisters, have you? Well, you already know Tilly."

Dominic looked between Ives and Nick and grinned. "Saint Ives!" he gasped in mock shock. "Do not say you actually orchestrated this meeting! What would Papa say if he knew what you were up to? Meeting strange gentlemen in the park in the morning!"

Ives shot her brother a glare and turned back to Nick. "Dominic is only a few years older than Tilly," she explained as she gave Nick a laughing smile.

"Seven years older, Saint Ives!"

"Our other brother is currently on his Grand Tour," Ives continued as if Dominic had not spoken.

"May I walk with you before you have to return home?" Nick asked as he held out his arm to Ives.

Ives smiled and accepted his arm and fell into step beside Nick. Ella and Tilly walked beside Dom on his horse a few steps behind Ives and Nick. From his position on his horse, Dom was able to glare freely at the back of Nick's head.

"So, you are the gentleman who sent Ives the roses?" Ella rushed to catch up to Ives and Nick. Poor Tilly was forced to run to keep up and went to take Ives' hand. "Ives typically leaves the flowers her suitors send in the parlour so the whole family can enjoy them. Your flowers were the first she had arranged in her bedroom."

Ives shot her sister a warning look behind Nick's back. He was pleased that he was clearly the first suitor whose attention had been welcomed so warmly. He smiled smugly to himself.

"Ivy keeps your card in her reticule," Tilly whispered to Nick around Ives.

Ives blushed furiously and picked her sister up and gave her a pinch. She could not believe her sister had rummaged through her reticule! Ives turned to Nick, unable to meet his eye. She had never been so mortified!

"I am sorry, Lord Rotherwick, we really must be returning home."

Nick just managed to hold back a smile. He had learnt more about Lady Ives in the last twenty minutes with her family than he had in several weeks. He bowed to her. "Of course, Lady Ives. I will see you tonight."

Ives grabbed Ella by the wrist and began to drag her away. When they were out of sight, she handed Tilly to Dom who settled her up in front of him on his horse. She stormed home in a fury. Ella walked beside Dom a few steps behind Ives sharing worried looks.

Erik and Ives sat together on the piano stool, the two playing perfectly without aid of the sheet music. Christine sat in the room and watched, entranced as her husband and daughter's hands moved across the keys of the piano. She smiled as their hands rolled off the keyboard at the same time.

Erik and Ives turned to smile at each other. Ives laughed and placed kisses on Erik's cheeks.

"Ives…"

Christine looked up when she heard Erik's voice. She saw him open his mouth only to close it a moment later. He swallowed. Christine slipped out of the room and left Erik alone to discuss whatever was unnerving him so.

"Lord Rotherwick has payed you a great deal of attention," Erik said mildly. "He has made his intentions very clear."

"I know, Papa. Lord Rotherwick is not the first gentleman who has shown such an interest in me," she said, cocking her head to the side in confusion.

Erik sat in silence for a while. It seemed like only yesterday that he had taught her to play the piano. Christine joined them in the drawing room, her shoulders wrapped in a paisley shawl. Roderick was fast asleep on her lap and tightly wrapped in a blanket. Ives sat on Erik's lap and together they began to play a simple song. At the end of the song, Ives had turned around to Christine and beamed. She clapped her hands and began to play the song again.

"Lord Rotherwick is not like the other men who have courted me."

Erik redirected his thoughts to the present when he heard Ives speak. "No, my love, he is not." He paused as he summoned the courage to continue. "I do not think you should encourage Lord Rotherwick's suit any longer. I do not believe him to be a proper gentleman."

Ives' face crumpled as she did her best not to cry. "But I enjoy spending time with him, Papa. Lord Rotherwick is charming and smart. He doesn't treat me as the Heaton Heiress. He makes me feel like the only woman in his life. I feel so special when I am around him."

Erik swallowed. "I do not want you spending time with him!"

Unable to stop the tears, Ives rushed from the room.

Erik watched his daughter leave with a heavy heart. He knew he was doing the right thing. He could not have Ives duped by a scheming fortune hunter. Just to be sure, however, had to be certain he knew precisely who was courting Ives.

Ives and Suzette stepped out of a shop in Bond Street and handed their shopping to their liveried footmen who followed a step behind. Ives turned to look over her shoulder and smiled when she saw the Heaton footman, clad in emerald velvet try to balance the ever-increasing pile of boxes in his arms. Apparently the Heaton footmen used to wear sky blue, but when her father inherited he had forced them all to change to emerald green…to match the colour of Christine's eyes.

The two women continued further down the shopping street to where the carriage waited, nodding to acquaintances as they went. Ives suddenly stopped and pulled Suzette to a halt also, nearly sending the footmen crashing into them. She dug her nails into her friend's arm.

"What is it?" Suzette asked in a hushed whisper.

"There is Lord Rotherwick. That must be Mr Ashford." She stood and watched them for a minute, deciding what to do. Once she made up her mind, she defiantly raised her chin. "Would you come with me to greet his lordship?" She indicated the two men with a tilt of her head.

Suzette had never had the opportunity to observe Ives and Nick together in close company. There was no way she would pass up the opportunity. Nodding, she allowed Ives to continue on so that they would eventually come face to face with Rotherwick and his friend.

