Page 53 of The Irish Gypsy
Mrs. Hobson looked at her conspiratoriallyand whispered, "I know some spells I could let you have."
Kitty was immediately diverted. "You meanwitchcraft?" In spite of herself she smiled. "We have something incommon. I'm a Gypsy, you know. I have a few curses of my own."
Warming to the subject, Mrs. Hobson confided,"As a matter of fact, I've already worked a spell on him. It onlyremains to be seen if it works."
"What did you do?" asked Kitty, amused.
"I buried five blue marbles," she replied inhushed tones.
"Did you call down the dark powers ofNebo?"
"No. Is that a witch?"
"Never mind. You're probably better off notknowing," answered Kitty. "Perhaps the most sensible thing we coulddo would be to ask Mr. Hobson to put a bolt on my door," suggestedKitty.
"Practical common sense." She patted Kitty onthe shoulder. "You'll survive this, my lass."
"I don't know, Mrs. Hobson. It's a hard worldwhere the gentle can be eaten alive before they have time to growan iron carapace."
Chapter 15
Kitty kept to herself as much as possiblewhile the young men were there; however Simon made it plain to herthat he did expect a hostess at the dinner table each evening. Shebecame adept at keeping them in their place with a word or a look.She had a native wit and she developed a cutting edge to hertongue. Before the meal drew to a close, they usually had imbibedenough for their hijinks to begin, and Kitty excused herself assoon as was politely possible. She could hardly believe thejuvenile nonsense that amused them.
For Kitty the week passed without incidentuntil the last day of their stay. She breakfasted early to avoideveryone, but as luck would have it, two of the young men were upbefore her. Her interest was caught when she overheard Ninian say,"That was the most ingenious peephole I've ever lookedthrough."
"I agree," replied Basil. "When they are inthe ceiling like that, you get a view of the whole bedroom; nothingis hidden."
"The most glorious black curls!"
"Tantalizing buttocks."
Kitty was outraged to think she had beenspied upon while undressing, and by the sounds of it at Simon'sinstigation. Her dander was up now and she was damned if she wouldtolerate such behavior beneath her roof. She stepped into view andsaid, "Well, the more fools, the more fun, so they say. You canboth pack up and leave now, and that goes for the rest of yourstupid friends," she ordered.
"I'll tell you what it is, Basil: she'sjealous," jeered Ninian.
"No, just low-bred," drawled Basil, whereuponKitty sent him a ringing blow across his ear and stormed from theroom.
What she needed was a brisk ride and somefresh air, she decided. She put on riding breeches and a jacket andtook up her riding crop. Simon burst into her room and she couldsee immediately that he was as angry as she was herself. He woreonly a silk dressing gown negligently belted and as he advancedupon her, she knew he had nothing on beneath it.
"You've insulted my friends, and I intend topunish you for it," he threatened.
Kitty was damned if he was going to thrashher bare bottom again, so she struck out at him with the ridingcrop. His eyes got that certain gleam in them and he becameinstantly aroused. Kitty hit out at him again and his robe fellaway from his body, exposing his erect member to a horrified Kitty."The elastic of my patience just snapped! Get out! Don't ever entermy room again under any circumstances. If your precious friends areso important to you, you'd best get the hell to London after them,because I can't bear the sight of you."
"Maybe I will," he said menacingly, but allthe fight had gone out of him. After she had bathed and changed,she discovered that Simon had departed for London and takenTerrance with him. A swell of relief swept over her and shefervently hoped he would stay away for a month. As she satarranging her hair, Mrs. Hobson came to her, upset andagitated.
"Mr. Hobson has been looking worse and worsesince I buried them blue marbles, ma'am. I do fear that the spellhas come back on me. What can I do?" she pleaded.
Kitty fully realized that Mrs. Hobson hadfallen prey to the only danger that spells and superstitionrepresented. If one believed in them, only then could they do anyharm. "Mrs. Hobson, you must dig up the marbles immediately."
Mrs. Hobson shook her head. "It did no good.I dug them up yesterday, and this morning Hobson took to his bed. Idon't like the looks of him. You must take the spell off! You're aGypsy--you can help me," she said fervently.
"All right, Mrs. Hobson. It's really verysimple." Kitty's mind raced as she sought out a little ritual thatwould convince the woman. "You must take the front door key andplace it in your Bible. Mr. Hobson will be better almostimmediately."
"Will it work?" she asked hopefully.
"Oh, yes," Kitty assured her firmly. "Keysare ancient magic symbols and placing one in a Bible can lift anyspell."
A week hadn't elapsed before Simon returnedwith more dissolute friends in tow. They were gambling in thelibrary, and his pockets were empty, so he put up Kitty for grabs.Only the thought that he had lost again angered him; he gave not afig for what he had lost.
