The Lady and the Earl (27 page)

She watched him, quite tempted by his invitation.  Should she join him?  No, it would be scandalous to join him!

“No
?” he
shrugged his shoulders. 
“If you’re certain, then
I
shall have to swim alone.” 
He un-tucked his shirt and laughed heartily when she gasped fro
m
the action.  “Don’t worry.  I’
ll leave it on.”  And with those words, he dove into the inlet, emerging only to ex
claim
with
shock, “
Oh, that
i
s cold!”

Allana dismounted Lancelot and released him to graze while she sat on the grass and watched
Declan
swim.  She was actually quite disappointed
he hadn’t taken
off
his shirt.  She was
certain
he would be an exquisite sight without it. 
As it was, though, he was still
enticing to watch
as he maneuvered his masculine body through the water.  She let her mind wander.  She wondered what it would be like to be wrapped up next to him.  She grew warm as she thought of his gentle touch on her skin.  She was going to be his wife, and that scared her to death.
  Would
she be ready for him on her wedding night?  Would he wait if she wasn’t?
  A horrible thought entered her mind.  What if he was like Lucas, harboring a mistress while he waited for Allana to be ready—or worse, what if he had a mistress and ignored Allana altogether?  Would
she
have to fight for him?  What if he didn’t choose her?  She would simply have to lay with him their first night and prove she was the best choice.  She flushed crimson from the thought.
  Why was she even thinking such things?  Declan was not like—

“What are you thinking about?”
Declan
asked.  He was standing above her dripping wet, wringing some of the water from his shirt.

Allana jumped at his voice.  Where
had he come from?  “Nothing!” s
he practically yelped. 

He raised an eyebrow at her curiously. 

“It’s getting late.  We should probably get back.”  Without waiting for an answer, she rose quickly and left to go retrieve Lancelot.

*
             
*
             
*

Declan
wa
tched her go with a smile.  He was certain
she
’d
been blushing when he interrupted her thoughts.  What had she been thinking to cause such an interesting reaction?  He could only imagine.  He sighed. 
Thus far, there hadn’t been a dull moment in her presence.

The ride back to Tananguard started in silence. 
Declan
considered striking up conversation, but
decided
he simply wanted
to watch
Allana
instead.  Her mind seemed to be elsewhere, making her oblivious to his
watchful
eyes.  He wasn’t one to lust after
a woman
, but he couldn’t help admiring this one.  She was a breath of fresh air compared to the noble women he usually associated with.  She didn’t flaunt her beauty, or even seem to care about it.  It was just a part of her
.  She was who she was, and he liked that very much. 

“
Declan
?”

Her voice surprised him.
 
“Yes?”

“May I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” he replied. 
“Anything.”

She laughed.  “You may regret saying that when you hear the question.”

He looked at her curiously.  What could she possibly ask that would cause him to regret his response?

“I apologize if my question is too personal
, or to
o
bold for that matter
.  I mean no offens
e
by it, but I feel I have a right to know the answer under the circumstances.”  She shifted nervously abroad Lancelot.

Declan’s
mind raced. 
Was she about to ask him about his late wife?  He hoped not. 
That was a topic he’d rather not talk about.

She shook her head, uncertainty lining her features.  “Perhaps it’s better left alone,” she said.

Damn it! 
She’d sparked his curiosity. 
“No, please, ask your question,”
Declan
said, nodding encouragingly.  Even if the question was regarding his late wife,
now h
e wanted to hear it.

“Very well.”
  She took a deep breath.  “Do you…,” she bit her lip nervously.  “That is…
oh, I
can’t
.”

“Allana, please.
  You have nothing to fear from me.  I will not judge you for your question or lie to you,” he added for good measure.  He was extremely curious now.

She looked at him with uncertainty.

“Please,
ask
,” he prodded.

“Very well,” she paused and took another deep breath.  “D
o you have a mistress
?” she
aske
d in a rush.

Relief flooded through him, and he laughed out loud.  Did he have a mistress?  Where had that come from?  It was a shocking question, blunt and open.
  This woman was full of surprises.
 
Never a dull moment with
her
!
he
thought.
  Tears welled in his eyes as he laughed harder.

Allana blushed furiously.  “I shouldn’t have
asked.  I’
m sorry.  I…
.
”  She shook her head in frustration
,
and her eyes darted around as though looking for an escape. 

He tried to calm down and tell her all was well.  “Allana,” he said through his laughter.  “I
—
” 

“Please,” she begged as she tugged Lancelot to the side, edging the horse away from
him
, “forget I
asked
.” 

“But I
wish to
—”

Allana spurred Lancelot to a gallop that quickly picked up speed. 
In a matter of seconds,
she had the horse to a d
ead sprint, racing away from Declan
. 

