“I see.” The barrister regarded the earl for a moment longer, and then he dared to approach the bed. “My lord, can you tell me your name?”he asked calmly.
“Don’t be impudent!” the earl snapped. “I’m John Abernathy, Lord Trenton.” He struggled against his restraints. “I pray you have some sense! Tell them to release me at once!”
“In due time, my lord. I fear you’ve had an accident.”
This seemed to pierce through the man’s conscious. “What sort of accident?”
“I rather hoped that you could tell me.” Mr. Lyridon reached out and set his hands lightly on either side of the earl’s shoulders.“Look into my eyes, Lord Trenton. I want you to slowly count backward from ten and concentrate on the sounds around you, the ticking of the clock on the mantel, the breeze blowing in from your window...”
The earl mumbled something, but Travell watched in amazement as he did as he was told. After a moment, his entire body seemed to relax,and hiseyescleared for the briefest moment.
“Where are you, Lord Trenton?”Mr. Lyridon askedsoftly.
The older man frowned slightly. “In London.It’sTriana’s debut ball.”
Travell’s throat went dryas Alyssa’s hand tightened on his arm.While they had been hopeful, neither of them imagined thatMr. Lyridon would truly have any luck.
“What are you doing?”
There was a brief pause, and then the earl said, “I’m getting ready to join the party. My valet just left.” Hemoved slightly, his muscles jerking, but at least he remained relatively calm otherwise.
“You seem agitated.What’s wrong?”Mr. Lyridon prodded.
“There’s…someone in my room.” The earl shifted once more, this time a bit morerestless. “It’s Sophie. She has a message for me.”
The barrister turned to Travell with a curious expression, so he supplied,“Sophie was the scullery maid he ran off with.”
Mr. Lyridon nodded, and then turned back to the earl. “What doesit say?”
“I’m being blackmailed. They know about Amelia’s affair with Lord Fremont.”
There was a strange buzzing in Travell’s ears as the younger man continued. “What do you do?”
Lord Trenton began to shake his head. “I follow Sophie down the servant’s stairs. I have to pay them for their silence…”His voice trailed off and his eyes began to glaze over once more. “They won’t release me. They’re trying to pour something down my throat…”He strained against his bonds and shouted, “Poison! You bastards!”
“Lord Trenton,” Mr. Lyridon said firmly. “I’m going to snap my fingers and when I do, you are going to wake up. You are no longer in danger. You are safeat Rosewoodwith your son. There is no need to fear for your life.” As he snapped his fingers, the earl instantlyfell intosilence. While his eyes were still haunted, at least he wasn’t shouting any longer and he had ceased pulling at his bonds.
Mr. Lyridon stood and nodded to Travell. With Alyssa at hisside, they walked out the door. Travell’s mind was still whirling with what he’d witnessed as he shut it behind them. “I think I can learn more about what happened to Lord Trenton if you would permit me a few more days of study with him.”
“I would appreciate that.” Travell nodded. “You were able to gain more information than I would have ever thought possible given his current…condition in only a few minutes. God knows how much more you could learn inthe span ofafull day.”
The barrister bowed. “I’m just glad to be able to help.”
Travell called for Ives. “Please see that Mr. Lyridon is settled in a guest room. He will be staying with us for a few days to assist the earl.”
“Yes, my lord.” He turned to the barrister. “Sir, if you will follow me?”
As Talon left with the butler, Travellpinched the bridge of his nose. “I need a drink,” he mumbled.
Alyssa threaded her arm through his. “Lead the way, my lord.”
He smiled at her as they made their way downstairs to his study. Once there, he shut the door and walked over to the sideboard. “Sherry?” He held up a crystal decanter holding an amber-colored liquid.
“Yes, please.”
He poured two glasses and then walked over to Alyssa, who had settled into one of the chairs by the fireplace. He sat across from her and took a long, slow sip of his drink before he let it dangle from his fingertips at his side. After a lengthy pause, he murmured, “So it appears that my mother is also not without her transgressions.”
Alyssa colored slightly. At first, he thought it might have something to do with the wine, but then she said, “I knew about Lord Fremont.”
