Alyssa's Autumn Affair

by Tabetha Waite

  Travell was the one who answered. “I’ve known Lady Alyssa for many years, Lady Lockley, and she’s long been friends with my sister, Triana.”

  “Is she also in residence?” Caroline nearly cooed. “If so, I should like to call upon her.”

  It was all Alyssa could do not to roll her eyes.

  “No. She recently married the Duke of Chiltern and they are in Italy on their honeymoon.”

  “A duchess?” Caroline was obviously impressed, proving just how shallow she was. “How lovely. No doubt you were pleased by such an advantageous match.”

  “That had nothing to do with it,” Travell returned almost curtly. “She loves her husband, and the feeling is reciprocated.”

  Caroline sighed almost dreamily. “How romantic. James and I married for mutual respect, but we’ve grown fond of one another over the years. Ah! There is my wonderful baron now.” She rose and greeted the man in question with a light kiss on the cheek as he strolled into the parlor.

  Alyssa nearly choked on her tea. She had never known her cousin or his wife to show nothing more than a simple tolerance for one another. It was apparent she was putting on this little show solely for Travell’s benefit. No doubt it was only to gain his favor for some unknown purpose.

  She rolled her eyes in her cup as James said, “I heard that we had a guest.”

  “Darling,” Caroline gushed. “This is Viscount Curdiff.”

  James bowed politely as Travell rose. “Welcome to Breyton Hall, my lord. I daresay we don’t receive many guests in our little corner of England. And especially not anyone of our revered social standing.”

  He chuckled and while Caroline laughed with him, Alyssa didn’t join in their merriment. A quick glance at Travell showed that he didn’t appreciate the attempt at humor either.

  After a brief chat with the baron, Travell stood. “If you will excuse me, I should be returning to Rosewood. I have business to attend to.”

  “Naturally. Men of our stature have never ending responsibilities. I do hope you will visit again soon, Lord Curdiff.”

  Travell merely inclined his head, although he turned to Alyssa. “I was hoping I might take Lady Alyssa back out for a brief ride.”

  “I don’t see any problem with that,” James said with a grin, but Alyssa saw that Caroline didn’t appear quite so thrilled about the prospect. No doubt she would have preferred to go with Travell instead.

  With a small smile of triumph on her face, she got her feet. “I should like that very much, my lord.”

  She hooked her arm through his, and as they took their leave, she could feel Caroline’s glare boring through her back.

  Her grin merely widened.

  ***

  After Travell set the curricle back into motion, he turned to her with a wince. “You turned me down to stay there?”

  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 as much of a shock when I leave.” She turned to him. “I’m traveling to America with Korina Haverswyth after the first of the year.”

  His eyebrows shot upward. “How might you manage that?”

  She shifted slightly. “Korina has an aunt who remains in New York, so she’s set everything up for us to live with 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 and such strict society 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. “And I don’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 full control over 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 somewhere deep within his chest. In that moment he realized he would actually miss her. 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.

  Travell walked in the door, but it didn’t even faze Lord Trenton. Not until Alyssa’s face appeared in the doorway did he stop thrashing about. “Oh, Amelia! Finally a sensible mind has arrived!”

  Alyssa looked at Travell. It appeared that today she was to be his wife instead of his daughter. “What’s troubling you, John?” She dared to cross the room and sit on the edge of the bed, taking his hand in hers.

  His eyes were wild, almost crazed as he glared at the footman who looked as if he’d been spared the hangman’s noose. “I keep trying to tell these idiots that there is nothing wrong with me, that we are merely trying to go to London to prepare for Triana’s debut. Is that so difficult to comprehend?”

  “Not at all,” she said softly. “But the ball isn’t for another week yet. I’m afraid you have your days mixed up as usual, my love.”

  He blinked, frowning as he tried to get his mind to function properly. Finally, his face cleared and he relaxed. “Of course, you are righ
t, my dear. I can always count on you to keep me on my toes.”

  She lightly touched his brow. “Now how about some more of that delicious pea soup?”

  He sighed. “As long as you will stay by my side.”

  Alyssa nodded. “You have my word.”

