The Lady and the Earl

by Clark, Diedre

  “What?” Connor croaked. His body visibly jerked, his sherry sloshing around in his glass. He set the glass down hard. Panic rushed through him, followed by a fierce rage as he thought of Lucas seducing Allana. Was she his latest trophy? Don’t jump to any conclusions just yet, Connor. Calm down. It could have been anyone. “Do I know her?” he asked aloud, trying to sound as casual as possible. Inside he felt murderous.

  Lucas raised an eyebrow at Connor, eyeing his glass of sherry and his sudden tenseness. “Been a while since you’ve cared. Why now?”

  “Just curious,” Connor lied. He needed to know if it had been Allana Lucas had played for.

  “Of course,” Lucas replied with a knowing look. “You may relax, Connor. It was Maggie.”

  “The maid?” Relief flooded through Connor, causing him to sink back into his chair.

  “Yes, and probably the best opponent I’ve had in a long time. At least since you quit playing,” Lucas replied as a smug smile spread across his face.

  Connor rolled his eyes. He knew what was coming next: a drawn out, detailed tale of Lucas’s conquest. Connor had tried in the past to get Lucas to quit telling him about each woman he seduced and conquered, but it only made Lucas draw out his stories more. He found it amusing to enlighten Connor with the details of The Game.

  The Game, Connor thought sadly. It had started when they were sixteen and were first invited to the Davenhue’s yearly Christmas party. They made a bet to see who could get a kiss from one of the girls attending. Connor picked the lucky girl for Lucas, and Lucas picked for Connor. At the end of the night, they gave the details, and the winner of the bet took the pot. Connor remembered Lucas winning that first night. It had been exhilarating, so they continued the bet at each party they attended, calling their little competition The Game to keep suspicion at bay. If they both succeeded, then the money they had bet would carry over to the next time they played until someone won.

  When they moved to London, the stakes rose from a kiss to more, and eventually they were betting on who could seduce his girl to his bed first. There had been a time when Connor actually enjoyed the thrill of it. He even bested Lucas a time or two, but then he fell in love with his bet. Lucas had chosen her for her innocence and seeming hate for Connor, and Connor had fallen for her, fallen beyond hope. Then he found her in bed with Lucas. The pain it caused his heart was excruciating. That was the last time he played The Game, and the last time he trusted Lucas.

  Lucas, on the other hand, continued to play even without a challenger. He claimed the challenge each woman brought was enough for him. Thus, he continued his roguish ways, seducing woman after woman and giving Connor the repulsive details. Now Lucas was telling Connor about Maggie.

  Connor shook his head in disgust. “Do you ever think of what this does to these young women, Lucas? How much chance does this give them of a normal marriage, or for some like Maggie, any marriage at all?” Connor asked in frustration.

  “Do not lecture me, Connor. I remember a time when you were the same as I,” Lucas said coldly. “We were both players of The Game at one point. In fact, there was even a time when you might have been the better player.”

  Connor shook his head. That was not entirely true. Connor played the game in his own way: make Lucas believe he was bedding his bets when in actuality he was not. “But I’ve changed. I haven’t participated in it for nearly five years now, and I think you should consider putting a stop to it,” Connor argued.

  “Are you trying to make me feel guilty?” Lucas asked with a laugh.

  “No, I’m simply saying—”

  “Good because you are failing miserably,” Lucas said, shaking his head.

  Connor sighed. “Look, Lucas. When it comes to women, all you see is the end result. You don’t even see a woman anymore, just an object to be conquered and added to your list of trophies. Does it not get old? Do you not wish for something more?”

  “What…like love? I haven’t seen this side of you since…,” Lucas trailed off. “Well, it doesn’t matter,” he finished, looking away from Connor and taking a drink.

  “Since when? Since Sophia? That’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it? Let’s discuss this once and for all. You think I was a fool for falling in love with her,” Connor said angrily.

