“You have a fiancé. You shouldn’t think about me anymore.”
“I cannot help myself.”
“You have to remain faithful to Liam. He loves you.”
“What if I made a mistake? What if I would be happier with you instead?”
What was Shelia saying? That she wanted to call off her almost-engagement to Liam and reunite with Kiernan?
He was silent again, this time longer.
Anger simmered inside Alannah. Why couldn’t Shelia be satisfied with Liam? Did she think her happiness was more important than anything else, including Kiernan’s? She obviously hadn’t cared about how he would feel when she’d rejected him for Liam in the first place.
Kiernan cleared his throat. “There is no more you and me, Shelia. It’s you and Liam now.”
Heavy footsteps veered toward the door.
Was he done with Shelia? Was he coming into the house?
Alannah’s eyes flew open, and she sprang away from the door, both relief and panic mounting inside.
“I know you still want me.” Shelia’s comment came out certain, almost arrogant.
The footsteps came to an abrupt halt, and Kiernan spoke just outside the door. “I once thought I did. But I don’t anymore.”
Had he fallen for one of the women he’d been seeing? Was that why he didn’t feel anything for Shelia now?
The knob on the other side of the door rattled.
Alannah took another step back.
“Then what your maid said is true?” Shelia persisted. “Bellamy McKenna found you a match?”
Alannah sucked in a sharp breath. Kiernan would learn she’d lied and wonder why. How would she explain herself to him? She would only add to the list of embarrassing misunderstandings.
The turning knob stilled.
Had he heard her sharp intake? She cupped her hand over her mouth—obviously too late.
A strange, charged silence filled the air.
What had she done now? She’d put Kiernan into an awkward situation where he would look foolish if he denied the match. She should have kept quiet with Shelia instead of letting her jealousy get the better of her. Because that’s what it was. She was jealous of Shelia having the right to Kiernan in a way a maid would never have.
“Alannah’s right,” Kiernan said softly. “Bellamy has someone picked out for me.”
Alannah startled. Kiernan was agreeing with her? Why?
“Who?” Shelia’s tone turned demanding.
“I’d rather not say.”
“The news will come out soon enough. You may as well tell me.”
“You’ll have to wait until I decide to make it public.”
Shelia released a scoffing laugh. “I’m not blind, Kiernan.”
He didn’t respond.
