Page 19 of The Irish Gypsy
The tears were still coming as she climbedeach stair with trepidation in her heart. Her mind was going overthe alternatives rapidly. Would it be best to deny that she haddone it, or disclaim responsibility because the cases were stackedimproperly, or would it simply be best to throw herself onPatrick's mercy and hope he wouldn't deduct the cost of the winefrom her year's wages?
He closed the door quietly and stood lookingdown at her. He took a large white handkerchief from his pocket,put a finger under her chin to lift her face and then very gentlywiped away her tears.
She eyed him warily.
"Kitty, I can't bear to see you a servant.Let me take you away from all this."
For one glorious moment, she thought he wasgoing to ask her to marry him, until a little voice of reason toldher it wouldn't be that easy. "What do you mean?" shewhispered.
"First of all, Kitty, tell me what you wantto do," he urged.
She knew he was not referring to the wine,but to life. She took a deep breath. "Everything! I want to see,smell, taste, touch everything. I want to do everything, goeverywhere, experience it all," she said with passion.
"Then we are alike." He smiled. "I have alittle house in Half-Moon Street. Would you like to go and livethere? Learn how to be a lady, wear pretty clothes and haveservants of your own?"
"Are you sure it would be all right for me todo that?"
"Oh, yes, it's done all the time, I assureyou."
"When can we leave?" she asked quickly.
He laughed and said, "Now, if you like."
She thought happily,He does want to marryme, but first I have to learn to be a lady.She dashed upstairsto the attic for her cloak. She slipped her Tarot cards into herreticule, retrieved her bracelet from under the mattress and didn'teven pause to look around the room. Her heart was singing. Shewanted to slide down the banister, but when she saw Patrick waitingat the bottom, she quickly decided that it would be unladylike.
She leaned back against the velvet squabs ofPatrick's well-sprung carriage and closed her eyes for a second tocontrol her excitement.
He kept glancing at her and smiling, whilekeeping an eye on his driver.
"Where are we going?" she ventured.
"I'm going to take you to Madame Martine's inBond Street. A very chic Paris dressmaker. Probably the only timeshe saw France was from Dover on a clear day, but her clothes areunsurpassed."
Kitty laughed and asked, "Is she veryexpensive?"
"You will be delighted to know her prices areshameful. It will very likely cost me an arm and a leg before I getout of there, but don't let that stop you from picking anything youdesire."
She threw him a mischievous glance from underthose long black lashes and said with a laugh, "I won't disappointyou!"
He held her glance for a moment and said,"I'll hold you to that promise," but she quickly lowered her eyesand fingered the tiny bells on her bracelet. His eyes cloudedmomentarily. "Kitty, where did you get that?"
"I can't tell you," she said prettily.
"Damn it, Kitty, I won't have you acceptingpresents from other men. I wasn't even aware you knew any menexcept Father and me. Father! That's who bought your littletrinket, isn't it?" he demanded.
"Well, I suppose you could say that," sheanswered carefully.
He looked at her sharply, the rake of his jawthrust out angrily. She felt frightened of him when he was angry."What did you do in return for the bracelet?" He almostsneered.
She cast down her eyes and whispered, "Istole it when we visited the Silver Vaults."
The crack of his laughter startled her.Relieved that his dark mood had passed, she laughed with him. Hislips brushed her forehead and he said, "You're incorrigible!"
She was disturbed by his closeness. It waspleasant but instinctively she knew his behavior was a little toofamiliar. She looked down at her lap and fingered the plainmaterial of her dress. Suddenly she burst out, "I hate brown!"
"So do I," he agreed.
"Then I'll never wear it again," shevowed.
