Victorian Phantoms
Ives - Chapter 5
Nick escorted Ives back to her mother after their waltz. Her hand was placed proprietarily on his as they crossed to the other side of the room. When he reached Lady Renton, he reluctantly released her hand and stayed to talk to her ladyships for a few moments before he left in search of Sin.
"Tell me it isn't true!" Sin growled when Nick joined him in a deserted corner of the room.
Nick raised his eyebrow enquiringly, every inch the aristocrat.
"You have wagered one thousand pounds that you will be able to reach Brighton before Raleigh. How can you afford such a sum? The man belongs to the Four in Hand Club, you fool!"
Nick sighed. "You should know that you have to risk a bit of money to gain a lot."
"It is one thing to place a bet on a hand of cards. It is another thing entirely to place a bet on a horse race that could see your neck broken."
"You worry too much, Sinclair. If I wanted to be fussed over, I would return home to my mother. I will be fine; you have nothing to fear."
The sun shone brightly in the sky. The day was still, without a breeze to cool the warm spring day. Ives and her maid wandered along Bond Street in search of a gift of Ella. They first stopped at the milliner and then continued onto the modiste.
Ives wandered through the milliner's shop; searching for a ribbon to match the bonnet she had just bought Ella for her birthday next week. She searched through the rolls of ribbon.
"Lady Ives."
Ives turned around when she heard her name spoken by a sweet voice. She winced when she saw Miss Richmond. Ever since both women had come out four years ago, Ives had done her best to avoid then other woman. Olivia's family came from the trade and were not afraid to use money to get their way. They believed that money existed for the sole purpose of buying whatever they wanted – and that was precisely what they did.
"Good afternoon, Miss Richmond," Ives said coolly.
Olivia looked around, her eyes widening innocently. "I do not see Lord Rotherwick anywhere. I have noticed the two of you have been spending a great deal of time in each other's pockets. It is odd not to see you together."
Ives frowned. She had no idea what Olivia was implying, but she was certain that if she remained silent long enough, she would find out.
"I had a lovely dance with Lord Rotherwick a few weeks ago. We had a most enjoyable dance; he is quite the charming gentleman. I saw him dancing with Miss Everett only a few nights later. It is interesting is it not, that the three women he has been most attentive to are the wealthiest in London."
"He has also danced with Miss Felton, Lady Hannah, Lady Amelia and Miss Edwards."
Olivia did not look convinced. "I am sure you are right. But if he were not after an heiress and in need of money, why would he have wagered he could drive to Brighton in under an hour? For one thousand pounds, or so the rumour mill says." She gave Ives a smile, spun around on her toe and left the shop.
Ives watched Olivia leave, her quest for a ribbon forgotten. She bit into her lower lip as she recalled the other woman's words. Unaware of what she was doing, Ives headed out of the shop, her maid following a step behind.
Ives found her mother in the garden a short time later. Christine was kneeling on the ground, tending to the roses. Ives sank down beside her with a sigh.
"Did you enjoy your afternoon shopping?" Christine asked as she set the cutters aside and looked at Ives.
"I found a bonnet for Ella for her birthday. I think she will like it; it is blue with pink ribbons and roses." She paused and her face fell. "I encountered Olivia Richmond."
Christine paused as she tried to place a face with the name. "Is it Miss Richmond with the upstart father in the trade?" Ives nodded. "What did Miss Richmond have to say for herself?" Christine's tone indicated that she expected the worst.
"She says that Lord Rotherwick has shown attention to her and Miss Everett as well as me." Tears began to pool in Ives' green eyes. "Is it coincidence that he is courting three of London's wealthiest heiresses?"
Christine wiped her hands on the apron covering her dress and wrapped her arms around Ives' neck. "Lord Rotherwick has been very persistent in his attention towards you, precious. I do not think he is courting the other two ladies. Lord Rotherwick is a very honourable gentleman. I do not think he would ever court more than one woman."
