The Lady and the Earl (40 page)

“I went for a ride and fell asleep,” she said with sad eyes.  Her beautiful face looked hollow, and her eyes were red from crying. 

“Allana, what happened?”
Connor asked. 

“I did something
irreparable
, Connor.  I did
not
mean to, but my body simply reacted.  It was
as if
I was
not
in control of my a
ctions,” s
he spoke as fresh tears began to fall.

“Did he hurt you?”
Connor asked frantically.

She looked horrorstricken wh
en she heard the question. 
“Oh
no.
  He would never hurt me,” she said in his defense.  She looked down before adding quietly, “I’m afraid I’ve hurt him, though.”

“Tell me what happened, Pet.” 
And she did.
 
She
told
him
everything. 

“I panicked when he touched me.  I felt myself wrench away from him, and the fear must have been
obvious upon my face
. 
I
t all happened before I had a chance to realize what I had even done.  He looked so stricken afterward, then angry.  I’ll never forget that look.”  She herself looked defeated. 

Connor ached for his sister.  Her happiness had been shattered.  He was determined now,
more than ever, to catch the man who had attacked her.

“Allana, you’ve got to tell him the truth.  He will understand.”  Connor had tried to tell her this before, but
she’d
always shunned the idea.  Now, maybe she would listen to him.

“I can’t,” she said.

“Allana, surely now
—
”

“No, Connor.  I ca
nnot
.  I tried to this afternoon, but I could not get the words out.  I simply cannot do it, and I will not.”  She sounded fierce and determined.  Connor knew better than to argue with her when she made up her mind.  She was simply too stubborn.

“Then you will have to show him in another way just how much you love him,” Connor said sadly.  The next few weeks and possibly months were going to be difficult for his sister.

The wedding was beautiful.  It was held in the small chapel on
Westbrook
.  There were fresh flowers of every kind, and the sun was actually shining.  Allana wore a lovely white dress trimmed in lace with white flowers spun throughout her auburn locks.  She had a
circle
of pearls about her neck and a bouquet of white and red roses from her garden. 

Declan
’s
pained heart s
kipped a beat as he watched
her
.  Her
father escort
e
d
her down the aisle toward him. 
Bitterness filled his soul.  How was he to ignore the fact that she was to be his?  Could he simply avoid her when she was living in his house?  He didn’t know if he could do it.  Declan had made the decision to marry Allana out of anger and the need to punish. 
A
fter deep thought, he had made the decision to marry her to spare her family the dishonor which would come if he rejected her.  Rejection would confirm the rumors in London, causing
humiliation to fall on the Tananguard household because of Allana’s misdeeds.  If
Declan
married her and then something happened, such as Allana leaving him to be with Lucas, the humiliation and dishonor would fall on his shoulders instead of
Marcus’s
. 

Declan was accustomed to being in such a position, but it was the last thing Marcus and Lilly needed with a new baby on the way.  A voice inside
Declan’s
head seemed to ask him if this was the only reason he was still agreeing to the wedding, causing him to grind his teeth irritably.  He hated to admit it, but there was still hope Allana might eventually return his feelings. 
He was in love with her.  How could he not hope? 
He wanted her beyond anything he had ever wanted, but he
was
too hurt and humiliated to give into those desires.  All he wanted was to get this wedding over with
,
and
then
avoid
Allana
the rest of the day and possibly the rest of their marriage
—
or at least until she ran away with Lucas.  Unfortunately, he had to spend today with her, and if he wanted the guests to believe he wanted this marriage to work, he
needed
to
erase the bitterness and pretend he was in love with the woman walking his way.  Then maybe he could dismiss the rumors about him only wanting her for her land.  When she did leave, he would look the victim instead of the heartless
bastard
who
had
forced her to marry him so he could have
half of Tananguard
. 

Thus, he covered up his contempt for her and smiled pleasantly, taking her hand in his and looking at her like a man in love.

*
             
*
             
*

Allana cherished that look and kept it close to her heart.  She wanted it to be real, but deep down she knew it wasn’t. 
S
omething was terribly wrong between the two of them. 
Declan
had avoided her for the past week.  He came by yesterday just long enough to make
certain
everything was in order for today, but he hadn’t even bothered to let her know he was there and
left before Connor could call for her. 
She’d
hoped she could show him her love before the wedding, but he never gave her the opportunity.  Now he was pretending everything was as it should be, so she was too.  She erased her sad disposition and basked in his presence, making their happiness almost seem real. 

Everyone was fooled.  Lilly, her father, and even Connor seemed to think everything was as it should be, but it wasn’t. 

Allana wondered what it would be like when she was alone with
Declan
.  Were they to be one in all ways?  She would not let him take her unless his actions and feelings for her changed.  She would not suffer his indifference toward her and allow him to bed her like some courtesan, even if she was his wife.