  “Well, look at the outcome—”

  “I have never blamed her for that! You were the one who could not handle losing once more to me, so you took matters into your own hands. Take her before I could. I was in love with her, Lucas. I loved her! Did that not mean something?” Connor glared at Lucas who couldn’t seem to look his friend in the eye. A dark laugh escaped Connor’s lips. “What you failed to notice, though, is I had already bedded her. For an entire month before you got your clutches into her. So you see? You still lost,” Connor finished sadly.

  Lucas eyed Connor. He looked unsurprised. “I did not do it to win. I did it because I refused to lose my friend to a lowly maid. And not just any pathetic maid either. A maid who didn’t even have the decency to give you her real name until you were already smitten with her. I apologize, Connor, but I thought she was playing you for a change.”

  “You had no right! She was my choice! If she was playing me, it was my problem, not yours,” came Connor’s defense. “And I knew her real name. I simply chose not to use it. It was her wish.”

  “Either way, you were too blind to see anything but her. I knew if you found us together, you would see what she truly was, a gold digger. But not even that stopped you from searching for her,” Lucas replied. “It was your own fault your pride was injured.”

  “What? I would do it all again just for the chance to be with her. If you understood love, you would understand that. It’s why I cannot blame you for what happened either,” Connor said irritably. He wanted to blame Lucas, but his friend was heartless. He didn’t understand needing someone like Connor had Sophia, or Josephine. Whichever name she went by, she was still his dearest Sophie.

  “You…don’t blame me?” Lucas asked hesitantly. He looked surprised and even humbled. “All these years I thought….”

  “No, I don’t blame you. I should. I want to, but I don’t,” Connor answered. He looked at Lucas long and hard. “You should stop, Lucas. Stop The Game before you become so callous you never know love. Stop before you become incapable of love or any emotion for that matter,” Connor finished with conviction.

  Lucas laughed quietly. “How do you know I haven’t stopped?”

  “Because if you had, you would not have told me about Maggie,” Connor said matter-of-factly.

  “Maggie was months ago, Connor. Months.”

  “And?”

  “Do you not understand what that means? I have stopped,” Lucas replied.

  Connor looked at him skeptically. “I don’t believe it.”

  Lucas sighed. “Look at me, Connor. I’m a mess. I hardly sleep, I hardly eat, and all I want is a nice drink to calm my nerves. And it’s all because I have stopped. I haven’t been with a woman since Maggie,” he said irritably. “And it’s all because of Allana.”

  “No, no, no, no, no,” Connor said dangerously. “You leave her out of this.”

  “Why? It is the truth. She’s everything I have ever looked for in a woman, Connor. All I can think about is her. She makes me want to be a better man. It’s insane,” Lucas said with that tint of irritation still in his voice, making Connor actually believe what he was saying.

  “I don’t care. You might think you’ve changed for her, but I know you Lucas. As soon as she refuses your advances or gives into them,” which she’d better not, “you will move onto the next girl or back to Maggie. It’s because she hasn’t given in to you yet that makes you so drawn to her. I will not have you disrespect her like you have so many others.” Connor was ready to duel Lucas to keep him away from Allana if necessary, and Lucas was the better at both the sword and the pistol. Yes, Connor could throw a better punch than Lucas or out wrestle him, but Lucas had grown deadly with the pis
tol and had mastered the sword over the years, surpassing Connor’s skills by far.

  “Connor, what were you just lecturing me about? Quit your ways, you said, or you’ll never love. I thought it was already too late for me until I saw Allana again. I want to marry her. That is, if she will have me,” Lucas said with sincerity. “I think I love her, Connor. Now that is insane,” he finished, giving a nervous laugh.

  If not for the sinking feeling in his stomach, Connor might have believed this too. “I am sorry, Lucas, but I don’t want you courting her. She isn’t for you. I suggest you find someone else to fancy,” Connor said dangerously.

  “Lucas?” a musical voice asked from behind. “I thought that was your voice I heard.” Allana stood in the doorway, smiling pleasantly, yet when Lucas was not looking, Connor didn’t miss the icy glare she sent his direction.