He
watched her go with his mouth
still
open, trying to
finish his sentence. 
His smile fell from his face as
bewilderment
filled him. 
He cursed within then shouted after her,
“Allana, wait!”
He spurred Colonel and began the chase. 

Her skill abroad her horse was magnificent. 
No wonder she feared Connor learning she
’
d been thrown. 
It would have injured her pride.
  A person who could ride like
that
was no
amateur
. 
She maneuvered unconsciously through the trees, moving fluidly with Lancelot, never hesitating even over the fallen trees in her path.
  It was quite dangerous, yet she handled it with ease
and confidence
,
as did Lancelot
.
 

Declan
followed suit, guiding Colonel through the same dangers
Allana
faced
.  If it wasn’t for the frustration he felt, he would find this chase highly enjoyable.  Instead he was forced to wonder why
she’d
run.
  He hadn’t meant to insult her by laughing.  He simply hadn’t been expecting such a daring question.  No other
l
ady would have had the audacity to ask such a question.  He laughed again.  Allana
was nothing like the women he knew
.

*
             
*
             
*

Allana burned inside from humiliation.  What had possessed her to actually ask
Declan
if he had a mistress? 
Curiosity?
 
Fear?
  Fear should have prevented her from asking, but
Lucas’s
words had been haunting her. 

She should have gone about finding the answer in a different way.  Surely Connor would have had better luck in finding an answer for her.  Perhaps he already knew the answer.  Why had she been so tactless and asked the brainless question in the first place?   Because she had a right to know!  Didn’t she?  She would never be able to look
Declan
in the eyes again, and she would have to.  She groaned in misery.  She was a fool
—too
free with her tongue
and
not thinking before speaking. 

Tananguard Manor was in sight.  Allana urged a panting Lancelot faster, slowing only when she was within yards of the stables.  In a smooth motion, she reined him in, slid gracefully off his back, and handed his reins to a stunned
Freddy. 

“Miss Allana, did he hur
t you?”
Fredric asked in alarm.

“No, Freddy.
  I simply do not know when to guard my tongue.  I will speak to you later,” she called over her shoulder.
  She could hear
Declan
’s
horse following close behind, so she
darted
toward the house as
fast as she
could.  She absolutely refused to run even thoug
h her body very much wanted to.  She would keep that much dignity. 

Allana glanced over her shoulder and saw Declan jump from Colonel’s back before the horse fully stopped.

“Allana, wait,” h
e called after her. 

She continued her determined path to the house.  She even skipped forward a bit to hasten her pace. 

He jogged toward her, catching her quickly.  “Please stop,” he said as he reached for her hand, grabb
ed
it and pull
ed
her to a halt. 

She whirled around to face him, pulling her hand from his almost violentl
y.  “I have a right to know!” s
he exclaimed.  “If I am to be your wife, I have a right to
ask
such questions.  Don’t I
?” she
finished almost desperately.  Her frame trembled as she stared at him.  Then her eyes dropped, and her head bowed in defeat.

His eyes widened, bewildered by her actions.  He grasped her shoulders gently.  She jumped at his touch, but did not back away.  He placed a hand softly under her chin and tilted her head up.  Their eyes met.

“Allana,” he said seriously.  A light danced in his eyes, though, as if he found the situation humorous.  “You have every right to ask me such a question.  And my answer is no.  I do not have a mistress.”

She let out a deep breath, and the tension left her shoulders as she nodded in reply. 

He studied her a moment.  “Why would you ask me such a thing?  Did you truly think I did?” 

She met his gaze evenly.  “I did not, but it has been implied by others.  And…and I know there are men who have mistresses.”  She blushed furiously after saying this, and her confident gaze darted away.

“Ah, I see.  Well, rest assured, I am not one of those men.”  He squeezed her shoulders. 

“Thank you,” she said quietly, “for answering honestly and not being angry with me.  You probably regret agreeing to this marriage, asking you such things, and then running the way I did.”  She shook her head, disbelieving her actions.

He laughed.  “No, I’m actually more intrigued now.  Your question surprised me.  I have never known a
l
ady as bold.  I should
no
t have laughed, though, but I was expecting a more difficult question and was relieved with the one you
asked
.” 

Her eyes flashed up to his.  “You were relieved by it?  What did you expect then
?”

“I…
,
”
Declan
cleared his throat and laughed slightly.  “Now it grows awkward,” he stated.  He looked abashed, unsure how to answer her.  He turned from her, running a hand through his hair.

Allana giggled.  “Now it grows awkward?  For me, it was awkward quite a while ago.”

He turned toward her, a half smile on his face.  “True enough.
Very well.
  I thought you were going to ask about my late wife.”

Allana tilted her head to the side. 
“Your late wife?
  I considered it, but I did not want to pry.”

“So instead you ask if I have a mistress.”  He laughed.