A half laugh escaped her lips. “No. Not yet.” Even as the denial rushed out, her heart thudded with a strange beat. What if Torin was right? Was she was letting herself get too close to Kiernan too soon?
“You better be careful, Alannah. I like Mr. Shanahan. I do. But I’m having a hard time believing he’d settle for a woman of your status.”
She straightened her shoulders and pulled herself up. “Maybe status isn’t as important to him as you think it is.” She’d gotten to know Kiernan better since living at Oakland, and his friendship was proof that he didn’t care about her status, wasn’t it?
At a nearby clanking of a pail, Torin’s eyes darted around again, taking in every detail of the landscape. As his gaze came to rest upon her, it was grave. “I overheard Mr. Shanahan discussing the business plan for the brickyard with his partner. He’s counting on a sizable dowry to help with the expansion. And from what I understand from the rumors going around, he’s been meeting with lots of different ladies who are candidates.”
A knot formed in Alannah’s chest. Was Torin right? “Maybe that was before Bellamy formed the match. Maybe now he’s changed his mind.”
“The conversation took place yesterday.”
“But he’s interested in me.” She hated the desperation in her tone.
Torin cursed under his breath. “I’ll speak with Bellamy. Soon. And I’ll get this figured out.”
Bellamy wouldn’t have misled her. She didn’t know thematchmaker well, but he was too kind to direct her down a path that would lead to nowhere. Of course, he wasn’t God and couldn’t work miracles. But surely he wouldn’t have suggested something impossible.
Even as she tried to defend Bellamy, all her doubts rushed back in. She’d questioned the match with Kiernan all along. Had she been foolish to allow herself any hope?
At a distant whistle, Torin nodded curtly, probably at one of his friends. “I have to nip along.”
“So soon?” She started to reach for him, wanted him to stay, but he was putting himself in danger by leaving the brickyard. What if the Farrell gang had followed him to the Shanahans’?
He gave her another hug. “Be careful, Alannah. Stay away from Mr. Shanahan until I talk to Bellamy.”
She pulled back. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to be telling me what to do.”
“Don’t be a fool.” His tone turned harsh.
“I’m not.”
“Then listen to me for once, lass.”
“I do listen—”
“If you’d listened to me and stayed at the tenement where I told you to, maybe Shaw wouldn’t be hunting for you.”
The hard accusation was like a slap against her cheek, and she drew back with a sharp inhale.
Torin kneaded the back of his neck. “Ach, I’m not meaning that, Alannah. I’m to blame for everything and not you.”
“That’s not true. I’m to blame too.”
At another whistle, he cursed again. “Before I go, I wanted to warn you that we got word the Farrell gang is planning to do something soon. No matter what happens to me, you need to promise to stay here and not show yourself.”
She pressed a hand to her throat. She didn’t want anything more to happen to him, but she was so helpless to protect him.
His expression softened. “I love you, Alannah. Take you care now.” Without waiting for her reply, he jogged toward the nearest area of woodland. He didn’t look back, and within the span of thirty seconds, he disappeared into the dark depths of the brush and trees.
She could only stand watching the spot, her mind reeling with everything she’d learned. One thought crowded to the front more than the others. Kiernan needed a sizable dowry that would help him make his new brickyard successful.
Just last night he’d shared with her how another shaft was nearing completion. In addition to that second mine shaft, he was also building a second kiln, erecting more open storage sheds, purchasing more equipment, and was hoping to at least double the production of bricks by the end of the year. She’d heard the determination in his voice along with the excitement over all he was accomplishing.
She wouldn’t have a dowry and couldn’t possibly help him achieve what he wanted. Torin was right that Kiernan would never settle for a woman of her status. He likely had his sights set on someone else. Maybe he’d even been courting another woman.
A burn began to work its way up her chest and into her cheeks.
There was one way to find out if she’d been making a fool of herself with Kiernan.