  ***

  When Alyssa walked out of the earl’s bedchamber, she found Travell waiting for her. He shook his head. “You’re amazing.”

  “I’m not sure about that,” she murmured. “He merely sees me as a woman from his past. I just happen to be the correct sex.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit.” His lips tilted upward. “But then, you’ve always had a certain way about you. It’s why you were so good with those flowers of yours. If they truly needed you to talk to them in order to grow properly, then it’s no wonder Triana used to brag about how beautiful they were.”

  A pang of longing struck her and she looked at the floor. “I’m not sure how my Blue Ladies are faring at this point. After I was forced to close up the townhouse, I fear they aren’t getting the attention that they deserve. The housekeeper promised me that she would look in on them from time to time, but she already has a new position and they need a lot of care.” She sighed. “I had intended to bring them with me to Breyton Hall, but when I arrived I found out the conservatory was remodeled and they are very sensitive to light. I had hoped to get approval from the Horticultural Society to review them, and I thought I might have had a chance when they won a personal prize from the Duchess of Coyton at her garden party, but I suppose that’s a dream that will fade in time along with my aunt’s memory.”

  Alyssa’s gaze was forced upward as her chin was gently lifted. She stared into Travell’s mesmerizing blue eyes. They seemed to flow and ebb like the waves upon the sea, pulling her further into their depths. “I think I may be able to help you with that,” he murmured. “You’ve done so much for my father already, that I can only attempt to repay a portion of your kindness. If you are amenable to the idea, I meant it when I said you are more than welcome to use my conservatory. It might take a bit of work to get it how you want it, but I will make sure the servants know you have free rein to design it as you wish.”

  A lump formed in Alyssa’s throat. It was the first time anyone had showed her any sort of consideration since her beloved aunt had passed. His thoughtfulness touched her more than she could say. “Thank you, Lord Curdiff.”

  He stepped back and offered her his arm. “You should probably save your gratitude until you see what you have to work with. I’ve closed it off for several years, for there hadn’t been a need for it.” His eyes nearly twinkled as he regarded her. “Until now.”

  ***

  Travell saw the hitch in her breathing, but she didn’t reply as he led her downstairs and toward the back of the house. But then, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t similarly affected by her nearness. It was almost ironic that through the years while he’d been preoccupied with his work for the Home Office, he hadn’t given the woman at his side a second thought. She’d always been that troublesome girl next door when he’d been growing up, while he’d been forced to play nursemaid to his sister when she wanted to go traipsing over the countryside.

  Back then she’d been a lively brunette in pigtails who had a smile bright enough to rival the sun, but he hadn’t appreciated it, considering her nothing more than a nuisance. After her parents had died and she’d moved to London, he’d been too busy with school and carousing as a wild youth to think about anything more than himself.

  When their paths had crossed again during Triana’s debut ball, he had matured and found that his energy was better expended through his devotion to the Crown. While he enjoyed a temporary liaison now and then, he never allowed himself to become more involved than that. It was just too dangerous.

  This past spring when Triana had found herself in a perilous situation made possible because of his failure to confide in her, he’d suddenly began to rethink it all. He was thirty now, so it ought to be time for him to consider retiring from service. He’d given several years of his life to king and country, but the idea of venturing out into society more, becoming fodder for the marriage minded mothers hoping to pick up a wealthy, well-connected viscount for their daughter did not appeal in the slightest.

  But then, he’d already chosen a wife, hadn’t he?

  If only he could convince her that a union between them wouldn’t be so bad. He had always considered them to be friends, even if they hadn’t ever conversed freely, or very often for that matter. However, now that they were about to be placed in forced proximity together, he had to imagine it was by design. He wasn’t one to believe in fate, but what other reason could there be? There had to be something positive to come out of so much suffering. With the devastating loss of her aunt and his father’s abrupt resurgence in such a complicated manner, surely it wouldn’t be so wrong for them to take comfort in one another?

  As they arrived at the entrance to the conservatory, Travell eyed the door rather critically. He couldn’t help but wince, for the hinges were rusted and groaned with disuse. But after a bit of a struggle, he managed to get it open.

