The Lady and the Earl (39 page)

It was a cloudy day outside with a small breeze
that
teased at the stray strands of Allana’s hair. 
Declan couldn’t help but watch her.  She truly was beautiful.  They
walked in silence along the long driveway before turning onto the grass and heading toward the gardens. 

“How was your trip?”
Allana asked
,
breaking the silence.

“Long and
tedious
,” he said with a smile.  “I am definitely glad to be back.”

She laughed lightly.  “And why is that?”

“Isn’t it obvious
?” he
asked, looking directly at her, no smile or teasing in his eyes, just a look which said she was the reason he was glad to be back.

Allana blushed deeply and looked away
, but she seemed more pleased by his frankness than embarrassed
.
  Hope overshadowed
his
doubt.

Silence spread thick
.  Declan yearned to hold her, but he dared not act on his desires.
 

He
cleared his throat.  “How have you really been, Allana
?” he
asked seriously, trying to focu
s his attention on something—
anything
—
besides his need to
pull her to him. 

“I am doing as well as can be expected.  My injuries have healed nicely, but my ribs are still slightly tender.  Nothing to be concerned about, though,” she added quickly. 

Inwardly, he smiled at that.  Surely she was telling him what he thought she was.

“You were asking about my injuries, were you not
?” she
asked hesitantly.

“Yes, I was.  I’ve been very concerned
for
you the entire time I’ve been away.  I’ve hardly been able to think o
n
anything else.”  He looked at her and saw her blush yet again.  “How is Lancelot faring?” 

“He has
been rather skittish since it happened.  He won’t let anyone near him except
dear Freddy
and
myself
.  He is completely healed though.  I feel so terrible for him.  If only I had done something differently
,
this might not have happened,” she said truthfully. 
Sadness
entered her eyes followed by doubt.  She looked away, growing distant.
 
 

Declan
watched her demeanor change as she thought.  What was going through her mind?  She looked
pained
and even afraid.  He wanted to hold h
er and wipe away those feelings
. 

“Allana, what is it
?” he
asked with concern.

She glanced his way and quickly looked away.  “Nothing,” she answered quietly. 

He sighed, but did not pressure her. 
Instead he changed the subject to the wedding and continued walking toward the
rose
garden.  His secretary had set up the necessary arrangements with the vicar and church, both of which resided on
Westbrook
.  Connor, Lilly, and
Marcus
had done their share of the arrangements while Allana had been recovering from her injuries.  Everything was ready; they
simply
needed to wait for the day to arrive. 

The
y were in the garden now, standing by the
small bench
.
 
Declan glanced Allana’s direction and saw her do the same, as if she too was r
emembering their last encounter here. 
Declan
couldn’t resist any longer.  He needed to hold her and feel her lips against his.
  He needed her touch to erase the doubts which clouded his mind toward her.
  He reached for her to pull her to him, whispering her name in the process.

Allana gasped sharply, recoiling—almost jumping—from his touch.  There was fear in her eyes as she stared at him
,
and her breathing was ragged.  She blinked several times as if
trying to gather her bearings.  Suddenly, her look turned horrified.
  She seemed stunned by what
she’d
done.
 

“Allana?”
Declan whispered questioningly.
 

A hand came up and covered her mouth.  She shook her head, stepping backward.  “I’m sorry,” she said barely audible.

Declan clenched his jaw tightly. 
She was sorry.  Was she rejecting him?  Was the truth finally coming out?  Had she truly been pretending this entire time
?  I
f so
, then why had
she look
ed
so afraid?

“Allana,
please, what is it?  I
don’t
understand what is going on.
”  He tried not to sound
angry, but it was difficult keeping it from his voice when his thoughts were where they were.  She was afraid because
she’d
been caught
unprepared
. 
There hadn’t been
time to
ready
herself
for his touch.
  In the past,
she’d
always had time, and perhaps there had
even
been a time she wanted
it
.  After all, Lucas had
betrayed
her just days before Declan discovered her.
  The new-
found attention may have been welcome.  Something had occurred since
then, however
, and now she was
being
forced to
feign interest.

“I…
,” she began.  She stared at him, an inner struggle obviously occurring.  “
I cannot,” she said
as tears began sliding down her cheeks.
 

Declan’s
heart froze.  She was
n’
t acting at all.  She was being truthful with him.  She could not pretend any longer.  Her heart had been reclaimed by Lucas.

Allana stepped even further away from him.  Declan did
n’t
stop her.  She stared at him, something akin to sorrow upon her face.  Then she turned and fled
, sobbing as she did so
.  She did not flee in the direction of the house, rather the direction of the stables.  Declan was
n’t
surprised by this.  He sighed heavily as he watched her go.  He would not chase her this time. 

