“I hope this will lay any reservations you have about dancing to rest,” he returned. “There will be gentleman lining up to the banks of the Thames to have the opportunity to partner you, my dear.”
Alyssa smiled, but as she turned to leave, she froze.
Travell’s tall figure was silhouetted in the doorframe.
***
Travell had finally started to get tired after spending the past two hours reading in the library. He thought he’d managed to exorcise Alyssa enough where he could sleep without thoughts of hertormenting him until dawn.
But that was before he’d walked past his father’schamberand saw herwaltzing in his room.
He’d stopped instantly, entranced by the look of serene contentment on her face as Lord Trenton hummed the light tune of a waltz.She looked like an angel in her flowing white gown, her long dark hair trailing down her back like a raven’s wing.
He swallowed heavily, the sight touching something deep in his chest. It was obvious his father had suffered another one of his episodes, as he was fully dressed in the middle of the night. But instead ofreaching out for assistance, Alyssa had allowed herself to be drawninto the earl’s world ofdisorientation yet again.He tried to imagine any other lady of his acquaintance who would willinglyspend time with a madmanand came up empty-handed.
“My lord!” The footman that Travell had assigned to watch over his father’s room at night came rushing forward with a deep bow. “Forgive me. I had to…use the privy.”
“It’s quite allright, Matthews,” Travell returned. “There’s no harm done.”
He turned back to the room to find Alyssa staring at him. After a moment’s hesitation, she walked toward him.Without saying a word, she explained. “I was on my way downstairs when I heard a noise and came to investigate…”She glanced at the footman and her cheeks reddened slightly. “I wanted to make surenothingwasamiss.” She lowered her voice slightly. “He thought he was escorting Triana to her debut ball.”
Travell nodded and then turned back to Matthews. “If you would see that my father returns to bed, I’ll escort Lady Alyssa back to her chamber.”
“Yes, my lord.” The servant walked into the earl’s room and shut the door behind him.
Travell offered his arm to her and after a brief pause she accepted it. “You know that it’s dangerous to be alone with Lord Trenton. After the day he attacked you—”He broke off, unable to even finish the sentence, for the anger he’d felt instantly resurfaced.
“Iwas perfectly fine,” she attempted to reassure him.
“But his mind could change at any time. He can’t be trusted.”
She didn’t reply until they reached her door. There, she turned to face him and he was surprised to see the glimmer of tears in her enchanting green eyes. “I didn’t feel as if I was in any danger.” She swallowed visibly. “Honestly, dancing with the earl was wonderful. It made me remember how much I’ve missed with my own father.”
Travell had never even considered that she was still mourning the former baron’s loss, but after the recent death of Lady Alwan, it was no wonder the past was coming back to haunt her.
He couldn’t resist lifting a hand to brush her cheek, his thumb wiping away the single tear that had escaped. “Alyssa…”he whispered, and then dared to lower his head.
She didn’t resist or push him away when he kissed her, butopened herself to him, like one of her roses in full bloom. The hand on her cheek slid around to the back of her head, where it disappeared beneath the mass of dark curls, his other arm wrapping around her waist to draw her closer.
He teased and tempted her, enjoying the taste of her lips. He was still dressed in his evening clothes, although he’d discarded his cravat long ago. It was enough to remind him of his boundaries, and that he hadn’t removed Alyssa from Breyton Hall with theintentionof seducingher, but saving her from a place that caused only further torment.
But as she responded to him so sweetly, he had to wonder if he’d made the right choice, for her presence under his roof night after night would surely drive him insane. Even knowing that they were standing in plain sight, where his sister or one of the servants could easily come upon them, it wasn’t enough for him to pull away and urge her toshut the doorand lockitfirmly behind her.
Only when he thought his actions might hurt her further did he find the fortitude to draw back. He opened his mouth to speak, but she shook her head.
“Don’t say it. Don’t tell me that you have to spare my reputation or some such nonsense.” She clutched his lapels, her brilliant eyes almost pleading. “Allow me this moment. Give me one night with you.”
He closed his eyes.Dear God, she was going to snap the narrow thread of control that he was clinging to. “Alyssa, you don’t know what you’re saying—”
“Yes, I do.” She sighed heavily. “You were right, Travell.” He opened his eyes and returned his gaze to her, surprised by her confession. “I have found it difficult to trust in anyone for fear they would be taken away from me. But I don’t want to be afraid anymore. Iwantto put my trust in someone.” She lifted her chin slightly. “I want to trustyou, because I’m so tired of being alone.”
Travell’s heart was beating fast after her admission. A spark of hope flared in his chest, but still, his honor wouldn’t allow him to move past this point. “You don’t have to invite me into your bed to do that, Alyssa. I’ll always be here for you.”
“I know that.” She moved closer to him, the light scent of roses and enticing female surrounded himlike the sweetest perfume. “I’m asking you to stay, not out of any sort of desperation, but because Iwantyou to.”
That slight thread was quickly starting to unravel. “If we do this,” he said slowly, hoping that his eyes conveyed how serious he was. “There’s no turning back. I don’t want to hear any more talk of going to America. You’ll be mine. Forever.” He paused to allow that to sink in. “So be very careful of what you’re agreeing to.”
He was still as he watched doubt waver in her gaze, but only for a moment.