"Do you think he is after my dowry? Papa has never tried to hide the fact that I'm an heiress."
Christine looked at Ives, not knowing what to say that would help the situation. She was certain that the Rotherwick finances were strained, but she did not believe that Lord Rotherwick was a fortune hunter at heart. "If Rotherwick were a fortune hunter, precious, would he be buying a pair and carriage?"
Ives smiled through her tears. "You are right, Mama."
Ives threw on her cloak and rushed downstairs to the waiting carriage.
"Lady Ives, may I enquire where you are going?" Stanton asked as he held open the door for Ives.
"I am going to call on Miss Felton."
The butler nodded and watched as Ives stepped up into the carriage. With a slight frown, he shut the front door. He was not sure why her ladyship was calling on her friend so early in the morning but he did not think that Lady Ives was able to deceive anyone.
Fifteen minutes later, Ives was seated with Suzette in the Feltons' drawing room. "Suze, I would not ask anything of you if it was not an emergency. But, dear, I need your help."
"You want me to lie to your parents for you! Ives, have you taken leave of all your senses?"
"Suzette, please, I desperately need your help. Please."
Suzette shook her head, sending her black curls bouncing. She sighed in defeat. "Very well. But when this is all over, you are to call on me so that I know if you are well. I want to know what this is all about."
Ives beamed and nodded. "I promise."
She placed a kiss on Suzette's cheek and rushed for the door.
Ives hailed a hack – she had instructed that her driver return home – and headed for Hyde Park. There, she instructed the driver to take her to the Serpentine. She all but threw the money at the driver when he pulled the carriage to a stop as she jumped down from the steps.
She rushed to where a small group of gentlemen stood around two curricles. She elbowed her way through the men until she found Nick who had just climbed up into his curricle.
"Nick!" she cried, his given name slipped from her lips.
He spun around at the sound of his name. A smile lit up his face when he saw Ives standing beside him. Her head tipped back so that she could look up at him.
"What are you doing here, Lady Ives?" he asked from his seat.
"I am here to beg you to call off this stupid wager! What does it matter who can reach Brighton the fastest?" She reached out to touch his hand that held the reins.
"Now, Ives, there is no need to worry."
"No need to worry? Upon my word, Lord Rotherwick!"
Ives suddenly became aware of the way the gentlemen watched her and Nick with great interest. She cast a nervous glance at the men. She drew a deep breath and continued more softly.
"Nick, please, think this through. There is nothing amusing about travelling at a ridiculous pace just to win a bit of money! It is not worth it; it is too dangerous. My uncle was killed in a horse riding accident. He was riding too fast and he fell off his horse and broke his neck. I do not want to se the same thing to happen to you! Please, call off the race."
Nick swung down landed softly on the ground. Despite feeling like the worst man alive for causing Ives such upset, he could not help but feel pleased that she was so concerned about him.
He took Ives' hands in his. "I appreciate your concern, Lady Ives. But I must do this. No, not just for the money," he assured her when she opened her mouth to protest. "My honour is at stake. If I refuse this challenge – especially after you have tried to reason with me – my reputation in the clubs will be ruined. I will be the laughingstock of London."
Ives hung her head. "Very well, I will not stop you. But please, promise me that you will take care."
If she continued to look up at him with tears in her eyes, Nick was not sure he would be able to resist the urge to kiss her. In the end, he had to content himself with raising her hand to his lips for a kiss. Nick bowed to her and climbed back into his carriage.
"Nick. Would you call on me when you return to London?"
He smiled down at her, silently agreeing to her request. He gathered up the reins and set his horses in motion. He quickly looked back at Ives. The last thing he saw was the tears that slipped from her eyes.
Ives returned home after calling briefly on Suzette and shut herself in the music room.
She leafed through the pile of music and found a few pieces that reflected her sombre mood. She played the piano, her fingers gliding over the keys, without paying the least bit attention to the music before her.
