Travell walked in the door, but it didn’t even faze Lord Trenton.Notuntil Alyssa’s face appeared in the doorway did he stop thrashing about. “Oh, Amelia! Finally a sensible mind has arrived!”
Alyssa looked at Travell. It appeared that today she was to be his wife instead of his daughter. “What’s troubling you, John?” She dared to cross the room and sit on the edge of the bed, taking his hand in hers.
His eyes were wild, almost crazed as he glared at the footman who looked as if he’d been spared the hangman’s noose. “I keep trying to tell these idiots that there is nothing wrong with me, that we are merely trying to go to London toprepare for Triana’s debut. Is that so difficult to comprehend?”
“Not at all,” she said softly. “But the ball isn’t for another week yet. I’m afraid you have your days mixed up as usual, my love.”
He blinked, frowning as he tried to get his mind to function properly. Finally, his face cleared and he relaxed. “Of course, you are right, my dear. I can always count on you to keep me on my toes.”
She lightly touched his brow. “Now how about some more of that delicious pea soup?”
He sighed. “As long as you will stay by my side.”
Alyssa nodded. “You have my word.”
***
When Alyssa walked out of the earl’s bedchamber, she found Travell waiting for her. He shook his head. “You’re amazing.”
“I’m not sureaboutthat,” shemurmured. “Hemerelysees me as a woman from his past. I just happen to be the correct sex.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.” His lips tilted upward. “But then, you’ve always had a certain way about you. It’s why you were so good with those flowers of yours. If they truly needed you to talk to them in order to grow properly, then it’s no wonder Triana used to brag about how beautiful they were.”
A pang of longing struck her and she looked at the floor. “I’m not sure how my Blue Ladies are faring at this point. After I was forced to close up the townhouse, I fear they aren’t getting the attention that they deserve. The housekeeper promised me that she would look in on them from time to time,but she already has a new position and they need a lot of care.” Shesighed. “I had intendedto bring them with me to Breyton Hall, but when I arrived I found out the conservatory was remodeled and they are very sensitive to light. I had hopedto getapproval from theHorticultural Society toreview them,and I thought I might have had a chance when they won a personal prize from the Duchess of Coyton at her garden party,but I suppose that’s a dream that will fade in time along with my aunt’s memory.”
Alyssa’s gaze was forced upward as her chin was gently lifted. She stared into Travell’s mesmerizing blue eyes. They seemed to flow and ebb like the waves upon the sea, pulling her further into their depths. “I think I may be able to help you with that,” he murmured. “You’ve done so much for my father already, that I can only attempt to repay a portion of your kindness. If you are amenable to the idea,I meant it when I said you are more than welcome to usemyconservatory. It might take a bit of work to get it how you want it, but I will make sure the servants know you have freereinto design it as you wish.”
A lump formed in Alyssa’s throat. It was the first time anyone had showed her any sort of consideration since her beloved aunt had passed. His thoughtfulness touched her more than she could say. “Thank you, Lord Curdiff.”
He stepped back and offered her his arm. “You should probably save your gratitude until you see what you have to work with. I’ve closed it off for several years, for there hadn’t been a need for it.” His eyes nearly twinkled as he regarded her. “Until now.”
***
Travell saw the hitch in her breathing, but she didn’t reply as he led her downstairsand toward the back of the house. Butthen,he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t similarly affected by her nearness. It was almost ironic that through the years while he’d been preoccupied with his work for the Home Office, he hadn’t given the woman at his side a second thought. She’d always been that troublesome girl next door when he’d been growing up,while he’d beenforced to play nursemaid to his sister when she wanted to go traipsing over the countryside.
Back then she’d been a lively brunette in pigtailswho hada smile bright enough to rival the sun, but he hadn’t appreciated it, considering her nothing more than a nuisance.After her parents had died and she’d moved to London, he’d been too busy with school and carousing as a wild youth to think about anything more than himself.
When their paths had crossed again during Triana’s debut ball, he had matured and found that his energy was better expended through his devotion to the Crown. While he enjoyed a temporary liaison now and then, he never allowed himself to become more involved than that. It was just too dangerous.
This past spring when Triana had found herself in a perilous situation made possible because of his failure to confide in her, he’d suddenly began to rethink it all. He was thirty now, so it ought to be time for him to consider retiring from service. He’d given several years of his life to king and country, but the idea of venturing out into society more,becomingfodder for the marriage minded mothers hoping to pick up a wealthy, well-connected viscount for their daughter did not appeal in the slightest.
But then, he’d already chosen a wife, hadn’t he?
If only he could convince her that a union between them wouldn’t be so bad. He had always considered them to be friends, even if theyhadn’t everconversedfreely, orveryoften for that matter. However, now that they wereabout to beplaced in forced proximity together, he had to imagine it was by design. He wasn’t one to believe in fate, but what other reason could there be?There had to be something positive to come out of so much suffering. With the devastating loss of her aunt and his father’s abrupt resurgence in such a complicated manner, surely it wouldn’t be so wrong for them to take comfort in one another?
As they arrived at the entrance to the conservatory, Travell eyed the door rather critically. He couldn’t help but wince, for the hinges were rusted and groaned with disuse. But after a bit of a struggle, he managed to get it open.
He couldn’t help but blink at what was revealed. The scene inside looked like something out of a Gothic novel. Dead vines crawled up the sides of the glass enclosure,grime coating the once brilliant panes. Dirtfrom fallen potsand debris littered the brick floor,mingling with the cobwebsfloating among nearly every corner. Travellcouldalmosthear‘The Midnight Bell’ tolling somewhere, directly outof Francis Lathom’s book.
Instead of appearing as horrified as he felt, he turned to Alyssa and murmured, “I did attempt to warn you.But I’ll see that a footman comes in at once—”
“That won’t be necessary.”To his disbelief, she merely shrugged. “I’ve been faced with worse.” She waved her hand about the room. “At least all the windows areintactand not broken, where we would have to wait for them to be repaired. A bit of cleaning up appears to be all that’s required.”
He frowned, but it was more curiosity than anything else. “You’ve helped restore other conservatories?”
She laughed. “You find that so shocking? It is something I like to do.”
“I thought that meant just talkingto flowers,” he muttered. “Notundertakingsucha choreas this.”
