Page 16 of The Irish Gypsy
"What sort of a night did you have?"
Patrick turned to Kitty with a conspiratoriallook. She curtsied to Jonathan O'Reilly and said quickly, "He had avery peaceful night, sir. I stayed just in case he became ill."
"Good lass," Jonathan said. "A couple of daysin bed and you'll be right as a trivet."
"It won't work, Father. I'm on my way to themill and you're on your way to London." As Jonathan started tofume, Patrick said, "I'll make a bargain with you, Father. If youleave for London, I promise to get this looked at by a doctorfriend, and after a couple of days seeing that the mills arerunning smoothly without any hitches, I'll follow you. No laterthan the weekend; that's a promise. When you get to London I wantyou to complete arrangements for Julia's wedding. Plans must bemade."
"If you keep your word about seeing thedoctor, I'll take the girls," their father said grudgingly. Heturned to Mrs. Thompson. "Tell the girls to get packed; this willbe a real surprise for them."
Kitty spoke up, "They've been packed fordays. We're all ready to go."
He smiled at the 'we', secretly delighting inthe thought that she would be going with them. "In that case, younglady, you can come and help me pack." Left alone, Patrick arosefrom the bed and stood still for a few minutes with his eyes closeduntil the room steadied around him. He was in pain, but for themost part, he could ignore this. It was the condition of hisrubbery legs that worried him. He rang for Terry, who helped him tobathe and shave and then helped him to dress.
"How do I look to you?" he asked Terry.
"Pale," he said bluntly, "but you look likeyou're in control."
"I want you with me today. Kitty's going upto London with the girls."
Terry hesitated a moment, then said, "The oldman's got his eye on her, and she don't know about men and things.She thinks he's just being kind to her."
Patrick smiled and said, "Don't worry aboutKitty. I intend to take very good care of her."
This statement only added to Terry's worriesabout his sister, but he had sense enough to keep his owncounsel.
In spite of the girls' pleadings, Jonathanrefused to leave until Patrick returned from the mills. He showedup in the middle of the afternoon much annoyed so see the hugetraveling coach still on the driveway. He wanted only to seek hisbed, but he now realized he'd have to undergo a torrent ofquestions he didn't feel like answering.
"Father, if you'll come upstairs where we canbe private, I'll answer all your questions," he said curtly andascended the steps.
Terry sought out Kitty, glad that he couldhave a few words with her before she left.
"Did he find out who stabbed him?" she askedbreathlessly.
"Oh, aye. A few coins in the right hands soonput him in touch with the bastard, but, Kitty, it was the mostcurious thing. They came to an understanding and Patrick told himhe wanted him on his payroll."
Kitty laughed. "He must be planning to getrid of somebody."
"By God, I wouldn't put it past him."
"Terrance, I want you to go and see Grandadaand tell him I won't be able to see him for a while."
"I'll tell him. Kitty, you're changing! Youdon't even talk the same, and I don't like the way O'Reilly looksat you."
"Oh, don't be afther worryin' yerself aboutPatrick O'Reilly. I've got plans for him, I have an all, an all,"she said in a thick brogue.
"Saints preserve us," muttered Terry.
Patrick was thankful the day was over. Hiswound had been attended to and the new bandage was much morecomfortable. He lay in bed going over the events of the day, butKitty's image kept intruding in his thoughts. With a sigh, he gaveup the effort and let his mind dwell on her more fully. She wasextremely beautiful. She excited his senses as no female had everdone. She was small and dainty as a kitten. All her movements weregraceful, almost exotic. Her face was exquisite and her eyesflashed fire and held his attention with a seductiveness he knewwas unconscious. He fantasized how he would like to make love toher. He realized she was very young, but he hoped that once he hadaroused her sensuality, he would have the pleasure of satisfyingall her hungers. His imagination slowly stripped her naked and hishands could feel her body's smooth contours. He thought aboutkissing her slowly--her mouth, her breasts, her navel, her monsveneris. He felt his loins tauten, his manhood rise and his testesache. He knew he would never be able to sleep in the state intowhich he had worked himself. He savagely threw back the covers andpoured himself a stiff drink. "Damn her eyes," he cursed.
Chapter 5
By rights Kitty should have been almostimmobilized with the shock of coming from the bog to the City ofLondon, but she absorbed everything like a sponge and seemed tothrive. The London house was very grand. There was a butler and twofootmen who were the required six feet tall, as well as numerousother servants. There was achef de maisonrather than ahousekeeper. Kitty learned to keep out of the way, but she alsomanaged to observe the visitors who came calling. The plain-facedJeffrey Linton seemed to be wrapped around Julia's little finger,but Kitty thought privately that there was more to him than met theeye. She expected that once they were married he would assume aquiet authority that would keep Julia in her place. His mother andfather were obviously titled upper-class, and the necessity ofmaking a connection with 'trade' was distasteful to them, but theyswallowed their pride and accepted Jonathan O'Reilly because of hisvast wealth.
The date for the engagement party was settledand it was decided to have the wedding in October. Julia insistedthat Kitty have a new brown dress and cloak so she could accompanyher about London in her many shopping expeditions. Kitty loved togo with Julia to the Burlington Arcade, running north offPiccadilly. There were thirty-one specialty shops in the arcade,which was known as London's most exclusive shopping thoroughfare.While Julia dreamed over the rings in S. J. Rood's Jewelers,
Kitty coveted the beautiful tablecloths inthe Irish Linen Company, the cashmere shawls, the folio cases inthe Unicorn Leather Shop and the gleaming lead crystal in thewindows, all the while rubbing elbows with the British upper crust.It had great Regency charm and a 'Beadle' in full dress of frockcoat and trousers, which was like a policeman's uniform; in effecthe was a policeman. The prices were pretentious and oftenoutrageous and Kitty longed to be able to go inside and spendlavishly.
The servants did not take to Kitty and gaveher the most menial tasks, but she carried them out and didn'tcomplain. She knew they were jealous because she went about withJulia and Barbara, and the old man always had a smile and a kindword for her, saving his bad temper for the other servants. One ofthe housemaids said, "She's a real bleedin' apple polisher."