"Good afternoon, Lord Rotherwick," Ives greeted Nick with a pretty smile and a curtsey. She felt oddly rebellious stopping to talk to Nick the day after her father banned her from seeing him. Her father did not know Nick the way she did. Once he had a chance to see how wonderful Nick was, Ives was certain she could get him to change his mind. She could not help but cast a nervous glance around to make ure no one was around to see her.

Nick smiled and bowed to the women. "Good afternoon, Lady Ives." He paused as he wracked his brain for her friend's name. "Good afternoon, Miss Felton. I do not believe you have been introduced to my friend."

He performed the introductions before turning to back Ives and her friend. "May we escort you somewhere?"

Ives nodded and accepted Nick's arm, leaving Suzette no choice but to take Sin's arm as they continued down the street to the waiting carriage. The two footmen followed behind, keeping exceptionally close eyes on their charges.

"I see you have had a successful day shopping, Lady Ives," Nick said with a grin. He gave the footman a pitying look. His mother was the same. Whenever she came to London with his father, she would spend thousands of pounds on a new wardrobe.

"Indeed I have. Unfortunately it is not all for myself. When my sister heard that I was going shopping today, knowing that she would be stuck in the schoolroom, she gave me a list of things I was to buy for her."

"Your sister is very lucky to have you, Lady Ives. If my sister – that is if I had one – had given me a list of clothes to buy for her, I am sure I would have thrown back it at her."

Ives laughed with shock. "Surely you could not be so mean!"

She smiled at Nick and held his arm tighter. Her father had taught her never to judge someone without knowing who he or she truly was. Was that not what he was doing? Nick was not a fortune hunter. He was a charming man who cared for her. No man had ever made her feel so cherished.

A few feet behind them, Sin and Suzette's conversation was not as relaxed as Ives and Nick's. Suzette's face was slightly flushed and her left hand was balled into a fist in the folds of her skirt.

"It appears you have spent the entire afternoon flitting your money away on female fripperies," Sin observed dryly.

"Oh, congratulations, my lord," Suzette bit back. She had known this man for only fifteen minutes and already he was insulting her. "It appears you have mastered the art of alliteration; no doubt your tutor would be so very proud."

"Does a lady really need so many clothes?" he continued, not at all put off by her attitude. "Surely you can think of better things to do with your time and money?"

"Like squander it on drink and cards?"

"Among other things."

Suzette looked up at Sin in puzzlement. A smile touched the corners of Sin's lips. Miss Felton was adorable with her face flushed a light pink and her head tilted in confusion.

"Come on, man! Please! Just for one night! It is not as if you ever use your opera box." Nick frowned at Sin who refused to allow him to use the Ashford opera box for the following evening.

"I am not sure that I like playing such a prominent role in your seduction of the Heaton heiress. Her father is one of the most powerful men in all of England."

Nick rolled his eyes at his friend's sudden attack of conscience.

"Seduction!" Nick repeated in shock. "If you are suggesting that I would seduce the lady and leave her –"

"You know full well that is not what I meant."

"It's not as if you are doing the courting, Sin. Besides, I hoped to imply that the box was my own. Your opera box has not been used since your grandfather was alive! I do not think anyone will realise that it is your box. Your name need not be mentioned," Nick assured Sin.

Sin stood and began to pace the room. "Are you sure you are going about this the right way?"

"What do you suggest I do, Sinclair? Confess everything to Lady Ives? Tell her I am in desperate need of her dowry and ask her to marry me? Shall I wait for her to throw herself into my arms and hand over her dowry?" Nick gave a sarcastic chuckle. "No, I think I will take my chances and let things unfold naturally."

Sin shook his head, aware that nothing he said would make the slightest bit of difference. "Fine. Take the opera box."

Nick grinned. "Thank you, Sin."

"Would you pass the beans please, Mama?" Ives asked from her place at the table to her father's left.

She had not spoken to her father in a few days. The hours they used to spend playing the piano together were no more. She was so terribly upset at his orders that she should not see Lord Rotherwick. Of course that did not stop her from speaking to him on Bond Street. However, she was so anxious that her father could not find out that she had seen Nick behind his back. She could not bear to look at him just in case he found out she had been out with Nick or he saw the anger in her eyes.

Christine looked between her daughter and husband, silently wondering why Ives did not ask Erik to hand her the beans. Clearly Erik's instructions that Ives was no longer allowed to see Lord Rotherwick had not gone down well with their daughter. Erik and Ives were so close that it broke Christine's heart to see them giving each other the cold shoulder. She was determined to mend the distance between her daughter and her husband. There was only one way.

"Lord Rotherwick sent a note around this afternoon," Christine said with a bright smile. She fixed Erik with a dark look. "He has invited you to the opera, Ives. Would you like to join him?"

Ives frowned and shot a glare at her father. "I do not think Papa would approve."

Erik opened him mouth to respond but closed it when the toe of Christine's slipper connected with his shin. He took Christine's hand in his and squeezed it. "The Bastile is playing," he said with a smile that did not quite meet his eyes. "I would certainly like to see it. It will also give me a chance to get to know Rotherwick a little better. I should like to know the man who is so interested in my daughter."

Ives brightened a little when Erik approved of the plan to attend the opera. "Very well then. As long as Papa does not mind, I should like to attend."

"I will send a note around after dinner." Christine smiled. "You shall have a wonderful night!"