The Lady and the Earl (48 page)

“Where are you going?”
Allana asked frantically, reaching out to him from the floor.

“I’m going after him,” Connor said.

“No!”
Allana cried.  “If he
doesn’t
get off the property, someone is
lying in wait
for Fredric.  He saw Lucas
with Lancelot
that night, Connor.  The boy knows.  Lucas said he knew too much and left someone to hurt him or worse.
  Please don’t, Connor,” she sobbed. 

Connor stopped where he stood, breathing heavily as he tried to control his anger.  “What
?” he
asked quietly.

“He will kill
him
.  Please, I’
m begging you,” Allana pleaded. 

“Some
one
had
better start explaining what is going on here,”
Declan
demanded
, but there was concern in his voice and a look of horror on his face
. 

Connor looked at Allana, shaking his head in disbelief.  “He
doesn’t
know, does he?”   She lowered her gaze to the floor, answering his question.

“Know what?”
Declan
asked.

“All
ana, why didn’t you tell him?”
Connor asked with exasperation.

“
I ha
ve tried several times.  I cannot…
it’s
so difficult
to
speak of
,” she replied, wiping at
more
tears.

“
Please,
I need an explanation.  I need to know what you
’
re speaking of
,” Declan pleaded in frustration.  The man was pale.  Connor could tell he was piecing together what little he’d
heard.
 

“Well, you know you have to tell him now,” Connor stated
,
walking over to
Allana
. He extended his hand to
her
to help her to her feet. 

She s
eemed so feeble
, but she accepted his hand, pleading with him, “Oh Connor, I
don’t
know if I
can.”

“Allana, either you’
re going to tell him, or I
will
.  He has a right to know,” Connor told her.

“Why
?” she
asked angrily.  “It happened to me, so why do I have to tell anyone and relive the
retched experience?  I cannot do it.  It…it
’
s
too humiliating,” she finished quietly.

“Allana, you
shouldn’t
feel that way.  You did what you could to stop him.  What happened was not your fault.”

She laughed bitterly.  “
Either way, Connor,
I
cannot tell him
or anyone for that matter.”

“Do you know what
is being said
in London?  Do you know what rumors that
b
astard is spreading about you?  It makes me sick just to think about it, especially now
!
” Connor cried. 

Allana looked sadly at Connor then at
Declan
.  “I
…,” she swallowed hard, her breathing quickening.  Then she shook her head.  “I
f he
doesn’t realize by now he’
s the one I love, then why does it matter?” 

“It matters, Allana,” Connor said with conviction.
She simply stared at him.  “I’
m telling him whether you want me to or not,” he finished.

“Very well,” she said sounding defeated.  “But
I will not stay here and
listen.”  Fresh tears appeared in her eyes before she rushed out of the room.

“What is going on?
  What really happened?
”
Declan
asked
desperately.
 

Connor looked at him apologetically.
 
“I am sorry,
Declan
.  There’
s
much that
needs
explaining, and I’
m afraid you
a
re
n’
t going to like any of it
. 
I could use a drink first, if you don’t mind
…
something strong.  And I suggest you pour yourself one
also
.” 

*
             
*
             
*

Declan
did as Connor suggested, retrieving two glasses along with a bottle of Scotch.
  His heart was racing, and his stomach was sick.  He’d heard enough to know Allana was not injured in a horse accident. 

He handed Connor a glass and the Scotch.  “Now start talking
.
” 

He listened as Connor explained what really happened to Allana the night of the accident, growing
sick
er
with each passing word.

“I found her unconscious on the floor.  She was bruised and broken, and
he
did it to her.  Not some ridiculous fall.  You
wouldn’t
have know
n
the difference, though.  That’
s how terrible it was.”  Connor let out another yell.  “It makes me so angry.  He could have killed her
Declan
.  Another kick to the ribs or a blow to the head, and she could be dead!  I want him dead!” 

Declan
was just as furious at the horrific things his innocent Allana had suffered.  His face contorted with anger and grief like Connor’s.  He felt like a fool for allowing himself to believe the rumors about her.  Why didn’t she just tell him?  He
could have helped her, and it w
ould have saved them both so much. 

“I have to go to her,”
Declan
said.  “I’ve been such a fool.  I was actually starting to believe those rumors, and then finding that lout here with her, I just knew they were true.” 

“It’s not your fault.  I would have told you the truth in the beginning if she would have let me,” Connor said sadly.  “I should have just told you anyway, but I promised.”

