Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,109

but apparently Miss Redfern feels her disguise was up to the task.”

Joseph choked on the crab patty, which allowed Rory to whack him on the back.

“Will you help her?” his brother said when he could speak again.

“I’ve said I’ll meet with her tomorrow to discuss the matter further.”

“Good. I believe there is only Miss Redfern and her aunt left in the family, besides Jackson, so whatever you can do to aid them is a good thing. However, have a care and don’t step into anything without telling me or Charles first.”

“Manure?”

“Anything but manure.”

“Puddle?” Rory chewed on his biscuit as he watched Miss Redfern chat with Milly and Ellie. Their eyes caught and held briefly. It was she who turned away.

He felt a strange sensation in his stomach. Perhaps he’d eaten that fruitcake too quickly.

“The point I am attempting to make, Rory, is that I have no wish for you to walk into danger because a woman has directed you to.”

“Wrong brother, I believe. It is Charles who does things like that, not I,” Rory said, watching Miss Redfern take a large bite of the eclair she had told him she did not like. No dainty nibbling for her.

“We all are capable of doing foolish things when a woman is involved.”

Looking at his brother, he saw Joe’s eyes were on Milly.

“And yet I feel nothing for Miss Redfern. Her brother, however, was a friend and deserves that someone find out what is going on with him.”

“If you say so.”

“I know so,” Rory said.

“And yet your eyes have stayed on her continually since she entered the supper room.”

“No, they haven’t.” Rory turned his back on Miss Redfern. He then searched for something else to discuss. He watched as Lord Trockler picked up a cake and his wife took it out of his hands and put it on her own plate.

“That woman is nasty. Now, you’ll excuse me, brother. I am standing in the supper room but as yet have not eaten an eclair,” Rory said before he walked away. Taking the long way around the table, he pretended to study the array of food before reaching Miss Redfern’s side.

“I thought you did not like eclairs, Miss Redfern?”

“It is surprisingly good. Your sister urged me to try one.”

“Miss Redfern is a lover of almond biscuits like you, Rory,” Ellie said.

“Is she? Well, that shows she has good taste.”

“Or is clearly uneducated as to which food is superior,” Ellie added.

“Such messy things, eclairs,” Miss Redfern said, wiping her hands on a napkin.

“And where is it you will retire this winter, Miss Redfern?” Milly asked. He couldn’t remember if the Redferns had a country house or not.

“We are to stay in London. My brother has business here.”

Their eyes met and held, and both knew that whatever business Jackson was undertaking, there would be no end result that benefited the Redfern family.

Chapter Five

Ivy had lain in bed last night for hours agonizing over her decision to tell Mr. Haddon about Jackson. Her worry had not lessened when she opened her heavy lids this morning.

He was calling to speak with her soon, and she couldn’t stop wringing her hands. Ivy never wrung her hands. As far as she was concerned, that was for silly women who should know better. It seemed she was now one of those.

She’d changed her dress twice, and her maid was looking at her strangely, as she never did that either. Ivy was not really aware of fashion like some.

“I am being silly.” She walked slowly around the room and stopped at the window that looked down to the street. He was there again. Every time she left her house, she saw that man. Once he’d followed her up and down Bond Street. Another time he’d walked past the window when she was purchasing her aunt’s favorite toffee.

It had gone beyond coincidence. Why was he watching her? Ivy had a feeling it was to do with Jackson, and the shiver of fear accompanying that thought was not pleasant. Moving away, she clutched the back of her chair. Looking at her things, she tried to focus. She must be alert for when Mr. Haddon arrived.

Could he help her? Had she done the right thing by telling him?

Books sat one on top of the other on her nightstand. Diaries were beside them, and of course Herbertina, her doll, the only one she’d ever owned. It had been given to her by her brother. Seeing the torn left arm, she decided to give it to her