  He couldn’t help but blink at what was revealed. The scene inside looked like something out of a Gothic novel. Dead vines crawled up the sides of the glass enclosure, grime coating the once brilliant panes. Dirt from fallen pots and debris littered the brick floor, mingling with the cobwebs floating among nearly every corner. Travell could almost hear ‘The Midnight Bell’ tolling somewhere, directly out of Francis Lathom’s book.

  Instead of appearing as horrified as he felt, he turned to Alyssa and murmured, “I did attempt to warn you. But I’ll see that a footman comes in at once—”

  “That won’t be necessary.” To his disbelief, she merely shrugged. “I’ve been faced with worse.” She waved her hand about the room. “At least all the windows are intact and not broken, where we would have to wait for them to be repaired. A bit of cleaning up appears to be all that’s required.”

  He frowned, but it was more curiosity than anything else. “You’ve helped restore other conservatories?”

  She laughed. “You find that so shocking? It is something I like to do.”

  “I thought that meant just talking to flowers,” he muttered. “Not undertaking such a chore as this.”

  Alyssa walked about the room, righting various pots and gathering broken shards of pottery and placing them in a neat pile to assumedly, be removed later. “There’s quite a bit more that goes into gardening, I’m afraid.” She smiled as she glanced at him. “You’d be fascinated by how much the flowers respond to human interaction. I daresay I could teach you a thing or two about horticulture.”

  Travell instantly thought of something he could teach her in return, but he quickly shoved those thoughts aside. Instead, he spread his arms wide and said, “When do we begin?”

  Chapter Five

  When Alyssa went to bed that night, it was with a smile on her face. Nothing Travell could have done would have made her as happy as being reunited with her Blue Ladies. They had been her passion for the past three years, carefully cross-pollinating them until she’d perfected them exactly how she wanted.

  When he’d driven her back to Breyton Hall, he’d promised her the use of his carriage to travel to London to retrieve them the next morning. To return the favor, she intended on dropping by Dr. Frederickson’s office for a personal consultation. The relief she saw on Travell’s face had been apparent. It likely mirrored her own, for clearing out the conservatory and transplanting her roses would give her something to occupy her time, rather than grieving over her recent loss.

  But, of course, before she experienced freedom, she had to endure the barrage of questions that were hurled at her that evening at dinner when she told her cousin and Caroline of her plans.

  “I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to continue visiting the viscount without a proper chaperone,” James had said rather curtly. “You might
be well acquainted, but he is still a bachelor and you are unmarried.”

  Alyssa had gritted her teeth. “This isn’t London where one’s reputation is in danger of being compromised at a ball or soiree.”

  He glanced at his wife, who was staying conspicuously silent. “I’m afraid that’s not good enough when it comes to safeguarding your reputation and the Breyton name. Caroline has graciously offered to act as your companion for the duration of your visits to Rosewood.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Alyssa had returned firmly, knowing that the only reason was so the lady could flirt shamelessly with Travell. “I will take my ladies’ maid with me, which should be sufficient to squelch any rumors that might arise.” At that point, she’d arose. “If you will excuse me?”

  She caught Caroline’s furious glance as she took her leave, but she turned her back on the woman, regardless if she had sparked her ire or not. Alyssa had remained in this prison for long enough. It was time for her to reclaim her independence.

  Thus, when Travell’s driver rolled up in front of Breyton House the next morning in the Curdiff coach, she was dressed and ready to depart with her maid, Daisy. A footman jumped down from the back of the vehicle and opened the door for her as the two women climbed inside.

  As they started to ride away, Alyssa couldn’t help but glance back at the manor, only to see Caroline’s narrowed gaze on her as she departed. She clenched her hands in her lap, knowing that the woman wasn’t going to take defeat lightly. She was vain and high tempered and used to getting her way. She likely wouldn’t be denied Travell’s company for long.

  But since Alyssa refused to dwell on Lady Lockley any longer, she lifted her face to the sun that was finally breaking through the heavy clouds. She was glad to get a break from the rain that had covered the land for the past two days, knowing that it would make travel a bit quicker. Even so, Alyssa doubted they would make it back to the estate by dark, and that’s if they were lucky.