Page 55 of The Irish Gypsy
Kitty looked Savage straight in the eye andsaid sweetly, "Put the boots to him!"
Terrance was determined upon his course. Hewasn't going to let one more day pass without informing Patrick ofKitty's plight. As soon as they arrived in London, Terrance gaveSimon the slip and wondered whether it was better to try to catchPatrick at home or at his office. Terrance finally decided to trythe latter, as he probably spent as little time as possible underhis sister's roof, even though the house in Cadogen Square washis.
Patrick greeted him with raised eyebrows."Terrance! Your very presence tells me something must bewrong."
Terry nodded miserably. "It's about Simon."He hesitated.
"Go on," Patrick said shortly.
"He's not normal--he's queer! He sleeps withother men."
Patrick stiffened. "Wherever did you hearsuch filthy rumors?" he demanded.
"They aren't rumors," Terry said quietly.
Patrick looked at him with disbelief. "How doyou know?" he demanded.
"How the hell do you think I know?" Terryshouted.
Patrick went pale. "My God, why didn't youtell me sooner? He hasn't harmed her, has he? She doesn't share hisbed, does she?"
"No, she has her own bedroom, but he uses heras bait to attract young men and she is in constant danger fromthem."
"I'm sailing for America before the week'sout. Why the hell didn't you come sooner?" Patrick shouted. "I'lljust have to put the sailing date ahead for another week. You musthave known it was a mistake from the very beginning. Why didn't youinform me earlier?"
"Kitty doesn't know men have sexualrelationships with other men, but she knows Simon isn't normal. Hecalls her Kit, a boy's name, and he has her wandering about theplace in boy's riding breeches. He even cut her hair like a boy,but it's growing again."
"Terry, go at once to Cadogen Square and havethem pack me a bag. I have some things here I must attend to, but Ican leave for Surrey in about two hours."
"I'll go back to Simon and make sure he staysin London. How long will you need?"
"Give us a week alone, if you can. After thatI'll have to leave. Take Kitty and stay with Julia until I returnfrom America, but be assured the problem of Simon will beeliminated. Permanently."
Kitty rode out a little way from the house,dismounted and sat down with her back against a tree in a littleglade on the edge of the forest. The bridle jingled as her horsecropped the grass beneath the leafy arches. The trees sighed andmurmured to each other in the slumberous, gentle wind. She sat withunseeing eyes, trying to come to a decision about her future. Sheknew she could not remain with Simon any longer, but she was unsureof where she should go. Kitty longed to go home to Ireland, but theprospect was bleak and she realized she probably would fare betterif she went to London and tried to find some kind of employment.What she really wanted was Patrick. The flowers lifted their facesto the sun and filled the air with their languorous perfume. Hereyes lifted heavenward, brimful of tears when Patrick caught hisfirst glimpse of her. Screened by the thick-budded foliage, hegazed breathlessly upon her, entranced by her beauty, dewy-eyed andlanguid. He saw how the thin ruffled shirt clung to her shapelybody, and he was filled with desire. Her horse whinnied softly tohim; she was startled into awareness. The sight of him took herbreath away. She thought for one fleeting moment that he was only avision, but her heart lifted with such a wild surge that she knewhe was real.
"Kitty, how are you?" he asked softly.
Her heart thudded in her chest, and a solidlump came into her throat when she tried to speak. She hesitated,then said with stiff pride, "Things are marvelous, couldn't bebetter...." but could go no further.
They looked into each other's eyes and inthat moment their souls touched. Patrick held out his arms to her.With an incoherent cry she stumbled into them and sobbed out allher troubles against his chest. His arms were comfort and safety toher. Nothing could hurt her now, so secure did she feel against thefirmness of his shoulder. When she had cried herself out, he liftedher chin until her eyes met his.
"I want you to go and change into a gown forme. Your breeches are so tantalizing I won't be able to keep myhands from you, and we have a great many things to talk aboutbefore I make love to you."
Her eyes widened in apprehension, but beforeshe could voice a protest he set his mouth to hers and kissed herwith all the pent-up longing he had known since they had beenapart. She clung to him with a desperate need of her own. He wasthe first to withdraw from the kiss, but only long enough towhisper, "I love you, darling."
"Oh Patrick, I've always loved you," andtheir mouths fused again.
He caught her in his arms and lifted heragainst his heart. Desire overpowered him, his hands were hard andfierce and her sweet, moist mouth trembled as she whispered, "Yourembrace will crush me."
He set her down gently. "Forgive me, darling.It won't be like last time. I promise I won't hurt you. I want youto be my wife. You belong to me and no other. Repeat with me asimple marriage vow, 'I receive you as mine.'"
She clasped him close, beset by sudden fear."What if Simon returns?"
He said simply, "I'll kill him!"
Kitty changed into her one pretty gown. Itwas pale lavender silk which flowed and billowed sensuously as shewalked.
Mrs. Hobson wrung her hands, exclaiming overand over that she'd never be able to feed such a fine gentleman,until finally Patrick took her by the shoulders and said kindly butfirmly, "We don't care what we eat, ma'am, all we want is to betogether. Nothing else matters."
