She hadn’t heard that talk. But with Kiernan now happily married to Alannah, maybe her da was ready to start the matchmaking process for the next of his children. If so, she’d have to find a way to dissuade him and buy herself more time.
“You tell them I’m too young for a match.” Her smile faded. “I’d like to wait until I’m at least twenty-one.” Even if her mam had been younger than her—only eighteen—when she’d married Da, surely there was no hurry.
Bellamy shrugged and finally took a step away from her.
Without his presence overwhelming her, she allowed herself a full breath.
“It’s not my job to questionwhena person gets married.” Bellamy carefully adjusted the canvas he was carrying. “’Tis only my job to questionwhoa person marries.”
She arched a brow. “Seems like you’re having a hard time with even that lately.”
He arched his brow back.
“The week of finding Deirdre Whitcomb a match is coming to a close.” She knew about Senator Whitcomb’s visit to Bellamy and the weeklong deadline for finding a match for his daughter. Everyone in St. Louis and the surrounding countryside had heard about the challenge. No one understood exactly why the match was so important. Somespeculation abounded that a much older politician wanted to marry Deirdre and Senator Whitcomb couldn’t turn the fellow down without ruining his political career.
Bellamy blew out a tense breath that told Zaira the young matchmaker hadn’t yet been able to find anyone Deirdre would accept. With only one day left before the week’s end, Bellamy was likely to fail. And if he failed in this important match, he would lose the confidence of the community—a confidence he’d just started to gain after the matches he’d formed for three of the Shanahan siblings. In fact, if Bellamy was unsuccessful with the senator’s daughter, then Oscar wouldn’t let his son take over as the official matchmaker, at least not for a while.
“I’m friends with Deirdre,” she said.
“Is that a fact?”
“Oh aye.” Well, maybefriendswas a stretch. But Zaira did have the same social circle as Deirdre and was familiar with the young woman since they’d grown up together.
“So now you think you’ll be telling me the kind of man Deirdre needs?” Bellamy’s lips quirked with the beginning of a smile—an arrogant one that said he didn’t believe Zaira had any information to offer.
“I can help you, Bellamy. But if you don’t think so, then go ahead and keep looking for a match. I’m sure you’ll figure it out since you’re so smart.”
“I will figure it out just fine, so I will.”
She shrugged and gave him her most innocent smile. “Good luck.” She turned and began to walk away. She could feel Bellamy’s gaze trailing her, the heat of it scorching her skin. It wasn’t fair that one man could affect a woman so intensely. Why couldn’t she have that effect on him? Instead, she only seemed to annoy him.
She made a point of walking as gracefully as possible for a few more steps before she turned, pressing her hand against her chest, to the spot where he’d been staring a few moments ago.
He was still watching her, and his attention shifted to where she was holding her hand, just as she’d intended. “If you change your mind and want the name of the love of Deirdre’s heart, you know where to find me.”
She didn’t wait for his response. Instead, she continued down the street.
Aye, she was going to use Bellamy McKenna for research whether he wanted it or not.
2
“Today is the day, Bellamy.” Oscar’s voice boomed through the apartment, stirring Bellamy to wakefulness.
He stretched on the sofa where he slept most nights. Even with his eyes closed, the bright daylight coming in the open windows indicated that it was at least midmorning.
A shadowy presence stepped above him, one containing the waft of strong coffee. “You better have a good and decent fellow lined up for the senator’s daughter.”
What a great way to start the day, with Oscar nagging him just as he had all day yesterday.
“I’ve got it under control, so I do.” Bellamy draped his arm over his eyes and pretended to sleep so Oscar would go away and leave him alone.
“Ach, it doesn’t look like you have control of anything.” Oscar’s loud slurp filled the quiet of the apartment. “Least of all that young woman.”
Bellamy inwardly sighed. The only word Deirdre Whitcomb knew wasno. She’d said it to at least twelve candidateshe’d presented to her, including an old flame he thought she still cared about.
Even using his unconventional methods, Bellamy hadn’t convinced her to fall for any of the men. And rightly so, if he was honest with himself. None of them had been good for her. But then, who was her true love?
His thoughts jumped back to the conversation he’d had with Zaira yesterday when he’d run into her on his way to one of the galleries.
