The rest of the meal passed in silence,and by the time Alyssa finally wiped her mouth with the napkin, she was quite satisfied. To keep things on neutral ground, or at least away from the tension that hadn’t quite dissipated between them, she said, “I finished reading Battie’s Treatise last night.”When Travell didn’t reply, she continued. “He was a staunch follower of John Locke’s theory of the mind. He claimed that we are born without any ideals and it is our experiences that define our mental stability. He also believes that madness stems not from the mind, but rather an imbalance in the brain.”
“An interesting approach,” Travell murmured. “Considering many modern philosophers would choose to accredit the opposite, that it is our natural penchant for sin that causes lunacy.”
“If that was the case,” Alyssa countered,“then we should all suffer the same affliction, for doesn’t theHolyBible itself teach that none of us are without sin?”
He lifted a brow. “The Catholic church would contradict that statement. It’s only if you are a supporter of their ideals are you exempt from God’s rule and offered absolution and cleared from all transgressions.”
Her lips twitched. “In that respect, perhaps instead of a doctor, we should have tried to locate a priest in order to exorcise the earl’s demons.”
Travell laughed, and although it sounded a bit rusty, it was like the sweetest music to her ears. It had been so long since she’d heard him take enjoyment in anything that it warmed her heartthatshe was able to bring a smile back to his face.
But any merriment ended abruptly by the arrival of the butler and his stoic announcement from the doorway. “Lady Lockley to see you, my lord.”
***
Travell did his best to hide his sudden irritation, as he forced himself to stand and offer a polite bow for Alyssa’s sake. The earlier strain that had surrounded them, due to his improper conduct was finally starting to dissipate, but with the arrival of the baroness, the stiff set had returned to Alyssa’s shoulders. It was obvious she wasn’t comfortable with the lady, so the sooner he could dispense with her, the better.
“What a lovely surprise, my lady,” he murmuredevenly. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”
Caroline sauntered into the room in the manner of a woman who was confident of her welcome. While Travell could admire a curvaceous figure as much as any man, she stirred not a single bit of lust in him. Not even a twitch.
She glanced at Alyssa and nearly purred, “I was rather hoping to have a…private wordwith you.”
Alyssastood. “Itistime I headed to the conservatory anyway.”
Travell wanted to tell Caroline Breyton to leave instead, but since he knew it would be best to hear her out to make sure things didn’t get more difficult for Alyssa, he waved a hand toward the doorway, thankful that the strong tea he’d requested had gone far to recover his senses. “Let’s reconvene to my study.”
He left the door open on purpose as he moved behind his desk and sat down, clasping his hands on the top. “What can I do for you, Lady Lockley?”
She hesitated, but then sailed forward and perched on the chair in front of him. “I’m here on a matter of concern regarding Alyssa.”
“Indeed.”
She leaned forward as if imparting a secret, giving him a generous view down her bodice as she did so. Again, not even the slightest bit of interest stirred within him. “I fear for her safety.”
He didn’t like that sound of that. “In what way?” He frowned.
“I believe she may be a danger to herself.”
Travell would have laughed if the very idea weren’t so absurd. “Impossible. I’ve known Alyssasince I was in short pants. She would never consider such a thing.”
Caroline shrugged. “You knew her long ago, my lord. I daresay she’s quite different now.She walks about the manor like a wraith most days.”
He sighed heavily. “That’s rather normal for someone who is in the early stages of grief.”
“But that’s just it,” Caroline returned. “It’s been nearly a month since her aunt passed. Surely by now her spirits might have lifted.”
Travell ground his jaw. He’d never met anyone so naïve, or just blatantly clueless. “I fear there’s no time limit when it comes to the bereavement process. You must be patient and give her some time.”
Caroline tilted her blond head,brushinga hand down her pink gown, drawing his gaze to her slim waist, before it returned to her face. He hoped she could read how boring he found her efforts at flirtation. A sudden flash in her blue eyes made him think shehad.
“Lord Curdiff, I don’t think you’re grasping theimportance of this situation. Not only do my husband and I find Alyssa’s recent behavior concerning, but just this morning I saw that she had bruises around her neck. I think she may be…harmingherself.”
Travell had heard enough. While he didn’t want rumors abounding about his father’s condition, he refused to allow Alyssa to suffer for his reluctance to feed the rumor mills. “Lady Lockley, I fear Alyssa hasn’t been entirely forthright with you.”
As her eyes lit up, he was quick to dash her line of thought he could see brewing in that malicious head of hers. “And for that, I am the one to blame, for she was doing me a courtesy.” He considered his words carefully. “I was in London when I recently received word that my long absent father had returned. But when I arrived at Rosewood I found a broken man. I fear that he is suffering from some current delusions of the mind. However, with Alyssa’s help, we are hoping tocurehim at home with the kind ofgentleassistance that he wouldn’t find atBethlem Hospital in London.”
He eyed her firmly. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you the sort of horrors one can findwithin the walls of an asylum where ice baths, blistering, and various other remedies of mistreatment are all considered ‘normal’ in the healing process. It’s no wonder their screams can be heard on the grounds, for I’ve witnessed animals receive better care.”
