Page 16 of A Wager with the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match #3)

16

Something had happened. Alannah hadn’t been able to figure out what except that it had to do with her.

With her legs dangling off the edge of the pier, she swished her toes in the water. The coolness was soothing and, in a small way, reminded her of standing on the beach near Tralee and letting the waves wash over her bare feet.

She bunched her skirt up and dipped her feet in farther, nearly touching a bright orange fish circling under the pier. Only a short distance away on a log half in and half out of the water, a turtle the size of a pinecone seemed to be staring at her, as though asking her what she was doing there.

“I don’t rightly know,” she answered and then sighed.

Bellamy had shown up a little while ago at Oakland, where she’d been finishing washing dishes from the noon meal. Since the servants were given Sunday afternoons off, Cook had granted her permission to go when Bellamy said he needed to see her. The matchmaker hadn’t disclosed the nature of his visit, only that it was important. He’d hauled her up onto his mount behind him and then had brought her to the secluded area. He’d told her to wait here for him to return, that he was going after Torin and would be back soon.

She had a feeling the meeting had to do with whatever had happened to cause such a stir, which she hadn’t noticed until the walk home from mass. The other maids had been whispering and tittering, and Mrs. Shanahan’s face had been ashen.

Upon returning to Oakland, the matron had closed herself away with her husband in the library. Not long after that, Mrs. Shanahan had approached Alannah, her expression stern and her lips pinched tightly. She’d asked Alannah to meet with her once she finished her kitchen duties.

The request had filled Alannah with foreboding. She’d guessed the meeting wouldn’t be pleasant and had been all too happy to avoid it.

A lone drop of rain fell onto Alannah’s hand, and she glanced up to the dark clouds. Hopefully, the rain would hold off for a little longer. But Bellamy had nodded at the covered pavilion off to the side of the pond where she could take cover if necessary while she waited for Torin and him to return.

Another raindrop plopped onto her, this one on her nose.

She never should have agreed to spend time with Kiernan again last night. But he’d been so difficult to resist yesterday in the front entryway when he’d pleaded with her, had claimed it was the last time. She hadn’t been able to tell him no, even though something had warned her that she should.

Someone must have witnessed their nighttime meeting and reported it to the matron. That had to be what was wrong. Now she would have to face Mrs. Shanahan’s wrath.

Alannah released a shiver. What if the matron fired her? No matter how much Kiernan might protest, they couldn’t plead innocent. Not when they were guilty of being together.

Maybe Bellamy and Torin were aware of the imminent dismissal from her position and were anxious of what was to become of her.

Had Bellamy come up with another plan since he’d obviously realized his proposition of matching her with Kiernan wouldn’t work? Maybe this time he had a match that would be more realistic and viable. Would she consider it?

“No, I’ll not be marrying a stranger,” she whispered, kicking the water and sending a spray into an arc. Yet, she’d made a wager with Bellamy and had promised she would consider his candidates.

“Alannah?” a familiar man’s voice called from across the pond.

She glanced up to find the imposing Kiernan Shanahan standing on the other side and attired in his Sunday best, a sharp black suit and hat. He’d tethered his horse a short distance away from the pond’s edge under a silver maple.

“What are you doing here? Alone?” His tone contained an edge of worry, and he started toward her through the long rushes and cattails.

She gave her feet one last splash, then climbed up so she was standing on the pier as he rounded the edge of the pond. Her heartbeat accelerated like it did every time she saw him. He held himself with such certainty and strength that it was hard not to admire him. And, of course, his broad shoulders and bulky arms and long legs were easy to admire too.

His eyes were dark within the shadows of his hat, but it was easy to see that they were riveted to her. His jaw was clenched. And his chiseled features hardened.

Was he upset to see her here?

She took a timid step back.

“You shouldn’t be by yourself.” This time his voice was angry.

She rolled up her backbone, her resistance stiffening. “I’m perfectly fine, and I don’t need you to be telling me what to do.”

“I ran into Shaw Farrell yesterday on my way home from the brickyard just a couple miles from Oakland. So aye, I am telling you what to do.”

Shaw had been that close? “Why didn’t you say so last night?”

Kiernan started down the pier, his footsteps thunking against the planks. “He still wants you.”

“Oh bother.” So this must be what the meeting was about. To protect her from Shaw. “Whyever can’t he let the matter with Torin go?”

Kiernan came to a halt a foot away, his jaw still rigid. “He’ll look weak if he allows someone like Torin to break away from his gang. If he doesn’t punish Torin in some way, then he’ll risk other men defying him.”

Torin had already explained all of that to her. In fact, she’d learned through some of the people she’d shared the tenement with during her first days in St. Louis that no one left their gangs. It was seen as disloyal, ungrateful, and even traitorous. Those who tried to break away didn’t last long. Their bodies were usually found drowned in the Mississippi.

She couldn’t let that happen to Torin. If it was within her power to keep him from danger, then she had to do it.

“Is there anything we can be doing to keep Torin safe?” She threw the question out to Kiernan even though she already knew the answer.

She’d either have to marry Shaw or someone else. Even that was no guarantee of saving Torin.