“Well, I’
m glad you told me now. 
I do wish it had been sooner, though.
” 
Declan
sighed deeply.  “I ha
v
e to go find her, Connor.  You’
re welcome to stay if you
’d
like, but you will be on
your own.”

“I think I will
…
for a while anyway,” Connor replied.

“Thank you,”
Declan
said, shaking Connor’s hand
,
“
f
or telling me.”  He turned to leave. 
“Connor?”

“Yes?
”

“Don’t do anything foolish.  Let’s plan this out first.  Find out what resources he has
.  I
don’t
want to chase
him blindly.” 
Declan
looked at Connor for a reply.  “Please, Connor.”

Connor hesitated before replying.  “Very well, but I want his hide,
Declan
.  He
cannot get away with this.  I
won’t
let him.”

“I know, Connor.  I feel the same way, but we have to tread carefully,”
Declan
told him. 

Connor nodded in agreement. 

“Good, now I
must
go find your sister.  Make yourself at home.” 

Connor nodded again, taking a long drink of Scotch. 
Declan
watched him for a moment
,
seeing torment and rage on his face.  He shook his head.  There was nothing more he could do for this man.  He had to find Allana. 

Declan
checked the bedchambers first with no luck.  She wasn’t in the house.  He checked the stables and found Lancelot missing.  He knew where to find her now.  He had Colonel saddled quickly and was gone in a matter of minutes.  Unfortunately, it took much longer than he would have liked to actually get to that secluded grove of trees and to her spot.  When he finally did get there, he found her sitting along the cliff ledge hugging her knees to her chest.  Fresh tears came to her eyes when she saw him, causing his heart to lurch in compassion for her.  He strode toward her purposefully and pulled her into his arms.  She clung to him and cried silently.  They held each other for a long time before either of them spoke.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Declan
asked her.

“I
have tried…so many times I have tried.
”  She shook her head.  “It
has always been too painful
,” she said quietly.

He cradled her gently.  “I understand, my love.” 

Her tears returned, so he simply held her.  When she stopped this time, he asked another question. 
“Why didn’t you tell Connor it was Lucas?”

“Lucas threatened me.  He said he could kill those I loved.  I
dared not speak out.
”

“We could have protected you, protected your family,”
Declan
said with conviction. 

“Could you have?  He already hurt Lancelot
and Freddy
. 
He has no heart. 
I could
n’
t
take the chance he might hurt
others
,” she said, looking at him with fervor.

“We could have
had him
arrested,”
Declan
said defensively.

“For how long
?” she
asked.  “He’
s a
l
ord, and his aunt is quite powerful
.  It would have been difficult
keeping him imprisoned
.”

“I’
m
the Earl of Westbrook, Allana.  My influence here is what matters
,” he said
,
trying to convince her everything would have been all right.  Deep down he knew she was right, though. 
Declan
did
not
think an assault on a woman, even a woman of noble blood who was the Earl of
Westbrook
’s betroth
ed
, would
have
land
ed
Lucas in prison.  It would have been
Lucas’s
word against Allana’s, and Declan
knew Lucas would be free in a matter of days, possibly even hours.  Lady Burgundy would make it so.

Allana shook her head, looking away.  Where was her fire?  Had that man
burned
it out of her completely?

“You could have warned us in the house earlier then,”
Declan
continued.

“I wanted to, but like I told Connor, Lucas said there was someone waiting for him, and if
he
didn’t
show up, the man was going to
hurt or
possibly even kill
Fred
dy
.  I
couldn’t
take that chance
,” she said in frustration.  Her tears threatened to come again.

Declan
pulled her close
, pleased to feel her struggle against him for a moment before giving in.  He could feel her trembling.  He was making things worse by hounding her with all of these questions.

“I’m sorry,
Allana
,” he said
,
kissing her soft hair.
  “I’m not helping the matter.  Forgive me.” 

He held her in silence for a while, letting her relax in his arms before asking his next question.  “Was it true what you said earlier?” 

“
Was w
hat true
?” she
asked
,
looking up at him.

“That you love me
?” he
asked, smiling softly.
 

She blushed slightly, looking down.
 
“Yes,” she whispered.

“What was that
?” he
teased.  “I
didn’t
quite hear you.”  He was trying to get her to smile.  He hated seeing her so sad, and he knew he was partly to blame for
it
.

She tried to shove him away, but he grabbed her hands and kissed her bruised wrists.