Free The Lady and the Earl by Diedre Clark Page A

sense about it, for it kept people out.  Tears entered her eyes.  She had finally found peace within her heart.  Here she could always be who she was.  This would be her sanctuary from the cruel world around her.  
    The spider on her shoulder moved, causing a panicked squeal in return.  Allana flicked it away and brushed frantically at the rest of her body .  She needed a bath.
    She followed the cliff face down until it came level with the lake.  Gradually, the rocky ground turned into luscious, wild grass that bordered a small portion of the lake.  The water looked perfect for swimming and cleaning off her muddied form.   She waded into the cool water, noticing the lake bottom was covered in small pebbles with a few larger stones that felt smooth under her bare feet.  Everything about this place was marvelous.  It was as though there was a magical enchantment around it, keeping the beauty of it in and the rest of the world out. 
    She spent over an hour swimming and exploring her secret lake before finally deciding she needed to get back to Lancelot.  Reluctantly, she climbed out of the lake near the cliff face where large boulders rose out of the water, connecting her to the path that would take her back to the top.  At the top, she walked to the edge of the cliff and took another long look at the secluded area .  Yes, this would be her very own sanctuary from the rest of the world.   She smiled.   She would be back.  Each day, if possible, and she wouldn’t tell a soul about this place either.  With that decided, she tucked her long braid beneath her shirt to keep it from the brambles , climbed back into the stream and made her way under the wall of briers toward Lancelot. 
    Once again those wicked vines pried and tore at her clothes and sk in.  Her rinse-off in the lake had been in vain.  She would be just as disheveled and muddied once reaching Lancelot as she was before her swim.  This would not do.  She would have to come back tomorrow with a blade and cut a path through those briers.  That way she wouldn’t have to go through this again .  Instead, she could walk through and bring Lancelot too.  She smiled at her wonderful idea as she continued to crawl through the undesirable muck.  When she emerged on the other side very muddy, scratched up, and tousled , she froze as s he spotted a tall man holding Lancelot’s reigns, studying her horse carefully.   
    “ What are you doing?  Get away from him!” s he yelled.  Nobody touched Lancelot except for her.  She saw him jump slightly and was pleased to know she’d startled him.  He turned on her, and Allana ’s world stopped .  Her smug smile slipped from her face and her heart raced .  He was the most stunning man she had ever seen.  He was tall, almost as tall as Connor, with broad shoulders and dark, wavy, layered hair that hung loose around his collar.  His face was strong and bold.  He had the shadow of a beard forming and long, dark sideburns, which stopped an inch above his jaw line.  His presence held an aura of confidence and dignity and demanded respect, causing her to shrink under his towering form.  His striking blue eyes were glaring angrily at her , but they were so beautiful against his dark hair.  They taunted her soul.  What was wrong with her!  She had never been affected by a man this way, not even by Lucas Hoffman !   
    “What do you think you’ re doing, boy ?” he demanded .  “Do you know you ’ re trespassing?” 
    Allana stared at him dumbfounded.  Boy?  He thought she was a boy?  Then she remembered how she must look.  She was in Connor’s old clothes.  H er hair was hidden from view.   She was covered in mud from crawling through the stream.  Of course she looked like a boy.  She was absolutely horrified.  This handsome man thought she was a boy !
    “Where did you come from, and how did you come by this horse ?” he asked her.  His voice was deep as it growled at her, yet it