The Lady and the Earl Read Online Free PDF Page B

course.  Thank you so much for this night, Lucas,” Carmon said with sincerity.
    “It has been a pleasure, Carmon . ” H e bowed to her, receiving a curtsy in reply.
    “Wait for me outside in twenty minutes?” Allana asked him.
    Lucas nodded.  Things were finally moving in the direction he desired.  
    *            *          *
    Carmon took a deep breath and followed Allana out of the room.  Her heart w as frantic .  Was her hope ended at last?  Was Edmund officially out of her reach?  Lucas had said not to give up.  He’d said to be patient , and soon Edmund would come to her.  Did he know something she did not?  She could stand it no longer.
    “Allana, what is this about ? ” Carmon asked.
    “I can no t explain.  You must trust me , ” h er friend replied.  She looked back at Carmon pleadingly.
    Carmon sighed.  She followed for a moment longer and stopped.  “I cannot go further without knowing.  Did he propose?”  Her heart pounded hard as she waited for the answer.
    Allana smiled.  “No, but he confessed something to me that was quite pleasing.”
    “Oh,” was all Carmon could say in reply.  She began following Allana again, but her mind paid no heed to where they were going.  He confessed something?  Did he tell her he loved her?  Her heart tore at the thought.  What would she do if Allana married the man she loved?
    Suddenly, Allana stopped.   “I told her nothing,” she said to the shadows .
    “Allana?   Who are you speaking to?” Carmon asked.
    “Trust me,” Allana whispered in return .  She stepped behind Carmon and shoved her forward.
    “Allana, what is the meaning of,” Carmon’s eyes found Edmund coming forth from th ose shadows, “this,” she finished in a whisper.  She panicked and whirled around to hide behind her friend.  Allana was gone.  Carmon blinked several times.  She left her?  She left her here , alone with him?  Why? 
    “Carmon?” Edmund’s voice said quietly.
    He said her name with such care it brought pleasure to her soul.  How could she not turn toward him?  Instinctively, s he did and glanced up at him briefly before looking away.   She couldn’t meet his eyes.  Already she was being far bolder than ever before .    
    A small sigh escaped his lips.  “Carmon, please look at me , ” h e whispered.
    Her cheeks were red, she knew.  Her stomach fluttered violently, and her eyes darted everywhere at once.  But finally, she did as he asked.  She looked up at him, and he smiled.  He was closer than she realized, very close actually.  He touched her cheek, and she inhaled sharply.   What was he doing?
    “Carmon, I must confess something to you.”
    She nodded numbly , eyes as wide as saucers .
    “I courted Allana unfairly.  Will you forgive me?”
    She didn’t understand.  What did he mean?  “I…,” his thumb moved over her cheek, and she lost her thought.  She realized she was breathing quite raggedly.
    He cocked his head to the side and smiled as if seeing something for the first time .
    Her cheeks burned wickedly .  She was embarrassing herself.  Her eyes darted away and she took a step backward.  “I do not understand,” she whispered, unable to look at him.
    He stepped with her , and she found his hand beneath her chin .  He gently rais ed her face upward.   Her body shivered in pleasure from his touch.  
    “You do not understand because I have not explained.  I courted Allana unjustly because my feelings were elsewhere.  Will you forgive me?” h e asked.
    Will she forgive him?  Why did he need her forgiveness?  It was Allana he should be begging forgiveness from, not her .  “Yes,” she squeaked.
    He smiled in relief.
    “But…,” Carmon began in a whisper.  She swallowed, trying to wet her very dry mouth.  “Yes?” h e asked.
    “ Should you not …be asking… Allana this instead…ins tead of me?” s he stammered. 
    “I did.  I confessed this to her this night, and