Page 5 of The Irish Gypsy
“You think money isn’t important to that longstreak of piss you’re marrying? I’ve bought him for you and wellyou know it, so don’t go turning your nose up at my money.”
“Oh, Patrick, he’s the most vulgar man in thewhole world,” she cried.
“Me? Vulgar? Wait till Viscount bloody Lintongets you in bed; then you’ll know what vulgar is!” he shouted.
“You dirty old Irishman!” she shrilled.
“Don’t you ever forget your name is O’Reilly,my lass…”
Patrick was choking with laughter. “Father,your face is purple. Calm down. A minute ago you were near to a fitcalling the Irish names, now you’re near to a fit defending them.Julia, my love, you are magnificent when you’re angry. I believeyou provoke these quarrels on purpose just to flaunt your beautybefore your menfolk.” He steered her toward the door, and as he didso he whispered, “Start packing. It may take a couple of weeks, butI’ll convince him to go to London.” She threw her arms about himand kissed him.
“Father, you lose your temper too much.What’s wrong with you these days? I think you’re suffering fromnight starvation. What you need is a woman. Now, if you were inLondon I know this little place called The Divan. They bring youchampagne while you make your choice from girls hanging fromchandeliers.”
“You think we don’t have any whorehouses inBolton? I don’t have to go to London. I don’t need to leave my ownhouse. Any one of the maids would jump into my bed if I crooked myfinger.”
Patrick was helpless with laughter. “Thereisn’t one of them that doesn’t have a face like a boiled boot.”
“Aye, there’s method in my madness. You’dhave ’um in your bed two at a time if they were pretty.”
“And here was I thinking you alwaysunderestimated me,” Patrick said with a chuckle.
Two days later Jonathan O’Reilly stood in thehuge hall of Castle Hill amid all the people of the estate.
“Lock, stock and barrel; men, women andchildren—I own the mills where you will be given work, and thehouses where you will live. I know some of you have relatives inBolton and you will go to them. Get your belongings together today;no livestock whatsoever will be transported,” he stated firmly. Agreat amount of conversation went up. People who had becomehopeless now saw a way out. They were all willing to place theirfate in his hands because the alternative was unthinkable. “Tim andMick here will help you load your tackle on the wagons, justpersonal belongings now, no furniture. We’ll start for Dublin firstthing in the morning. You’ll be on the boat to Liverpool overnight.Now then, Maggie” —he singled out Castle Hill’s housekeeper— “aboutmy dinner.”
In the kitchen Maggie spotted Kitty slippingout the back door. “Not so fast, Miss Mischief. You can serve thesquire his dinner. He’d have me running in and out like a dog at afair, and your feet are younger than mine.”
“I’ll serve him if I can have something toeat,” Kitty said impertinently.
“Faith, child, there’s little enough, only arabbit pie, but I’ll share whatever is left of it with you.”
Kitty washed her hands and face verycarefully and put on a clean apron. In the dining room JonathanO’Reilly looked askance at Kitty in her bedraggled skirt and barefeet, carrying in the big dish with her head bent over it.
“What’s your name?” he asked. She lifted herhead up and he thought,My God, she’s got a face like aflower.
“Kitty, milord.”
“I remember you. Don’t think I don’t. How oldare you now?”
“Fifteen, Milord; almost sixteen."
“The old Gypsy, your grandfather, hasrelatives in Lancashire, doesn’t he?”
“I believe he does, milord.”
O’Reilly’s mind was trying to smooth a pathfor Kitty that led directly to his bed. “Mmm, the mill is a hardplace for a little wench like you, so I think I’ll make anexception in your case and find you a place in my household. You’llmake a nice little maid—that is, of course, if you know how to doas you’re told.”
She seemed to hesitate. “Well, what is it?Speak up!” he shouted.
“It’s my brother, Terrance, milord. He’swonderful with horses, sor, you don’t suppose you could find it inyour heart to make room for him too, do you?” she askedimploringly.
He compressed his lips. “You drive a hardbargain, you little rogue.”
She dimpled at him and he was surprised tohear himself say, “How would you like a piece of this rabbitpie?”
“Oh, yes, please, milord,” Kitty saidprettily.
She ate so heartily, yet with the daintinessof a kitten; he was fascinated just watching her.
