Page 74 of The Irish Gypsy
He sat beside her and slipped one arm abouther. He took the drink from her hand and put it to her lips.
"How many have you tried?" He grinned.
"How many at one time, you mean?" Her eyeswere getting heavy as he watched her closely. Already her pupilswere dilated enormously. He picked her up and carried her to thebed. Patrick began to undress her. He was provocatively slow aboutit, kissing and biting each part of her flesh as he exposed it. Thelow moans died in her throat as she slipped into unconsciousness.Patrick blew out the lamps and left quickly, patting the vialconcealed in his pocket.
Before Kitty sighted land, she could smellit. It was a curious mixture of spice and greenery. The birds cameout to meet the ship, and the inevitable signs of man, bottles andgarbage were spotted floating in the water. The pale blue harborcame into view, with waves washing up the seawall. The docks werecrowded and Kitty could see that most of the faces were black. Shemade out a government building with cannons, and the waterfrontwarehouses and markets. The houses were different shades of pastel,with iron railings surrounding them. The sunlight dazzled her eyes,while the humid heat made her gasp. Captain Harding took herashore, where Kitty knew the first thing she must buy was a lightergown. She felt better the moment her feet touched land, but herheavy dress and cloak were suffocating. Big Jim directed her alongEast Bay Street until they came to a dress shop. Her pregnancy wasquite obvious now, so she chose a loose gown of pale green lawnwith a matching parasol that was quite inexpensive.
"Tell me, is it always this hot?" she askedthe saleswoman.
"Hot? Why, it's barely spring, child," thewoman said and laughed. "Wait until summer!"
The breeze rattled the palm leaves, and thestreets and gardens were filled with pink and red blossoming trees.Big Jim took her to the Battery Carriage House and left her to herown devices. When he returned they had to meet in the front parlor,as visitors were not allowed up to guests' bedrooms. "Are youfeeling better, lass?"
"Oh, yes. I fell asleep hours ago. Were youable to find me transportation?"
"I looked about the livery stables, but Ithink I have a better idea. There is a government mail coach goesnorth from Charleston tomorrow. It stops at the outlyingplantations and goes right past Bagatelle. They sometimes takepassengers, so I took the liberty of saying you'd travel withthem."
"That sounds wonderful. What would I dowithout you?"
"You'll find out tomorrow, won't you?" Helaughed. "Now, here's your ticket and I'll write down the addressfor you. You just walk down the South Battery to the building nextto the Court House."
"I know I'm keeping you from your duties, sowe'd better say goodbye." Her eyes glittered with tears.
"Well, I hate sentimental goodbyes, they'renot in my style, so I'll just kiss you for good luck. Remember, ifyou ever need a ride back across the pond, just ask around thewaterfront for me." He drew her to his massive chest quickly andbussed her on the forehead. "Don't go walking about the city alone,Kitty. Good-bye, love."
Jacquine awaited her overseer on the frontveranda.
"Simmons, I want you to get word to the slavebuyer right away that I have a prime hand I wish to sell."
"Yes, Miz LeCoq. Which one do you have inmind?"
"Colossus, but I don't want any trouble, sohe mustn't find out about it until the slave dealer is actuallyhere."
"But ma'am, he's our best field hand, he'sworth mor'n half a dozen others put together," he protested.
"Are you questioning my orders, Simmons?" sheasked coldly.
"No, no, ma'am," he stammered, "You know bestwhat you want to do with your own slaves. We should get a gooddollar for him," he suggested placatingly.
"You can pick out a couple of youngstriplings to go with him; this place is nigger rich!" Shedismissed him with a cold nod. She hoped there was no delay infinding the slave dealer; she had to get Colossus off the placebefore Patrick returned.
Two men rode on the mail coach; the driverand his guard, who carried a rifle across his knees. Kitty was theonly passenger. They would follow the Cooper River all the way outpast Bagatelle and up to Georgetown, then return by way of theAshley River, making a circle. They assured her she was going tosee the most beautiful country she had ever seen. The mail coachstopped at the main gates of each plantation but didn't turn intothem from the main road. The plantations were so large and thedriveways so long it would have added many hours to their weeklytrip. Kitty was enthralled by the beautiful gardens. Live oaksdraped with moss gave everything a fairy-tale appearance, and thetall cypress trees had their roots in the water. Everything seemedto be in bloom.
The coach was very hard and bumpy and toKitty the heat was unbearable, but every time she thought shecouldn't sit one moment longer, the sight of a delicate whitedogwood would take her breath away. Finally the mail coach stoppedoutside a tall pair of white gates.
"Hi there, Josh. We got mail and a visitorfor up at the big house."
"Hold on while I unlock the gate."
Kitty opened the coach door and stepped down.Thank you for a beautiful ride, gentlemen. Have a safe trip." Shesmiled.
The young boy Josh took the mail pouch in onehand and Kitty's bag in the other.
"I had no idea the plantation would be thisbig," Kitty said, taking in the acres of formal, manicured lawnsthat swept down on both sides of the driveway. The boy was too shyto answer her, so he just grinned. They walked a considerabledistance before the mansion came into view, and Kitty stopped inher tracks to gaze at it. "Oh, it's simply breathtaking," she said.Josh grinned.
When they arrived at the front door, Kittysuddenly felt that she should not have come. How was she even goingto walk into the splendor of Bagatelle and explain who she was?Then her natural optimism took over and she knew everything wouldbe all right the moment Patrick saw her.
Josh knocked on the door and Ebony, thebutler, opened the portal wide. He bowed stiffly. "Won't you comein,madame?I will inform Miz LeCoq."