Anger welled up inside as feelings of betrayal scorched his soul. 
He was a fool.
 
T
he rumors he
’d
heard in London
were true
. 
For whatever reason, Allana had forgiven Lucas.  He was the one she wanted, not Declan. 
How could he have been so stupid to believe she had feelings for him?  Hadn’t he learned enough from his first wife? 

Rebecca had betrayed him in the worst way possible. 
She’d
lied and snared him in a trap using her fem
inine
guile, and now Allana had done the same.  But Allana he loved.  He never loved Rebecca.  Her betrayal had not stung as Allana’s did.  Allana’s cut him deep almost to the point of hatred, and the only way to get back at her for this injustice was to marry her.  Marry her and cause her misery…or
his own
.
No, it would be
her
misery.
 
He
was getting what he
wanted—land. 
With that decided, Declan returned to the house to have words with Marcus.

*
             
*
             
*

Declan
’s
demeanor confused Connor. 
The man
had
seemed
so pleased to see Allana earlier, but now he seemed cold and distant.  Something had happened.  Connor waited as patiently as he could for
Declan
to say something that
would relay what had occurred.  But his final words only baffled Connor more.

“I must know the truth of what happened to Allana,”
Declan
said insistently.  “How did the accident really happen?  Where was she?  She and Lancelot know this terrain too well to go near dangerous areas, even at night.  What are you hiding from me?” 

Declan
’s
eyes betrayed a hurt man inside, and this baffled Connor even more.  What had happened between Allana and
Declan
to cause him to be so guarded, and how the hell did he know they were hiding something from him?

“What do you mean?”
Connor asked, trying to hide his surprise. 

“I heard rumors while I was in London, Connor.  I know something was afoot here, now tell me what it was,”
Declan
demanded.

“What kind of rumors did you hear,
Declan
?”
Lord
Tananguard asked quietly.  “You know how mangled the truth gets when it passes between people.”

Connor did not like this at all.  Who had started those rumors?  Nobody was supposed to know anything outside of the six people who knew the truth, unless Allana’s attacker
had
boasted of his deed.

“If you tell me the truth, the rumors w
ill not
matter.  Please.  It won’t affect my decision to marry Allana.  That I promise.” 

Connor was tempted to tell
Declan
the truth.  He was positive it would
dispose of
Declan
’s
reserve, but Connor had promised Allana.  He looked at
Declan
long and hard, debating what he should say.

“I a
m sorry,
Declan
.  Only Allana can tell you,”
Lord
Tananguard said before Connor could make a decision.  “Know this, though.  I believe she has very strong feelings for you, and I believe you will be happy together.” 

Declan
looked doubtful.  Something was very wrong here.
 
What rumors are being spread about my sister? 
Connor wondered angrily.

“Very well.
  I suppose I will have to accept your answer then,”
Declan
replied bitterly, ending the conversation there.  “I should go now.  I doubt I will be back until sometime later in the week.  I have to catch up on some work at
Westbrook
.  Please give my apologies to Allana.”

“Yes, of course we will,”
Lord
Tananguard replied.

“Thank you.  Good day
,
gentlemen,”
Declan
finished, bowing to the two men. 

“Good day,
Declan
,”
Lord
Tananguard replied. 

Connor simply watched
Declan
go without saying a word.  He was astounded as to what had caused the change in the man.  He wanted to corner Allana immediately and find out what had happened between her and
Declan
, but he couldn’t find her.

“
Jennings
, have you seen Lady Allana?”
Connor asked the butler.

“No, S
ir, I have not.  Would you like me to look for her?”
Jennings
replied.

“No, I will find her,” Connor said in return.  He searched the entire house for her with
out success
.  He headed for the stables and found Lancelot missing.  Where had she gone?

“Connor, she
’
s fine.  Trust me.  She will return,” Lilly said reassuringly.

“But what if she i
s in danger and no one knows where she is.  Her attacker could be cornering her as we speak,” he finished with concern on his voice.

“
We cannot always live in fear. 
I believe she’
s all right, Connor.  She used to
disappear like t
his all the time when she was younger.  It does
n
o
good to worry,” Lilly replied. 

He couldn’t help it though. 
Allana
had to be upset, and that could
not
be good. 

Connor
waited by the stairs for her when everyone else went to bed.  Finally,
late in the
night, she returned.

“Where have you been
?” he
asked his groggy-eyed sister when she crept into the house.  “You’ve been gone all day.  I was worried sick, especially after the way
Declan
behaved when he returned from his walk with you.”