The Lady and the Earl (45 page)

“Yes, and
I’m regretting it dearly
,” he replied as he grew close enough to pull her toward him. 

They frolicked for what seemed like hours before hunger finally over
came
his need for her.

“I’
m famished,” he said kis
sing her one last time.  “Let’
s return
to the manor and get some
supper
.” 

“Are you forgetting something
?” she
asked lightly.  “Annabel packed me a lunch for an
army.”

“Yes, but I
want a hot, filling meal that includes meat,
” he replied.  “Besides, it’
s getting late, and I
don’t
desire to stay the night out of doors.
”

“Very well.
  Lead on and I will
follow you where ever you go, my
Lord
,” she teased.  Deep down the truth of those words played across her mind.  She would follow this man to the ends of the earth if he asked her to.  She loved him with every ounce of her being.

He dressed quickly then helped her with her own clothes.  They led their horses up the path and through the stream. 
Declan
removed the foliage from the path and allowed her to exit before following behind her
and replacing the brambles
.  He stared out into the trees
and smiled.

“You know, I
ha
ve always thought there was somewhere on my land you liked to visit.  I even searched for it once, but I never thought to look beyond the briars.”  He
glanced
her direction, and she smiled in return.

“I suppose you
needed to be
a curious
,
young
girl to discover it,” she answered.

“Indeed.  Is that where you were coming from when you assaulted me?”  He
winked at her
.
Allana blushed crimson, and Declan laughed in pleasure. 

“You do realize I avoided you as much as possible after that day,
don’t you
?” she
told him frankly.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise.  “You did?  Why would you do such a thing?”

“You thought I was a boy,” she admitted.  “I…
I
had to prove I was not before I could…face you again. 
It was unfortunate
you stumbled upon me
when
you did the second time
we met
.”

“Why is that unfortunate?  I
didn’t
think it was.”

She smiled.  “I
didn’t
behave very ladylike.  That is why.  You saw me at my worst.”

“Yes, and I’
m gl
ad of it.  You’
ve never tried to pretend you were anyone except who you are.
  That, I believe, is what has always drawn me to you
.  I have met my share of beautiful women, Allana, but none as honest in her chara
cter as you.  I simply wish I’
d held onto that memory when I began hearing the rumors,” he said sadly.

She watched him uncomfortably as obvious torment crossed his features.  He truly looked pained, and Allana had nothing she wished to say.  She wanted to
know the details of the rumors
but dared not ask.
  She also wanted to tell him the truth of it all, but she could not form the words.

He
looked
her way, wiping away his torment and smiling at her.  “C
ome,” he said, helping her onto her horse.  “I
must
eat
s
omething before tonight, or I’
ll
not make it
.”  He mounted his own horse as he spoke.
  They began riding toward home.

“What’
s happening tonight
?” she
asked innocently.

He smiled at her devilishly.  “If you
don’t
already know, then you sha
ll just have to wait and find out.” 

“Oh,” she replied.  “Oh!” s
he said again as understanding set in. 

He laughed heartily.  “
Ah, my naïve angel
,
y
ou
truly
are beautiful when you blush.” 
Their horses were close enough he was able to reach
out and pull her hand to his lips.

“And you are embarrassing me,” she answered with a smile
as he released her hand
.

His own smile slipped.  “Don’t ever leave me,” he said suddenly.

“I would never want to
. 
I would stay by your side always if
you’d
let me
.”

“Would you
?” he
asked.  He studied her, a pained look on his face.  “What happened, Allana?” 

Her heart sank.  She knew he would ask her eventually, but she was not ready to answer
it yet.  “What do you mean
?” she
asked him quietly.

“
You know what I mean. 
How were you injured?  Where were you?
  I need to know.
”

She closed her eyes as the pain of that answer hit her.  “I…I was…
we had just returned home…after the celebrations.  It was quite late.  I…retired…to my chambers…and…,” she began
hyperventilating.  A lump formed in her throat as she recalled the horrors of that night.  “I…
I can
not.  I’
m sorry.  It hurts too much.”  She looked at him pleadingly. 

“That’
s what you meant the day I returned.  You could not tell me your story.”  He shook his head.  “I thought you were telling me you could not pretend
to have feelings for me
any longer.” 
He looked frustrated
. 
“I
don’t
understand. 
Is there anything you can tell me?” 

She looked away from him.  She wanted to tell him everything.  Why couldn’t she?

“
Were you meeting with Lucas?  Did he ask you to meet with him
?” he
asked quietly.

“No.”

