The tension immediately fell fromthe earl’sface,and he sighed in relief. “Come give your father a kiss, my darling girl.”
Travell and the two footmen moved away as she approached the bed and kissed him lightly on the forehead. “It’s good to see you.”
“Why did you stay away so long?” he almost whined.
“I didn’t mean to,” she returned gently. “I was in London with Mama.”
He snorted at that. “Your mother detests the very sight of me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” she continued in that soothing voice. “But she might be upset if you don’t eat something. You must keep up your strength if you are to get better.”
He tried to sit up, but the restraints held him back. “I just don’t understand why these miscreants have tied me up!”
“It’s for your protection. Youhad a rash that was causing you to itch. We feared that you were going to cut the skin and cause it to bleed.”
He seemed to consider this, so while he was thinking, Alyssa picked up the bowl and spoon that had been set on a nearby table. She scooped up some of the soup and held it out toward him. He looked at her warily. “Please, Papa,”she cajoled.
He obediently opened his mouth.
Chapter Three
Alyssa set aside the empty bowl andgother feet as the earl began to nod off to sleep, now that hisstomachwassated. She turned to find that the footmen had departed, but Travell wasstill there,staring at her curiously, as if he’d neverevenseen her before.
She could feel her cheeks begin to heat self-consciously.But then,shehadnever felt discomfited around anyone but Travell.
“How did you do that?” he asked, a touch of bewilderment in his tone.
She pointed to the bedroom door, so he followed her out into the hall. Once he’d closed the door behind them, she said, “I’m not sure if you remember much about Aunt Pearl, but she was known to be rather…eccentric. However, her physician in London proclaimed that it was merely a slight form of madness due to her age. She would have certain episodes of lucidity, followed by wild outbursts. He called it dementia.”
“I’m not sure that’s what’s going on here,” Travell murmured. “My father is only in his late fifties. Not so aged, I would think.”
She shrugged. “I understand it can strike at different times. You don’t have to be eighty to find that things don’t make sense anymore. I’m only four and twenty,and I feel that many aspects of life can be rather confusing.”
“Indeed. I can’t argue with that.” Travell rubbed the back of his neck and fell silent, so Alyssa thought it would be a good time to take her leave.
“I’m sorry if I intruded. I only wanted to help. I could hear the screams—”She broke off, not wanting to upset him further by bringing it all back.
Shestartedto go, but hegraspedherhand and she stopped. Sheturned her head, lookinginto thosepenetratingblue eyes andit was obvioushe was sincere when he said, “I’m glad you did,Lady Alyssa.Thank you.” He stepped back and she immediately missed the warmth of his touch. “Is it possible to give me the name of your aunt’s physician? I should probably consult with someone in the medical field, rather than try to deal with this all on my own, as I imagined I couldwhen I arrived.”Hisjaw clenched. “I didn’t want to tell Mother or Triana just yet, and I’m certainly not ready for his…condition to spread about the papers.”
Alyssa nodded.“Of course.Rest assured thatDr. Frederickson is entirely discreet,as am I,so there’s no need to worry on that account. I’ll just leave the information with your butler.” She hesitated. “But know that you’re welcome to call on me any time should the need arise.I’ll do what I can.”
His lips lifted slightly at the corners. “I know you will.” She thought he might say more, but when he remained silent, she walked away.
As promised, she left the contact information for Dr. Frederickson with Ives and began to make her way across the open lawn. It had just started to sprinkle, but she was impervious to the damp.
Her steps were slow, her mind filled with what she’d just witnessed. She might be carrying the burden of her aunt’s loss, but Travell’s trials were much greater. She knew that it had to be difficult to look at his father struggling in such a manner after he’d been gone for so long.
Alyssa recalled the night of Triana’s ball when a footman had brought a note to Lady Trenton. Her shock had been so great that she’d collapsed right in the middle of the first waltz. The murmurs had instantly started and the look of hurt and betrayal on her friend’s face had nearly been too awful to bear. She knew Triana had been looking forward to this night, asdidevery young debutante with high hopes of meeting her future husband. Alyssa’s heart had ached rightalongsideof her, but when she’d located Travell among the chaos to gain his reaction, all she’d noticed was a calm acceptance.
Today had been vastly different.
It had only been a day that he’d been back at Rosewood, and yet,hisstrainwasevident among the lines bracketing his mouth and the dark shadows under his eyes. His father’s madness was bound to take a toll, but Alyssa vowed that she would do whatever it took to help him through the worst.
By the time she made it back to Breyton Hall, her dark hair was hanging in loose, tumbleddisarrayaround her face. The instant she walked in, Caroline was walking through the foyer. She sniffed in disgust when she spied her. “You’re making apuddleon the marble, Lady Alyssa. Surely you didn’t act in such a careless manner in London?” She lifted a brow. “But then, I suppose that would explain why you aren’t yetmarried.” She crossed her armsand glared at her. “Where have you been?”
Alyssa didn’tcare to share Travell’s return unless he showed up on their doorstep, so she said evasively, “I was out walking.” She handed her cloak over to a waiting footman, and without the extra warmth, she began to feel the chill seeping into her bones. She started to head for the stairs. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head to my room and take a hot bath.”
Caroline shook her head, but shewenton her way, for which Alyssa was grateful. She didn’t care to converse with her cousin-in-law any more than it took for a polite greeting in the morning and an equally civil farewell in the evening.