Kiernan latched a hand on to her arm. “You can do your best not to be seen until I find another place for you to hide.” He started to tug her off the pier.

She held herself back. “I have to wait here for Bellamy.”

Kiernan released her as if she’d suddenly turned hot to the touch. “Why are you waiting for Bellamy?”

“He went to get Torin so we could have a meeting. I don’t rightly know why. But with Shaw in the area, maybe they’re wanting to speed up the plans to get me married.”

Kiernan peered around the perimeter of the pond, his eyes narrowed upon every detail. “It’s possible.” He took off his hat, ran his fingers through his auburn hair, then rubbed at the back of his neck.

He was silent for a moment as more raindrops plopped against the pier. His expression held an unusual gravity that sent a strange tremor through her.

Finally, he dropped his hand and blew out a tight breath. “It could also be because of what happened last evening.”

“What happened?”

He didn’t meet her gaze. “When Shelia came over and we told her I was matched.”

“You mean when I told her.”

“I didn’t disagree with you.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Regardless, she went home and spread the news, so now everyone believes I have a match.”

“I’m sorry, Kiernan.”

His eyes flashed to hers, the dark blue turbulent. “I’m meeting with Bellamy today, too, so he can help me figure everything out.”

What would Kiernan do next? The question begged to be asked, but although she’d grown more comfortable around him after spending so much time with him recently, she still wasn’t bold enough to pry into his plans with Bellamy. Or maybe she was a coward and afraid of what Kiernan might say.

He palmed the back of his neck again and stared out over the pond, the smooth surface broken by the raindrops. “I’m afraid that’s not the worst of the rumors.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Someone saw us together last night, didn’t they?”

His eyes held an apology. “No. It’s worse than that.”

“Worse?”

“Shelia also spread the rumor that I’ve been...” Kiernan’s expression became pained. “That we’ve been...”

Her stomach clenched at what she knew was to come.

A flush worked its way up his neck. “She told everyone that I’ve been having a dalliance with you.”

“Mercy.” Heat surged into her face too. “Whyever would she do such a thing? ’Tis malicious. Cruel, even.”

“She’s not usually a malicious person.” His whisper was laden with distress. “But she also likes to have her way.”

“She’s wanting you to keep loving her even though she has Liam?”

“Maybe.”

Clearly, that’s why Bellamy was in such a hurry. He needed to find her a match right away before her reputation was so irreparably damaged that no man would want her.

“I should have been more careful around Shelia yesterday, shouldn’t have drawn her attention to you.”

More sprinkles pelted her. “Now I understand why your mother wanted to speak with me.” Mrs. Shanahan had no doubt heard the rumor about Kiernan compromising Alannah and had every intention of firing her whether the rumor was true or not.

“I’ll explain everything to Mam and clear up the confusion.”

“It won’t change the rumors, though. She’ll have to let me go.”

“You’ll stay until I can line up another place of employment.”

“I really have no choice but to be marrying the person Bellamy picks for me.” It was the only way.

He clasped her arm. “Don’t say that.”

“Doing so will protect me from ruin and from Shaw.”

“You can go back to Enya’s and hide there again.”

“For how long?” She swiped at the drops now hitting her cheeks. “I can’t keep running and hiding forever, can I?”

“Shaw will tire of the game eventually.”

“Until then, I can’t be relying on you for help, Kiernan. I’ve already relied on you too much.”

“I want to help.”

“You’re a good man, to be sure. But I’m not your responsibility.”

The rain was coming faster and wasn’t showing any sign of going away. As if noticing the same, Kiernan glanced around. His sights snagged upon the covered pavilion. “Let’s get out of the rain.”

She didn’t resist as he hurried them off the pier and through the long grass, the rain growing in intensity with each step they took until it was downpouring, forcing them to run the last of the distance.

As they ducked under the covered area, the wind picked up and the rain seemed to chase them, spraying a mist at them. The bench at the center was already wet, and Kiernan tugged her around it to the other side where finally they were mostly away from the deluge.

But they were already wet. She wasn’t drenched, but she was damp enough to feel the heaviness of her lacy cap and hair and the weight of her skirt.

Kiernan took off his hat and shook the rain off it. “Looks like we’re stuck here for a few minutes until this passes.”

The drops splattered hard against the surface of the pond and the clearing around it. It was beginning to run in rivulets off the slanted roof above them. The temperature had also decreased, and the wind brought a chill with it.

She huddled beside Kiernan, trying to avoid any more encounters with either the rain or wind, which was nearly impossible. “At least we don’t have to worry about anyone riding about the countryside and seeing us together.”

“It doesn’t matter what people think.” Kiernan sounded as though he was trying to convince himself. “We know the truth.”

The truth was, even if they hadn’t been having a dalliance , they had been secretly meeting after dark, sitting together on a blanket, and spending hours of unchaperoned time together. They were guilty of at least that.

“We’re not exactly innocent.”

“There’s nothing wrong with talking.” He set his hat on the bench and then combed the damp strands of hair at the back of his neck.

“Most people wouldn’t understand that a man and a woman can be together without—you know.” Her voice trailed off, embarrassment once again rising to clog her words.

