The woman hesitated at the sum, but she placed the coin into the pocket of her skirts. “It was a true pleasure working for you and Lady Alwan.” With nothing more to say, she turned and headed back down the sidewalk.
Alyssa did the same.
***
Her next stop brought her to Dr. Frederickson’s office. She stepped down from the coach while her maid remained inside. “I shouldn’t be long.”
As Alyssa walked inside,the physician’s secretaryremoved his glasses with a smile, greetingherfrom behind his desk.“Lady Alyssa. This is a surprise.” Instantly, his brows drew together in concern. “I hope there isn’t cause for concern on your behalf.”
“Not at all,” she returned. “I was merely hoping to have a word with the doctor. Is he in?”
“He is. I’ll let him know that you’re here.”
“Thank you.”
She waited as he moved to the back of the office where Dr. Frederickson kept a modest clinic. After a few moments the secretary reappeared. “This way please, Lady Alyssa.”
Alyssa followed him to the clinic doors where he held them open for her. She passed him with a thankful smile and saw the physician bent oversome sort of scientific device on one side of the room, while a handful of beds and various medical equipment were on the other.Hearing her approach, the dark-haired, bearded manof middle ageglanced up. “Lady Alyssa. I was just doing a bit of research on my Galileo microscope. I daresaywe will change the world someday, merely with the age of gadgets.” He grinned as he walked over to her. She saw empathy in his kind eyes as he bowed lightly. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. I trust you are well?”
“Very,” she returned politely. “While it’s been…difficult after Lady Alwan’s passing, that’s not why I’m here. I’ve actually come to call on the behalf of a friend, Viscount Curdiff.”
“Ah, yes.” His brows drew together. “He wrote to me about a rather difficult case. His father, I believe.” He shook his head. “While studies of the braincan be tracedbackcenturies on any number of papyrus scrolled documents, I fearpsychologicalailmentsaren’twithin my realm of expertise.”
Alyssa’s heart sank. “But surely there is something you can tell us that might helpease Lord Trenton’s distress?”
His expression was grim. “I’m afraid not, my lady.While I have studied the works of William Battie at some length, his bookA Treatise on Madness,claims that mental disorders come from the dysfunction of the material brain rather than the internal workings of the psyche, whichdoesn’t make sense to any man of science. Healso didn’t approve of the conditions at the Bethlem Hospital, saying thatfresh air and cleanlinesswas important in treating patients, although manydoctorsagree such thingswill not assist with clearing the mind, but ratherrestraints andharsh treatments have been the most effective. I have already explained all this to the viscountin detail, but I fear ourmissivesmust have crossed.”He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I appreciate that you spoke so highly of my talents, my lady, and I regret that I couldn’t be of more assistance. Now, or when it came to Lady Alwan.”
“I know you did everything you could for my aunt,” Alyssa returned in all sincerity. “It was nice to see you again, Dr. Frederickson.”
Alyssa left the clinic feeling rather disheartened. It certainly wasn’t the news she’d been hoping to hear,and seeking out more advice wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Dr. Frederickson was an open-minded man, preferring newer methods of science rather than the archaic methods of bloodletting, so she knew there was nowhere else to turn. There was nothing left to do other than send Lord Trenton to an asylum, which would crush Travell.
Of course, there was always another option.
She just had to find it.
Alyssa thought for a moment, and then tapped the roof of the coach just as they were starting to set out. As the coachman brought the team to a halt, she stuck her head out the window. “Change of plans. Hatchard’s bookshop, if you please.”
***
Travell was pacing the parlor, looking out the window every few minutes, hoping to catch sight of Alyssa, but as yet, his coach had not yet returned. He glanced at thedialon the mantel and noticed that it was nearly eleven o’clock. He trusted his coachman implicitly, but he was starting to fear that something had gone awry.
He began to imagine all sorts of unsavory scenarios, none of which posed a positive outcome.
If something had happened to her…
He honestly didn’t want to finish that thought.
But just when he was starting to believe that all hope was lost, he heard the unmistakable sound of horses coming up the drive. Hehad sent the servants to bed long ago, but even then he would have goneto the front doorhimself.
He ran outside, just as the coach came to a halt. “Where the devil have you been?” he demanded crossly. “I expected you back hours ago.”
Alyssa looked at him tolerantly, if not a bit guiltily as well. “I do apologize, but I fear there was no help for it. It took longer than I imagined to obtain this book.” She held up the item in question.
Travell was sure his eye was about to twitch. “You kept me waiting all this time, just so you could obtain anovel?”
“It’s not a novel.” She slammed the book against his chest. “Take a look while I get my Blue Ladies settled. No doubt they are rather overset by such a long journey.”
Travell shook his head as Alyssa marched inside as if she was alreadymistress of his house,even thoughshe’d quite adamantly turned down his proposal.If this is what life with the lady would be like, he wasn’t sure he would honor his initial offer of marriage even if she did decide to accept him.
