“Declan, please. You’re not making any sense. I don’t know what you are talking about,” Allana said.
“Enough games, Allana. Tell me the truth,” he growled, slamming his fists on the table. She jumped, and her eyes widened in fear. “Are you bedding another man?”
Her fear quickly turned to anger. “Bedding another…,” she trailed off in astonishment. “How dare you! Why would you think such a thing?”
“What else am I to think? You leave for hours at a time without a single person knowing where you disappear to, and I’ve heard from several sources you still have strong feelings for a certain Lord,” he spat.
Allana glared at him. “As I said before, I have invited you several times to join me, but you refuse. If I choose to stay away, it’s my choice. It does not mean I am running off to another man. That is absurd. Where would you get such an idea?”
“Are you deaf as well?” he asked, receiving an undignified look from her. He rose from his chair, placing his hands on the table as he leaned over her. “Do you not hear the servants whispering about you? Everyone knows you were running off to Lord Hoffman when you had your accident. It was even the latest gossip in London while I was there. How do you think I felt when I found out my bride-to-be was running off to be with that maggot of a man? And now you go to him every afternoon, doing your best to act as though it is not happening. You’re no better than my first wife!” Declan shouted angrily.
* * *
Allana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The blood drained from her face. So that was why Declan had acted so hurt and calloused toward her when she’d recoiled from him a month ago, and that is why he shunned her even now. He thought she was running off to be with Lucas? She shuddered at the idea. Tears threatened to come as she looked up into Declan’s angry face. He hadn’t even bothered asking her if these rumors were true. How could she defend herself without telling him the truth? What could she say or do in defense of what he’d just said? She did the only thing she could think of doing. She stood from her chair and slapped him hard across the face.
“How dare you!” she hissed vehemently. “Did it even occur to you to ask me? Why would I invite you riding with me every day if I was sneaking off to my lover?” she quivered slightly as she continued. “For your information, I am not spending time with another man. I have no lover in my life right now. There is only one man I want, but he is too blind and foolish to even realize it!” she shouted as the tears began to fall. She turned on her heels and stormed from the room.
Allana didn’t even bother changing into a riding dress. She simply strode out of the house, slamming the door behind her, and headed to the stables. She saddled Lancelot and mounted, turning him in the direction of her swimming hole before deciding to head to the kitchen first. She was not coming back until she was good and ready. But if she planned on staying out all day, she needed nourishment to sustain her. She snuck through the back door of the kitchen and spotted someone she hadn’t expected to ever see again.
“You!” Allana exclaimed in surprise, coming face to face with Lucas’s maid. “What are you doing here?”
Maggie’s face paled at the sight of Allana. “Miss Allana…I…well, you see—”
“Spit it out, girl. You’ve nothing to hide,” Annabel, the head cook, said.
Maggie eyed her, then eyed Allana. “Lord Hoffman threw me out after…,” she trailed off, flushing red. “He blamed me for what happened,” she finished quietly, looking down at her feet the entire time. “Oh, Miss, I am very sorry,” she cried. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Allana was caught off guard. She thought she would never be able to like this girl after finding her in Lucas’s arms. Now she found herself rushing over to Maggie and putting her arms around her.
“Shhh. It wasn’t your fault. It was for the better.”
“Oh, thank you,” the poor girl replied, hugging Allana in return.
“So what can I do for you, Lady Allana?” Annabel asked, breaking up the moment.
“Oh…well…I was hoping you might pack me a lunch, actually. I think I will go for a ride, and I don’t intend on coming back anytime soon.” A look of envy crossed Maggie’s face, and a smirk crossed Annabel’s. Allana blushed when she realized what these two ladies probably thought.
“Will you be needing some extras, or will it just be you?” the large cook asked with that smirk still on her face.
“It will just be me, thank you,” Allana replied tartly. Oh, if only she could banish these ridiculous rumors. She’d never even considered the servants, and Declan for that matter, thought she was having an affair. No wonder they were acting oddly around me, she thought irritably. She just assumed the looks she’d received from Declan’s servants had been because she was the new mistress of the home. Now she knew otherwise.
Annabel packed Allana enough food for four, which annoyed Allana to no end, but she took it because she knew she would be gone all day and possibly into the night if it didn’t get too cold. She had a blanket in her saddlebags, and Lancelot would provide some heat and comfort, so maybe she would stay out all night. Let Declan stew on that, she thought. Of course, then he would never believe she wasn’t having an affair, but she didn’t care right then. She was too humiliated and angry to care.
Allana took her large lunch and placed it in front of her on Lancelot’s saddle before spurring the giant horse to a gallop toward her sanctuary.
* * *
Declan watched from the giant window at the top of the stairs as Allana rode gracefully away, her hair flowing behind her. She looked so regal on the back of that magnificent horse. His heart ached. He needed her and wanted her beyond anything he possessed. Could he believe she was innocent of these dreadful rumors? He wanted to, but it hurt too badly to hope. Maybe he should just challenge Lucas to a duel and be done with him.
