Page 61 of The Irish Gypsy
She looked up into worried brown eyes, smiledsleepily and said, "I thought you were Patrick. As soon as thefuneral is over, we're going to Julia's in London. When Patrickreturns from America, we'll be married."
"Are you certain he promised marriage,Kitty?" he asked dubiously.
"Of course he did!" she said stiffening."What are you getting at?"
"Well, it's easy to promise marriage to awoman who has a husband. I've done it myself. You just keeppromising 'when you're free', knowing full well she may never befree."
"It wasn't like that!" Kitty protested. "Heswore he would get me free and I really believe that Patrick wouldhave killed Simon if there were no other way," she saidearnestly.
Terry chuckled rather unpleasantly. "Well,love, in that case it seems like you've saved him the trouble.You've done the dirty work, so to speak, and like all the bloodywealthy masters of this world, he's managed to keep his handsclean."
"I thought you admired Patrick," Kitty saidin bewilderment.
"Oh, I do admire him, but that doesn't meanI'm blind."
"Underneath, he is exactly the same asus--black Irish," she insisted.
He laughed scornfully. "What a bloodyrecommendation! Think back carefully, Kitty, to your hours in bedtogether. Make sure he used no slipping-out phrases. Did he promiseor didn't he? Do you have a contract with his conscience?"
She blushed at his words but said with afinality that settled his doubts and her own, "We exchangedvows."
Simon was buried in the same grave as hisfather. Kitty listened dry-eyed to the curate recite the funeralservice, 'I am the resurrection and the life....' She leafedabsently through her prayer book, and two sentences stood out andscreamed their words at her: 'Thou shalt not kill' and 'The wrathof God is upon him that committeth adultery.' She had doneboth!
She looked up and saw two strange menstanding a short distance away. She was surprised to find theyfollowed her. They were creditors! She was astonished. How had wordgotten to the city so quickly? She fobbed them off with a tale of awill being read and assured them if they would return tomorrow theywould be paid what was owed them. Half of the money Patrick hadgiven her was already gone, so she was determined that not anotherpenny would slip through her fingers to pay off Simon'sobligations. Brandywine had been gambled away long ago andBrockington had taken the only other decent horse in the stables."Terry, we'll have to take it in easy stages by the looks of thesepoor animals."
He reassured her, "They don't look much, butthey won't let us down. Neither one of us is a heavyweight."
"It will be good to see Barbara again," musedKitty.
"Barbara?" Terry went white.
"Yes, of course. She's staying with Juliawhile Patrick is in America."
Kitty knew that Barbara was crazy aboutTerrance, but realized wisely he was feeling very unclean at themoment and could not contemplate a romance with the innocent younggirl who obviously adored him. Kitty changed the subject quicklyand prayed his sensitivity would lessen as time passed.
With every mile she traveled closer toLondon, the hope grew that she would be in time to catch Patrickbefore he left. How marvelous it would be to tell him of the horrorshe had gone through and let him take over and comfort her. Alonging grew within her that she had never experienced before, andit grew until it obsessed her. She wore a thin black muslin dress.It was a poor excuse for a mourning gown--the neck was low enoughto expose the rise of her breasts--but it was the only thing thatcame close to observing the strict rules laid down for a widow. Asthey rode through the London street, Kitty felt as shabby andstrange as the day she and Terry had arrived on the wagon inBolton. Things really were not so different now. Everything sheowned was in one pathetic bundle, and still she had no home of herown to go to. She straightened her back and knew at least she hadhope to cling to. She had a purse full of money, and maybe, justmaybe, Patrick would still be at Cadogen Square.
They left the horses at the stable and walkedup the steps to the front door. The butler, usually so stiff andproper, broke into a smile when he saw her. "Miss Kitty, welcomeback. Miss Barbara and the mistress will be home any minute. Makeyourselves comfortable in the library, and I'll serve you sometea." He hesitated. "You won't be alone; there's someone elsewaiting in the library...." Kitty needed no further words. Shedropped her bag and ran breathlessly down the hall to the library.With his broad back and dark head, the library's occupant didn'thear her enter until she cried out, "Patrick! Thank God you'restill here!" She ran toward him with arms outstretched. Sir CharlesDrago turned from the fireplace to see the most beautiful girl hehad ever seen. At the sight of his face, a look of unbelievingdismay came into her eyes. Her legs turned to water and she knewshe was going down into a vortex from which there was no escape.She knew she was too late! The walls closed in on her, and thefloor rose up to hit her in the face.
Charles sprang forward instantly and caughther in his arms. She was in a dead faint and as he gazed at thelovely mouth, drooping just inches below his own, saw the blacklashes shadowed on the creamy pallor of her face and felt the softbody relax against his, he felt the stirrings of desire. He wascompletely surprised at his physical reaction, as he hadn't beenable to achieve this state for over two years, and he had greatlyfeared that that part of his life was completely finished.
Charles looked helplessly at Terrance andsaid, "Why did she faint? Is she ill?"
Terry said quietly, "We buried her husbandonly yesterday. I'm afraid it's all been too much for her."
Charles was startled. The girl didn't seemold enough to be a wife, let alone a widow.
At that moment Julia and Barbara entered thelibrary. Julia cried, "Sir Charles, how lovely to see you again.Good Lord, what's happened?"
Barbara cried, "Oh, it's Kitty!" and lookedhelplessly toward Terrance for an explanation.
Charles said, "The poor child has fainted andI don't even know who she is."
Julia, who had been expecting Kitty for days,said carefully, "She's Kathleen, our Irish cousin, and this is herbrother, Terrance. Put her here on the sofa, Charles. Barbara, getsome brandy. Whatever can be the matter with her?"
Once again Terrance said, "There was ashooting accident. We buried Simon yesterday."
"Good God, no wonder she's ill," saidJulia.
