With Shaw’s threat hanging over him, Kiernan knew he couldn’t wait longer than a week. A week might even be too long. In fact, if Shaw made any more threats, Kiernan would have to persuade Alannah to get married right away. Or he’d have to move her somewhere else. Maybe he would relocate her anyway, just to be safe.
Whatever the case, he was willing to do anything to have her as his wife, and he had to assure her of that. “I’ll figure out something. I always do.”
Da grinned. “I found a way to win my wife. Now it’s your turn to step up and do the same.”
As his da clamped him on the shoulder, Kiernan couldn’t muster a grin. He already had enough pressure to prove himself with his businesses. But apparently now his da wanted him to prove his skill in wooing women.
After Kiernan left the meeting with his parents, he went to his room and changed into dry clothing. Then he searched for Alannah in all her usual spots. When he couldn’t find her, he tiptoed up the servants’ stairway to the dormer. Upon reaching Alannah’s room, he tapped against the door lightly, not wanting to draw attention to his presence in the servants’ quarters, especially not with the rumor that was already circulating. If someone saw him there, they’d most certainly assume the worst and add to the speculation about Alannah and him.
But he was willing to take the risk. A strange desperation was pulsing through him, one driving him to tell Alannah he’d been an idiot to write that stupid list of requirements and to assure her that he didn’t care anymore about those things.
He also wanted her to know their kiss meant something to him, that it hadn’t been just a casual or fleeting moment of passion. Instead, he hoped it was the beginning of more such moments—after they were married, of course.
With his back and head hunched against the low ceiling, he waited and listened for any movement inside her room.
Silence was all that greeted him.
He knocked again, but still no one answered.
He inched the door open and peeked in. She wasn’t there.The room was tidy, the narrow bed neatly made, clothes put away, an extra pair of shoes tucked under her bed.
She’d stacked her books on the dresser. It wasn’t a large collection, about a dozen along with the couple he’d given to her. Most were well worn, the covers tattered and the pages frayed. Someday, maybe he could give her a whole bookshelf full of books, even an entire library. But for now, he had only one more book for her.
He tugged it out of his pocket, this oneThe Pirateby Sir Walter Scott. Kiernan wasn’t sure if she would like it. But the selection at the mercantile hadn’t been large this morning when he’d stopped by after meeting with Bellamy at the pub. Even though the store had been closed on Sunday, he’d asked a favor of the store owner to let him purchase the book. And now he was glad he had and that it had stayed dry in his saddlebag.
Hopefully, it would go a little way in softening Alannah’s heart and making her more willing to forgive him.
He laid it on her pillow, then backed out of the room and closed the door. As much as he wanted to see her tonight, she obviously didn’t want to be found, which meant he’d have to wait until tomorrow to make her realize they belonged together.
20
Alannah turned the final page of Zaira’s manuscript and read the last line. Then she set the sheet on top of the rest of the pile she’d kept neatly piled on Zaira’s desk.
“Well?” Zaira asked from the bed behind Alannah.
Zaira’s bedroom was decorated in light green and white, giving it the feel of a moonlit garden, with the wallpaper containing an ivy pattern, the bed canopy made of wispy white tulle, and the comforter patterned in white-and-green stripes with a dozen lacy white throw pillows in all shapes and sizes. The potted plants around the room added to the garden-like feeling, as did the plush light green rugs.
Alannah peered out the window. The darkness of the night prevented her from seeing outside. Was Kiernan still home, or had he left?
The very thought of never meeting with Kiernan again made her heart ache. In fact, everything inside her ached. But she’d weathered losses before, and she could do so again. She had to.
She pivoted in the chair until she was facing Zaira.
The young woman was lying stomach down, elbows bent, and her chin resting in her hands. Her big eyes were wide and beautiful in the low lantern light, loose wisps of red hair framing her high cheekbones. Her face was etched with uncertainty as she waited for Alannah’s pronouncement.
“You’re a fantastic storyteller.” In editing for Hugh, Alannah had learned to start with the positives first. “It flows well, the writing is smooth, and the plot is exciting.”
“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?” Another stack of papers sat on the bed beside Zaira, another book she’d started writing. An ink pen lay abandoned on a half-finished page, and crumpled papers littered the floor.
“I would never say something that isn’t true.” Alannah reached over and squeezed one of Zaira’s ink-stained hands.
“Then tell me what I need to work on.” Zaira squeezed back and pushed herself up so she was sitting cross-legged, her long skirt tangled in her legs.
Alannah gathered the manuscript into a neat stack, grateful she’d had the opportunity to do the editing and get more practice. In addition to taking over her kitchen duties on occasion to allow her to edit, Zaira had invited Alannah to come to her room to edit at the desk whenever she wanted. Doing so was much more comfortable and allowed for more privacy.
Tonight, after the rainy afternoon at the pond with Kiernan, Bellamy, and Torin, Alannah had hardly been able to wait to visit Zaira’s room and lose herself in the manuscript.Even if the problems were still awaiting her when she finished, at least she’d been able to escape for a couple of hours.
She opened the manuscript to the middle where she’d marked several places. “I really like how the character is learning so much about herself here, but for a couple of chapters, we lose sight of the plot.”
