The Lady and the Earl (2 page)

“Lucas. 
Such
a pleasure to have you here,” Lady Isabel
Davenhue
said pleasantly as he entered the warm atmosphere of the
festivities
. 

“Thank you for inviting me.  It is nice to have
the opportunity
to get away for an evening,” he replied, bowing slightly to his petite hostess. 

Yes, i
t definitely was nice to get away for an evening. 
Lucas
had been
forced
into the position of
Lord
; and even though he had the ability and knowledge needed to run the
m
anor’s affairs, he
didn’t
relish the burden.
  His father had fallen behind
in his duties
, far behind,
and now Lucas was
forced to
bring
all
of
their dealings and debts
up to date.  It was tedious, ti
me consuming
work
.  A Christmas party was definitely a good escape.  It was
a shame his
good
friend Connor Tananguard wasn’t here
as well
.

“
O
ur parties simply have
not
been the same since you and Connor left all those years ago,”
Lady
Davenhue
replied, smiling at the memories. 

Connor and Lucas had always
been the center of every party
until they
moved to
London
to attend
university
eight years ago.  The young ladies, including Connor’s
young
sister
,
had adored both young men, swooning after them as they danced the nights away. 

Lucas smiled at the memories.  His smile almost turned affectionate as he recalled the words tiny Allana Tananguard had said to him before he and Connor left to be
come men.
 

“May I have a hug goodbye?”
Lucas asked the small
, ten-year-old
girl
.  As always, she was wearing Connor’s old clothing instead of a proper dress.
 

She rushed to
Lucas
immediately, hugging him tightly. 

“We
won’t
be away forever,” Lucas reassured as the child clung to him. 

She pulled away, turning her big, green, adoring eyes up at him.  “Lucas?”

“What is it, Lana?”  It was the pet name he called his friend’s baby sister, a sister he
considered his own since he was an only child.

“When I’m
older, will you marry me?” s
he asked innocently.

Luc
a
s laughed heartily.  “When you’
re older, you will be too beautiful and untamable for a mere
l
ord
.  You’
re meant for a king,” he jested.  In reality, Lucas felt she was too ill-mannered and boyish for a man such as
him
.  He was a man who sought curves, beauty, and elegance.  Allana Tananguard would have none of those qualities.  She was a scrawny, awkward tomboy, and Lucas could
n’
t see how
she
could possibly change.  The poor girl was doomed to be an old spinster, and Lucas pitied her.

“Oh, you’
re the only one for me,” Allana said dreamily.

Lucas
smiled dramatically.  “Then I’
m yours,” he replied, dipping down to a deep bow
and kissing the young girl’s hand.  She may never know a man’s touch, but at least he could give her hope.

Lucas sighed from the memory.  Would Allana be here tonight?  She would be eighteen, nearing nineteen.  He would have to dance with her if she was, for surely she would be left to the shadows to sulk for lack of dances.  He almost laughed at the idea of Allana coming to this grand party and in a dress.  He pictured
her
at home in a pair of trousers, hair pulled back in her typical braid, dirt under her nails and on her face.  She would still be scrawny, but tall for a woman, very tall like her brother.  No, she would not be here.  It was not in her character.

“Lucas, my boy, how is your father?” the burly
Lord
Derek
Davenhue
said coming up on his wife and Lucas.

Lucas’s
thoughts broke, his smile slipped and his countenance changed as a dark shadow seemed to engulf his being
at mention of his father.  “He’
s as well as can be expected,” Lucas said
,
trying not to sound cold and callused.
  Lucas had never cared for his father. 
Lord
Archibald Hoffman was a cold, calculating bastard.

“I
t was such a shame to hear he’
d taken ill so suddenly,”
Davenhue
replied, taking
Lucas’s
change in demeanor as a sign of mourning for his father.

“Yes indeed,” Lucas said bitterly
,
wanting the subject changed.  It wasn’t that
Lucas’s
father had grown ill so suddenly like everyone seemed to think, but that he
had
hid
den
it so well up until he c
ould hide it no longer.  Lucas resented
the man for it.  He could have at least told him a year ago that he was ill.  Then Lucas would have been better prepared to take on the role as
l
ord
.   

“Please know you have our utmost sympathy and support.  If you need anything, anything at all, do not hesitate to call on us,” Lady
Davenhue
intoned.

“Thank y
ou.  You are both too kind.  I
f you wi
ll excuse me, I think I will see if I can enjoy myself at your lovely party.”  Lucas bowed politely to the couple, hoping they would
n’
t
continue to press him with further sympathy.  It was infuriating, especially when all he wanted was for the old man to die.

