Caroline didn’t appear pleased with his lengthy explanation, rather ignored it, in fact. “She told me she was coming here to care for some sort of rare breed of roses.”
“She has quite taken over my conservatory,” he concurred. “Although, you are free to visit it for yourself if you wish to see confirmation.”
Her mouth pursed. “None of this explains the bruises I saw this morning.”
“A rather unfortunate circumstance of her kindness, I’m afraid.” He paused. “My father attacked her unknowingly.”
Caroline gasped, but Travell could tell that her sincerity was a lackadaisical attempt at best. “Are you sure it’s safe for her to remain here with this madman on the loose?”
It was all Travell could do to keep his temper in check. “I would tread carefully, madam. Thatmadmanyou refer to is still the Earl of Trenton and due the respect of his station.” The blood instantly receded from her face, but he merely continued.“As far as Alyssa’s safety, you may rest assured on that account. I will see to it personally that she comes to no further injury.” Hearose and made a sweeping gesture toward the door. “Now I must bid you good day.”
Without even raising his voice, he called for his butler.“Ives!”
The servantappeared a moment later, as if he’d been standing nearby, at the ready should he be needed. “Yes, my lord?”
“Please show Lady Lockley out. Our business is concluded.”
Caroline slowly stood. “Thank you for your time, Lord Curdiff,” she said stiffly, and then she lifted her chin and walked out the door.
Chapter Ten
“She’s gone.”
Alyssa glanced up from where she’d been pruning her Blue Ladies. She slid her shears into her apron pocket thatthe cook had loaned her and dusted the dirt from her hands. “I hope it was painless.”
“For the most part,” Travell returned, from where he stood in the doorway.
When he didn’t elaborate, sheasked, “What’s wrong?”
He regarded her evenly, his arms crossed over his broad chest. She pretended not to remember what that firm expanse had felt like beneath her fingertips, but it was hard to forget. “She questioned me about your bruises. So to spare you any unpleasantness at Breyton Hall, I had to tell her about my father.”
“Oh, Travell. I’m so sorry.” She removed her apron and set it on a nearby stool with a heavy breath. “Sometimes I wonder if my presence here isn’t making a bad situation even worse.”
“Don’t say that, Alyssa,” he said softly. “You are doing more than you’ll ever know.I’ll never be able to repay your kindness to my father.”He paused. “To me.”
She faced him then. “Good, because I don’t want anything. I just want to make things…easier. For both of you.” She drew herself up. “And if you’re willing to allow me to try, I was hoping to attempt something new.”
He didn’t even hesitate. “You knowI trust you. And at this point, I’m prepared to undertake about anything.” He tilted his head curiously. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well I suppose that would depend on something.Do you believe in mesmerism?”
Both of his brows shot upward. “I’ve heard of it, but I never put much faith in the practice. Rather like tarot cards and séances.”
“I agree,” she said slowly. “But I thought it would be worth checking into. If nothing else, it might unlock something in the earl’s mind, perhaps even give us some insight into what happened to him.”
He seemed to consider this, and she was glad that hedidn’t discount it out of hand. After a moment, he murmured,“Imayknowofsomeone in London who might be able to help, and the best part is that he’s discreet. I’ll write to him this afternoon.”He shoved his hands in his pockets and lowered his head slightly, looking up at her almost boyishly. “Until then, would you care to take a turn in the gardens with me?”
He’d switched topics so abruptly, she wondered if he was nervous, but surely she was misreading it as something else. “I’d love to.”
He held out his arm to her so gallantly that she smiledand easily accepted. She laid her hand lightly on his forearm and thrilled at the muscles that bunched beneath her fingertips.
After she gathered her redingote and bonnet, they headed outside.They passed Daisy and Cook in the herbs, chattering away, although they glanced up and waved as they walked by.
It wasafternoon, but it was already starting to get dark, the threat of returning raincastingthe fluffy clouds above a rather somber gray. But next to Travell, Alyssa was anything but gloomy.He had always been a lovely companion, and this wasn’t the first time she had shared a walk with him. Until now, they were generally in the midst of a crowded ballroom, or even in Hyde Park with numerous people present, but today theywere met withnothing more than the crunch of gravel on the path beneath their feet. She might imagine that they were courting if the situation had been different.
But then, his shocking outburst from this morning replayed in her mind. It was so out of character for him that she couldn’t help but be concerned. She would make sure Ives kept an eye on the brandy, just in case.
“I didn’t just ask you to walk with me, you know.”
