She shook her head. “I never said.”
“She didn’t make you promise to keep it a secret?”
“No. But I think she’s afraid. I am, too.”
“Don’t be, Mary. Everything will be better soon.”
* * *
“He was in a dark mood,” Elora observed after James saw her and Ivy into his brother’s house. “I don’t believe he spoke a word to either of us the entire ride here.”
“I noticed,” Ivy said, unfastening her pelisse. “Well, I suppose he has a lot on his mind. Oh, look at this place. The workmen have performed miracles. There isn’t a mark on the wall.”
“Perhaps they’ve gone for the night,” Elora murmured. “The hall is spotless. If they’ve worked as hard on the rest of the house, we’ll have little to do. Shall I see if anyone is in the kitchen to make tea?”
“If you like.”
“The drawing room is three doors down to the right. I won’t be long.”
* * *
Wendover shifted against the carriage squabs. “I hope your silence doesn’t mean the wedding is to be canceled. I don’t give a damn if you speak to me or not. But the ladies are another matter. In fact, you were rude in the extreme to Ivy and Elora when we left the house.”
James watched a pedestrian dart across the street. “I’m going to kill him.”
“I assume you’re talking about Sir Oliver.”
“Do you have any idea where he lives?”
“No. But I saw him at the club earlier. I thought you were content to let him go now that he has given up his pursuit.”
A smile ghosted his face. “At our club?”
Wendover shook his head. “Can I do anything to stop this?”
“The night the physician visited me when I was bloody delirious, Oliver broke into the house, dressed as a maid, and hid in Ivy’s bedroom. She persuaded him to leave. Mary apparently walked in on the end of this exchange and recognized Oliver’s voice from the last day he came to the park.”
“Jesus,” Wendover said, covering his face. “And Ivy just told you this?”
“Ivy never told me at all. And do you know why? Not because she is a duplicitous female, but because she’s afraid. Not for herself. Not for Oliver. But for me. She didn’t think I could stand up to him in a duel.”
Wendover lowered his hand. “Maybe you can’t. Maybe it’s time you accepted that. I’ll kill the bastard for you.”
“Spoken like a true friend who also has no faith in me,” James said dryly. “Why don’t we wait and see what the evening brings instead?”
* * *
Elora entered the drawing room of Lord Curtis’s town house a few minutes later. Ivy admired the diamond-sapphire necklace and matching earbobs that sparkled against her sable-red hair in the light shed by a small chandelier. As lovely as she looked, Elora did not appear to have much practice carrying a tea tray. It practically crashed to the table Ivy hastily cleared for its descent.
“Good heavens, Elora,” she said, laughing. “You’re more dangerous than Lilac with a serving tray.”
Elora grinned. “I was born to be pampered. The tea is hot, so be careful. I’ll let you pour. I’m nervous tonight, if the truth be known. I have so many things on my mind.”
Ivy stared at her for a moment. “I must have been retired from society for too long. I never realized that a lady was supposed to change jewels as often as she changed her clothes. Weren’t you wearing emeralds when we walked into the house?” She poured from the teapot, frowning in displeasure. “This tea hasn’t been steeped long enough. I need something stronger if we’re going to hunt inside cupboards. I’ll have to ask the maid to make another pot.”
“Don’t bother,” Elora said. “I’ve sent everyone home for the night.”
“And we’re all alone, after what happened?”
Elora unhooked the clasp at the back of her neck and shook her head. “I wanted us to be alone. I’ve got my gun in case anything happens. I needed to talk to you, Ivy. I don’t know that we’ll have another chance.”
“Do you keep a gun on you at all times?” Ivy asked as the necklace slid into the palm of Elora’s hand.
“It’s wise to be on guard in my profession.”
“Courtesan?” Ivy asked uncertainly. “I didn’t realize you considered it an avocation.”
Elora smiled and removed her earbobs, dropping them into her other hand along with the necklace. In the low lights of the chandelier, the gemstones reflected a brilliance that momentarily mesmerized Ivy.