Upon her arrivalnearly two weeks ago, she’d been shocked when the maid had led herhere. It wasthe smallest room at the estate without being part of the servant’s quarters,givingfurthercredence to the fact her presence was not appreciated, norwelcome.
She walked over to her window and looked outside. A bird flew through the air, catching the wind and soaring on its wings. She pressedahand to the glass, wishing in that moment that she might be so free. Tears clogged her throat, but she refused to let them fall. Aunt Pearl’s loss had made her cry enough tearsin the past days that they would fill a river, but she wouldn’t give her cousin and hisnasty wife the power to do the same.
So she turned her focus in a different direction.
Travell.
Hadhetruly come home?Mightitbe acceptable for her to call on him?Briefly, of course. Theyhad once beenfriends, after all, and asking after Triana would be the perfect excuse to see a friendly face.Not that she didn’t care about her friend’s welfare, but she knew Triana was perfectly happy with her new husband. The glow of joy on her face the last time she’d seen her had been evidence enough of that.
That settled it.
Tomorrow she would head to Rosewood.
***
Gathering her shawl around her shoulders,Alyssa stood at the top of the hill where she’d paused the day before when Travell’s carriage had arrived. While the air was a bit colder today, the clouds threatening rain, shehad awakeneddetermined to see her plans come to fruition. While she should have asked her maid to accompany her, for Travell was a bachelor and she didn’t see that Lady Trenton had traveled with him, Alyssa wanted to make this first visit on her own.
In truth, she wasn’t even sure if she would be received or not, and she wanted that embarrassment to be her own.
With a deep breath, she headed down the grassy decline and decided it was now or never.
Her boots crunched on the gravel driveand before she knew it,shewaswalkingup the stone steps.She drew a deep breath, raised her hand,and knocked on the front door. It didn’t take long before the butleranswered. While it wasn’t the same one she remembered from her visits in her youth, she attempted her best smile. “My name is Lady Alyssa Breyton. I’m here to inquire after the viscount.” The servant glanced behind her,and she knew what he was thinking. “I walked here.” As his brows rose, she added, “I’m staying with my cousin. His estate borders this one.”
“Indeed.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t believe that Lord Curdiff is receiving at this time. If you wish to leave your card—”
“What is it, Ives?”
Alyssa’s pulse skittered as the disappointment of being turned away quickly turned to anticipationat the rumble ofTravell’s deep voice.
Before the butler had a chance to reply, Travell strode into view. His steps instantly came to a halt when he spied Alyssa. “Itisyou,” he murmured. She didn’t have time to interpret such a cryptic remark before he shook his head and said, “All is well, Ives. I’ll speak with the lady in the front parlor.Have some tea brought in, if you would.”
A silent message seemed to pass between the two. “My lord, are you sure—”
“Yes,” Travell snapped.
The door instantly opened wider,and Alyssa walked inside.As sheglanced around the interior,a faint smile touched her lips, for while her father’s estate had changed dramatically after her cousin’s wife had redecorateditto her liking, Rosewood was just as she remembered it.There were still the same portraits on the walls and the gleaming oak staircase that smelled of fresh beeswax.It was like greeting an old friend,and for the first time since her aunthadpassed, the weight of her loss eased slightly.
“Lady Alyssa?”
She turned to find Travell waiting for her, so she hastily moved forward to join him. After they had sat down, taking places across from one another, Alyssa found that words abruptly deserted her. Thankfully, Travell began the conversation. “Allow me to extend my condolences on Lady Alwan’s passing.”
“Thank you, Lord Curdiff. Aunt Pearl was very dear to me. I daresay I miss her greatly.”
“I assume you have returned to Breyton Hall, then?”
“I have,” she concurred, finding it almost too difficult to speak. “I’m staying withmy cousin, James—BaronLockley—and his wifeCaroline.”She cleared her throat and pushed forward. “I’m sure they would love to meet you if you have time to make a call.”
A furrow appeared between his dark brows. “I’mnot sure I’ll be able to.” Herface must have shown her disappointment, for he added politely, “I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be in residence.”A hesitant smile lifted his lips. “My mother remains in London.”
“Of course.” She clasped her hands in her lap as a maid brought in the teacart.
“Thank you, Eunice. I’ll serve our guest.”
The servant blinked in surprise, but she merely curtsied and left the room.
Alyssa started to rise. “I’m be more than happy to—”
He waved her back down. “I know it’s not the ‘thing’ in London for a gentleman to do more than attend his club or close himself in his study, but this is my home, so I make the rules here.” As she sankback down on the settee, he lifted a brow and asked, “You used to take it with sugar andno cream. Is that still the same?”
