Chapter 28
He was a married man.
As he turned the door handle of the pub, Bellamy paused and kissed Zaira’s forehead gently. Oh, how he loved her. He loved her so much his chest ached from the loving.
Laying her head against his arm, she released a soft sigh.
He was learning what her sighs meant, and this was one of contentment.
In a pink silk gown decorated with dozens of pink rosettes, she was picture-perfect.
Her hair was fashioned in an elegant chignon, and a wreath of a dozen more of the pink rosettes graced her head.
In his mind, he’d been painting her all morning.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked, unable to stop himself from kissing her forehead again.
She had both hands linked through his arm and was pressed against him as though his side was the only place she wanted to be. She smiled up at him, her eyes alight with happiness. “I’d like another kiss first.”
They’d kissed for most of the carriage ride back from the cathedral where they’d gotten married an hour ago.
Even after the carriage had come to a halt outside the pub, they’d kissed again.
He’d been so swept up in their kissing that he’d lost track of time until Kiernan had banged on the carriage door and told them they had to stop and come inside because everyone was waiting for the celebration dinner.
Bellamy wouldn’t mind skipping the celebration, sweeping Zaira off her feet into his arms—even with his injured shoulder—and carrying her up the outside stairway to their apartment above the lawyer’s office across the street from the pub.
He’d offered to buy her a home of her own, even to build her a new home if that’s what she wanted. With the money from all the paintings he’d sold, he had more than enough to purchase anything she wanted.
But she’d insisted on finding something close to the pub because she knew he wanted to continue to help his family. Not only that, but the pub was the best place for him to mingle with people who wanted the services of the local matchmaker.
Zaira had claimed that just being with him was enough for her, that she didn’t care where they lived as long as they were together. And he felt the same way.
When he’d started inquiring into accommodations in the area, the first place they’d visited was the apartment across the street. Zaira had loved it from the moment they’d toured it because it had a second bedroom he could use as a studio and she could use for her writing.
She’d spent the first couple of weeks of August since the night of his gallery show cleaning and fixing up the apartment as well as purchasing furniture and rugs and decorations. Her mam had even come to help her from time to time.
Although Zaira’s relationship with her parents would never again be the same, she seemed to be forging a new path forward.
While they still weren’t happy about her publishing venture, they loved her enough that they would eventually set aside their traditional views on a woman’s role and accept her and her writing.
Traditional ways weren’t a bad thing. After all, he was the matchmaker, and that was about as traditional as things could get. But there were areas, especially when it came to women’s abilities and talents, that traditions needed to grow and expand.
“I love kissing you, Bellamy.” Desire darkened her green eyes to a shadowed woodland, and as she trailed one of her hands down his arm, heat speared his stomach.
He needed to kiss her now. Swiftly, he took her lips captive, tasting her and devouring her but never getting enough of her.
He knew he never would, not as long as he lived.
But he would sure enjoy trying, especially since all he’d gotten over the past couple of weeks was a stolen kiss here and there.
The door of the pub swung wide. “I told you they would be kissing again.” The wry statement came from Kiernan.
Cheers and whistles from their family and friends greeted them.
With a breathless laugh, she broke the kiss.
Oscar had invited everyone to come back to the pub, closing it to the public. Jenny and Gavin had been busy all the previous day making enough roast and colcannon to feed all the guests, and now the waft of the potato-and-cabbage dish filled the air.
The Guinness was already flowing freely, with Oscar behind the bar counter pouring drinks. With the newspapers making the announcement last week that the worst of the cholera epidemic was over, the ban on beer had ended. People had started to return to their homes, and normal life was resuming.
In fact, Bellamy had received a message yesterday from Senator Whitcomb, who’d returned to the city a few days ago, and the senator had asked for the matchmaker to set up a match between Deirdre and Zach Meier.
Bellamy had shared a smile with Zaira over the news.
He had the feeling his wife would be a great asset to his role as the matchmaker.
With Zaira’s hand securely in his, they entered the pub and accepted the hugs and well-wishes from all the guests. Even though he wanted to be alone with Zaira, he was still grateful to everyone for their support and that so many had come out to celebrate.
