“’TisOliver Twist.”
“Is Dickens your favorite?”
“I like him well enough.”
“I would have guessed you are a Jane Austen enthusiast.”
“I’ve actually never had the opportunity to read any of her novels.” Most of Alannah’s books had belonged to her mam—books her da had purchased for Mam long before the hard times had fallen on their family, during the days when they could afford the luxury of buying a book.
Mam had loved reading more than just about anything else. In the years before her passing, she’d met one of her favorite authors and had started editing for him. She’d had a keen eye for mistakes and also a way with words so that eventually other authors had sought out her editing skills.
Alannah had been told she had a keen eye, too, and she hoped to follow in her mam’s footsteps. She’d been making some progress before leaving Ireland, editing for her cousin Hugh and a few other journalists who worked with him at theKerry Evening Post. But she hadn’t done any editing in the many months since she’d sailed away from Ireland.
Standing but a foot away, Kiernan stuffed his hands into his pockets. The motion only drew her attention back to his bare chest and the well-rounded contours.
His gaze swept over her again too.
What was she doing alone with Kiernan in nothing but her nightgown? It was indecent, that’s what.
He tore his gaze from her and shifted around to face the house instead. Obviously, he knew their predicament was indecent too.
He cleared his throat. “I should go.”
“Aye, ’tis late, to be sure.”
With his hands still shoved into his pockets and his arms stiff, he started through the flower gardens. She wanted to gather up the blanket and lamp and walk back with him.But ’twas likely for the best if they made their way inside the house separately just in case any of the other servants or family were awake and happened to see them.
When he disappeared from sight, she released a tight breath and the tension she hadn’t known was building inside her.
Marry Kiernan Shanahan? Bellamy’s suggestion was too farfetched to be true. She never would have had the courage to propose a match like that on her own, not ever. But Kiernan hadn’t seemed opposed to it. In fact, he hadn’t uttered one negative word about it.
Was it possible Kiernan could want her? That he looked beyond all the reasons they weren’t right for each other and saw only the reasons they were?
And what exactly were those reasons? Bellamy must have seen something about them he thought made them fit well together.
She released a shaky laugh, then bent to retrieve the lantern and the blanket. “No, Bellamy. I’m no fool. This cannot work.”
But even as she stood and watched the house, studying the window that belonged to Kiernan’s room on the second floor, her heart pounded a traitorous extra beat. Kiernan had been good to her and Torin, had already done so much for both of them, even though he hadn’t needed to. He was hardworking, knew what he wanted, and wasn’t afraid to go after it. He loved his family and was loyal to them. Those were just a few of the things she liked about him, and there were more.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to get to know Kiernan better. After all, she’d told Bellamy she would give the matchmaking a fair chance, and she couldn’t go back on her word.
The trouble was, she and Kiernan were both so busy. How would she find any time to spend with him? Alone?
It would have to be alone. As inappropriate as that might be, she couldn’t risk Mrs. Shanahan discovering her with Kiernan. Not yet—not until she was more certain of what the future held.
The next morning Alannah was up at dawn, as usual, before the family awoke. It was only in those few moments of forcing herself from bed that she regretted her late-night reading habit and determined not to read so late. However, once she was in the kitchen and had a mug of coffee in hand, her resolve faded.
As she washed the remaining dishes from the previous evening’s meal, she scrambled to find excuses to go inside the house so she might orchestrate an “accidental” meeting with Kiernan as he rushed to leave for the brickyard.
But as soon as she finished with the scrubbing, Cook set her to kneading dough for rolls and bread at the center worktable. They needed to do as much of the baking as they could in the early hours of the day before the heat became more unbearable than it already was.
After Cook left carrying a fresh pot of coffee to the dining room, Alannah paused and watched out the window. The scene was too beautiful to miss with the rising sun casting a haze over the meadow where she and Kiernan had met last night. A doe and her twin babes were grazing, their ears flickering back and forth at every noise they heard, their large eyes wide and alert.
Alannah wiped her hands on her apron and approachedthe window to get a better view. She’d already seen the trio several other times during the week, and she never tired of their visits.
At a soft rap against the doorframe behind her, she startled and spun.
Kiernan stood in the open doorway, attired in one of his sharp suits, this one a light charcoal with a cravat that matched his black hat.
