Liam took a last drag on his cigar, then stubbed it out in the ashtray on the table. “It’s getting harder to wait.” Liam was watching Shelia approach, his eyes dark with desire.
“You need to. It’s the right thing.” Kiernan couldn’t keep his tone from turning hard, maybe because it was difficult to think about Liam and Shelia together in that way.
Liam’s grin kicked up. “That’s swell coming from thefellow who’s slept with half of St. Louis’s most beautiful women.”
Kiernan resented the reputation he’d earned because the truth was, he hadn’t slept with any women. Maybe he’d kissed a few ... or maybe more than a few in his attempt to forget about Shelia. Kissing was as far as his interest in another woman ever went.
Earlier in the year, he’d been eager for the matchmaker to find him a good and decent match to end the rumors and help him shut Shelia out of his thoughts once and for all.
Naturally, Da had wanted to secure his older sister Finola’s match first. Then Enya had gotten herself into a predicament and needed the matchmaker next. Shrove Tuesday had come and gone, and for the Lenten season, everyone had put on hold engagements and weddings. Once Easter had passed, Kiernan had debated contacting Oscar or Bellamy. Before he could do so, the city had experienced the fire in May, along with the aftermath, so he’d let the thought of a match go.
Now that June was well underway, was it finally his turn?
He’d most certainly benefit from a sizable dowry he could put toward the brickyard, especially so Liam didn’t end up having the greater investment. The truth was, at some point when the clay mine was profitable enough, Kiernan intended to buy his partner’s portion and then own the mine completely. After all, making bricks had been his idea, and Liam wouldn’t have done it if not for him.
Liam was making his way off the veranda as Shelia reined in. “Hello, darling,” she called.
Kiernan tried to force himself not to look at her, not to even glance her way. But his gaze slid to her for the briefest of seconds. It was enough to see her pretty face and luxuriousbrown hair. It was also long enough to see that she was watching him and wasn’t paying attention to Liam.
Kiernan sat forward, braced his elbows on his knees, and bent his head. He was over her ... or at least he’d hoped he was getting to that point. Besides, it didn’t matter how he felt. As long as Liam loved Shelia, then Kiernan was determined to let go of her.
He shoved up, then without another word to either Liam or Shelia, he walked into the house and closed the door behind him. He had to shut Shelia out of his life. And he had to do it soon.
The best way was to get engaged himself. Then he’d have no choice but to move on and hopefully learn to love someone else.
5
Alannah turned the page of her book as quietly as she could, hoping no one would notice her in a shadowed corner of the back veranda behind one of the tall potted plants.
After the past four days of working from well before dawn until well after dark, she’d stopped feeling guilty for stealing a few spare moments to read during the daylight hours.
She’d finished soaking the chamber pots with vinegar because Mrs. Shanahan had complained that they smelled. Now, with Cook taking a nap, Alannah wouldn’t be needed back in the kitchen to help with the evening meal preparations for a wee bit longer.
The humidity hung heavily in the air, and the temperature had soared with every passing hour so now it was unbearable to do anything but sit in the shade. How could anyone enjoy living in such a climate?
Ever since she’d arrived in St. Louis, she’d decided she didn’t want to stay in America forever, that when life returned to normal in Tralee, she’d sail home. That was allthe more reason to avoid the matchmaker since there was no sense in getting attached to someone only to turn around and leave him behind.
“I wish you’d wait for your father,” came Mrs. Shanahan’s voice from the nearby open window of the library. “He’ll be wanting to have some say in the matter, to be sure.”
Alannah shoved her book into her pocket, then started to creep out of her spot. Even though she had every right to be taking a break, she couldn’t risk Mrs. Shanahan glancing out the window and spotting her sitting idly. Although the matron hadn’t spoken much to Alannah since that first day she’d arrived at Oakland, she had felt the woman’s sharp gaze upon her from time to time.
Mrs. Shanahan needn’t have worried about anything developing with Kiernan. He was gone all day, leaving at dawn and not returning until close to sunset. By that time, Alannah was elbow deep in water in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes from the evening meal. Then after tidying the kitchen and polishing silverware and crystal, darkness had fallen and most of the household had retired for the night.
Although Alannah was exhausted after her long days, she always made time for reading every night. With the heat of the dormer room unbearable even with the small window open, she crept outside with a blanket and lantern to the field behind the summer kitchen where she could read and pretend she was back home in Ireland.
“I can take care of things, Mam,” came a second voice from inside the library.
Kiernan.
Alannah halted. What was he doing home before the supper hour?
“I’ll not be signing any official papers,” he said, his voice placating.
“Even so, your da will not be happy you’re meeting with the matchmaker without him.”
Kiernan was meeting with the matchmaker?
The very idea struck Alannah squarely in the chest with an odd pang. She wasn’t necessarily surprised. But she was taken aback, although she didn’t know why, since Kiernan was of an age to get married.
