Page 70 of Calling on the Matchmaker
No blankets? Riley raised a brow at Bellamy, but the fellow had leaned into Father O’Kirwin and was whispering with him—more likeschemingwith him.
If Bellamy had arranged for the lack of coal and spilling of water, had he taken all the blankets from the apartments too? As part of a plan to get Finola and him back together?
“Seems to me Riley has plenty of other garments you could have used for warmth.” The priest nodded at the pile of discarded clothing on the floor by the bedside chair.
Finola glanced at the clothing too, then expelled a tight breath. “I had no choice—”
“We always have a choice.” Father O’Kirwin folded his hands over the large wooden cross necklace he wore over his cassock.
“I put on Riley’s clothing to stay warm, but I was still cold, so I tucked my legs under the covers, ’tis all.”
The priesttsked. “Doesn’t look like that’s all you tucked under the covers, lass.”
“I must have crawled into bed at some point, though I don’t remember doing it, so I don’t.” With each word of protest, Finola scooted farther back against him, as though attempting to escape from the priest’s overbearing presence. She clearly wasn’t mindful of what she was doing, but he was keenly aware that her backside was pressing into him, her slender shoulders all the way down to her feet and everything in between.
For a moment he could think of nothing else but the soft curves and how they fit so well against him. His muscles tightened with the need to skim his hands over every inch of her.
Father O’Kirwin was watching him through narrowed eyes as though reading the direction of his thoughts. “This situation is indecent and unacceptable.”
“Aye, to be sure.” Bellamy nodded but seemed to be fighting to smother a smile.
“I’ll not be putting all the blame on Finola for the indecencies here,” Father O’Kirwin continued, now turning his holy wrath upon Riley. “I have no doubt you woke up, saw Finola sitting in the chair, and decided to take advantage of the situation.”
No doubt about it. Bellamy had orchestrated the events of the past night to put them into a compromising situation. Bellamy probably thought he was helping, especially after Riley’s heartbroken confession outside the pub that he loved Finola.
Even so, the inquisition was unfair to Finola and making her uncomfortable. He had to put an end to it for her sake. Besides, while she might have ended up in bed with him due to Bellamy’s underhanded methods, she’d made it clear the other night that she didn’t love him or want him.
Riley sighed with what he knew he had to do. “Listen, as sweet as Finola is, I wouldn’t take advantage of her. In truth, if I’d been conscious that Finola was anywhere near me, I would have sent her home and not risked exposing her to cholera.” He’d been too sick and exhausted to truly understand what was going on. At least until he’d awoken and found her in his arms.
If he’d been a stronger man, a gentleman, even less of a rogue, he wouldn’t have kissed her this morning. But he’d been too caught up in his feelings, had plunged forward with no thought to the repercussions. Repercussions to her. To him. To their families.
And he had also told Daniel Allen he’d think about a match with Bets.
He didn’t remember much about his time in the pub with Oscar that night Finola had rejected him. But he suspected his hurt had driven him to consider Oscar’s offer more than anything else. It was clear he couldn’t simply jump into a new relationship and plan for marriage, not when he had so many feelings for Finola.
“Ach, what’s done is done now, Riley,” Bellamy said. “And we can’t be changing it. Not that you truly want to.”
Bellamy was right as usual. Riley had enjoyed every single second of his encounter with Finola in his bed. And if he went back in time and had the chance to re-do things, he’d probably kiss her again, maybe even try to make it last longer.
Bellamy’s gaze lost all humor and turned intense. “You’ve made a mess of Finola’s good reputation, that you have. And now you have to do whatever it takes to repair it.”
Bother it. Bellamy was right again. The moment he’d realized Finola was in his bed, he should have jumped out. By staying, he’d put Finola’s reputation in the community at risk. He didn’t want to harm her in any way. But the tongues would start to wag about them, likely already were among the folks congregated out in the hallway.
Had Bellamy orchestrated that too? Had he purposefully shown up this early, hoping to catch them together in bed? And had he intentionally brought along enough witnesses to rival the heavenly hosts?
As though sensing Riley’s unasked questions, Bellamy turned his gaze to the ceiling.
“You’ll be marrying this lass, today.” Father O’Kirwin pulled out his prayer book, clearly planning to start the wedding ceremony right then and there. “And I won’t be taking no for an answer.”
Riley thought the situation couldn’t get worse. But apparently it could.
24
Get married? Today? Finola pushed up from the bed, heedless of the cover falling away and revealing her in Riley’s oversized clothing.
The moment Father O’Kirwin and Bellamy glanced at her and then looked quickly away, Finola took in her state of attire to find that several buttons had come undone, and the shirt was slipping precariously close to the edge of her shoulder again.
Holy mother, have mercy. Would the humiliation never end?
