Alyssa's Autumn Affair

by Tabetha Waite

  She opened the book she’d brought with her and began to read.

  She’d made it halfway through the novel before the city started to surround them. The familiar sights and sounds of London easing the heaviness in her chest, while the closer the driver drew to the heart of Mayfair brought all her despondency crashing back down.

  Tears filled her eyes as they stopped in front of that familiar whitewashed brick townhouse. And when she climbed down from the coach and walked up the steps to the front door, her vision blurred even more. How many times had she done this without ever thinking that her circumstances might never change, that she would always be with Aunt Pearl?

  She swallowed past the lump forming in her throat and took a deep breath as she knocked on the door that would have formally been opened for her by her aunt’s butler. He would have greeted her formally in his starched attire and taken her outerwear with no change in his stoic expression.

  She missed those days as their former housekeeper, Mrs. Darley, opened the door. The older woman looked as she’d remembered, her graying hair pulled back into a severe bun, attired in the same, gray wool dress free of any adornments. But although the woman looked stern, her smile had always been genuine, if not a bit reserved because of her position.

  “My lady.” Mrs. Darley curtsied slightly as Alyssa and her maid walked inside. While Daisy would have normally been expected to use the servant’s quarters, there was no point in standing on ceremony since they were only gathering the roses and heading back to the country. “It’s good to see you again. I daresay I was glad to receive your letter. My duties at the Bremerton household have kept me rather busy. I fear I have only been able to check on your Blue Ladies on my afternoons off. I was only able to get away today if I switched days to accommodate my absence.”

  Alyssa smiled at her gratefully. “I hope I didn’t cause you too much trouble. I appreciate you amending your schedule so that I can gather my roses.”

  “It’s no problem at all,” the older woman replied. She paused, and Alyssa’s unease grew. “I was actually getting ready to write to you.” Her gaze turned sympathetic. “I received word that the house has sold. I was instructed to turn in my keys at the end of the week so that the new owners will have them.”

  Alyssa knew this had been a real possibility, for after her aunt’s death, with no one to inherit the property since it had been passed down through Lady Alwan’s mother and not entailed through her husband, Alyssa knew she wouldn’t be able to pay for the upkeep of such an expense, even with the generous inheritance that her aunt had given her in her will.

  However, Alyssa hadn’t expected to lose everything quite so soon. As she glanced about the empty rooms she had to hold back a wave of melancholy. The spaces that had once been filled with love and laughter were now hollow and cavernous. The furnishings that still remained that Alyssa hadn’t able to take to Breyton Hall had been covered with white linen to keep the dust away, but it wouldn’t be long before they were removed and the house would be filled with life once again.

  The only comfort Alyssa found in that, was that children might run up and down these stairs, supplying the one thing her aunt had never been able to have of her own during her brief marriage that had left her a widow for many years. Without needing to remarry, Aunt Pearl had chosen to live alone until the day Alyssa had become her ward.

  Alyssa sighed. She could stand here all day and recall all the happy times she had shared here, but since there was no point in eschewing what was already gone, she forced herself to move forward to the conservatory.

  Most of the flowers that she’d tended so carefully through the years were still thriving, if not a bit forlorn in appearance, some leaves turning brown at the edges. But it was her Blue Ladies standing proud and tall with their impressive, sapphire blooms that she wandered toward. She bent her head to sniff their lovely fragrance and it was like coming home. If there was one scent that she could associate with her time with Aunt Pearl, it was this.

  She carefully covered the flowers with a plain brown jute sack and tied a string of twine around the bottom to keep the cool autumn air from damaging them too much as they were transported back to Rosewood. Alyssa, along with her maid and Mrs. Darley, quickly tied as many of the other plants together and loaded them into the coach.

  By the time the vehicle was laden down with flowers, the precious Blue Ladies placed inside where they would ride back with Alyssa’s careful consideration, it was already mid-afternoon and she still had to pay a call on Dr. Frederickson.

  She tied her bonnet back in place and then reached into her reticule to hand the housekeeper a guinea. “Thank you for everything, Mrs. Darley.”

  The woman hesitated at the sum, but she placed the coin into the pocket of her skirts. “It was a true pleasure working for you and Lady Alwan.” With nothing more to say, she turned and headed back down the sidewalk.

  Alyssa did the same.

  ***

  Her next stop brought her to Dr. Frederickson’s office. She stepped down from the coach while her maid remained inside. “I shouldn’t be long.”

  As Alyssa walked inside, the physician’s secretary removed his glasses with a smile, greeting her from behind his desk. “Lady Alyssa. This is a surprise.” Instantly, his brows drew together in concern. “I hope there isn’t cause for concern on your behalf.”

  “Not at all,” she returned. “I was merely hoping to have a word with the doctor. Is he in?”

  “He is. I’ll let him know that you’re here.”

  “Thank you.”

  She waited as he moved to the back of the office where Dr. Frederickson kept a modest clinic. After a few moments the secretary reappeared. “This way please, Lady Alyssa.”

