“A miracle,” he corrected with a grin, and then he sobered as his eyes roamed over her face, as if trying to memorize every curve. “Thank you, Alyssa.”
She frowned slightly, and he wanted to kiss the wrinkle between her brows. “What did I do?”
He swallowed thickly. “More than you can possibly imagine.”
Chapter Fifteen
Alyssa was wearing a smile when she returned to Breyton Hall that evening. Today hadn’t only been a successful day for Lord Trenton, but the look on Travell’s face when he’d expressed his gratitude to her would warm her long into the night. She was finally starting to feel that there could be hope that someday, he would allow his heart to fully open.
As they pulled into the drive, Alyssa’s contentment abruptly shifted as she saw another carriage depart. She didn’t catch the crest on the side of the coach as it pulled away, but it was obvious the black, shiny vehicle was one of quality, and had likely traveled from London.
She turned to her maid who was sitting across from her. “Do you know if my cousin was expecting company today, Daisy?”
The other girl shook her head. “I haven’t heard anything below stairs, my lady.”
Alyssa considered this as they came to a halt. Her maid went around to the servant’s entrance while she walked up the front steps. Asa footmantook her outerwear, she askedhim, “Who just left?”
“Lady Caroline’s mother,” he returned stoically, and offered no further explanation.
“I see.” Alyssa was burning to know what had prompted such a sudden visit, but since it was obvious the servant intended to be rather tightlipped, and she wasn’t about to approach James or Caroline on the matter, she would have to wait until Daisy attended her to and see what she could uncover in the kitchens where gossip tended to congregate on a daily basis.
Alyssa climbed the stairs to her chamber and shut the door, wondering what she could do the pass the time until Daisy arrived.She walked over to her dressing table and adjusted a few of the things on top, which weren’t out of place to begin with, finally abandoning that pursuit.
She glanced at her writing desk, butfound shewasn’t in the mood to pen a letter. However, shecouldmake a list.
Alyssa sat down and placed a sheet of vellum in front of her. Dipping her quill in the ink, she paused, the nib hovering over the paper, and then she drew a line down the middle of the page. On one side she wrote,Prosand the other,Cons. She tilted her head and studied the odd pattern. It was something she’d learned from her American friend, Korina, who claimed that Benjamin Franklin, one of the most brilliant men of her country, had invented the technique in order to outline certain advantages when it comes to making certain decisions.
Alyssa decided it didn’t hurt to try, and with her emotions growing more attached to Travell every day, she needed a bit of assistance when it came to the choice of moving to America. She had been certain this was the course she intended to take when her beloved aunt had died so unexpectedly and she was forced to live on the goodwill of a distant relation that she hardly even knew. But now, she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to leave Travell, especially when it was evident that he needed her.
Out of adversity comes opportunity. Apparently, Mr. Franklin was to have said that as well. Alyssa considered Lord Trenton’s condition, and had to believe that something positivehad tocome from such a devastating circumstance.And yet, she had to ensure that she was making the right choice.
She bit her bottom lip as she considered what to write and then she began. On theProside, she listed;New Beginnings, Chance for Adventure, Fewer Society Restrictions. She paused and nodded. That gave her a nice start, and as she read over her choices in moving to the New World, she had to admit they sounded rather intriguing.
And now, Cons.She took a deep breath and wrote,Travell.Her pen hovered in mid-air as she concentrated on what else to write in that same column. But after several moments, it became clear that Lord Curdiff was her only incentive to remain in England. She had little family left, and the only ones who mattered were gone, their memories sustaining her wherever she went.
She set aside her pen and picked up the paper, studying the columns in front of her with a critical eye. If she went by this list, it was obvious which path she should take, but then, there were so many other things that branched off that single name, such as the love she held in her heartfor him. It would be difficult to replace anemotionshe’d carried inside for so longwith somethingelse.
She folded the paper in half and walked over to tuck it beneath the pages of the treatise book, just as the door opened and Daisy rushed inside.
“You wouldn’t believe who was here today!” she said almost breathlessly.
Alyssa clasped her hands before her and said dryly, “Apparently, it was Caroline’s mother.”
“Oh.” Daisy appeared so crestfallen that Alyssa would have laughed, if she hadn’t felt so guilty for taking the wind out of her sails.
She moved to the younger girl’s side and clasped her hands in hersand squeezed gently. “I didn’t mean to spoil the surprise, but I askedone of the footmenand he told me.”
Daisy sighed. “I was rather hoping to see your face when he revealed her name.”
Alyssa frowned, pulling backslightly. “He actually failed to mention that part.”
“Oh?” The light was back in Daisy’s eyes. “In that case, you should know it was LadyFremont!”
Alyssa blinked, her mouth instantly falling open. “Are you quite sure?Was her husband with her as well?” Naturally, with no other woman to talk to, she’d confided everything that was transpiring at Rosewood to her maid, but she knew the girl was faithful to a fault and wouldn’t betray a confidence.
“Indeed, my lady.” She nodded excitedly. “But I believe she came alone. Do you think it means something?”
She tapped a finger to her lips. “I’m not sure, but I definitely think Travell needs to be told. It seems to be a rather strange coincidence that Lady Fremont shows up just days after Travell calls on her husband.” Her eyes widened and she glanced at Daisy. “Perhaps she headed to Rosewood next.”
