Page 12 of Calling on the Matchmaker
Bellamy didn’t seem to notice—either that or he didn’t care. He raised a brow at Riley. “So tell me, Riley Rafferty. What kind of woman would ever be able to meet the high standards of Saint Riley of the Kerry Patch?”
Was that sarcasm in Bellamy’s tone? Was he making light of Riley’s many heroic deeds? Riley scrubbed a hand across his mouth to hold back a defense of himself.
Bellamy’s eyes darkened, and his lips quirked with the beginning of a grin. “Ach, I don’t care about your grand reputation. But I can tell you this: any woman who cares even a wee bit about your fame won’t be right for you.”
Dad relaxed back into the bed. “Sounds like we might have the right man for the job after all.”
Bellamy shrugged. “The list of candidates won’t be long.”
Dad gave a weak smile, but a smile, nonetheless. “If they’re sensible young women, that’s all that matters. And if her familyis able to gain Riley more support in the election, then even better.”
It was Riley’s turn to study Bellamy intently. He’d thought Bellamy would be more like Oscar, who was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of fellow. But the young man had more wit and depth of insight than Riley had expected. Under other circumstances, Riley might have even liked Bellamy. But this morning after a sleepless night, the fellow was getting under his skin like a pesky wood shaving.
“Since you’re clearly the expert,” Riley said, “and already have my future figured out, why don’t you tell us which women you’re contemplating?”
“There’s only one at the moment.”
“One?” Riley’s question came out at the same time as Dad’s.
Dad continued first. “Now, Bellamy, we need more than one option. We’re not paupers with only pennies, and we have plenty to offer a woman.”
“I guarantee you’ll like the option and want none other.”
Riley wanted to roll his eyes at the matchmaker’s arrogance, but he held himself in check. “You can’t guarantee—”
“I’ve a notion that I can.”
“Not to add to the low opinion you have of me—”
“I don’t have a low opinion of you. But you’ll not be needing a woman patting your back when you have the rest of the city doing it already.”
“Very well, but if I get married again, I prefer to have a wife I find at least a little attractive.”
“Naturally. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of you gouging your eyes out because you can’t stand the sight of your wife.”
Dad released a rumbling chuckle.
Since that first morning Eleanor had come to live with them, Riley had lost count of the times he’d caught his dad getting handsy with her, always touching and kissing and whispering and laughing. It had been clear as a cistern of fresh rainwaterthat his dad had been attracted to Eleanor and couldn’t get enough of her or she of him.
A part of Riley had always longed for that kind of relationship. He’d hoped for it with Helen, but in looking back he could see that most of what they’d had was little more than lust.
“Then tell us.” Riley rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen the tension that had taken up residence there. “Who is this sensible woman immune to my charm and fame?”
Bellamy pivoted in his chair to squarely face Riley, almost as if he was preparing himself for a show and didn’t want to miss a single moment of the unfolding drama. Bellamy quirked a brow, seeming to ask if Riley was ready for the momentous revelation.
Riley lifted his brow back.
“The one and only woman on my list for you is...” Bellamy paused dramatically. “Finola Shanahan.”
Finola Shanahan?
Riley couldn’t hold back a snort. “Nice effort, Bellamy. But the Shanahans run in different circles than the Raffertys and will be seeking a more advantageous match than me.”
His dad didn’t say anything. For a second, Riley wondered if he’d gone back to sleep. The meeting with Bellamy was surely wearing him out. But his dad’s eyes were wide open, and he was watching Bellamy with a keen new interest.
Of course Dad would be interested in a union with the Shanahans. Who wouldn’t want to marry into one of the wealthiest families in the city? Being connected to them would go a long way in aiding Riley’s election efforts, especially if James Shanahan was willing to use his influence to help Riley.
But Riley couldn’t consider Finola Shanahan, could he? Not after their embarrassing interaction at the livery.