Zaira’s family was there, except for Sullivan and Enya who were still in New Orleans and nearing the time when Enya’s baby would be born. Riley, who was still working in positions of leadership in the city, had his arm around Finola and his hand on her gently rounded abdomen.
Kiernan and Alannah were as happy in love as always.
Kiernan had made arrangements for a new house to be built out by his brickyard on land he’d purchased.
Over the past weeks as the cholera had started to decline, the brickyard had begun to thrive as more St. Louis businesses had gotten back to the work of rebuilding.
Georgie McGuire sat at the bar counter among many other of their closest customers and friends.
Jenny and Gavin were busy bringing out platters of food.
Seamus was hustling after them, eager to help with everything.
Moya, on the other hand, perched on her special stool behind the bar counter next to Oscar and chatted with anyone and everyone who would listen to her.
With no more leads on where their father was, Seamus had stopped talking about trying to find him. The two children were no longer emaciated, frightened waifs but loved being a part of Jenny and Gavin’s family. Even Oscar seemed to have adopted them as his grandchildren and enjoyed their company.
More of the orphans around St. Louis were being placed in homes, thanks to Riley’s committee’s efforts and Bellamy’s connections.
Zaira had offered additional suggestions, like screening the homes of interested families, coming up with questions that could better pair children with like-minded families, and providing ways for both children and families to communicate with the committee if things didn’t work out.
They were praying that perhaps this new placement of orphans in homes would offer an alternative to the orphanages that would be more suitable for everyone.
So far it had worked well for Seamus and Moya, and Bellamy hoped the arrangement would last a long time.
“Attention, everyone!” Oscar bellowed from behind the bar counter. “I’ve got an announcement to make, so I do.”
Oscar’s gaze landed upon Bellamy where he was sitting beside Zaira at one of the tables closest to the bar counter. They were surrounded by Zaira’s family, including her two youngest brothers, Madigan and Quinlan.
Oscar’s smile had never been brighter than it had been all day. He’d stopped Bellamy early that morning before they’d left for the cathedral, and he’d shaken Bellamy’s hand and told him that in all his days as a matchmaker, the match with Zaira was the most fitting he’d witnessed.
“I’ve never seen two people more in love than the two of you,” Oscar had said as he’d blinked back tears.
“Remember, there’s no luck involved in love.
Instead, ’tis what you do day after day that counts, first growing in God’s love yourself and then growing in love toward her.
If you do that, you’ll be having a marriage that will never fail. ”
Bellamy bent toward Zaira and placed another kiss upon her forehead. She squeezed his hand in return.
“Today is not only the marriage of my son, Bellamy, to the love of his life, but it’s also the day I officially resign as matchmaker and hand over the duties to Bellamy.”
Bellamy nodded at Oscar, knowing the older man had been right all along to require more from Bellamy before being ready to take over the role. He’d thought he knew enough about love and relationships and would be wise enough without experiencing love for himself.
But he’d been wrong. Now, after falling in love with Zaira, he was infinitely more prepared to be the matchmaker and explore all the nuances that came with love and marriage.
He’d learned an incredible amount about himself, and in doing so, he would be much more compassionate and empathetic to others.
Oscar pulled something out from a shelf, then began to make his way around the counter. As he rounded the corner, Bellamy got a glimpse of what Oscar was carrying—his big leather matchmaker book.
Bellamy’s heart swelled with the emotion and responsibility of this momentous occasion. At Oscar’s approach, Bellamy pushed back from the table and stood, releasing Zaira’s hand. Even though he wasn’t holding her hand anymore, he could feel her presence, her love, and her encouragement.
Oscar stopped beside him and held out the leather book that had been passed down through generations of matchmakers to record the names of couples and families who’d been blessed to have the matchmaker’s assistance.
Bellamy clasped one end of the book with worn pages.
Oscar seemed to swallow hard, then he grasped Bellamy with his other arm and drew him into a half hug. “I’m proud of you, son.”