“My Lord,” Arden said, interrupting Declan’s thoughts. “You called for me?”
“Yes, Arden,” Declan said, turning to his butler. “Yes, I did.” He would have to deal with Allana another time. There were more important things that needed his attention right then.
Chapter 26
It was a beautiful ride to her secluded lake, but Allana didn’t care or notice today. She cut through fields and passed farms, not bothering to wave or visit with the workers like she often did on these rides. She just wanted to be alone and in a place she knew she couldn’t be touched.
Soon she came upon the grove of trees where, in the middle, her lake remained undisturbed. She followed her usual course, winding through the dense foliage of trees and brush to the small stream which led to her lake. Finally, after an hour of riding, she came to the briers that blocked the path and removed the barrier she’d created after cutting herself a passageway those many years ago. She led Lancelot through the opening before replacing the brambles.
She walked to the edge of the cliff face where the stream tumbled to the lake below. The beauty of the clear lake calmed her nerves slightly. It was always the perfect remedy for any mood she was in. Today she felt angry and hurt. She needed to calm these feelings a bit more in order to think about how to approach the accusations Declan had shouted at her. The way to do so would be to soak in the crystal-like water.
She led Lancelot away from the edge of the cliff and followed a worn path down the right side of the rocky ledge. This was the path she always took to get down to the lake’s edge. Once on level ground she walked to a clear, grassy area where she unsaddled Lancelot and let him roam free. The lake and meadow were well protected with the cliff on one side and briers and dense forest surrounding the other sides. In some places the foliage grew right up to the edge of the lake, making it impossible to climb in or out of the lake there. The area where she unsaddled Lancelot was one of the few places which gradually declined into the deep water, allowing a person to slowly wade into it. Anywhere else demanded you to either fight your way through trees and foliage or jump off part of the cliff.
It was a perfect day for swimming. The sun was out, and the air was warm. Allana pulled her blanket out of her saddlebags and spread it upon the grass. She then proceeded to remove her clothes and slippers and lay them on the blanket until she was in nothing but her shift. She walked to the shore of the lake, preparing to wade in when she heard some rustling in the brush. She stopped short and looked around, trying to find the source, and spotted a rabbit dashing into the undergrowth.
“You had better run, little man. I cause quite a splash,” she said aloud with a smile. She giggled at her words almost forgetting the pain she had suffered earlier. But then it hit her again, causing a sigh of anger to escape her lips. Lucas created those lies Declan clearly believed. He had to have, but why? She knew the answer before finishing the thought. It was to punish her for choosing Declan over him. And it had worked. Now she had to find a way to convince Declan the rumors were false, and the only real way to do that would be to tell him the truth of Lucas’s brutality. No, she wouldn’t give into Declan’s childish behavior. If he’d been man enough, he would have asked her about the rumors. Instead, he accepted them without hesitation, not even giving her the benefit of the doubt.
“He is nothing but an insolent ass!” she practically shouted, feeling slightly better for it. What else could she do to make herself feel better?
She looked at the clear water from the lake and smiled deviously. She wasn’t going to wear her shift today. She would swim naked. She felt defiant, and stripping off her shift satisfied this feeling. She waded into the water and let her body adjust to its cool temperature before submerging completely. She swam for a bit, letting the water wash away her frustrations, but her anger at Declan’s accusing words lingered. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. The need to do something else defiant pressed upon her.
She looked up at the small waterfall coming from the stream above. It was exhilarating to jump from there. She’d done it several times in the past, but never in the nude. In fact, this was the first time she’d ever swum in the nude. She smiled her devious smile once more and swam over to the falling water where she climbed out onto the rocks and proceeded to climb the path to the top.
As she stood above the lake, she felt a little foolish and insecure standing there exposed the way she was. What if someone saw her like this? She glanced around self-consciously to make sure no one was around. What was she thinking? Nobody knew about this place, so no one would see her. She smiled to herself at her foolishness. Then she spread her arms wide before diving gracefully off the twenty-foot ledge.
The breeze from the fall was cool against her bare skin as she soared through the air down toward the water. She felt so sleek without her shift flailing about her. She sliced through the water with hardly a splash, submerging into its depths. She kicked her feet and floated smoothly to the surface, inhaling deeply as she emerged from the water. That had definitely been worth it. It was amazing how free she felt. She didn’t realize one simple piece of cloth could make such a difference. Closing her eyes she floated carelessly on her back, finally beginning to relax from her argument with Declan.
“So this is where you go every day.”
Allana immediately righted herself and glanced around frantically. Terror filled her insides. He was behind her she realized, turning her head around to find the man who had spoken. He was crouched down next to her blanket and clothes with his arms crossed over his knees, watching her delightedly. He’d let his horse wander over to join Lancelot, so he could watch her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked with a bit of hysteria in her voice. “How did you find me?” She stayed out in the middle of the lake treading water, trying to stay as far away from him as possible. How long had he been here watching her?
