In the process of heading to one of the chairs, Shelia stumbled to a halt.
“He’s already been matched.” The lie slipped from Alannah’s lips before she could stop it.
Shelia’s brows dipped as she studied Alannah. “That’s not what I heard.”
Of course, Shelia probably knew every last detail of Kiernan’s matchmaking efforts from Liam. Even so, Alannah couldn’t let the woman upset Kiernan again, not when he was trying to free himself from the past and move on.
She needed to bow her head in deference and walk away. But another lie fell out anyway. “I heard it right from Bellamy McKenna, the matchmaker, so I did.”
“Oh. I see.”
Alannah finally ducked her chin. Technically, she wasn’t telling a lie. She had heard from Bellamy that Kiernan was to be matched. To her.
Before she could think of anything more to say to send Shelia on her way, the thudding of a horse’s hooves echoed in the silence of the evening. Shelia crossed to the porch railing and peered down the road at the rider drawing near.
Alannah half prayed it wouldn’t be Kiernan, that he would be gone like the previous evenings. But at the sight of his brawny body atop his powerful stallion, her heart gave an extra beat.
He turned onto the gravel lane surrounded on both sides by the towering oak trees. He seemed in a hurry, almost frantic.
Although a part of Alannah wanted to rush off and hide from him as she’d been doing for the past two days, she had the strange sense that something was wrong.
Besides if she left now, Shelia would have him all to herself. The young gentlewoman would discover Alannah’s lies and then realize something was going on, at least suspect that Alannah had feelings for Kiernan.
Because she did have feelings for him. There was no sense in denying the truth.
As Kiernan drew closer, the glare in his eyes and the hard set to his jaw were intimidating. His gaze swept past Shelia and landed upon Alannah with an intensity that nearly took her breath away.
He seemed to see only her. Even as he reined in his horse and started to dismount, his dark blue eyes stayed riveted to her.
She quickly backed up, her legs suddenly trembling. As much as she wanted to save Kiernan from Shelia, she couldn’t face him. Not yet.
She fumbled to make it through the doorway.
“Alannah, wait.” Kiernan was already bounding up the stairs.
“Kiernan.” Shelia moved to the top of the stairway, almost as if she was attempting to intercept him.
Alannah quickly closed the door and leaned against it.
“Alannah, please,” Kiernan called out again, his footsteps stopping on the stairs.
“I wanted to see you privately, Kiernan,” Shelia said. “We need to talk.”
“Not now.” His tone held a note of irritation.
“Please? Just for a minute? I’ve been waiting all day.”
A second of silence passed.
Alannah pressed her hand to her chest to calm her rapidly beating heart. She willed Kiernan to say no, to rush past Shelia, to come after her instead.
“What is it?” Kiernan asked more politely.
Another moment of quiet passed, and Alannah could picture Shelia moving nearer to Kiernan on the top step above him, eye to eye, mouth to mouth. If she was desperate enough to have Kiernan back, maybe she would attempt to kiss him.
“I’ve been thinking about us recently.” This time when she spoke her voice was decidedly seductive. “And I miss you.”
Alannah pinched her eyes closed. How could he resist Shelia now? Why would he want to?
