The Lady and the Earl

by Clark, Diedre

  “I thought he was a boy, but I see my mistake now,” he said far too quietly to be speaking to Allana. There was amusement lining his tone. He nodded to himself as if coming to a conclusion. “It was you then?” he asked.

  “Me?” she squeaked in turn.

  “Yes you. If what you say is true, then I believe you were the one. And I believe you know of what I speak. Several years ago, I was assaulted quite unnaturally by a young thief.”

  “A thief? I was not a…aware of this incident.” Allana’s eyes widened at her near slip, and her cheeks flared.

  He chuckled quietly. “No?” he asked. “The thief had your horse.”

  “It must have been another horse.”

  He smiled in amusement, and her cheeks flared even hotter.

  He moved closer to her. She took a step back, but it did not stop him from getting far too close. He reached out and touched her flaming, hot cheek.

  “As I thought. Quite guilty,” he said with a faint smile. Instead of dropping his hand after confirming her blushing cheeks, he moved it to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

  She took an unsteady breath. “Does it matter to you?”

  He smiled. “No. I find it…enlightening.” His thumb stroked her cheek.

  Allana swallowed. He was not fleeing. He was touching her far too familiarly, and she did not care one whit. She wanted to close her eyes and savor his touch, but that would imply she wanted it. That would be scandalous.

  “Now you know everything,” she whispered.

  “I am certain there are still some things you keep hidden.” His eyes caressed her face tenderly, lingering on her lips. “Allow me to see you again,” he pleaded.

  She opened her mouth to say yes when her name was shouted from nearby, startling her and interrupting the moment. Lord Cunningham dropped his hand and stepped back from her. Allana took a deep, ragged breath. Connor appeared.

  “Alla—Oh, there you are,” Connor said, spotting her. “And Cunningham. We didn’t realize you were missing as well. Had I realized you were with her, I wouldn’t have come back to search,” Connor finished irritably. “We wouldn’t have had to stop at all,” he said as an afterthought.

  “Yes, we were caught up in conversation and didn’t realize until just recently the group had moved on,” Lord Cunningham explained.

  “Well, we have, so mount up, man,” Connor said impatiently. “You too, Allana. Hurry, hurry.”

  Allana stuck her hands on her hips and gave Connor an irritated look. “You didn’t have to come back.”

  “After last week, I think I did,” he shot back.

  “You cannot always protect me, Connor.”

  “No, but I do what I can when I can,” he argued.

  “I survived eight years without you. I think I can handle myself just fine now,” Allana retorted.

  He frowned at her. “Father gives you far too much freedom.”

  “Father trusts me!” It was out of her mouth before she could think otherwise. She stole a glance at Lord Cunningham to see if he was eyeing her in disapproval. He was not. He was simply watching the two curiously. “Forgive us,” Allana said. “We do not always see eye to eye.”

  “Understandable, but Connor is right. We should mount up and rejoin the group,” Lord Cunningham replied.

  Allana nodded and did as he asked, finding Lancelot’s reigns and mounting him without assistance. That raised an eyebrow and caused a frown to form on Lord Cunningham’s face. Perhaps she should have allowed him to assist her.

  “Of course, she listens to him,” she heard Connor mumble to himself.

  Allana turned her nose up at him and urged Lancelot in the direction from which Connor had appeared. Men!

  The group was not far ahead. They had stopped when Connor noticed Allana missing. When Allana, Connor, and Lord Cunningham rejoined them, they started up the hunt once again.

  The rest of the morning went by in a blur. The hunting party chased down one more fox and killed some pheasants in the mean time. When the group returned to Tananguard Manor, everyone entered for a late lunch. That too was a blur. The lords and ladies chatted animatedly about the day, but all Allana could think on was Lord Cunningham. She’d confessed everything to him. He even knew it was she who had assaulted him four years ago, yet he still asked to see her again. Would he really call on her?

