Bellamy had assured Zaira that he would start the search just as soon as he could, that he would ask around and tryto discover anything he could about Seamus O’Reilly from Galway. In the meantime, she wanted to locate temporary housing for the children. They also needed baths and new clothing and shoes.
She patted her beaded reticule where she’d tucked some of the money she’d earned so far from selling her weekly articles. The amount wasn’t much, but it would be enough to purchase the items the children needed.
She was eager to get started on the busy day ahead. Not only did she have the children to tend to, but she and Bellamy also needed to make their courtship decision public. Kiernan was coming along to the pub to talk to Oscar about it before he rode out to Oakland and shared the news with Da and Mam.
Zaira had cornered him in the dining room first thing that morning to tell him of the arrangement she and Bellamy had agreed upon, and she was relieved he hadn’t asked questions about when and how she and Bellamy had talked.
At first Kiernan hadn’t been happy to learn she was only courting Bellamy. He’d claimed that a match would satisfy everyone much better and put an end to the rumors. However, when she’d explained that the match would be too duplicitous, Kiernan had agreed that a courtship would suffice, as long as it was done ardently enough.
Zaira hadn’t wanted to ask what Kiernan’s idea ofardentlywas. She hoped he didn’t intend for her and Bellamy to imitate him and Alannah.
Zaira poked her head out of the carriage again and peered up at the balcony. “Please, Kiernan. Make haste!”
He was holding Alannah and whispering in her ear. She was laughing softly at something he was saying. She stoodin his embrace for another moment before she stepped back, but he held on to her hand as though he couldn’t bear to release it.
When he finally turned and left her, Zaira expelled a breath and sat back against the leather seat. She only had to wait another minute before Kiernan’s call to the driver rang out in the morning air, and then he climbed into the conveyance and took the seat across from her.
“Ready for this?” He settled in and straightened his top hat.
“I’m ready to get it over with.”
“Now, Zaira.” Kiernan tugged at his cuffs. “If you’re not careful, Oscar will see right through your ruse. So make sure your attitude toward Bellamy is believable.”
Aye, even though she was in a hurry this morning to visit with the children, she would have to suffer through an ordeal with Oscar first. Hopefully Bellamy hadn’t changed his mind about their plan since last night. He hadn’t been exactly open to it. But at least he’d agreed to pretend they had a relationship.
“Bellamy and I already talked about what we need to do.” As the carriage rolled down the street, she couldn’t keep from watching out the window. How many more children like Seamus and Moya were wandering St. Louis streets? And was it her turn to step up and do something that went beyond just Seamus and Moya?
She’d always relegated the helping to her oldest sister, Finola, who seemed to have been born with all the compassion in the family. Finola had been providing aid to the immigrants for months because those coming over from Ireland were in terrible conditions from the famine and then the longjourney to America. Finola had not only been going into the slums and dispatching food and clothing to the immigrants, but she and Riley had also been advocating for changes in the Kerry Patch that could make the living conditions better.
Of course, Finola wasn’t in the city anymore—not now that she was expecting a baby. Riley had moved her to his family’s home in the country. He spent some of his time there but had continued to be involved in assisting the immigrants as well as his new position of leadership in fighting the cholera.
Should she seek him out? See if he’d heard of Seamus O’Reilly? Would he also have some ideas for what more she could do to help homeless children, particularly those affected by the cholera epidemic?
“Whatever your plan is with Bellamy,” Kiernan said as he straightened his cravat, “please refrain from any more physical contact.”
Warmth pulsed into Zaira’s face that had nothing to do with the sweltering humidity of the July morning. “You don’t need to worry, Kiernan. Bellamy and I are planning to show interest in each other, but we have set boundaries we don’t intend to cross.”
“See that you don’t.”
Her flush spread.
“If you carry on with him, you’ll make matters worse. Then no respectable man will want you once you end the fake relationship.”
“I promise not to carry on with him.”
“If I hear of it, rest assured, I’ll force Bellamy to turn your temporary relationship into a permanent one.”
Bellamy wouldn’t let that happen. He was too againsthaving anything long-term. He’d made that clear with his resistance to her. The only way he’d agreed to anything at all was because she’d reassured him that she didn’t like him.
“I’ll be fine, Kiernan.”
Her brother didn’t respond, almost as if he didn’t entirely believe her. The rest of the way to Oscar’s Pub, they talked of other matters, including the plans for her and Alannah to return to Oakland later in the week. Now that Seamus and Moya were in her life, Zaira had the feeling she wouldn’t be ready to move away, not even if she and Bellamy found Mr. O’Reilly. Maybe she’d have to concoct another way to stay in the city.
As the barouche rolled to a stop in front of the pub, she was struck again, as she had been recently, with how deserted the streets were for a usually busy area of town. A few people loitered about, but the traffic was light and the pedestrians were sparse.
As Kiernan helped her down, she wanted to go directly to the alley and the shed to check on the children. But she hadn’t told Kiernan about them because in doing so she would also have to explain that she’d sneaked out. He would be angry at her for going alone so late, and he’d probably ban her from leaving the house again, possibly even send her back to Oakland today.
No, she couldn’t risk Kiernan’s wrath. Instead, she walked into the pub behind him. At midmorning, it was still too early for the pub to be open for business. No one else was there, not even Georgie McGuire.
