Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,104

to be done, so please halt any further recriminations regarding my right to be there or what it would do to my reputation, Mr. Haddon. It is of no consequence to me.”

“No consequence? Are you quite mad? It’s of every consequence. You will not find a husband if your reputation is sullied.”

“Yes, because there is surely no greater hope for a young lady than to find a husband, after all. How could any other thought possibly enter her head?” Ivy could do nothing to swallow down the sarcasm.

“And I repeat, challenging.”

“I don’t want a husband and am unlikely to get one, given what is required. They’re extremely taxing and would insist I behave a certain way, which I assure you I will not be doing.”

His bark of laughter sounded loud on the still night air.

“This is not a laughing matter, Mr. Haddon.”

“Forgive me, I just hadn’t realized that Jackson’s words regarding you were quite so accurate. I thought he was embellishing your character, as siblings are wont to do.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Your brother said you were the most annoying sister a brother could ever have because you were devilishly intelligent and could talk your way out of anything.”

“Oh.” Ivy refused to weep. She’d done enough of that in her rooms at night.

“It was a compliment, Miss Redfern. I always knew your brother loved you very much.”

“Thank you, Mr. Haddon, that is very kind of you to say.”

He didn’t say anything further, just watched her. Large and silent, waiting for her to speak again. Ivy was rarely silent or still. It was an enviable trait.

“If you cannot help me, then could you direct me to someone who could? I tried to employ the services of an investigative person, but that failed miserably.”

“Failed how?”

“The man wanted more than money from me. I set him to rights, I assure you.”

“I have said ‘I beg your pardon’ a great deal more in your company than I have in many weeks, Miss Redfern, however it is the only phrase I have for this moment. Could you please explain how you set the man to rights?”

“It all started when I saw an advertisement for an investigative service in the paper. I should have realized by its location and the shabby state of the office that the man was not reliable.”

“Where was the office?”

“Broom Lane.”

“Good Lord, that is not a place you should be frequenting.”

“I had few choices open to me, so that was the one I took. I told the man what I needed. He said payment up-front, which I did not agree to, as I am nobody’s fool.”

“Clearly.”

“So he got angry, then advanced on me, intending to take liberties upon my person.”

“Good Lord.”

“Indeed. I soon alerted him to his mistakes. He will not be walking straight for some time.”

Another loud bark of laughter. “May I ask how you disarmed him?”

“Does it matter?”

“I’m intrigued.”

“I have a footman who teaches me things and accompanies me most places. He was outside the door, so I had to take matters into my own hands.”

“Things?”

“It is of no consequence. Now will you answer my question, please. Do you?”

“Do I what?” He moved closer, and Ivy fought the urge to scurry backward. She never scurried, that was not her way, but still, he was an intimidating presence. Handsome, and she’d noted he smelled good. This she’d deduced from following him; his scent had lingered in the air.

“Know anyone who can help me if you will not?”

“Can I ask first what your brother said to you when you confronted him?”

“As I have explained, he said he would take care of it. I asked what ‘it’ was, why he had not been home, and what was making him behave erratically.”

“And what was his response?”

“He pushed me out the door and locked it.”

“Very wise.”

“How is that wise?”

“He was saving your reputation.”

“I doubt that. I could smell the alcohol on his person!”

“There is no need to shriek, Miss Redfern, I am right here.”

Ivy swallowed down her next words.

“What is it you want me to do?” A dark brow rose. He was now close enough for her to make out every feature on his face, even in the weak moonlight. His eyes were brown. Deep and dark, they seemed to look right inside her, such was their intensity.

“Go to the places I cannot.”

“Miss Redfern, surely your brother is simply doing what many are? High spirits, enjoying his time in London?”

Ivy loathed being dismissed as if she was a hysterical female overreacting.

“It is not high spirits,” she