  She had conversation, but none again with Lord Cunningham and nothing she could recall. She thought she’d been cordial to everyone who spoke with her, but her mind was elsewhere. Was she truly this lost? Yes, and she had been for some time. It was all Lord Cunningham’s fault. He was more than she ever hoped he would be.

  It was nearing late afternoon before the group began to disperse. Some guests had stayed for a few nights due to this eventful day, but they too were leaving.

  “Allana, it was so good to stay with you,” Carmon said to her.

  “I wish you could stay longer, but I know you have so much to do before your wedding,” Allana said in return.

  Carmon beamed in excitement. “I do. How I wish this happiness for you, Allana,” she said quietly. “Perhaps if you set your sights higher, such as on an earl, you might find it,” she teased with a grin.

  “Carmon!” Allana said. “Someone will hear you, and then rumors will spread.”

  “Yes, but you do desire him. You have as good as admitted it,” Carmon stated.

  Allana sighed. “Yes, I have, but I have not confessed this to anyone. Please, he cannot know. If he wishes to court me, I would welcome it, but I will not pursue him.”

  “I know,” Carmon said. “And for your sake, I hope he does come calling.”

  The young ladies said their farewells, and before long, the grand manor was nearly empty except for one man, Lord Cunningham. Allana was surprised he was still there, but hadn’t she seen Connor drag him off somewhere earlier while the others were departing?

  “I should probably be on my way as well,” Declan began. “Thank you for allowing me to join you today. I must say, it was the most enjoyable hunting experience I’ve had in a very long time.” He looked directly at Allana. “It was a pleasure to see you again, Lady Allana. Until next time.” He bowed, and she curtsied in return. “Marcus, Lilly, Connor. Pleasure as always,” he finished, nodding to the rest of the group.

  “Cunningham, you are always welcome in our home,” Tananguard replied.

  Declan smiled. He took one last glance at Allana before slipping out the door.

  “What a gentleman,” Lord Tananguard said. “Very agreeable, wouldn’t you say?” Both he and Connor were looking at Allana while Lilly was watching them.

  “Yes, very,” Allana replied staring at the door through which Declan had just disappeared.

  “Did you have an enjoyable day?” Lilly asked her.

  “Hmm? Oh, it was a very good day,” she replied. “I think I will go upstairs and clean up for the evening.” She kissed all three on the cheek and glided up the stairs to her room.

  * * *

  Connor watched his sister wander away and smiled. “I think things are going nicely,” Connor said, grinning at his father. “Cunningham was quite interested in what I had to say.”

  “Perhaps we are rushing this, though. Do you not think things will progress without our help?” his father asked as he too watched Allana disappear up the stairs.

  “What is going on here?” Lilly demanded.

  “Nothing, nothing,” both men seemed to answer in unison.

  “Marcus,” she warned.

  “We simply have high hopes for the two. That’s all, my love. Nothing to worry about.”

  “You better not be hiding something from me,” Lilly threatened.

  “Why would I do that?” he asked innocently.

  She stared at him a moment before accepting his answer.

  Chapter 14

  Declan listened to Marcus intently, his mind racing as the specifications were given to him. The hunt had been two days ago. On that day, after lunch
, Connor had pulled Declan aside to informally discuss a very unusual proposal, a proposal that had been on Declan’s mind ever since. It was quite an enticing idea, yet he was tentative about it, taking him until today to hear the full details of what Marcus had to offer. In short, wed Allana for the coveted piece of land he wanted. Should he do it? He wanted to pursue her, but that didn’t mean marriage. However, the land tempted him something fierce. The things he could use it for were endless…and she was so lovely. To have her for his own, this woman who had plagued his thoughts for the past nine days….

  “Your proposal is very appealing, gentlemen.” He took a long drink of his wine. “I believe I am getting the better half of the bargain though.” He turned to look at Lord Tananguard. “I will marry her if she will have me,” he said quietly, and the men smiled.

