Page 25 of The Irish Gypsy
Kitty was in shock. All the fight had goneout of her. It was too late now. They had both committed a terriblesin. She knew she was as much to blame as he. She lay still,knowing she should somehow have stopped him. How ironic that nowwhen she needed to be comforted and enfolded in warm, loving arms,they werehisarms that were offering her succor.
Patrick murmured endearments against herhair. "Kitten, I'm sorry. Did you receive no pleasure from it atall? If only you hadn't fought me, it would have been so mucheasier for you. Next time I promise to be gentle and tender andbring you exquisite pleasure."
His words threaded through her brain. Sheknew he was capable of bringing her exquisite pleasure. He wouldhave done so tonight if she had not fought like a tigress againstit. She knew if there was ever a next time, she would be lost. Shewould offer herself for his taking. Her virtue was gone and shefelt covered with shame because of her own secret longings.
Patrick gently kissed her ear and murmured,"I think perhaps you were too young after all."
His words tore down her last defenses and shecurled into a ball and sobbed into the pillow. She made an effortto leave the bed, but he drew her back into his embrace. With onemuscular thigh across her legs, his arms possessively held hercaptive. "Sleep now," he said firmly.
Chapter 7
Terrance ran up the steps in Half-Moon Streetand pounded on the door. After the second pounding, Mrs. Harrisopened the front door apprehensively. "I must speak with Mr.O'Reilly," Terry said breathlessly.
"I don't dare disturb him. I would lose myjob." She had heard the carryings-on upstairs and she wanted nopart of it.
Impatiently, Terry pushed past her and ranupstairs to the sitting room, with Mrs. Harris following him,wringing her hands. Finding the room empty, he took the next flightof stairs and pounded on the bedroom door. He called out, "Patrick,I must speak with you."
Patrick quickly got out of bed and went tothe door naked. Kitty sat up in bed and cried out, "Terry!"
"How the devil did you know where to findme?" Patrick demanded.
"You know I try to keep my eye on Kitty. Iknew you were bringing her here."
"Terry, you came for me," she cried.
He lowered his eyes from his sister'snakedness. "No, I didn't come for you. I came for Patrick. Yourfather's had a bad turn. The doctor thinks it's a stroke."
Kitty said accusingly, "You knew what wouldhappen to me, but you let him bring me here."
"It's better than being a servant, isn't it?"Terry flared.
"No, it's just the same! I'm like achambermaid who must be obedient to my master's demands, except I'mto be paid with pretty dresses instead of wages." She saw herclothes where Mrs. Harris had hidden them under the bed. Patrickwas almost dressed, so she ordered, "Wait for me. I'm going backwith you. Mr. O'Reilly will have need of me."
"Kitty, I need you too. Stay here, please.I'll go to Father."
"I hate you! I'll always hate you for whatyou did to me. I can't bear to stay here another minute."
Terry looked at Patrick angrily. "Did youhave to be brutal?"
"Damn it, she's like a wildcat. Would youlike to see the bites she inflicted to my wound? If there had beena knife within her reach she would have plunged it in and spilledmy guts."
Kitty said to Terry, "You ought to kill himfor me!"
Terry regarded her with the smolderingarrogance of the Gypsy male. "You challenged his manhood--he had tomaster you."
Patrick asked, "Did you bring the carriage?Good! I'll drive; you go inside with Kitty."
In the dark interior of the carriage sherealized for the first time in her life that men and women werenatural enemies. She knew without a doubt that Patrick would alwaysconquer her in any physical encounter; therefore her weapons wouldhave to be more devious and subtle.
Upon arrival at Cadogen Square, Patrickturned the carriage over to Terry for stabling. Patrick tried tohelp Kitty alight from the carriage but she brushed past hisproffered hand and swept up the steps and into the brilliantly litsalon.
"Where have you been?" Julia demanded,looking them over speculatively.
Kitty's yellow organza was badly creased fromthe hurried carriage ride, but she held up her chin and said, "Isthere anything I can do to help Mr. O'Reilly?"
"The doctor is still with him, so we won'tknow what to do until he gives us our instructions. Go and make usall some tea, Kitty; that should make us feel better," Juliasaid.
Barbara sat unhappily in a corner withred-rimmed eyes. Patrick spoke up quickly, "No, Kitty may go andtell one of the servants to make tea, but she is no longer here inthe capacity of a maid. She may share in father's nursing duties,but that's all."
