At the silence from the hallway on the other side of the door, he guessed he’d given his presence away. Not that he’d been trying to hide.
With a curt tug on the lapels of his cutaway morning coat that matched his light trousers, he shoved the door open and stalked down the hallway.
Bellamy was leaning against the front door and had been watching Alannah with an unsettling intensity. Was the matchmaker interested in Alannah for himself? Was that why he was here?
Kiernan narrowed his eyes upon the fellow. “Bellamy McKenna. What are you doing here?” He didn’t care that his question came out partly as an accusation.
Bellamy opened his mouth as though to defend himself, then his brows rose.
Alannah was attired in her maid’s uniform. As plain and simple as the garb was, it only seemed to make her beauty all the more startling every time he saw her. Over the weeks of employment for Enya, Alannah had filled out so that she looked healthier and less likely to blow away in a gust of wind.
Her pretty blue eyes had shifted to him, but the moment he looked at her, she dropped her sights to the floor, showing deference.
She was only behaving as most maids did. Mrs. Christy had likely trained her on the protocol around those above her station, around the family, and especially around the men. The fact was, the maids and the men of the family weren’t to mingle—at least in the Shanahan house. His da had strict policies about chastity. That included chastity regarding the hired help.
“Kiernan Shanahan.” Bellamy’s gaze was bouncing back and forth between him and Alannah. He was clearly trying to make sense of their relationship.
Well, Bellamy’s gaze would have a lot of bouncing to do because Kiernan didn’t have a relationship with Alannah and never would. He talked to her during his visits, but never for long. Mostly their conversations centered on Torin and his involvement with the gangs and how worried she was. Kiernan had offered to try to help Torin more, but he also knew that once involved in the Kerry Patch gangs, there was usually only one way out—death. But he didn’t tell her that.
“What brings you out on this lovely morn?” Bellamy’s dark eyes started to twinkle.
Kiernan had nothing to hide from Bellamy. Nothing at all. And he wouldn’t scramble or cower or pretend otherwise.Instead, he drew himself up to all of his brawny six-feet-three inches. “I came to check on Alannah.”
“Oh aye. ’Tis a fact if I ever did see one.”
“It’s a blessed good thing I came when I did.” From the corner of his eye, he could see Alannah watching him again, her eyes wide and surrounded by long, thick lashes.
“I agree.” A smile tugged at Bellamy’s lips. “Truly ’tis a most fortunate occasion.”
What did that mean? And why was Bellamy smiling? Kiernan gave an irritated shake of his head before turning to Alannah and gentling his voice. “What’s this I hear about you needing another job?”
“With the mistress away now, there’s nothing for me to do here.” She had her hands in her pockets, the outline of a book evident in one.
He’d learned over the past weeks that she liked to read. He’d caught her in the act on a couple of occasions, and she’d made no pretense about what she was doing.
“Enya won’t mind if you keep the position.”
“She’s a kind mistress and said I could stay until I find something else.”
Kiernan could feel a storm gathering inside him. “She can’t fire you from your job every time she leaves town.”
“She said she’s not sure when she’s returning. It could be months, likely after the babe is born.”
With the death count from cholera mounting higher with every passing week, Sullivan had talked of moving Enya out of the city. Doing so made sense, and Kiernan didn’t blame Sullivan for taking her away. But for so long?
Kiernan doffed his hat made of fine black felt, then raked his fingers through his hair, ruffling away any hat marks.
Bellamy’s lips twitched with a smirk.
Kiernan palmed the back of his neck. “Listen, Bellamy. I don’t know what Torin told you. But I’m putting an end to this nonsense. Alannah doesn’t need to get married. She needs another job.”
Bellamy shrugged. “’Tis what Torin wants. He came to me last night. And he asked me to find a nice fellow.”
“I’ll find a nice fellow on my own, so I will.” Alannah jutted her chin, her lips set stubbornly.
The angle gave Kiernan a better view of her neck and the long, elegant lines of her jaw. It was too bad she had to wear the collar.
Bellamy gave him a pointed look.