  The walk to the stables was agonizing. Was he doing the right thing? Would he regret making this choice? He barely knew Allana. His first wife he married in haste and had regretted it the moment their vows were said. She’d seduced him, manipulating him into marrying her just for his title. She’d never been faithful, and he’d shared her bed only twice: the night he had taken her virtue, and the night of their wedding. Allana didn’t seem anything like Rebecca. She seemed too innocent. She seemed genuine in her character, but women were practiced in showing only what they wanted a man to see.

  “Leaving so soon, my Lord?” the stable boy asked Declan.

  “Afraid so. I need to get back,” Declan answered.

  “Very well, Sir. I’ll fetch your horse.”

  Declan waited patiently for the boy to return with Colonel when he heard a musical voice coming from the back of the stables. He smiled curiously and trekked back to investigate.

  “That’s all you are getting. You’re spoiled as it is,” Allana said to Lancelot as the giant horse prodded her shoulder for more oats. “I said no,” she giggled as he nibbled at her shoulder.

  “Sharing a stall with the horses, I see,” Declan teased her from behind.

  Allana jumped at the sound of his voice and spun around in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. He was leaning in a relaxed stance up against the gatepost to Lancelot’s stall not doing anything special to catch her attention, yet it seemed he held it quite easily. And he realized he liked that.

  “Watching you,” he answered casually. He came toward her until they were so close he could smell flowers on her skin. She smelled wonderful. He almost reached out and touched her just to feel her soft skin beneath his fingers. He did not, though. He simply ran his eyes over her face and hair until something caught his eye. He reached toward her, and she inhaled sharply.

  “You have straw in your hair, right…here. Ah, there we go.” He pulled something from her hair and noticed her shiver in response.

  “Thank you,” she whispered as heat filled her cheeks.

  He twiddled the straw between his fingers, not looking at it, and watched her fumble with her hair. Suddenly, he felt very drawn to the woman standing before him. The thought of pulling her in for a kiss played across his mind. A kiss? Standing there watching her made him want more than just a kiss. The innocent act of pulling straw from her hair was now causing great desires to swell within. An alarm seared through his head, telling him to back away and leave, but his body said to get closer. She was affecting him greatly, and she didn’t even realize it. He was baffled. He’d already kissed her on a whim, and the day of the hunt he was ready to do so again. He needed to leave before he gave in to that desire to touch her sweet face like he’d done two days ago.

  “Well, Allana, I…,” he stopped short. The piece of straw was shredding limply between his fingers. It wasn’t crumbling like it should have, but was pulling apart like a piece of wet, soaked grass. “That’s odd.” He’d assumed it was straw, but a closer look said otherwise.

  “Is everything alright?” Allana asked curiously.

  “Yes, I was simply wondering how you got wet grass in your hair.” He noticed her reddening face with his comment. He studied her a moment then smiled. “Did your horse throw you in the river this time, Allana?”

  She stared at him in horror. “I…you…no!” she finished indignantly. “Lancelot would never do such a thing.”

  “I see. Then why the wet hair and damp clothing?” he asked still smiling amusedly at her.

  “I…,” she cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I went for a swim.”

  He raised his eyebrows in mocked surprise. “Oh really.” He looked at her a moment, then frowned. “Alone?”

  “Lord Cunningham, what are you implying? Of course I went alone. How dare you even think otherwise,” she said, shocked and insulted.

  This time his surprise was genuine. “Oh no! I did not mean that. I was simply surprised you went alone…again. I believe I told you of the dangers last week. There are unkind men who would take advantage of an innocent woman if found alone.”

  She stared at him uncertainly. “I have never had troubles in the past. Why would now be any different?”

  “You do this often then?” he asked, yet again surprised.

  She blushed. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you often go swimming alone,” he stated rather than asked, clearly showing his disapproval.

  * * *

  Allana stared at Lord Cunningham. Should she tell him the truth? “Er…well….” She couldn’t tell him of her secret lake, could she? It was her sanctuary.

  “You do, don’t you?” He frowned.

  “I…well…it just depends on where I go riding,” Allana defended weakly.