“Then what?
  Why is it so painful
to speak of
?”  He studied her again.  “Were you running from me?”

Her head shot up, and she looked at him with conviction. 
“No.  I was not running from you.  I wanted to marry you.”
He looked
doubtful, so she continued.  “Declan,” she reached out to touch
his
arm
.
  They both halted.  He was being stubborn and not looking at her.  She reached up and touched his face, saying his name again.  “Declan,
I ha
ve wanted you since I was fourteen.  I have never wanted anyone else.
  And that is the truth.
”

Declan
grasped
Allana’s hand and
pulled it to his lips, kissing the palm
softly.  “I’
m sorry
for doubting you.  It pains me not knowing,” he admitte
d.  “But I will wait until you’
re ready to tell me.”

“Thank you
,
” she whispered
, tears entering her eyes.  “That means more than you can
know
.
”

“Oh Allana,” he whispered in return. 
He pulled her off of Lancelot and sat her in front of him on Colonel so he could kiss her long and hard.  She melted in his embrace
. 

It was some time later before they began riding again.
 
And i
t was dark by the time they got their horses unsaddled and situated back in the stables at
Westbrook
. 

They walked hand in hand to the house
,
enjoying the night air together.  The day had started out so miserably only to end as the happiest day of Allana’s life.  She smiled as she finally felt joy for the future she would share with the man by her side.

Annabel watched Maggie sneak away in the shadows of darkness.  Apparently the girl did
not
want anyone knowing she was leaving.  The old woman sighed.  What did she care if the girl had a lover?  She would keep her mouth shut
.  A
fter all, it was hard to find someone who worked as hard as that girl did. 

Annabel
walked away from the window and headed to bed.

*
             
*
             
*

Maggie saddled one of the spare horses and rode into the darkness toward the Hoffman Estates.  Lucas would be furious with the news she had for him. 

The ride went
far too
quickly, and before long Maggie was sneaking through the secret passageways Lucas had shown her. 
He’d
told her to use them when she came so no one would
witness
her coming
s
and going
s
.  They led underground from the outside gates to the house’s storage room.  From there she
needed
to sneak to the library and take another passageway
that
led upstairs to
Lucas’s
bedchambers. 
She’d
done
this several times since she’
d begun working at
Westbrook
.  She was
Lucas’s
spy and his lover
.  It shamed her to no end, but she was in love with
him
.  She could not help but hope he would come to love her as well
. 

Quietly, Maggie slipped through the house and up the secret passageway to
Lucas’s
room. 
She
pushed open the mantle and entered hesitantly. 
Lucas was lounging on his bed with his shirt off and a bottle of wine in his right hand.  He
was a terrible drunk, and Maggie had bad news for him.

“Lucas,” she said, stepping into the light.  “I…I have some news for you.”

He leaned up on an elbow to look at her.  “Come here,” he commanded, motioning her to the bed. 

She hesitated before obeying.  He slowly
sat up as she came
toward him. 
She knew what he wanted as he leered at her.  She knew it wo
uld be quick tonight.  He didn’
t look to be in good spirits.
 

After she beg
a
n working for
Lord
Cunningham, Lucas began treating her poorly, taking her when he wanted and even hitting her once
in a while
when he was drunk and she had bad news.  If she threatened to never come again, he would woo her with kind words and make love to her like she was his only care in the world.
  It was moments like those that kept her coming back to him.
  And now she was pregnant with his child, but that was
not
the news she was afraid to tell him.

He
was
quick with her, as she knew he would be.  She felt so worthless after
ward
.  She needed to find a new path in life, a path void of Lucas.  Would Lord Cunningham keep her on when he discovered she was with child?  Could she hide from Lucas behind the walls of Westbrook?
 

“Now, what is it you’ve come to tell me
?”
Lucas asked her
.

“I
…well…
Lady
Allana and…
,” Maggie trailed off, sighing nervously.  “Y
ou’re not going to like it, Lucas
.
”
  She didn’
t want to tell him.  She feared telling him.

Lucas smiled
a most charming, sensitive smile
.  He leaned up on his elbow and kissed her shoulder.  He brushed her hair gently with his fingers.  “Tell me everything, my love,” he said tenderly. 

She hated when he did this. 
If she ever seemed unsure of her purpose, he
charmed her with sweet words and gentle caresses, loving her as if he hadn’t a care in the world but her.  It usually worked too, but tonight was different.  There was a darkness to him tonight even his charm could not hide, and her news was not good. 

“All will be well, Maggie.  Unburden yourself, and you will feel better.”