He blew out a breath, one containing all his frustration and anxiety over the past twenty-four hours since making his decision and writing his revised list. Then he stepped up to open the door for Zaira. Before he could reach it, she pushed open the door and began to descend. He took her elbow and assisted her, all the while searching her expression.
She was somber, and her eyes were guarded.
“Did you deliver my note to Alannah?” He was being rude, skipping right over greeting her, but at the moment, his heart felt like it was about to fall out of his chest.
“I did.” Zaira wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
“And?” He embraced her briefly, his pulse only beating more wildly with every passing second. “What did she say?”
Zaira stepped back and exchanged a glance with Da and Mam who’d risen from their seats and stood at the top of the stairs.
“Well?” Kiernan demanded.
A movement in the door of the carriage drew Kiernan’s attention away from Zaira. Alannah stood in the doorway, one satin shoe on the carriage step, a gloved hand on the handle, and mounds of satiny blue material surrounding her and turning her into a princess. A portion of her blond hair was elegantly twisted up, and part hung down in delicate ringlets, with a crown of white roses only adding to her royal ensemble.
Speechless, he was at her side in the next instant, taking hold of her elbow and assisting her. Her eyes met his tentatively, her blue dress making the blue of her eyes brighter. With the gown off the shoulders, her shoulders were bare, her pale, unblemished skin so smooth, begging him to touch it. If he could, he’d start at her shoulder and draw a trail to her collarbone and then stop right in the dip at the base of her neck. That would be a perfect place to kiss her.
As if hearing his thoughts—or at the very least, reading the desire in his eyes—she lowered her gaze to the ground, watching each step as she made her descent. Once her feet were both firmly settled on the ground, she lifted her eyes again and met his, this time more boldly.
“Hello, Kiernan.” Even though her gaze was direct, her voice was soft, almost uncertain. “I wanted to deliver the answer to your letter myself.”
He didn’t need her to say anything more to realize she’d come to Oakland because she wanted to be with him and was willing to give their match a try. As tempted as he was to gather her into his arms, he held himself back and let her speak what she’d come to say.
“I love you.” She spoke the words loudly enough that everyone could hear them, even his parents. Her fingers trembled, but she clasped her hands together. “I hope you can forgive me for pushing you away—”
He dropped his mouth against hers the way he’d been dreaming about doing since the night he’d kissed her in the shed. He almost groaned at the taste and feel of her. He didn’t care that his family was watching, didn’t care that he was delaying their departure to the party even more, didn’t care that he was declaring in front of his family how much he cared about her.
It was past time they all knew exactly how he felt about Alannah.
She melded her lips to his eagerly, clearly not worrying about their audience either. The passion, the wanting, the need ... it was all there the way it had been during their last kiss. But it was stronger and more powerful, drawing their souls together and leaving him in no doubt that he’d lose a part of himself if he let her go without him.
“Save it for later.” Zaira laughed and shoved him.
The movement was enough to make Alannah break the connection. She ducked her head, suddenly shy, as though remembering that his parents were there. Madigan and Quinlan had also come around the house, tousled and sweaty in their suits and staring at the two of them.
Alannah smoothed her gloved hands over her skirt, the slim waist and tight bodice revealing all her womanly curves. “I came tonight to accept your offer to attend the engagement party with you.”
“You did?” He couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice.
“Oh aye. I need to do it. For you and for myself.”
He wasn’t sure exactly what she meant, but he guessed she wanted to overcome the barriers and fears that had been holding her back the same way he’d needed to move beyond his. Even so, as much as she wanted to go, she couldn’t. He didn’t even like that she was standing out in the open where anyone could see her.
He reached for her hand. “You can’t show yourself at the party. It’s not safe—”
“It will be, to be sure.”
“It’s not worth the risk. I’ll stay here with you, and everyone can go without us.”
She turned and glanced into the carriage. A moment later, a man wearing a priest’s robe poked his head out. He was one of the priests from the Cathedral. What was he doing here?
Before Kiernan could make sense of what was happening, Alannah lowered herself to one knee amidst the pooling of her beautiful gown and then took hold of his hand and peered up at him. “You’ve already done the asking more than once. Now it’s my turn.”
His heart began to race. Was she doing what he thought she was?
“Kiernan, you would make me the happiest woman alive if you agree to marry me.”
“Tonight,” Zaira hissed.
