Page 50 of The Irish Gypsy
Kitty was immediately contrite. "Oh, I'm sosorry, Mrs. Hobson. How much does Simon owe you?" she askedbluntly.
"Three months to the day."
"I'll speak to him about it right away," shepromised, then silently changed it to tomorrow. She emerged fromthe kitchen to see Brockington streak up the stairs after Madge,both discarding their clothes in a shockingly abandonedfashion.
"Drunk as lords," Simon joked as he caughtthe shocked look on her face. "Actually they can't wait to get intotheir riding breeches and do a bit of hunting. We'll be back fordinner. Amuse yourself."
"Simon, hang on a moment, please. I know wehave an understanding that we won't live in each other's pockets,but you haven't even shown me to my room."
"Sorry, Kit," he grumbled, "don't turn into atiresome female. Just pick any room you fancy. Oh, one word ofadvice. This lot always uses the rooms to the left of the stairs,so if I were you, I'd take the right."
Terrance came in from the stables, shakinghis head.
"Mr. Hobson must do his job as ably as Mrs.Hobson," remarked Kitty. She lit fires in every room, then wentover the house from rafters to the cellar and poked her nose intoevery cupboard. She found a meager supply of coal and put some in ascuttle and carried it into the lounge. A mental picture of herselfcame into her mind and she sank into the nearest chair. "Haulingcoal again," she gasped with laughter.Oh, if I don't laugh, Iknow I'll cry,she thought wildly.What on earth have Igotten myself into?
The atmosphere was pandemonium. The diningroom was echoing with laughter when she went in. Mrs. Hobson servedthem an almost inedible meal. There was a watery broth followed bya tough boiled fowl. The vegetables were sparse and the breadstale. But the young men ate heartily and proposed toastsliberally, so the little dinner party seemed a resounding success.They moved on to the library and immediately set up a cardtable.
"Come on, Terry; you too, Kit. Nothing beatsa good game."
"I'm sorry, Simon, I don't enjoy cards,probably because I don't know how, and Terry doesn't have anymoney."
"Nonsense. I'll stake him," Brockington saidgrandly. They insisted that Terry sit down with them. Kitty soonbecame alarmed at the amounts they were gambling, but she knew itwas pointless to argue with men who had imbibed too much, so indesperation she told Simon that she was going up to bed. She lookedat him apprehensively. His mouth curved into the nicest smile andhe looked impossibly young.
Kitty put on the silk embroidered nightgownJulia had given her and waited. The only face that she could seewas Patrick's. The mouth that could be cruel and passionate, thearrogant nose and smoldering eyes haunted her. "Oh, God, I love himso," she cried aloud.
The din from below grew louder until itbecame an uproar, but still Simon did not come. The racketcontinued and Kitty began to relax. Eventually she drifted off tosleep, but Simon never came.
Patrick hadn't removed his coat before heasked for Kitty.
"Oh, Patrick, the most exciting thing. Kittyeloped yesterday!" said Julia.
"With whom?" he thundered.
"Why, Simon, of course."
"Goddamn it, woman, how did you allow such athing to happen? Is Amelia still in town?" he demanded.
"Why, yes, I think so," she faltered.
He grabbed his hat and departed. It was a manincensed who confronted Amelia. "If we act immediately we can getthis thing annulled," he said firmly.
"You must be mad! They had my full consent.Why should I wish the marriage to be annulled?"
"I wish it, and that should be sufficient,"he thundered.
"You can't bully me, Patrick O'Reilly, sosave your breath. Kitty is all I could wish for in a wife forSimon. The marriage is perfectly legal and there isn't a damn thingyou can do about it. I wish you good day, sir."
He turned on his heel and left. Juliareceived the full brunt of his temper.
"For God's sake, calm down Patrick, andconsider this rationally," she pleaded. "Kitty received an offer ofmarriage and she jumped at the chance."
"You pushed her into it, to get rid of her,"he accused at the top of his voice.
"I did nothing of the sort. They are wellsuited in age and make a lovely couple."
"Has he taken her to The Elms?" he askedominously.
"Yes, they are on their honeymoon and youmustn't go bursting in on them."