  He cursed under his breath. The girl had been eaves dropping.

  “Allana,” Lucas said, standing as she entered the room. “You look as lovely as always.”

  “Thank you, Lucas.” She replied, smiling sweetly to him, eyes warming at the sight of him. “What brings you here today?”

  “The usual,” he said. He smiled at her in return and shared a look with her Connor did not like.

  An alarm was going off in Connor’s head telling him he needed to stop whatever was going on between Allana and Lucas before it was too late.

  “May I ask what you two were talking about?” Allana asked sweetly, but the coldness Connor had seen earlier was back when she looked at him. He was pretty certain she’d heard his last comments.

  “It was nothing, Allana. We were just reminiscing,” Connor replied. He could feel a storm brewing as he watched Allana’s eyes flash colors. When she was mad, her calm, green eyes grew darker and seemed to swirl with bits of red and black, warning those around her of her darkening mood. She definitely heard what he had said to Lucas.

  “Then I suggest you leave me out of your little conversation, especially if you plan on making my choices for me,” she said angrily.

  “Allana, this is not the time for this,” Connor told her irritably. They had been arguing constantly since the funeral. He’d seen her with Lucas that day, comforting him and standing by his side as though they were already wed. Connor cornered her later, forbidding her from seeing Lucas again.

  “When is the time, Connor? You’ve been home five days, and you are already trying to run my life.”

  “The time is when we don’t have company,” Connor argued.

  “Does it truly matter? I do not recall you ever scolding me in private when we were younger. Instead, you insisted on doing it in front of Lucas as I am,” she shot back.

  Lucas laughed. “She does have a point there, Connor.”

  Connor glared at him. “It is childish. She wants me to see her as a grown woman, yet she argues as a child would in front of guests.” He knew comparing her to a child would anger and embarrass her. He hoped it might also have an effect on Lucas. Point out her immaturity and hope Lucas remembered the youth she’d been instead of the woman she was.

  “What better way to get your attention than in such a way? If you’re not hearing her arguments when I’m not around, perhaps you will be more susceptible to them when I am,” Lucas replied instead.

  Allana flushed from embarrassment. “No, Connor is right. This is between him and me. I am very sorry, Lucas,” she said apologetically.

  “I know a way you could make it up to me,” he said smoothly. “Go for a walk with me. It is a lovely day outside. The sun is almost out, and there’s hardly a breeze. Slightly chilly still, but we could keep each other warm.”

  Connor ground his teeth at those words. “No!” he said angrily.

  “I would love to walk with you, Lucas,” Allana replied sweetly, flashing Connor a quick glare.

  “Perfect. Thank you for the drink, Connor,” Lucas said, handing Connor his glass without really looking at him. He offered Allana his arm, which she took readily, hanging on him, watching Connor fume. “Until next time.”

  “But…,” Connor sighed in frustration as Lucas guided Allana out of the small room.

  * * *

  “I do not think your brother approves of me,” Lucas whispered in Allana’s ear.

  She smiled bitterly. “He will simply have to find a way to accept it, then, won’t he.”

  Connor’s actions made her furious. She thought he would be pleased to see Lucas courting her. After all, the two men had been close friends since youth. Yet he was not pleased at all. Why was he trying to keep her from Lucas?

  The day really was beautiful. The snow crunched softly under their feet as they walked toward the garden. They talked about the weather and the prospects of spring. Lucas was a perfect gentleman, and then they reached the privacy of the garden. He swept Allana behind the bushes and kissed her thoroughly.

  “I’ve wanted to do this since you entered that room,” he growled.

  She smiled up at him, and he kissed her again long and hard because of it. Before she knew it, he was pushing her up against the hedges, running his hands along the curve of her back, and moving his kisses down to her neck.

  “Lucas, stop,” Allana said half-heartedly. She knew she should make him stop, but the feelings he stirred within told her to let him keep going. That is exactly what he did too. He kept going, and before Allana knew it, his hand was groping her indecently. Her eyes flew open in shock.

