She waved her fingers at Alyssa, as if she was dismissing an errant child.This could not be borne.“Oh, I think they can survive a few more minutes without me.” She sailed into the room with a smirk and plucked a scone from the center of the tiered plates. She bit into it daintily and groaned in delight. “This is simply divine! Cook has outdone herself yet again.” She handed a plate to the baroness as if she was the hostess here. “You simplymusttry one.”
Caroline’s blue eyes narrowed slightly, her mouth tightening with the annoyance she couldn’t express if she wanted to continue taking on the appearance of a refined lady. “No, thank you.” She slid a hand down her cornflower blue dress. “One mustn’t indulge too many sweets and keep her figure.”
Alyssa shrugged and added another scone to her plate, letting the barb slide harmlessly over her. She poured tea for herself and then sat down on the settee. When Caroline effortlessly coaxed Travell to sit next to her, Alyssa was determined not to care.
It was only after shebegan to munch happily on her second scone did she finally lock eyes with Travell to see that he wore a rather smug expression of his own. But he turned his head and offered Caroline his undivided attention.
“In answer to your earlier query, I’m pleased to report that my father is improving. It will undoubtedly be a slow process, but I am confident that he will recover most of his facilities.”
Caroline tossed her blond head like a practiced courtesan, exposing her slender neck to the best advantage. Alyssa resisted the urge to roll her eyes just as dramatically. “That’s very good news,” she murmured in a seductive purr. “I daresay I’ve been so concerned for his welfare, and Alyssa hasn’t been very good at keeping me updated, so I decided to pay my respects in person.”
Travell smiled and Alyssa’s heart dropped to her feet. Those rare grins were few and far between and she was angry that he dared to waste one on such a pretender as Lady Lockley. “That’s very kind of you, my lady, but there is no cause to worry yourself. The earl is in capable hands. Not only did I have a highly skilled mesmerist attend to him to unlock part of his mind, but Lady Alyssa has been a great comfort to him.”
Instantly, Alyssa’s spirits lifted and she wanted to preen like a peacock in front of Caroline, especially when she shot her a glare. “Indeed.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Tell me more about thismesmerist. Were his methods quite…unorthodox?”
“On the contrary,Mr. Lyridonwas quite knowledgeable and professional,” Travell offered. “He’s a barrister, newly graduated, but he has a particular fascination with the human psyche as well.”
“How intriguing.”
Alyssa was quite sure Caroline couldn’t have cared less, but the question was,why was she putting on such a grand show? Was it merely for Travell’s benefit, or some other nefarious purpose? Whatever it was, she intended to find out. She just had to find time to access Caroline’s chamber and look for clues while the lady was occupied.
And since there was no time like the present…
“I have a lovely idea!” Caroline and Travell both looked at her, but while the lady appeared further annoyed at the interruption, Travell looked particularlywary. “How aboutI give you both some time alone with the earl? I daresay it would be good for Lord Trenton to see a new face. And I imagine Lord Curdiff could use a break from me being constantly underfoot.”
Alyssa could tell that Travell wasn’t pleased with this sudden turn of events, but she ignored him as she watched Caroline’s reaction. As suspected, the lady was more than happy to be alone with the viscount. The challenge to sink her claws into a higher ranking, handsome gentleman was likely too much of an opportunity to pass up.
When Alyssa stood, Travell followed suit. “At least allow me to walk you out.”
“Thank you, Lord Curdiff.”
The moment they were out in the hallway, out of earshot of the parlor, Travell grasped her arm and turned her to face him. His expression was thunderous, but he was careful to keep his voice low. “What the hell are you playing at, leaving me alone with that viper?”
She patted his chest. “Oh, come now, Travell. Surely you can handle one helpless female on your own for a few hours.Besides, didn’t you tell me that you intended to use yourcharmon her? Now is your opportunity.”
She started walking again, but he kept pace with her. “Is this because you’re mad at me about that kiss?”
Alyssa snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m only using this as a chance to find out what dear old Caroline is up to.” She stopped so suddenly he nearly ran into her. “She’s always home, and I’m always here, so how else might I be able to search her room without risking the chance of getting caught?”
He lifted a brow. “What about Lord Lockley? Doesn’t he still pose a threat to this grand scheme of yours?”
“Hardly. He’s too deep in his cups most of the time to know what’s going on around him. But even so, I can handle him.”
“You think so?”
She mirrored his reaction and lifted a brow. “I manage you just fine, don’t I?”
With that, she spun on her heel and marched away from him.
***
Alyssa blew a stray curl out of her face and then finally tucked it behind her ear in frustration. This ‘grand scheme’ of hers certainly wasn’t going as she’d planned. She expected to return to Rosewood with all the secrets she’d uncovered, but either Caroline was careful to conceal any evidence, or she truly was without blame. She’d searched the baroness’sitting room and her bedchamber, lookingin drawers and rummaging aboutin wardrobes and jewelry boxes, even feeling about beneath the mattress,careful to return everything to its previous position,but she’d come up completely empty handed.
Alyssa sat back on her heels with a sighwhile Daisy continued to keep watch in the hallway. She glanced at the clock on the mantel and decided that it was time to abandon this fruitless endeavor. She had been gone more than three hours and Travell was likely biting at the bit for her to return. Not only that, but she’d walked to Breyton Hall and already, she could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, so if she didn’t wish to arrive a soaked, bedeviled mess, she should be on her way.
She glanced out into the halland nodded at her maid who took her leave,and then shut the door leading to Caroline’s bedchamber behind her. She made it to the top of the staircase where she met James, who was heading up. He paused, his hand on the railing to steady himself, and she could see that his eyes were red rimmed, evidence that he had been drinkingheavily formost of the day.
He blinked, as if trying to focus. When he spoke, his words were slurred. “Ah, coushin. What a shurprise t’ sheeyou here a’ this time o’ day. Are you tired o’ th’ viscount’shcompany already?”
