Clearly, that’s why Bellamy was in such a hurry. He needed to find her a match right away before her reputation was so irreparably damaged that no man would want her.
“I should have been more careful around Shelia yesterday, shouldn’t have drawn her attention to you.”
More sprinkles pelted her. “Now I understand why your mother wanted to speak with me.” Mrs. Shanahan had no doubt heard the rumor about Kiernan compromising Alannah and had every intention of firing her whether the rumor was true or not.
“I’ll explain everything to Mam and clear up the confusion.”
“It won’t change the rumors, though. She’ll have to let me go.”
“You’ll stay until I can line up another place of employment.”
“I really have no choice but to be marrying the person Bellamy picks for me.” It was the only way.
He clasped her arm. “Don’t say that.”
“Doing so will protect me from ruin and from Shaw.”
“You can go back to Enya’s and hide there again.”
“For how long?” She swiped at the drops now hitting her cheeks. “I can’t keep running and hiding forever, can I?”
“Shaw will tire of the game eventually.”
“Until then, I can’t be relying on you for help, Kiernan. I’ve already relied on you too much.”
“I want to help.”
“You’re a good man, to be sure. But I’m not your responsibility.”
The rain was coming faster and wasn’t showing any sign of going away. As if noticing the same, Kiernan glanced around. His sights snagged upon the covered pavilion. “Let’s get out of the rain.”
She didn’t resist as he hurried them off the pier and throughthe long grass, the rain growing in intensity with each step they took until it was downpouring, forcing them to run the last of the distance.
As they ducked under the covered area, the wind picked up and the rain seemed to chase them, spraying a mist at them. The bench at the center was already wet, and Kiernan tugged her around it to the other side where finally they were mostly away from the deluge.
But they were already wet. She wasn’t drenched, but she was damp enough to feel the heaviness of her lacy cap and hair and the weight of her skirt.
Kiernan took off his hat and shook the rain off it. “Looks like we’re stuck here for a few minutes until this passes.”
The drops splattered hard against the surface of the pond and the clearing around it. It was beginning to run in rivulets off the slanted roof above them. The temperature had also decreased, and the wind brought a chill with it.
She huddled beside Kiernan, trying to avoid any more encounters with either the rain or wind, which was nearly impossible. “At least we don’t have to worry about anyone riding about the countryside and seeing us together.”
“It doesn’t matter what people think.” Kiernan sounded as though he was trying to convince himself. “We know the truth.”
The truth was, even if they hadn’t been having adalliance, they had been secretly meeting after dark, sitting together on a blanket, and spending hours of unchaperoned time together. They were guilty of at least that.
“We’re not exactly innocent.”
“There’s nothing wrong with talking.” He set his hat onthe bench and then combed the damp strands of hair at the back of his neck.
“Most people wouldn’t understand that a man and a woman can be together without—you know.” Her voice trailed off, embarrassment once again rising to clog her words.
He paused and slanted a glance at her. “Without what?”
“You know what, so you do.” The flush moved into her cheeks, and she wanted to lift her hands to cover them but also didn’t want to bring attention to her discomfort.
“Enlighten me.”