“Of course.
  Do
n’t
forget to dance with our lovely daughter, Carmon,”
Lord
Davenhue
said pleasantly.

“Derek, please,” Lady
Davenhue
scolded her husband as Lucas walked away toward the ballroom.

“
Does it hurt
to encourage
?
  After all, he would be quite a catch,
do you not agree
?” 

Lucas smiled to himself as he heard those words disappear behind him. 
Many
unknowing fathers and mothers tried to match him with their daughters.  If only they knew what he was
truly
like, he did
n’t
think they would push their girls at him so willingly. 

Lucas loved women, and women loved him. 
He was constan
tly moving from one to the next, unable to find one who
could
tame
his wandering heart and never really wanting to. 
Women were
like trophies.  Why settle for one when there were so many to
conquer and add to his collection
? 
And just because he was home again did
not
mean he would give up his roguish ways either.  One lucky lady was going home with him tonight whether she realized it or not.  Just who that lucky lady would be, he
knew not
, but he would know her when he saw her.

Casually, he strolled across the large ballroom
, inspecting
the beauties in the room as well as draw
ing
attention to himself.  He was always confident, sometimes overly, and it was that confidence that helped him wrap a woman around his finger by the end of a night.  Tonight
he wanted a challenge. 
Not just any pretty girl would do.  The lady he would triumph over would be unique.  She would be defiant, and in the end, a pleasurable conquest.     

There were several beauties in the room, but none who really caught his eye.  They were all too eager to get his attention.  Not only was he good-looking, but he was also of great fortune.   These women knew who he was and what he was worth.
  They wanted him too badly.
 

He nodded to a group who, he was c
ertain
, were speaking of him.  They
swooned
when he nodded
and began talking animatedly
as he turned his attention away
, confirming his belief he was
indeed
their topic of conversation.
 
Before long,
a
small group
of
young
,
eligible
ladies
as well as a few married ones
had surrounded him, listening eagerly to him talk while at the same time flirting relentlessly with him. 

It amused him to see them competing for his attention, but it irritated him as well.  He could say
anything,
and they would
simply
laugh dreamily, not really hearing what
he’d
said.  It was like this
frequently.  They swarmed him and
parad
ed
themselves with hopes to be the young woman he chose
to fancy
.  It was rare when he had to
tru
ly pursue one, but those were the treasured prizes he usually sought out. 

Lucas
was scanning the room for one such lady while pretending to listen to these young ones talk
.  A
tall, auburn-haired beauty gracefully entered the ballroom wearing a lovely, deep
-
purple gown with white
,
dainty gloves that came just above her elbows.  He was shocked at how tall and elegant she stood. 
She
stood
taller than all of the ladies
in the room
, yet shorter than most of the men. It made her stand out, or perhaps
it
was simply because she was absolutely stunning.

He watched her casually, trying to decide if she was the lucky
lady
.  She carried herself with grace and confidence, drawing him to her even more.  She was blessed with a slender, attractive figure, and her face was soft with big eyes and full, pouty lips. 

Instantly, she caught the eyes of several young men like she had Lucas.  They flocked to
her as the young women were flocked around Lucas.  She was flirting delicately with each one, keeping just enough distance and mystery about her to keep them enthralled.  She was perfect.  She was his equal in every way:  looks, charm, and skill.  It would be fascinating to seduce a girl who seemed almost as skilled as he.  She might even prove to be challenging, but in the end Lucas knew he would win.  He always did.  There had not been a
woman
yet who could resist his charm.     

“Excuse me ladies,” he
said
as the orchestra began to play.  “I believe there is a young
woman
across the room who I promised to dance with.  But
I shall
be back to dance with each one of you as well,” he finished.  He smiled charmingly to the group of disappointed, dreamy-eyed
girls
before sauntering over to his newest prey.   

Allana Tananguard
was never one for formalities.  She was an independent, carefree soul with far too much
spirit and
freedom, and most everyone knew as much.  Thus, Allana left her father and stepmother
chatting animatedly
with the
Davenhues
to enter the ballroom without an escort. 

Immediately, she spotted Carmon
Davenhue
standing in a corner alone
.
The two were very close.  They had been friends since youth and were very much opposites.  Allana was tall while Carmon was petite.  Allana was vibrant and outspoken while Carmon was shy and passive.  Both were lovely in appearance.  Yet Carmon’s timid, quiet ways caused the eligible men to frequently overlook her when Allana was present.

Allana glided over to join her friend.

“Allana,” Carmon said, embracing Allana in a fri
endly hug.  “I’
m so pleased you a
re here.  Maybe now these young f
ools will leave me alone, and I wi
ll have a chance with some of the older, more refined men who always ask you to dance,” she finished in exasperation.