She’d already felt strange using the beautiful room, much less wearing such fine clothing.
Zaira began pulling out gowns, holding them up, and then tossing them onto the bed.
Alannah didn’t move. She never quite knew what to expect from the young woman, and now was no different. What was her plan?
Zaira dug deeper into her closet and emerged with a pale blue evening gown. “What do you think?”
“’Tis gorgeous, to be sure.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Zaira walked around the bed to the opposite side that wasn’t full of gowns. She laid the blue one down and spread out the skirt made of gauzy tarlatan. “Then we’re in agreement that this is the gown you’ll wear tonight?”
Alannah took a rapid step back. “Me? No, I couldn’t, not at all.”
“Nonsense. It matches your eyes perfectly, almost as if it was made just for you.”
The light blue was pretty, and Alannah couldn’t imagine a dress more beautiful. “No—”
“You’ll wear it to the party tonight.”
“Party?”
“Shelia and Liam’s engagement party.”
Wasn’t the party when Kiernan had wanted to announce their match? Alannah recoiled. She’d didn’t belong there, would never fit in, couldn’t go. Everyone would gossip about them, about her, and she’d end up embarrassing him.
Surely there was some other way she could show Kiernanshe was willing to do whatever it took to make their relationship work.
“Well?” Zaira arched a brow.
“I can’t ... I could never ... ’Tis impossible.”
Her thoughts tumbled to a stop. If Kiernan had been willing to go to such great lengths because he loved her, she had to be willing to do the same. She couldn’t think of anything more difficult than attending an engagement party and mingling as a guest among the types of people she’d only ever served.
But she’d do it for Kiernan because he was worth all the discomfort and difficulty. She also had to do it for herself, to prove she could push past the barriers that had always been in place and learn to live without them, just like Zaira.
Zaira was still watching her.
“I’ll go.” Alannah forced the words out.
“You know Kiernan won’t want you going out in public, not if there’s a chance Shaw might still be searching for you.”
“Rightly so.” If she came out of hiding, she needed a plan for staying safe from Shaw. Maybe going to the party was a bad idea, after all, especially because Kiernan wouldn’t approve. Maybe she would have to wait....
But how could she? She had to do this tonight, had to make this step to show Kiernan she loved him enough to set aside everything that was holding her back. She swallowed her protest. “I’ll do anything to go to that party tonight.”
“Anything?” Zaira’s eyes took on a mischievous glint.
“Aye. Anything.”
“That’s a good, lass.” Zaira picked up the dress and spun around with it, looking much too satisfied with herself. “You leave it up to me. I know just what to do.”
Had the young woman arrived with a whole plan already in place?
Alannah hesitated a moment longer. Then she nodded. She’d meant what she said—she would do anything to be with Kiernan, even give in to another of Zaira’s dramatic adventures.
32
Kiernan leaned against the railing of the veranda, watching the road beyond the lane for Zaira. She should have been back by now.