  Alyssa followed him to the clinic doors where he held them open for her. She passed him with a thankful smile and saw the physician bent over some sort of scientific device on one side of the room, while a handful of beds and various medical equipment were on the other. Hearing her approach, the dark-haired, bearded man of middle age glanced up. “Lady Alyssa. I was just doing a bit of research on my Galileo microscope. I daresay we will change the world someday, merely with the age of gadgets.” He grinned as he walked over to her. She saw empathy in his kind eyes as he bowed lightly. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. I trust you are well?”

  “Very,” she returned politely. “While it’s been… difficult after Lady Alwan’s passing, that’s not why I’m here. I’ve actually come to call on the behalf of a friend, Viscount Curdiff.”

  “Ah, yes.” His brows drew together. “He wrote to me about a rather difficult case. His father, I believe.” He shook his head. “While studies of the brain can be traced back centuries on any number of papyrus scrolled documents, I fear psychological ailments aren’t within my realm of expertise.”

  Alyssa’s heart sank. “But surely there is something you can tell us that might help ease Lord Trenton’s distress?”

  His expression was grim. “I’m afraid not, my lady. While I have studied the works of William Battie at some length, his book A Treatise on Madness, claims that mental disorders come from the dysfunction of the material brain rather than the internal workings of the psyche, which doesn’t make sense to any man of science. He also didn’t approve of the conditions at the Bethlem Hospital, saying that fresh air and cleanliness was important in treating patients, although many doctors agree such things will not assist with clearing the mind, but rather restraints and harsh treatments have been the most effective. I have already explained all this to the viscount in detail, but I fear our missives must have crossed.” He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I appreciate that you spoke so highly of my talents, my lady, and I regret that I couldn’t be of more assistance. Now, or when it came to Lady Alwan.”

  “I know you did everything you could for my aunt,” Alyssa returned in all sincerity. “It was nice to see you again, Dr. Frederickson.”

  Alyssa left the clinic feeling rather di
sheartened. It certainly wasn’t the news she’d been hoping to hear, and seeking out more advice wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Dr. Frederickson was an open-minded man, preferring newer methods of science rather than the archaic methods of bloodletting, so she knew there was nowhere else to turn. There was nothing left to do other than send Lord Trenton to an asylum, which would crush Travell.

  Of course, there was always another option.

  She just had to find it.

  Alyssa thought for a moment, and then tapped the roof of the coach just as they were starting to set out. As the coachman brought the team to a halt, she stuck her head out the window. “Change of plans. Hatchard’s bookshop, if you please.”

  ***

  Travell was pacing the parlor, looking out the window every few minutes, hoping to catch sight of Alyssa, but as yet, his coach had not yet returned. He glanced at the dial on the mantel and noticed that it was nearly eleven o’clock. He trusted his coachman implicitly, but he was starting to fear that something had gone awry.

  He began to imagine all sorts of unsavory scenarios, none of which posed a positive outcome.

  If something had happened to her…

  He honestly didn’t want to finish that thought.

  But just when he was starting to believe that all hope was lost, he heard the unmistakable sound of horses coming up the drive. He had sent the servants to bed long ago, but even then he would have gone to the front door himself.

  He ran outside, just as the coach came to a halt. “Where the devil have you been?” he demanded crossly. “I expected you back hours ago.”

  Alyssa looked at him tolerantly, if not a bit guiltily as well. “I do apologize, but I fear there was no help for it. It took longer than I imagined to obtain this book.” She held up the item in question.

  Travell was sure his eye was about to twitch. “You kept me waiting all this time, just so you could obtain a novel?”

  “It’s not a novel.” She slammed the book against his chest. “Take a look while I get my Blue Ladies settled. No doubt they are rather overset by such a long journey.”

  Travell shook his head as Alyssa marched inside as if she was already mistress of his house, even though she’d quite adamantly turned down his proposal. If this is what life with the lady would be like, he wasn’t sure he would honor his initial offer of marriage even if she did decide to accept him.

  But then he glanced down at the book in his hand and read the title.

  Damn. After reading the letter from Dr. Frederickson today, he’d imagined that all hope was lost, that he would be forced to send his father into that nightmare of a hospital that many referred to as Bedlam, rather than Bethlem. But it appeared Alyssa had plans of her own.

  She intended to cure Lord Trenton of his ills.

  In that moment, Travell realized he would be a fool not to marry her the moment he convinced her to say yes.

  And he would do whatever it took to make that day happen.

  He walked inside and headed for the conservatory where Alyssa was fussing with her roses. If he didn’t appreciate her dedication to helping his father, he might have shook his head at the way she touched their delicate blooms and cooed to them as if they were small children in need of coddling.

  Instead, he asked, “I assume there are more flowers that need to be brought in?”

  The smile she shot him significantly brightened the dimly lit room with all the brilliance of the sun. “Of course.”

  “Indeed.” Travell left before he did something stupid, like take her into his arms and kiss her senseless. In the end, between him, the coachman, and Alyssa’s maid, they managed to bring in all the plants and place them about the conservatory where she directed. He had no idea why it mattered if one specific flower was placed next to another, but since it did to her, he would have rearranged the entire manor to suit her preference.

  When they were through, she set her hands on her hips and gave a satisfied nod. “That should do it for tonight. I’ll return in the morning and do some more cleaning up.”

