Page 22 of The Irish Gypsy
Mrs. Harris was very pleased when she saw howyoung Kitty was. She felt certain she would be able to take theupper hand. It was plain to see his nibs was badly smitten, as hecouldn't take his eyes from her for more than a few seconds at atime. She knew he would have a formidable temper if aroused, so shehesitated over her next words for fear of spoiling his obvious goodmood. "Milord, I'm sorry to have to tell you, but the cook nevershowed up today."
"Well, never mind, Mrs. Harris. FortunatelyShepherd's Market is just two steps away round the corner. YeGrapes can provide us with a light supper, if you would be goodenough to step round there for me?"
"My pleasure, sir," she answered, relievedthat his easy-going mood had not altered. "The wine you sentarrived this afternoon. I put some of it to chill."
"Did it arrive intact, no bottle broken?" heasked, winking at Kitty.
"Oh, Patrick," Kitty said with a laugh, "thatseems a lifetime ago; I can't believe it was only thismorning."
"Come, let me show you your new home whileMrs. Harris sees about our supper." It was clearly a man'sestablishment, with a richly patterned oriental carpet, a winevelvet couch and two leather wing-backed chairs in front of a smallfireplace. There was a beautifully inlaid writing desk, but thewhole effect was softened by masses of flowers Patrick had ordered.This sitting room was one floor up from the reception hall wherethey had entered. It was a tall, narrow house, and above thesitting room on the third level was a spacious bedroom. The bed wasenormous, with brocade hangings that matched the heavy curtains atthe tall windows. The wardrobe and tallboy were in a polished redmahogany, and the pile of the rug was like plush velvet. Patrickopened a door off the bedroom to show Kitty the bathroom.
She was utterly delighted. "Oh, a bath justfor me! This is the nicest room of all; I'll spend all my timehere.
He was delighted at her pleasure ineverything.
"Oh, who picked out all this beautiful soapand dusting powder?"
"I did, of course," he said with a smile.
She stripped off her gloves and washed herhands with the rose-scented soap. "Mmm, smell me," she invited,holding her hands up to his face.
He buried a kiss inside her palm and quicklyclosed her fingers over it. She was delighted at such a prettytrick. When they went downstairs to the sitting room, Mrs. Harrishad laid out a cold supper for them. She was glad to see they werein a playful mood; that meant bed right after they'd eaten and shewould be free to go belowstairs to her own room for the rest of theevening.
Patrick carved the bird and poured the wine.Later he peeled a peach for her. It was the first time she had everseen a peach in her whole life. She decided she liked themexcessively. He led her to the couch to finish their wine. Helooked deeply into her eyes and offered a toast. "To this moment,and the moment yet to come," he said meaningfully.
She was acutely aware of his nearness andthought:This is what it would be like to be married; just thetwo of us alone.
He said huskily, "What would you like todo?"
She looked at him from beneath her lashes andsaid, "Will you let me play with your....watch?"
There, she had done it again! Her words wereerotically suggestive, as if she were a practiced coquette, whileat the same time she looked at him with innocent, trusting eyes. Adesire such as he had seldom felt before swept through him. Hemurmured Robert Burns' lines:
Honeyed seal of soft affections,
Tenderest pledge of future bliss,
Dearest tie of young connections,
Love's first snowdrop, virgin kiss.
He crushed her to him. The scent of herbreath excited him further and his mouth came down upon herslongingly.
She sprang up quickly, confused. "Do....doyou have a key of your own?" she stammered.
"Of course."
"Good. Then you can let yourself out whenyou're ready to leave. I know you'll excuse me, but I'm just dyingto take a bath in that beautiful tub. Oh, Patrick, I can neverthank you enough for what you've done. Good night!" she saidquickly and ran from the room.
Patrick chuckled to himself and rang for Mrs.Harris. "Milady has decided to take a bath. She's used to doingeverything for herself, so you will have to insist on helping herif she tries to dismiss you. Oh, and Mrs. Harris, try and hurry heralong to bed, won't you?" he said with a wink. He removed hisjacket and waistcoat, stretched out his legs and lit a long, thincheroot.
"I'll draw your bath, ma'am," said Mrs.Harris.
"Oh, please call me Kitty, won't you? Fillthe tub right up and pour in some of those lovely lavender bathsalts. I feel very extravagant tonight." Kitty tied up her curlswith a satin ribbon and sank into the perfumed water up to herchin. The hot water gave her a sensuous feeling. Although Kitty didnot know what it was exactly, she knew it was an extremely pleasantsensation.
After ten minutes Mrs. Harris came in andpicked up Kitty's clothes and laid a white gossamer nightgown outfor her.
"Where did you find that?" Kitty asked,surprised.
