For that matter, why not have Alannah work for his family? Now that the brickyard purchase was finalized, he would likely be staying at Oakland for a while since it was near the site of the new business venture. With his presence at the estate, perhaps Mam would agree to the additional hand.
Bellamy was watching him like an employee awaiting permission. But permission for what? Kiernan didn’t have the right to determine Alannah’s future. However, he could provide her more time to figure it out for herself. Then she wouldn’t feel the pressure to rush into marriage with the first man Bellamy presented to her.
Besides, his family home was the perfect place to keep her safe. It was out of the city, away from prying eyes, and had a smaller staff. Shaw wouldn’t learn she was there. She would be away from the cholera epidemic as well.
“You’ll work for my family.” Kiernan spoke with finality. If Mam wasn’t agreeable, he would pay for Alannah’s wages out of his own earnings. “In our country home.”
Although Alannah’s eyes widened again, she didn’t offeran immediate protest. She’d been to Oakland for a couple of days during the terrible fire last month. She had to realize, just as he had, that the country home would be another excellent hideaway.
“You can work there until Enya returns.” Kiernan knew he had a bad habit of telling people what to do instead of asking them. But in this case, he didn’t want to give her the chance to decline the offer.
Alannah seemed to hesitate.
Bellamy was again bouncing his gaze back and forth between them.
It was definitely time to go ... before Bellamy started to make more out of his helping Alannah.
Kiernan spun and started down the hallway toward the back door. “I’ll come for you tomorrow morning, Alannah. See that you’re ready.”
3
She was riding in a carriage with Kiernan Shanahan. Alannah was tempted to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming, but she’d refrained so far. Over the past weeks of knowing him, she’d only spent time with him in passing, just a few minutes here and there.
Oh aye, she’d thought about what it would be like to have longer, but she’d never pictured taking a carriage ride with him—the most eligible bachelor in St. Louis.
He sat on the seat across from her, more handsome than ever in a blue suit with a matching blue cravat tied about his collar. He’d removed his hat, and his reddish brown hair was combed into rakish waves, lending an air of wildness to his otherwise immaculate and put-together appearance.
With his smoothly shaven face, the dimple in his chin was visible, and the muscles in his hard jaw ticked from time to time. His dark blue eyes were fringed with lashes the same color as his hair.
“I told Torin the plans,” he said, his gaze riveted on thescenery outside the carriage window. He braced both of his large hands on his knees, fingers splayed. He had nice fingernails, clean like most gentlemen, and bluntly cut.
Alannah had plastered herself to the leather seat in the shadows as far from the windows as she could fit, and she hadn’t moved since the start of the journey a short while ago. They’d reached the edges of the city, and at the sight of the trees and meadows, she was eager to sit forward and take it all in.
The flat grasslands and forests were different than the rugged hills of County Kerry. But as with the last time she’d been in the countryside during the fire, she relished every single moment of the beauty. It took away the homesickness a wee bit.
“Your brother was agreeable to the new employment,” Kiernan continued. “But he still has a mind to have Bellamy find you a match.”
She expelled a frustrated breath. It wasn’t that she was opposed to getting married. But she didn’t want to rush into something, especially not when life was still so hard and uncertain. She’d watched too many young women her age back home get married and have families only to struggle to feed their wee ones. She’d told herself she’d never put herself in that situation, that she’d wait to be secure, maybe have an editing job and be able to provide.
“Torin’s a good brother, so he is.” He was all she had left of her family, and she couldn’t lose him. He was doing what he thought was best for her because he loved her too. “But sometimes he likes to think he’s my da.”
Kiernan was quiet for a beat. “And your da? Where is he?”
“Watching down on us from heaven.”
“I’m sorry.” Kiernan’s voice was laced with regret.
She tried to offer him a smile, but it hardly reached her lips. “He’s happy now. He’s holding Mam’s hand again.”
“Your mam died of hunger too?”
“No, neither died of hunger, thanks be. Mam passed on when I was but a girl. And Da died of a heart attack two years ago.” Was she sharing too much? It felt natural to be telling Kiernan more about her family, especially since he already knew how much she loved Torin. Even so, she couldn’t forget their boundaries, and that she was just an employee.
“So Torin’s taken care of you ever since?”
“We went to live with my aunt and cousins. But aye, Torin took on the responsibility for me and Cagney, my younger brother.” Losing him was still raw and painful.
Kiernan didn’t say anything, was instead watching her intently, as though sensing there was more heartache to her story.