  Travell had already ordered the windows washed and the debris swept away in preparation for her arrival, but if Alyssa needed to come by every day just so he could see her, then that was fine with him.

  “Goodnight, Lord Curdiff.” She finally turned to him and since he couldn’t resist touching her, he reached out and grasped her hand, bringing her bare hand to his lips where he bestowed a light kiss on her bent knuckles.

  “Goodnight, Lady Alyssa.”

  Long after he’d released her, the gentle feel of her smooth skin in his haunted his dreams until the early morning hours.

  Chapter Six

  Even though it had been late when Alyssa retired, she was up by seven the following morning, eager to return to Rosewood where she might check on her Blue Ladies. She admitted that some of her enthusiasm might also be due to seeing Travell again, but those were dangerous waters to tread. He might have asked her to marry him, but she knew it had been impulsive and for all the wrong reasons. If she were forced to give up her independence and marry, then it wouldn’t be for anything less than love. And while she had been in love with Travell for years, she wasn’t sure he truly understood the meaning of the word.

  It wasn’t as though he wasn’t a gentleman, for he most certainly was. Any peccadilloes he might have partaken of in the past were kept very discreet for she’d never heard anything unsavory about his character. And when it came to Travell, she’d been interested in anything that was discussed.

  If there was any hope that their relationship might progress further, Alyssa had to figure out a way to ensure that he was interested in her as a woman, and not the girl next door who had been like another sister to him. But after several years of trying to gain his attention, she feared it was a lost cause.

  At least she could help him with his father before she left for America and leave the yearnings of her heart behind in England.

  She’d read through much of the treatise on her bedside table the night before, but sleep had finally intruded. Until she had time to peruse it further, she would use what she had obtained into practice this morning. A quick glance outside showed that it was starting out to be another lovely morning, so she rang for Daisy. Once Alyssa was dressed in another black gown, she headed downstairs to partake of some breakfast before she headed out for the remainder of the day. The less time she spent at Breyton Hall, the better.

  While neither Caroline, nor her husband, ever rose much earlier than noon, this morning appeared to be the exception. Lady Lockley was seated at the table when Alyssa entered, delicately munching on some toasted bread.

  Alyssa greeted her with a murmur and went over to the sideboard, filling her plate with ham and eggs, as well as enjoying a cup of hot tea. She sat down and before she could even take her first bite, her companion said, “You got home rather late last night.”

  “Yes,” Alyssa murmured. “I fear the roads were worse than we imagined.” Of course she wasn’t about to explain the reason for her delay. Travell didn’t want it bandied about that his father was mad, and she certainly wasn’t going to give Caroline the satisfaction of gaining such information to use against either one of them later. While she’d never known the woman to be blatantly cruel, she also knew that Caroline was selfish enough to do whatever it took to make herself happy.

  She sniffed. “I suppose you are heading to Rosewood this morning?”

  Since there was no point in denying it, she said, “I am. My roses are in need of constant care.”

  “As if that is your only motivation for visiting the handsome viscount.”

  Alyssa didn’t like where this conversation was heading. “There’s no need to worry that anything untoward will happen. Besides, Daisy will be there.”

  “Oh?” Caroline’s blond brows lifted. “And will she be attending you the entire time?”

  “Actually, yes,” Alyssa returned. If it were true or not, she wasn’t about to let her cousin’s wife turn her v
isits to see Travell into something sordid. “I will need assistance tending the rest of my flowers. Some will need to be repotted and pruned—”

  Caroline waved her hand. “Spare me the details. I daresay playing in the dirt is something that I never did as a child and have no interest is doing as a properly married woman.”

  Alyssa’s grip tightened on her fork, but she took a deep breath and forced her grip to relax. She would not allow herself to be injured by Caroline’s malicious barbs. But neither would she stay and allow herself to accept them without restraint either.

  She wiped her mouth with her napkin and stood. “If you’ll excuse me?”

  The lady smiled, but it was stiff and formal, without an ounce of kindness.

  Alyssa turned her back on Lady Lockley and, after retrieving her maid, she headed out the door as quickly as she could manage.

  ***

  Travell sat in his study, attempting to concentrate on his estate ledgers, making plans for the harvest season, but he found that his attention was sadly distracted. Even though Alyssa hadn’t bothered him any longer than a brief conversation when she’d arrived, he knew she was here and that was all it took for his focus to wander.

  He finally set aside his quill and rubbed his eyes. It didn’t help matters that he was exhausted. His father had another restless night and Travell had finally started to wonder how much more either of them could endure. He detested the idea of sending the earl to Bedlam, but it was equally difficult to see the man fight against his restraints, howling about poisoning and ill treatment. At least if he was in a padded cell he wouldn’t be constantly bound to his bed. Needless to say, Travell was torn between the lesser of two evils.

  A sudden commotion in the hallway made him frown, so he got to his feet, intending to investigate. However, the moment he opened the door, he froze. He saw Alyssa and two of his footmen carrying a sedan chair. He’d nearly forgotten about the thing, stored somewhere in the attic for years, but apparently someone had mentioned it.