She never imagined that she could be so worried about another person that she was unable to think of anything. Now she understood how her mother worried herself sick when Roderick left for the Continent for his Grand Tour.
She glanced up at the clock on the mantle and saw that it had been two hours since she had left Nick in the park. By now he should have reached Brighton and should be on his way home to London. It would not be long until he was back in London. Provided nothing bad had happened to him. Ives felt her stomach begin to churn at that thought and her fingers landed on the wrong keys.
Erik and Christine paused outside the door to the music room when they heard the wrong notes. They looked sideways at each other, knowing that something had to be wrong if Ives was playing inaccurately. Christine reached for Erik's hand.
"What has upset Ives?" Erik whispered in her ear.
Christine shrugged her shoulders. "She has been like this all morning. Stanton said she went to call on Suzette this morning and return home upset."
"Do you think they argued?"
Christine shook her head. She was certain that Ives' anxiety had something to do with Lord Rotherwick. Ives and Suzette had never argued.
"I will go and speak to her," Erik decided as he placed a kiss on Christine's hair.
"No, my love; I will speak to her." Christine turned around and placed her hands on Erik's shoulders. She gave him a quick kiss on both of his cheeks and ducked inside the room.
She paused in the doorway and listened to the song Ives played. Things did not look good. She crossed to the piano and sat on the stool beside Ives. Ives paused in her playing and glanced at her mother. She folded her hands in her lap.
"Is something the matter, precious?" Christine asked as she sat down next to Ives on the stool.
"Rod has been away for a month. Do you still worry about him?"
Christine frowned. This was not the direction she expected the conversation to take. "I worry about Rod every minute, Ives. I just have to trust that he is safe in the care of his tutor."
"Do you think he will be okay?" she pressed.
Christine frowned. She was not sure whom they were speaking of. Somehow she felt that Ives was not talking about her brother. She picked up Ives' hand from her lap and squeezed it. "You are not talking about Rod, are you, darling?"
Ives shook her head as tears began to pool in her eyes again. She was about to confess everything to her mother when Stanton appeared in the doorway.
"Lady Ives, Lord Rotherwick is waiting for you in the drawing room. He says you are expecting him."
Ives breathed a sigh of relief when the butler announced Nick. She surged to her feet and, if her mother had not been sitting on the stool, Ives was certain it would have toppled over in her haste.
"And how…how does Lord Rotherwick look?"
A very small frown appeared between the butler's eyebrows. He paused as he considered his answer. "He looks how he usually does, my lady…perhaps a little dishevelled."
Ives smiled brilliantly at the butler. She turned to her mother. "I need to change my dress, Mama. Please, would you go and keep Nick occupied?"
Christine hid a smile at her daughter's eagerness to preen for a suitor and the way she used his given name. "Of course, precious. Stanton," she said, turning to the butler, "Send May up to Ives' rooms."
She went to the hallway and watched her daughter run up the stairs. She ran her hands down her skirt and checked her reflection in the mirror.
"Well, what has upset Ives?"
Christine squeaked when she saw the masked half of Erik's face in the mirror behind her. She spun around and frowned at him, her hand resting on her chest to calm her beating heart.
"Do not do that, Erik!" She poked his chest with a finger.
"What has upset Ives?" he repeated himself. He wrapped his arms around her and placed a calming kiss on her forehead and then on the bridge of her nose.
"She did not say precisely. However, I am convinced it has something to do with Lord Rotherwick."
"He has just called on Ives. I saw Stanton take him into the drawing room." Erik's pale blue eyes glowed with anger at the thought of the man hurting his daughter. "What has he done?"
Christine rubbed his upper arm to calm him. "I do not think he has done anything to hurt her. Now, Ives has asked me to keep Lord Rotherwick occupied while she changes. If you promise to behave yourself, you are more than welcome to join me. If not, I'm sure Tilly would like you to sit in on her lessons."
Erik raised a brow at Christine's haughty attitude but followed her into the drawing room nonetheless.
