Page 22 of Calling on the Matchmaker
Bellamy had indicated that he’d shared all the details of the Rafferty family so that Shanahan knew everything there was to know about the Rafferty businesses, wealth, and background. Bellamy had even told Shanahan about Riley’s first marriage and that he’d been a widower for the past two years.
In addition, Bellamy was almost certain Shanahan had hired a private investigator of his own to do more digging into the Rafferty family. It appeared that Shanahan now knew more about the Rafferty family than even Riley did. Bellamy had reassured Riley that Shanahan wouldn’t have agreed to the meeting if he’d found any concerns.
Even so, Riley pulled in a deep breath and tried to quiet his nerves. It was only natural that a loving father would want this match to be more than a business transaction. To be honest, Riley wanted it to be more than that too. “Even if the marriage starts off as an arrangement, I believe it’s possible for love to eventually develop.”
It was Shanahan’s turn to exchange a look with Bellamy.
Hadn’t they liked his answer? “I assure you I would work toward that end—”
“That’s all well and good, Riley.” Shanahan stood, took a drag on his cigar, and then began to pace. “But the issue here is...”
Riley’s muscles tightened in preparation for the news, sensing it wouldn’t be pleasant.
“The issue here is that Finola is...” Shanahan stopped in front of the fireplace and cast Bellamy another look.
Before Bellamy could come to the man’s aid, Kiernan spoke. “What my da is trying to say is that Finola is a bit of a pickle.”
“Pickle?” Finola’s indignant voice burst from the sitting area in the hallway.
If Riley’d had his way, he would have included Finola and her mother in the parlor with the men. But Bellamy had warned him that the Shanahans were traditional when it came to the roles of men and women, and that the meeting would include only the men.
“Aye, a pickle she is.” Kiernan raised his voice to make sure Finola had no trouble hearing him.
Riley waited for another comment from Finola, hoped she’d say something in response. But at a murmur of women’s voices, he suspected her mother was curbing any more participation in the men’s-only discussion.
“Finola is a good girl, that she is.” Shanahan started pacing again. “But none of her previous suitors have lasted.”
Riley hadn’t bothered to consider Finola’s previous courtship history. But it was strange that as one of St. Louis’s most eligible and beautiful women, single men weren’t fighting over her. “Why don’t the suitors last?”
Kiernan rolled his eyes. “Because, I’m telling you, Finola is prickly and sour—”
“That’s not true!” Finola’s call was quickly cut off, probably by her mother.
Shanahan gave a curt shake of his head to Kiernan, clearly reproaching him for speaking ill of Finola. Or perhaps for disclosing something he shouldn’t have. “As I said, Finola is a good girl. It’s just that the fellows are too particular.”
Too particular? With her sizable dowry and her beauty? Surely even the faintest of hearts could overlook a few minor imperfections in light of what they stood to gain in a woman like Finola. “How many fellows are we talking about?”
Shanahan paused, took another long drag of his cigar, and then puffed out a cloud of smoke. From the waver in his expression, he almost seemed to be debating whether to tell the truth or to lie. Finally he met Riley’s gaze. “Ten.”
“Ten?”
Kiernan released an exasperated sigh. “That doesn’t include the two Da kicked out of the house when he found them trying to put their hands on Finola.”
“So technically twelve?”
Shanahan turned to face the fireplace, leaving Kiernan to confirm with a nod.
“That can’t be all that bad if you’re counting back to when she first started courting—four, maybe five years ago?”
“Two years,” Kiernan spoke again.
Twelve suitors in two years. Riley released a low whistle. “What’s wrong with Finola?”
“Nothing is wrong with me!” she called.
Somethingwaswrong. That was certain. Riley wasn’t sure what it was. But he’d relish trying to figure it out ... and figure her out.
“So...?” Shanahan pivoted and raised his brow at Riley. “Think you want to give our Finola a go?”
