Free Intimate Betrayal by Adrienne Basso

everyone through the manor house proved to be a more depressing, rather than embarrassing, task for Alyssa. They started the tour on the very top floor, first inspecting the attic rooms normally used as servants’ quarters. Alyssa could not ever remember any servants actually living there and the many years of disuse were obvious.
    They encountered loose floorboards, cracked windowpanes, broken furniture, and endless clouds of dust. In the corner of one room a small family of mice was discovered, which gave Caroline a mild case of hysterics. She actually squealed when the rodents ran across the room, and she clung to Tristan as if she were in danger of being eaten alive. Tristan seemed to think it was all great fun, and received tremendous satisfaction from “spotting” mice in nearly every room they entered.
    Lady Ogden, a woman apparently unaffected by mice, reprimanded her sister.
    “Caroline, will you please stop acting like such a ninny,” Lady Ogden scolded. “And you are no better, Tristan, encouraging her like that.”
    “I’m merely protecting my beloved,” Tristan replied easily, clearly not the least bit offended by his future sister-in-law’s remarks.
    “Nonsense, Tris,” the duke interjected with a grin. “You are enjoying having Caroline leap into your arms each time you discover a mouse.” Morgan gave Caroline a broad wink. She responded with a pretty blush and a shy smile.
    Alyssa was tired and felt a headache coming on when they finally reached the main floor. She paused hesitantly in front of the drawing room doors, mentally berating herself for not dismantling the “treasure room.” The house would have appeared less shabby and run-down if some of the beautiful items stored in the drawing room had been restored to their original locations in the house. She simply could not fathom Caroline’s and Lady Ogden’s reactions when they saw the collection housed in the room. Reluctantly Alyssa swung open the doors.
    “My goodness,” Caroline exclaimed, her blue eyes round with wonder.
    “What in the world is all this?” Lady Ogden cried in amazement. Both women turned toward Alyssa.
    Alyssa stared stonily ahead, refusing to give an explanation. What can I tell them? she thought peevishly. Here is the room where I settled Lord Carrington’s gambling debts? Of course, that was before he shot himself.
    “Morgan informed me you were going to inventory the estate for us,” Tristan said in a casual voice, breaking the awkward silence. “I must commend you on an excellent job, Lady Alyssa.”
    Alyssa gazed at the duke with some surprise, but he was looking at his brother with equal astonishment.
    “This is for us?” Caroline gasped in disbelief. “All of it?”
    Everyone turned to the duke for confirmation. He cleared his throat. “Nothing but the best for my brother and his lovely bride,” he remarked in an offhand manner.
    There were a few seconds of complete silence, and then the room erupted with chatter as everyone began talking at once. Alyssa’s eyes met Tristan’s and he gave her a conspiratorial wink. She felt a warm flush of gratitude at his kindness and favored him with a small smile.
    Alyssa led the group outside to the rose garden, the only garden on the entire grounds that was properly maintained. The sky was ominously dark as they headed for the overgrown boxwood maze. The wind gusted mightily, and suddenly, without warning, the storm clouds burst. Everyone gave a mad dash for the terrace and rushed through the French doors into the morning room trying to avoid a soaking.
    The duke latched the doors securely against the torrential rain and swirling winds. “I’m afraid if this storm doesn’t let up soon, we shall be forced to stay the night.”
    Alyssa rubbed her temples absently as the pounding increased in her head. What next? she thought wearily. What next.
     
    The rain continued with a vengeance, and Alyssa spent the next three hours with the maids, Molly and Lucy,