Page 29 of The Irish Gypsy
Kitty, relieved to have a sympathetic ear,blurted, "I was seduced....against my will!"
Her grandfather looked at her keenly. "By thefather, or she son?" he asked shrewdly
"Patrick John Francis O'Reilly," shewhispered.
He nodded, "Good. Better you should have yourfirst experience with a young stallion like that."
"My God, men are all alike. You all sticktogether!" she shouted wildly.
"Gently now, little one. Young men arevirile; it's a fire in the blood. They lose control once they'reteased and aroused."
"I didn't tease and arouse him!" she saidindignantly.
"You were born with the instinct. You fanyour great lashes and they sweep across your cheeks, then youflutter them upward and smile, so a man's heart turns over in hisbreast. Your sharp, little white teeth show between your partedlips, then the tip of that pink tongue darts out so a man would diejust to put his mouth on yours. You sigh so deeply your tittiesswell over the neckline of your gown and your black silk curlsbounce about your shoulders so a man's fingers can't resist theimpulse to play with them. You are too tempting for any man withred blood in his veins."
Kitty was speechless. Was this the pictureshe presented to the world? He was exaggerating, like everyIrishman who ever drew breath, but only a little, she finally hadto admit.
"So there's no use crying over spilled milk.Is he going to set you up?"
"I don't want to be his mistress. I hatemaking love! But oh, I wish he would marry me." Her own wordsshocked her, for she had not realized until this very moment thatshe still loved him in spite of everything. When a man entered awoman's body, he penetrated her soul and left behind a trace ofhimself that could never be completely erased.
"Be sensible, Kitty!" He spoke sternly forthe first time. "Patrick couldn't marry you if it were his dearestheart's desire. A man in his position has a responsibility to hisfamily to marry well. He's related to the nobility through Julia'smarriage now. Surely you wouldn't expect him to sacrifice himselffor a Gypsy wench who serves in his house as a scullery maid?"
"Don't be so brutal," cried Kitty, her facewhite with pain.
"Life is brutal, Kitty. We have happy momentsand happy hours, but not happy lives. Come to terms with it, learnto bend with the wind or be broken by it," he said quietly. "If youdislike being intimate with a man, choose someone older. Older menaren't filled with the burning lust that plagues young men. Choosea man who will not be demanding in bed and before long you will beso unsatisfied you will crave a man with vigor."
"Will you read the cards for me?" sheasked.
"I'll do the Celtic cross." He began to turnover the cards, speaking as he laid them out.
"Queen of swords--very dark coloring--manyclouds and storm warnings, nothing will come to her easily."
"King of Pentacles--self-made man, king ofall he surveys, an authority figure, one who won't be managed by awoman."
He turned the third card. "The Lovers--butalas, it's reversed. Means unrequited love, lovers' quarrel,breakup, separation."
He turned the fourth. "The Star--idealism ofthe young, wishing on a star."
He turned the fifth card. "The Fool--you havea choice in life--no matter which path you choose, there lies yourdestiny; learn by your mistakes."
"The Magician--symbolizes the four elements:earth, air, fire and water. Your destiny will include all four.
"Death...."
"Stop! I don't want to hear any more," criedKitty.
He gestured to her to be quiet as he peeredintently at the cards. "It could mean a physical death, but alsothat things get worse before they get better. Always remember,Kitty, death is followed by resurrection."
Kitty looked dismayed. "I shouldn't havebothered. I only wanted to know about marriage."
He chuckled and took her palm. "You'll haveat least three husbands; it says so right here."
She shook her head, still distressed buttrying to smile. "I've got to get back now. Take care of yourself,Grandada."
Jonathan O'Reilly fell into the habit ofdining with Kitty every evening. Then they would play dominoes."How about half-a-crown on this next hand, lass?" said Jonathanlaughing. "But what will you put up?"
"Oh, I don't need to put up anything; I'mgoing to win!" She was as good as her word and deftly pocketed thehalf-crown.