  She broke their embrace and shoved him away from her. “Lucas Hoffman, how dare you!” she scolded heatedly. He looked absolutely startled. Surely he knew what he was doing.

  “Allana, I…I…am…sorry,” he forced. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”

  “Again? I’m shocked you even let it happen this once,” she said in astonishment. What a frustrating man! He seemed to be courting her, and yet he would not ask her father for her hand in marriage. Then there were moments like these when he would push at her virtue. “Do you honestly think I would give myself to you in the cold snow?” she asked irritably.

  He cocked his head to the side and stared at her a moment as if trying to read her. “We could go somewhere else,” he suggested, sauntering back over to her and brushing her neck with his fingertips.

  “Lucas!” she said in disbelief, shoving him away from her once more. “That is not what I meant. Why can’t you accept the fact I will not give myself to you until we are properly wed?”

  “Ugh,” he growled. “I do accept that fact. You are so irresistible sometimes I forget myself,” he finished, sounding almost as irritated as she.

  “Lucas…,” she sighed. What could she say that she hadn’t said before? “What am I to do with you?” she asked. She truly didn’t know what to do with him. She was attracted to him, but the love would not come. And lately his advances were growing so inappropriate. It was disrespectful to her. If he truly loved her, wouldn’t he respect her ideas and virtue? If Declan Cunningham were courting her, would he be so forceful and aggressive with his advances? She flushed. Stop thinking of that man! she thought angrily.

  “You could come here and give me another kiss,” Lucas said, motioning her to him and breaking her thoughts.

  She glared darkly. “I am going inside,” she finished icily. She turned sharply from him and strode toward the house with her nose in the air.

  “Come now, Lana. I was teasing,” he said. She kept walking away from him. “Allana, come back. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Please, let’s talk about this.”

  Allana continued to walk away.

  “Allana, please don’t walk away from me. I love you,” he called out.

  Allana froze. He loved her? She turned to look at him, studying him in contemplation. Did he really love her? He’d confessed something of the sort to Connor. Guilt swept through her. He loved her, yet she could not seem to return the love. Her guilt was replaced by sadness. “Oh Lucas,” she whispered, wanting desperately to feel the love he supposedly had for her. She wal
ked into his arms and let him hold her, but her soul would not let her repeat those words back to him.

  “I want us to be together, Lana. I want to marry you, really I do,” he said as he stroked her hair.

  “I know, Lucas,” she whispered, but her heart knew differently.

  * * *

  Lucas held Allana. He was growing quite frustrated with her. It had never taken him this long to conquer a woman. She was so stubborn. He was even taking his time with her, pampering her and softening her. But she still refused his advances. He could tell she enjoyed their time together, so why wouldn’t she simply succumb to him? It was infuriating. He could give into her and simply wed her first. But that would mean she had won The Game instead of him, and he hadn’t lost since Connor quit playing. Somehow he would weaken her and bed her, and then he could give her the wedding. But he would bed her first!

  Telling her he loved her had felt like a last resort. He’d never told a woman he loved her, but Allana was different. He would have her no matter what it took. She was his. It was only a matter of time before it would be final.

  Chapter 8

  Connor waited for Allana in her room. He knew it was useless trying to get Lucas to back away from her, so he hoped he could talk some sense into her instead. This time he would tell her the truth. She had to be warned. Lucas could not be trusted. He would say and do anything to get his prey.

  Allana jumped when finding him there. “Connor, you scared me to death. What are you doing in here?”

  “Are you in love with Lucas?” Connor asked bluntly.

  “What if I am?”

  “Allana, why?” Connor asked desperately.

  “Isn’t he your closest friend? I thought you would be happy to have him courting me,” she said irritably.

  “No, not him. I know him too well, and I will not have him courting my baby sister. I’ll do whatever it takes to stop him,” Connor said heatedly.

  “Your baby sister? How dare you! I am not a child anymore, Connor. If you’d been here the past eight years, you would realize that by now,” she said as the anger began to surface.