“It was not difficult. I simply followed your tracks. I would have to say, though, I was thrown off your trail when I lost them up there in the stream. But then I heard your sweet voice, and, upon further examination of the briers blocking the stream, I realized someone had placed them there. Very clever,” he said with amusement. “Now let me ask you a question.” His mood sobered, and a dark look entered his eyes. “Are you expecting company?” he asked motioning to the blanket.
“What if I am? What are you going to do then?” she said defiantly, turning to face him while trying not to expose her bare body. She needed to get to her clothes, but how?
“Do not test me, Allana. You’re not in much of a position to. Now answer the damn question,” he replied dangerously.
She shrank back a little from his anger. “What will you do when you know the answer? Will you even believe it?” she asked in return.
“For your sake, I hope I do.”
Allana looked away from him. “No, I’m not expecting anyone,” she said quietly.
“Good,” came his smug reply. He eyed her, contemplating his next move.
Allana squirmed in the water uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze. She needed her clothes, but how was she going to get them? “Will you please throw me my clothes?” she asked calmly in hopes he would comply. It didn’t hurt to simply ask for what she needed.
“You could come to shore and get them if it pleases you,” he replied pleasantly as he lounged on her blanket and pulled an apple out of her lunch to eat.
“Ha!” she exclaimed, then after a moment asked hopefully, “Would you turn around so I could?”
“Why should I? You’re my wife,” he stated, emphasizing the last word. “Besides, I’ve already seen you, and I must say it was a very pleasant sight.”
* * *
Declan smiled as Allana’s pretty face turned red. He was quite pleased he decided to come after her. It had taken a while to make that choice, but watching her naked body squirm in the clear water made him glad he’d waited to follow.
Earlier, after Declan had watched Allana ride away, he’d tried to get some work done, but she was all he could think about. After about half an hour of staring blankly at papers and having Arden ask him several times if he was well, Declan decided to follow her. He had to know if she was meeting with Lucas. He needed to witness her infidelity for himself before he could accept it. So he’d tracked her to this spot. The spot where he thought he would find his wife wrapped in another man’s arms. He was pleasantly surprised to find her alone and bare. If he’d left sooner, he might not have had the opportunity to see her magnificent form dive off the cliff.
“Oh, so now I am your wife,” she scoffed. “That still doesn’t mean you have the right to see me this way, especially after the things you accused me of earlier! Now please turn around, so I can come to shore and get dressed,” she said sounding more desperate than angry.
“Ah, let me think about it.” He paused briefly, “No, I don’t think so,” he replied. He’d made up his mind. She was his, and he was going to make sure she knew it. He couldn’t hold back any longer, especially now after finding her so magnificently alone. Yes, they were both very much alone. He smiled at the thought. He was enjoying himself immensely. All his fears about her and his determination to push her away had evaporated at the sight of her. “Actually, I think I might take a dip myself.”
“You wouldn’t,” she screeched, looking frantically around for an escape route.
He laughed lightly at her reaction. Then he tossed his apple toward the horses and began tugging at his boots, watching Allana the entire time.
She panicked when he pulled off the first boot and started working on the other one. “Don’t you dare,” she said heatedly, splashing water toward him. “Declan, stop! It’s indecent.”
“How is it indecent? We’re married,” he stated as he stood to un-tuck his shirt.
“Yes, but—”
“You were the one who invited me, remember?” he said cutting her off. “I just showed up a little late.” He grinned at her playfully.
“Declan, please. I am starting to get cold.”
He pulled off his shirt, exposing his muscular chest and arms, and started workin
g on his breeches. “Well then, give me a moment, and I will come warm you.”
She made no comment, which surprised him, so he glanced up to see what she was doing. She was staring at him; no, at his chest. “See something you like?” he asked casually. Her eyes widened and she looked away quickly, blushing fiercely. He laughed. How had he not noticed her attraction to him? No, he had noticed, but he’d thought it an act after hearing the rumors. Well, that gaping was not an act. He was going to enjoy this.
He fumbled with the buttons on his trousers, wanting to simply tear them off rather than take the time to unfasten them. What is the matter with these buttons? he thought as he fought them.
“Fine!” she cried, causing his head to jerk up in surprise. She began swimming toward him.
He stopped everything he was doing and stared at her in surprise. He wasn’t expecting her to come to him. This was a pleasant surprise indeed.
He sat down on the edge of the blanket and leaned back on his elbows to watch. His mouth curled up in a smile as he watched her slender body become clearer with each stroke she took. His body hungered for hers.
Allana reached shallow water in a matter of seconds. She kept eye contact with Declan as she glided toward him. He was certain she did so to make sure he didn’t do anything unexpected like come in after her. As she got closer to the shoreline where she could touch the lake’s bottom with her hands, she reached down and pulled herself slowly closer to shore, keeping her body underwater as much as possible. She was still several feet from shore when she paused, tucking her body underneath into a crouched position while staying submerged in the water. She looked as if she were contemplating what to do next.
Declan saw what he thought was hesitation in her eyes. Was she going to keep coming, or had she changed her mind? I will wait just a bit longer to see what she does, he thought.
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