"Won't you be seated, Lord Rotherwick?" Christine said as she breezed into the room ahead of Erik. She seated herself in the settee opposite the wing chair Nick took. Erik took up his place behind his wife's chair. "Ives will not be long."
Erik surveyed Nick's clothing that was covered in dust. His boots had lost their shine and his brown hair was in disarray. It was clear that he had come to call on Ives immediately after riding.
Erik offered him a smile, which immediately set Nick on his guard. "You look as if you have just been riding," Erik observed.
Christine tilted her head back and fixed her husband with a frown.
Nick swallowed. His neckcloth was suddenly extremely tight. "Indeed, Lord Renton. I had to journey to Brighton."
"Would that be because of a wager between yourself and Baron Raleigh about who could drive to Brighton the fastest?"
Christine gasped. She was not surprised that her husband knew about the wager. No, what surprised her was the way everything now made sense. Clearly Ives knew about the race and was worried something would happen to Lord Rotherwick. Her questions about Roderick now made sense.
Nick tried to think of a response to Erik's question. Nothing he could say would get him out of the awkward situation that he alone had created. Just when the silence was too much to bear, Ives entered the room looking slightly rushed.
"Good afternoon, Lord Rotherwick." Ives seated herself next to her mother and fixed Nick with a relieved smile. "You have been riding."
"Yes, I had to journey to Brighton; I have just returned," Nick responded carefully. He was aware of the three Heatons watching him carefully.
"Oh. You did not ask if I might join you. I would like to see the Brighton Pavilion."
Erik moaned at the mention of George IV's architectural monstrosity. He hated everything to do with that building and even the mention of it! Ives pressed her lips together to hide the smile that threatened to ruin her ploy. She spent the next few minutes extolling the building – much to Erik's dismay. It did not take long for Erik to give up.
"If you will excuse me, I think I will sit in on Tilly's lessons."
"Tell me, how was your journey?" Ives asked Nick uncertainly when her father had left the room. Now she just had to figure out a way to question Nick in front of her mother without being too obvious.
Christine placed her hand on Ives' knee. "I know all about the wager – so does your father. You may speak plainly in front of me."
Ives blanched but nodded.
"My journey was uneventful, Lady Ives. My horses managed the journey well enough. My curricle remained in one piece and I was not injured in any way."
"I am pleased to hear that." Ives smiled. "And was it worthwhile?"
"Yes," Nick responded simply. "I was hoping that you would agree to drive with me tomorrow afternoon through the park. It will give me the opportunity to make up for my behaviour this morning."
Ives smiled brightly at the thought of the opportunity to spend some time with Nick. She also wanted to see just how well he did handle his horses. "I would like that very much, Lord Rotherwick."
They made their arrangements and discussed the balls they would be attending that evening. The time came for Nick to leave. He rose and bowed to the ladies.
Ives would have retreated to the music room if her mother had not stopped her. "Explain yourself. Where in the world were you this morning?"
Ives looked militant.
"Ives. You had best explain yourself to me. Well, it is either your father or me," Christine added as an afterthought. "I cannot deal with your father if I do not know what is going on."
Ives threw herself to her feet and began to pace restlessly across the room. She knew that her mother was one of the few people who were able to calm her father in a temper. Her mother would be the only one to prepare her father if he found out what she had been up to.
When Ives had finished confessing how she had learnt about the wager and how she had gone to the park unaccompanied to try and talk Nick out of the wager, Christine's face was drawn.
"Ives!" She rubbed her hands over her face. "You had best hope that your father does not learn about your role in this wager. He will be beside himself. What you did was very wrong. If anyone knows that you went to Rotherwick's house, you are ruined!"
"Do you think I did the wrong thing? All I could think about was Uncle Benedict falling off his horse and breaking his neck. I could not allow that to happen to Ni-Lord Rotherwick."
"I know, precious," Christine agreed as she embraced her daughter. "I know."