As she reached out a hand to him, he stumbled backward as if confronted with a ghost, his face turningwhite with alarm. “Stay away…from me!” He pointed an accusing finger at her.
“Come now, Lord Trenton,” she cajoled further. “Stop all these hysterics so that we may converse in a normal manner—”
“That’senough.”The duke’sfirm voice interceded as he stepped between the two adversaries, but it was Lady Fremont that he pinned with a firm glare. “This isall veryupsetting to my wifeand my father-in-law. For whatever reason you deem necessary, I demand that you cease baiting Lord Trenton at once.You might thrive on such disharmony, but I will not tolerate it.In fact, I suggest that you allleave.”
Lady Trenton hesitated, but in the end, she pursed her mouth and relented. “Very well. I will not invade your hospitality any longer than it takes to secure Lady Alyssa.”
Gabriel crossed his arms. “As I told you before, the lady isn’t going anywhere.”
“She is aguesthere, not blood relation andLord Lockleyhas made his intentions perfectly clear.” Lady Fremont lifted a brow. “I suppose we could summon the magistrate to settle the matter, but you know as well as I do that I’m right.”
Alyssa could see the indecision warring on Gabriel’s face. It was in the hard line of his jaw. She knew he was doing this for Triana, and she couldn’t live with her conscience if she allowed her presence to cause any discontent between them.
She swallowed heavily and stepped forward to announce. “I’ll go with them.”
Triana clutched her free hand, the one that wasn’t already shackled to Mr. Graves. “Oh, Aly, you can’t!” Tears welled in her blue eyes. “I can’t bear the thought of you beingtaken toan asylum!”
Alyssa squeezed her hand and tried to be strong for her friend, when inside, she was quaking with nerves. “At least it’s not Bedlam.” She reached out and gave her an impulsive hug. “I’ll be fine.”
A sob escaped Triana. “Travell will put this all to rights,” she whispered. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Alyssa fought to held back her own emotion as they parted. “Take care of my Blue Ladies.” As she allowed Mr. Graves to restrain her other wrist, she glanced down at the heavy irons, almost as if she was looking through someone else’s eyes. After such a magical night spent in Travell’s arms, it was difficult to imagine the drastic turn that her life had suddenly taken.
“Let’s go.” Lady Fremont flounced out the door, followed by James and Caroline.
AsAlyssacame abreast of the duke, he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You won’t be there long,” he vowed, and with the conviction in his silver eyes, she could almost believe it.
Shecontinued on,andthe earl looked positively horrified as she walked passed him, while Dr. Perimore offered a compassionate nod of encouragement.
Ives was standing at the front door, holding it open as their party filtered out into the growing dusk. She glanced at him and he offered her a respectful bow. “All will be well, my lady,” he intoned. “The master will take care of everything.”
On that parting remark, Alyssa’s throat closed up as she climbed into the carriage.
She looked out the window as Rosewood slowly began to recede into the distance. She thought of the day she’d ridden to the top of the hill and glanced at the sprawling estate the day Travell had arrived.
In the midst of her heartache and grief over losing Aunt Pearl, she realized that she had always belonged there, for it held the people she cared about the most. They may not be blood, but they were herfamily.
As the mansion drew out of sight, she prayed that, like Lord Trenton, she might someday return.
***
Travell, along with Montgomery’s assistance,hadmanaged to relocate Lady Trenton from the hall floor and carry her into his study. Amelia currently lay on the green settee while Sophie continued to obediently sit in her chair across from his desk.
Logan glanced between the two women and murmured with a shrug, “At least they aren’t hysterical.”
Travell stared at him for a full minute and then shook his head with a snort. “Not yet, anyway. But I have the feeling that’s about to change.”
Logan winced. “In that case, I think I’ll wait in the parlor.”
The other agentleft, shutting the door behind him,as thecountess groaned, her eyes fluttering open. She put a hand to her head. “What…happened?”
“You fainted,” Travell offered.
“What?” She looked confused. “That can’t be. Ineverfaint.”
Travell straightened to his full height. “Well, you did today.”
She appeared as if she might argue further, but when she sat up and spied Sophie sitting across the room, her face bleached of all color once more. “Oh…”She clutched the back of the settee, but when Travell moved to assist her, she waved him away. “I’m…fine.” She narrowed her gaze. “But what isshedoing here?”
