After Travell set the curricle back into motion, he turned to her with a wince. “You turned me down tostaythere?”
Alyssa straightened her shoulders. “At least I know where I stand with them.”
“Indeed. Preferably out in the cold,” he muttered.
She glared at him. “I admit it’s not the circumstances I should wish for myself, but neither do I want to become another burden for you. I have plans of my own.”
She quickly snapped her mouth shut, which piqued Travell’s curiosity more than he wanted to permit. “Such as?”
Her adorable mouth pinched even tighter and now he was burning with the need to know more. But before he prodded further, he forced himself to be patient.
In the end, she sighed. “I suppose I might as well tell you. That way it won’t come asmuch ofa shock when I leave.” She turned to him. “I’m traveling to America with KorinaHaverswyth after the first of the year.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “How might you manage that?”
She shifted slightly. “Korinahas an auntwhoremains in New York,soshe’s set everything up for us to livewith her until we get settled.”
He latched on to the plural.“We? So there is more than just the two of you?”
Again, she pressed her lips together as if she’d said more than she’d intended. “Originally, there were going to be five of us. We made a pact to leave England and travel to the New World, free of restrictions andsuch strictsociety barriers in order to start a new life, but the rest have all married recently, leaving just Korina and I.”
He snorted. “Dare I ask who came up with such a plan?”
“Actually,” she returned rather primly,“it was Triana’s idea.”
He shook his head. “I’m not surprised. The only question I have is why you should have gone along with something so asinine.”
She frowned.“I don’t think it’s foolish in the least. To be honest, I’m quite looking forward to a fresh change of scenery.”
Once again, Travell opened his mouth without considering the consequences. “I think you’re allowing your grief to overcome your common sense.”
She gasped. “AndIdon’t believe it is any of your concern, Lord Curdiff. I have made my decision. I will be five and twenty this month and have fullcontrolover my trust. With it, I shall be making plans to leave England.”
Travell’s brows drew together. The lady certainly seemed as if she had her mind made up, but the thought of her sailing to another continent, never to return,caused a pain somewheredeep within his chest.In that moment he realized he would actuallymissher. While he’d never paid her much attention in the past, the idea that she wouldn’t be in a ballroom for him to secretly watch from across the crowded expanse bothered him greatly. For his peace of mind, that only left one option.
He had to ensure that she didn’t leave.
But how?She’d already turned down his proposal.
It appeared he would have to think on the matter at length, but he vowed that he would do whatever it took to keep Alyssa on English shores.
***
The moment they stopped in front of the front doors at Rosewood, the butler rushed out with a harried look on his face. “Thank God you have returned, my lord!”
Alyssa looked at Travell in concern, although he merely handed the reins off to a waiting groom. He held out a hand to assist her down, and addressed the servant. “What is it, Ives?” The butler glanced at Alyssa in hesitation, so Travell added, “Speak freely.”
“Indeed, my lord.” Ives rushed on. “I fear that ever since you left the earl has been rather…difficult. He has gone so far as to refuse the laudanum now.We fear he is going to cause serious injury to himself.”
Travell’s mouth turned downward grimly. “Is he still not lucid?”
“I’m afraid not. He keeps shouting about being poisoned.”
“I see. Has any reply come from Dr. Frederickson in London as yet?”
The servant shook his head. “No, my lord.”
Alyssa followed behind Travell as he made his way upstairs. She could hear the obscenities being hurled at whoever was in the room with him. Her own ears burned with the crass things he said. But then, if the earl imagined someone was trying to do him harm, it was no wonder he was so upset.
