“What kind of danger?”
“Nothing for you to worry about. But I’d like you to make sure the other servants know they’re not to mention her being here.”
Mrs. Shanahan pursed her lips, looking none too pleased with the information.
“Thank you, Mam.” He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before moving past her toward the front door.
Alannah stood frozen to her spot near the carriage. Should she climb back inside and ask the coachman to return her to the O’Briens’?
As Kiernan entered the house and the door closed behind him, Mrs. Shanahan released a terse breath. Then she settled her critical gaze upon Alannah, taking her in from her white cap down to her black lace-up boots.
What did the woman think of her? That she would now be saddled with an inexperienced servant she didn’t need? After all, everyone knew Alannah hadn’t been a domestic long and that her position with the O’Briens had been her first.
Alannah didn’t want to cower under the woman’s scrutiny, so she took a deep breath. The least she could do was offer to leave. “I’m sorry—”
“You’ll confine your duties to the kitchen.” Mrs. Shanahan’s tone was clipped and unfriendly, and her expression was decidedly displeased. “As a scullery maid.”
A scullery maid was the most demanding of the domestic positions and the lowest ranking, requiring long hours of scrubbing and cleaning and hauling water. Alannah hadheard other young women complain about how the scullery maid was given the worst tasks that none of the other servants wanted to do.
Mrs. Shanahan lifted a brow, as though waiting for Alannah to protest.
But how could she? It was a job, and she’d have a place to live. Besides, with Oakland having a detached summer kitchen near the gardens behind the house, perhaps the work would be a wee bit more bearable.
Rather than turning down the offer, Alannah curtsied. “I thank you, Mrs. Shanahan.”
The matron stood stiffly a moment longer, staring at Alannah. Finally, she cast a glance toward the door and then lowered her voice. “You’ll be staying away from Kiernan, do y’hear?”
“Oh aye—”
“No talking, interacting, or visiting with him. Do I make myself clear?” Her voice was nigh a whisper but sharp nonetheless. “If I see you so much as make eyes at him, I’ll be sending you away with nary a penny.”
Without waiting for Alannah’s response, Mrs. Shanahan spun on her heels and marched across the veranda into the house.
Alannah had no intention of making eyes at Kiernan Shanahan or any of the other things the woman had mentioned. But now she would have to be extra careful to stay as far from Kiernan as possible.
She’d do her best to prove she was a good maid and live by the old Irish proverb: A good beginning is half the work.
4
“Everyone should rebuild with bricks,” Liam said from where he reclined in the wicker chair on the veranda at Oakland next to Kiernan. “And the city council knows it.”
The evening breeze was warm and did little to cool Kiernan after the hot June day. But being outside was much more preferable than sitting inside to discuss business with Liam.
Kiernan took a sip of cold lemonade. As he set his glass down, he tugged at his cravat and loosened the top button of his shirt to allow the breeze to cool his neck. He’d already discarded his coat and was tempted to shed his vest too.
Liam took a puff on his cigar, as suave and collected as always, not a drop of sweat on his forehead or his pale face. His dark hair was neatly combed back to one side, every hair in place, his cravat still perfectly tied, and his buttons lined up. He didn’t look like he’d spent the day inside city hall laying out the benefit of bricks to the city council.
“So, you convinced them?” Kiernan rubbed at the condensation on the glass.
“I think so.” Liam’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “It won’t be long now.”
“Good.” Kiernan hoped his friend was right and the city’s leaders would see the need to pass an ordinance requiring all new buildings to be made from brick. After losing over four hundred buildings last month to the fire that had started among the steamboats lined up on the wharf, St. Louis was still reeling from the destruction.
It was obvious—at least to Kiernan—that such large-scale destruction should never happen again. If the council leaders mandated the rebuilding of the city be done with bricks, that would reduce the risk of fire and make everyone safe.
It would also increase the demand for bricks, hopefully massively.
That’s what he and Liam were betting on.
