“Bellamy McKenna, so nice to see you again.” The young woman’s smile curled up a little higher.
Bellamy didn’t respond, not even with a smile. Instead, he backed up a step into the doorway as though in a hurry to be on his way.
If Zaira noticed, she didn’t let on. “And how is the gentleman you’ve been helping?” She paused, tapped her lip as if in thought, then nodded. “Oh aye, W. B. Moore. How is he getting on these days?”
Bellamy narrowed his dark eyes on Zaira. “He’s doing just fine.”
“That’s fabulous. Just fabulous.”
Alannah could hardly focus on the awkward exchange since her mind was still reeling with Bellamy’s declaration from a moment ago that Kiernan was the man he’d chosen for her.
Kiernan Shanahan.
Was Bellamy daft? She wanted to ask him what he wasthinking by trying to match her with Kiernan. But with Zaira in the kitchen, she’d never be able to bring it up. She couldn’t chance Zaira finding out about Bellamy’s suggestion and telling her mother. If just one peep reached the matron, she’d boot Alannah out of the house and slam the door behind her.
“I best be nipping along.” Bellamy turned to go.
Zaira took a quick step after him, then stopped, her cheeks suddenly flushed. “Is Mr. Moore still managing to paint?”
Bellamy’s back faced them, and he stiffened. Usually, Bellamy was so calm and casual, never letting anything or anyone perturb him. But for some reason, Zaira seemed to be aggravating him.
He glanced at the young woman over his shoulder, his eyes filled with warning. “Mr. Moore’s business is private.” Then without another word, he exited the kitchen and stalked toward the house.
Zaira retreated to the doorway and didn’t bother to hide the fact that she was watching Bellamy. After a moment—likely after Bellamy disappeared into the house—she released a sigh. “That man.” She gave a small laugh and fanned her face. “He’s simply divine, isn’t he?”
Divine? Alannah wouldn’t exactly describe Bellamy that way. To be sure, he was fine looking. But she wasn’t attracted to him.
Unlike Kiernan, who she was very attracted to but shouldn’t be.
Without waiting for an answer, Zaira motioned at the basket of strawberries and beamed. “Aren’t the strawberries delicious?”
Alannah could only nod, still too stunned by her interactionwith Bellamy to know what to say or do. She’d made a wager with the matchmaker. She’d given him her word that she would consider his match for her.
But she absolutely couldn’t consider Kiernan. That was asking too much.
6
“Thank you for coming out here to Oakland to meet with me.” Kiernan perched on the wing chair across from Bellamy in the parlor. The room was formal with elegant furniture and elaborate artwork, a fashionable place to entertain and have parties.
“Think nothing of it.” The matchmaker was reclining, legs crossed at the ankles and arms folded on his chest. “I was needing to see Alannah about her match too.”
Alannah’s match? Kiernan’s brows rose with surprise. “I assumed you’d halted the matchmaking for Alannah now that she has employment.”
Bellamy was once again watching him carefully, analyzing every move he made. “Torin insists that she get married.”
“I’ll talk to Torin, assure him Alannah is safe here.”
“I already found someone for her.”
Kiernan, in the process of leaning back, halted. “So soon?”
Bellamy shrugged one shoulder. “It was easy to figure out the right man.”
Kiernan pushed up from the chair and paced to the openwindow, hoping for a breeze but only feeling more of the sticky air that had plagued them for the past week. He’d been tempted to meet with Bellamy outside. But he didn’t want to worry that his mam would walk past and join in the conversation.
A small part of him had hoped to see Alannah tonight, since he’d arrived home early. But so far, he hadn’t come across her. In fact he hadn’t seen her all week and merely wanted to inquire after how she was adjusting to her new position. It was beginning to feel as though she was purposefully avoiding him.
“Who is the lucky man?” He tried to make his tone casual. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
