Read Online The Lady and the Earl by Diedre Clark - Free Book Online

bed.  You look exhausted.” 
    She hesitated again.
    “What is it this time?”
    “Well…I was just wondering…oh, never mind,” she finished, cheeks flushing a healthy shade of red .
    “No, tell me,” Connor said, face furrowing in curiosity.
    “It really doesn’t ma tter.  I wi ll just go to bed now— ”
    “You canno t start something and not finish it .  Tell me what you were wondering,” Connor demanded.
    “Well…you see…I was wondering,” she hesitated then sighed in resignation .  “What is Lord Cunningham like ?” She couldn’t resist it any longer; she had to ask about him.   
    “Why ?” he asked curiously.
    “Oh, no reason.   I…I was curious about him . ”   In reality, she wanted to know as much about him as possible.  Was he anything like the man she’d created in her mind?   That man was literally perfect.  In all honesty, no man could compare, which was probably why she continued to think about him instead of the man she should be thinking about .  Shame filled her being.  She was in love with a man who did not exist. 
    “I think there is more to it than that.  Are you fond of him?” Connor teased. 
    Allana doubted her brother knew just how close he was to the truth.  She was fond of Lord Cunningham, more than fond of him.  She couldn’t seem to free her thoughts of him , and it had grown worse each day since his wife’s death two years ago.  There was a pull to him she could not exp lain.  It was ridiculous, of course.  She’d met him once, and allowed her imagination to do the rest.  That had to be it, yet no matter how hard she tried, n ot even Lucas could break the hold her Earl unknowingly held over her.  “Connor, please.  He is practically old enough to be my own father,” she said , trying to sound insulted but knowing her face was scarlet.
    “Not really.  There i s only ten —maybe eleven—years ’ difference between you,” Connor replied.  
    “Just the same,” she began.  “I was a child when he married his late wife.”
    “And your point is?”
    “Well, the fact that he’ s been married and widowed already makes him seem so much older,” Allana said, feeling foolish for making this argument.  She really didn’t feel this way at all.  She was only saying these things to steer Connor from the truth.  Lord Cunningham could be twice her age, and she would still dream of marrying him.
    “Allana, this is ridiculous.  He’s not much older than I.  Besides, look at Lilly and Father,” Connor argued.
    “That’ s different,” Allana tried.
    “How?”
    “She was in her late twenties when they met.  I a m just eighteen,” Allana said. 
    “You a re eighteen, nearing nineteen, which means you a re practically an old maid.”
    “I am not!” Allana said indignantly.
    Connor ignored her outburst.  “But honestly, does it really matter?”  
    “Well, no, but— ”
    “He could be fifty, and it should n ot matter.  But I forget who I’ m talking to,” Connor smirked.  He went to take a drink from his glass and saw it empty.  He stared at it in confusion.  Then he shrugged his shoulders and filled it again.  
    “W hat is that supposed to mean?” Allana asked defensively.
    “Just that you have always been…unique,” he said, taking a drink.
    “Unique ?” she raised her eyebrows high, making her eyes seem even bigger than they already were.
    “No other young woman would care how old a man is as long as he could provide for her.  Most don’t even have a choice.  You, on the other hand, will get that choice because Father cannot refuse your wishes.  You should already be spoken for, but I can see that is not so,” he finished, looking at her for a reply, taking another drink in the process. 
    “If you must know, I was proposed to once …well , almost.  But even had he proposed, I would have refused — ”
    “See ?” he pointed out.
    “But I did not love him.  How can you expect me to marry someone