Page 20 of The Irish Gypsy
Madame Martine welcomed Patrick effusively.She remembered him very well, as only a few days ago he had broughthis sister in and spent a good deal, promising he would soon returnwith his younger sister. She whisked Kitty away to a tiny fittingroom, leaving Patrick to sip sherry as he relaxed on a blue satin,Louis XIV love seat. She dressed Kitty in a child's pink organdydress with frilled white pantaloons showing beneath and swept herbefore Patrick. "Ta soeur!"
Patrick's eyes met Kitty's and they both wentoff into peals of laughter. "You look delicious, my sweet, likeicing on a cake.Madame, I assure you this is not mysister." He smiled charmingly. "May I suggest something a littlemore sophisticated? She will need everything--underwear, dresses,negligees."
Madame Martine realized herfaux pasinstantly. She had taken them for brother and sister because theyhad the same vivid, dark beauty.
Kitty spoke up, "I look much younger than Ireally am,Madame,and I should like some grown-up gownswith plunging necklines. I turned sixteen last month."
Patrick had the decency to flush as MadameMartine's eyebrows rose. In her business one couldn't affordscruples, but she felt morally justified in her decision to chargehim double for everything. She started with day dresses inexquisitely sprigged muslin, then gowns for evening-wear that hadbeen made up for other customers. "Mademoiselleis sopetite, I will have to get the girl to pin it tighter."
As soon as she left, Kitty, who was standingon a raised platform in front of Patrick, lifted her skirts to showoff her legs. "Look, Patrick--silk stockings, just like I've alwayslonged for!"
His loins went taut and he began to stiffen.She had only intended to show him her ankles, but elevated as shewas he saw the shapely calves and caught a glimpse of her barethigh, that very exciting area above the garters where thestockings left off and the most intimate part of the female began.He was acutely aware of the savage pulsing of blood into hisshaft.
"They come in all kinds of shades. May I havesome pink ones and some flesh-colored ones?"
"And black," he said huskily, as he shiftedposition to ease the tightness of the cloth of his trousers.
Kitty only had eyes for the pretty shoes withbows across the toes and tiny high heels. They made her feeldifferent as she strutted about in them. Most of the dresses wouldhave to be delivered when they were finished, but many of thearticles of lace underwear, shoes, stockings, etc., were boxed upand ready to be taken with them.
Madame Martine came out of the dressing roomto have a private word with Patrick. She carried three or fourtransparent nightgowns in delicate shades over her arm. "Sheabsolutely refuses to try any of these on,monsieur."
"Why?" asked Patrick, puzzled.
"She says nightgowns have to be made offlannel to keep you warm."
Patrick laughed. "Wrap them up; we'll takethem."
When they left the shop Kitty was wearing ayellow silk organza, which fell in ruffles down the back over acrinoline. Her hair was gathered up at one side with a bunch ofsilk primroses and she carried a parasol to match her dress. Sheinsisted on wearing two pairs of frilled gloves at the same time."See how pretty the double rows of frills are?" she askedPatrick.
"Like your eyelashes," he murmured.
She loved the compliments he had suddenlybegun to pay her, but his voice was so intimate that it made herblush. She couldn't escape the feeling that he knew something shedidn't. She was anticipating what would come next and could sensehis anticipation, but vaguely she felt they were not anticipatingthe same things. Suddenly her attention was drawn to a man beatinghis horse in the street. Without a moment's hesitation she wrestedthe whip from him and laid it about his back with a sweepingstroke. "Now you know what it feels like!" she said passionately,her eyes blazing.
Patrick was momentarily stunned at heractions, but gallantly backed her up in condemning the carter'streatment of the poor beast. Out of his past came a picture of hispretty Irish mother taking a whip to some fellow for his insolence."What a difference your new clothes make. Suddenly you have theconfidence of a duchess. Lady Jane Tut to the very life!" heteased. He helped her into the carriage and gave instructions tohis driver. He sat opposite her so that he could view her toadvantage. "You saw yourself in a mirror at Madame Martine's so youmust realize how very beautiful you are."
"Yes, I do look beautiful, don't I?" sheasked ingenuously.
"As a matter of fact, you are a very showyfemale. In Lancashire we have an expression, 'You pay well fordressing.' Now wherever I take you, all the men will be staring atyou, and I'll hate every moment of it." The glint in his eye beliedhis words.
"You're teasing me," Kitty said with alaugh.
"On the contrary, my dear, it is you who areteasing me," he said softly.
His eyes lingered on her lips until she saidbreathlessly, "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"Like what, Kitty?"
"Well....like I look at food when I'm veryhungry--sort of longingly."
He took her hand and put the tips of herfingers to his lips. "I would love to eat you," he saidsuggestively. "Just one taste would satisfy me."
She looked at him very seriously and said,"Patrick, you know that's a lie; nothing would satisfy you but thewhole."
He was startled for a moment and wondered ifshe realized she had just made a very racy pun. It was hard to tellwith Kitty. One moment she was all little girl; the next she coulddo or say something so sexually provocative, he became hardinstantly.
The carriage went downriver past the Tower ofLondon. "Oh, let's go to the Tower, please, Patrick."
"How can I refuse you anything when you askso prettily? However, first I think we are in need ofsustenance."