  “Do you go riding every day?”

  Allana nodded.

  “Alone?”

  She shrank back from his scrutiny and nodded weakly this time.

  “Allana, I disapprove,” Declan finished bluntly.

  “You disapprove?” Allana asked, uncertain she’d heard him right. “I thought from our conversation last week you knew this,” she said.

  “I assumed last week was a rare occurrence. I thought Connor rode with you most times,” he admitted.

  “No, I prefer riding alone. I’m certain I said as much.”

  “And I’m certain I pointed out the dangers of such activities. There are dangerous men about these days. If you go alone and cross paths with one, you have no one there to protect you. It truly is not safe,” Declan argued. “I’ve heard rumors of a band of men who reside in the woods around here. I, myself, have never had any troubles with them, but a woman alone? And swimming nonetheless.”

  “But I’m very careful,” Allana said meekly. She sighed inwardly. She sounded like a child. She was a lady, and she shouldn’t allow him to push her around. She wasn’t incapable of taking care of herself. She didn’t need a man to rescue her from every little incident.

  “Even if you are careful, there is still the chance something could happen. If it were up to me, I would not allow you to take that chance. I would make you take someone with you,” he finished determinedly. “In fact, I insist upon it.” He looked at her directly.

  Her mouth dropped open in stunned disbelief. He insisted upon it? Did he think her completely helpless? And what right did he have to order her about? “Lord Cunningham, if you think you can—”

  “Stop, stop, stop,” he said, interrupting her and receiving a bewildered look in return. “Declan. Not Lord Cunningham, not my Lord. Declan. Now, please say it.”

  She stared at him indignantly. She was finally prepared to defend herself, and he interrupts her for this?

  “Go ahead, say it,” he said again.

  She let out a puff of air as she struggled to say his first name aloud. “Declan,” she finally mumbled

  “I beg your pardon. I do not believe I heard you.” His eyes danced in amusement, and he flashed a crooked smile.

  Her stomach flipped somersaults. “Declan,” she said airily. Truly Allana? She scolded herself. She was supposed to sound irritab
le, but instead she sounded like a girl about to swoon. How was she supposed to argue her case if she continued to let him fluster her this way?

  His smile softened. “That is better. Now what were you saying?”

  Her heart was beating rapidly, too rapidly. When did he get so close? “I was saying….” He ran the backs of his fingers across her cheek. She suddenly couldn’t breathe right. Why did he keep doing this to her? “I don’t remember what I was saying,” she whispered.

  “Very well, then. What time are we leaving tomorrow?” he asked.

  “What? Why?” she asked in confusion.

  “Because I mean to go with you,” he said simply. He was staring at her quite intently.

  “Oh.” He was going with her? “But…why?”

  He gave her a patient look. “Because it isn’t safe for a lady to be riding alone.”

  She blushed as she realized the answer before he said it. It’s only what he’s been talking about this entire time, Allana, she reminded herself. If he hadn’t run his fingers so lightly across her cheek, she might be able to think properly. “My Lord—”

  “Declan,” he reminded her. He cupped her face gently with the same hand he’d touched her with not moments ago. His eyes searched hers.

  She sighed in pleasure. “Declan,” she whispered.

  He smiled. “Go ahead. You were saying.”

  He was too close. Was he doing this on purpose, caressing her cheek with his thumb to keep her from her arguments? Or was this some sort of habit of his when talking to women alone? This was the second time she found herself in this situation with him. Surely there was a logical reason he continued to corner her with such familiarity. It couldn’t be the obvious one, could it? Perhaps it could.

  Declan Cunningham was leaning toward her and she toward him. He was going to kiss her, and Connor was not here to interrupt this time.

  “My Lord, your horse is ready,” a boy’s voice said rather loudly.

  Allana jumped at the sound and jerked away from Lord Cunningham, who in turn sighed heavily.

  The interruption had come from Fredric, and the boy was scowling at her. “Oh…Lady Allana. I did not know you were back here,” he said far too forced.