She let him guide her around throughout the day, hanging on his arm to show everyone it was indeed her choice to be with him.  They danced together
, they chatted idly with other
s
,
but they barely spoke to each other
.  Finally, it was time to retire.  People were leaving
Westbrook
Manor and bidding them the best of wishes.  Carmon cried as she hugged and kissed Allana, telling her how lucky she was.  Edmund gave her a wink and a few words of wisdom before escorting his new bride out of the house.  At last the crowd dissolved, and all that remained was
Allana’s
family. 

Allana hugged Lilly tightly, feeling emotions ready to overflow.  She was frightened to be alone with her husband and feel his rejection of her all over again.  Their f
eigned
day of happiness was coming to a close.  Soon she would see how he truly felt toward her. 

Lilly’s stomach gave a thumping lurch into Allana’s, causing her to back away in surprise. 

“Oh,” Lilly laughed.  “He’s simply wishing you the best like the rest of us.  Now if only
he would come out of there,” Lilly said, rubbing her belly tenderly.  She still had
a small amount of time
before that would happen. 

Lord
Tananguard followed Lilly, hugging Allana and congratulating her on getting such a fine husband.  Connor was the last to leave, pulling Allana aside while
Declan
said goodbye to Lilly and
their father.

“Are yo
u going to be all right, Pet?”
Connor asked with concern. 

“Yes, Connor.
  There’s no need to worry,” Allana replied, smiling at him to ease his worry.

“Well, you two may have fooled all the other nobles who came today, but I know you better than they do,” he said.

“
I know, and
honestly,
I am scared.  B
ut everything will be
fine
.  You’ll see,” she reassured.

“I still think you should tell him the truth. 
That’
s all he wants from you.  The truth
would
mend
every
thing,” Connor pleaded once more.

“I will think
on
it, but I still
don’t
think I can,” she replied.  “Now give me a hug, and wish me luck.” 

He sighed in frustration, but obeyed her.

“Good luck, then,” he said in her ear.

*
             
*
             
*

Declan
watched Connor and Allana.  There was a small argument occurring, but it seemed Allana won.  Declan almost smiled at that.
  He really had enjoyed this day even if he hadn’t spoken much to Allana.  It had been pleasant to pretend everything was perfect, but he knew the pretense was coming to an end.

“Connor,”
Declan
said
, announcing his presence. 

Connor turned.
“Cunningham.  You are getting an incredible woman.”

“Indeed,” Declan said in reply.  “If only I were worthy of her.”

Connor laughed.  “You are the only one worthy of her. 
So y
ou had better take care of her.”  Connor’s pleasant demeanor changed very serious.  “Make her happy, Cunningham.”

Connor lost his smile
altogether
on those words, sobering
Declan
’s
spirit. 

How?
 
Declan
wondered. 
How can I make someone happy who does
not
want to even be with me?
  Then an answer came to him. 
I have to let her go to the one she loves.

Declan
firmly believed the rumors
he’d
heard in London, especially when he heard the same rumors being spread among his own servants. 
He had heard the whisperings almost the moment he walked in the door. 
It was the same story.  Allana was being forced to marry.  She loved Lucas, they had tried to elope, and
she’d
been injured in the process. 
How could the same rumors which had been spreading in London
already
be spreading here among the servants if they were not true? 
Allana loved Lucas, and the only way to make her happy was to give her up. 

Very well,
Declan
thought,
I will make her happy.  I will push her away and make her not regret when she leaves me for Hoffman.

*
             
*
             
*

Connor wasn’t sure what passed through
Declan
’s
mind when he requested Allana’s happiness, but he didn’t like the resolve he saw on
Declan
’s
face when he replied, “I will.” 

Connor sighed.  Well, he couldn’t solve everyone’s problems.  They would have to solve this one on their own.  He gave Allana one last hug.

“I will give you your privacy for now.  I think my presence is required in London. 
B
ut do
not fret
.  I will be back to check on
the two of
you
soon enough
,” Connor said pleasantly as
he donned his cloak and hat.  “Good night then.” 

“Good night, Connor.  Travel safely,”
Declan
replied. 

*
             
*
             
*

Allana watched sadly as her brother walked away.  He was only going away for a short while, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he would leave her for good.

“Well,”
Declan
said.  “If you will follow me, I will show you to your chambers.” 

She nodded nervously
as she obeyed
.   

It was an enormous manor.  The main entrance was at the north of the house, and the two large doors opened up into the
main hall.  The hall’s ceiling
rose up to the height of the house, and in the center of the hall was a massive staircase that rose majestically to the second floor.  Allana had not been upstairs yet.  She had only been in the main hall, the dining room, and the ballroom.  Now
Declan
led her up the giant staircase to the second floor.  At the top of the staircase was a large balcony overlooking the main
hall.
  Two hallways sat at opposite ends of the balcony, and at the far rear, across from the stairs, was a small sitting area.  It was positioned near a large window at the back of the house, allowing a person to sit and enjoy a view of the grounds from the second floor.