He paused and slanted a glance at her. “Without what?”

“You know what, so you do.” The flush moved into her cheeks, and she wanted to lift her hands to cover them but also didn’t want to bring attention to her discomfort.

“Enlighten me.”

“I’ll be doing no such thing.”

He chuckled low.

She swatted his arm. “You’re a beast, Kiernan Shanahan.”

“You like me anyway.”

“Aye, so I do.” The admission slipped out before she could stop it. When he grew silent, she crossed her arms over her chest and tried to ward off a shiver.

In the next instant, he shed his coat and then draped it across her shoulders.

She sidestepped away from him. “I can’t be taking your coat.”

He gently pressed her shoulders from behind. “Keep it, Alannah.”

Though the outside of the coat was damp, the interior was warm from his body heat, enveloping her with the scent of his aftershave that was woodsy and heavenly all at once. She could only resist a moment longer before wrapping the coat around her more securely. “I thank you.”

He squeezed her shoulders, seeming to linger a few seconds longer than necessary. Or maybe she was only imagining it.

When he let go, she slowly exhaled. But as his fingers pulled at one of the pins holding her cap in place, her breath caught.

“Your cap is wet.” He spoke matter-of-factly, tugging the pin all the way loose. He didn’t give her time to protest before moving on to the next pin.

She stood motionless as he nimbly pulled out the rest of the pins holding her cap in place.

He dropped the lacy material onto the bench, where it sat in a soggy lump beside his hat.

A strand of her hair fell over her ear.

“Looks like I took out one too many pins.” He reached for the piece and lifted it back toward the knot holding together the rest of her hair.

She raised her hand to take care of the errant strand, but her fingers brushed against his, and she quickly lowered her hand to her chest, feeling the increasing thud of her heartbeat.

He fidgeted a moment, shifting another pin, but in the next instant, more of her hair tumbled free.

“I can see that you’re doing a lovely job fixing it,” she teased. “Are you sure you don’t want to be a lady’s maid?”

“If the brickyard fails, that will be my backup plan.”

She laughed lightly, and more hair fell, toppling over the other shoulder.

He gathered the long tresses as though he had every intention of winding it up and returning it to the remainder of pinned hair. His fingers wound through the long locks. But instead of twisting, he only seemed to be unraveling it all.

“Do you need some help?” Her question came out slightly breathless.

“No.” His one-word answer rumbled all too close to her ear, sending tingles over her neck.

He plucked another pin out and then another.

“You’re only making more of a mess,” she softly chided.

“There. Better.” He bent and placed all the pins on the bench beside her cap.

She started to reach for the pins, needing to sweep her hair back up. She’d only worn her hair down once during their nightly meetings, and that had been the first time when he’d caught her unaware. Every night after that, she’d gone prepared with her hair plaited.

Before she could gather the pins, he wrapped an arm around her from behind and pulled her back. One of his hands was still in her hair, but the other flattened against her waist so she stumbled a step and bumped into his body.

He didn’t move away, but he loosened his hold on her stomach, almost as if he was giving her the chance to break free of his touch.

A part of her cautioned against reveling at being so close to him, even if only for a few seconds. But it was as if she’d been waiting for him to hold her, and now that he was, she couldn’t fathom being anyplace else.

So instead of pushing away from him, she leaned back.

The acquiescence on her part must have been the permission he’d been seeking because he tightened his hand on her stomach, drawing her nearer, before digging his other hand deeper into her hair.

Just for warmth. That’s why she was staying against him. And to keep away from the spray of the rain.

“Your hair needs to dry.” His voice was low behind her, his mouth against her head, his nose burrowing into her hair.

More warmth cascaded through her heart and over the edge like a rushing waterfall that couldn’t be contained.

He pulled back just slightly, as though once again giving her the opportunity to put an end to the closeness. “Do you agree?”

“Oh aye, I wouldn’t want to be catching a chill on account of wet hair.” She slid her hand over his—the one resting on her stomach. She glided over every inch of his fingers, wanting to explore this new terrain. Was there anything wrong with taking this detour with him, letting herself have a few moments of forbidden pleasure? What harm could come from it?

As her fingers caressed him, his arms turned more rigid on either side of her, and he seemed to be restraining himself. She would have believed he wasn’t enjoying this moment, but in the next instant, his lips pressed against the back of her head.

Was he initiating a kiss?

His lips were firm and almost possessive.

Aye, he was most definitely kissing her.

Her heart spurted, sending her blood humming through her veins.

His kiss didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t. They were just friends who were a little attracted to each other, and this sweet embrace would soon be forgotten once they returned to reality.

With the hand that was still in her hair, he swept the locks to one side, baring her neck. In the next instant, the warmth of his breath caressed her throat just behind her ear.

What was he doing? He wouldn’t kiss her neck, would he? That would be taking this rainy interlude too far. Yet if he did kiss her, she wouldn’t stop him. Not for anything.

Because the longer she was against him under the pavilion, the more she wanted a kiss from him. They would have to part ways once Bellamy returned, so why not steal a kiss, here and now?