Page 42 of The Irish Gypsy
"I'll give youanythingbut that, Ipromise."
"Patrick O'Reilly, you've got a blind spotwhen it comes to marrying me. I'll swear you lace-curtain Irish arethe most bigoted sods on earth, but you're worse than most. Evenyour father had the decency to ask me to marry him."
"My father?" questioned Patrick, angrynow.
Kitty ignored the subject. "Ever since youbrought me out of Ireland I've been branded with poverty, charityand humiliation and they are burns that never come out!" sheshouted.
"What the hell do you want, wench?" Histemper was completely gone now.
"I won't be your paid whore! I want arespectable marriage," she cried.
His eyes smoldered and he sneered, "In thatcase we'd better look about us for a suitable husband for you."
The silence remained unbroken on the carriageride back to Cadogen Square. The face that she loved above allothers had a closed look that she could not penetrate.
After that, they avoided each other as muchas possible, but when they were forced together because of theChristmas celebrations, they were dangerously polite to eachother.
Julia had been planning a New Year's Eve ballfor some time and she was delighted that Patrick would be there forit.
"I hope you have invited some eligible youngmen for Kitty and me," Barbara said hopefully.
"There will be plenty of young men, but Idon't know anyone who would be willing to marry a penniless girllike Kitty," scoffed Julia.
"Why, Julia, Kitty is very beautiful and Iwas reading of the Gunning sisters only the other day. When theirmother brought them out of Ireland they were so desperately poorthey had only one fancy dress between the two of them and only oneat a time could go out. Elizabeth was so beautiful the Duke ofHamilton eloped with her after knowing her for only a month."
Patrick looked up from his morning paper andsaid dryly, "He was a notorious drunkard who gave her two childrenin quick succession and made her life hell."
Barbara lifted her chin and said, "But that'sthe best part. He drank himself to death at thirty-three andElizabeth immediately married the fifth Duke of Argyll. Her sisterMaria married an earl."
Julia retorted, "Romantic nonsense! Kittywill get plenty of offers, but they won't be for marriage."
Patrick was nettled enough to reply, "You'revery catty, Julia. I happen to know Kitty could have been yourstepmother! If she'd married Father he would likely have left hereverything and you would have been disinherited."
Both girls were left with their mouthsopen.
Julia had invited a crush of her friends, andall Jeffrey's relatives were there. Kitty was deluged withinvitations to dance and the moment the music stopped she wassurrounded by men. Her eyes often sought out Patrick, who was neverat a loss for female admirers. The young ones hung about him,giving him shy glances and blushing furiously when he spoke, butthe older, married women vied with each other for his attention.They sent him bold invitations with their eyes and bodies anddidn't even bother to conceal their blatant desire.
Kitty sought out Terrance, who had justdanced with Barbara.
"What's wrong, Kitty?" he asked.
"Oh, it's just awful. I'm going to stay closeby you two. You have no idea what the men here are like."
"Who? That fellow you were dancing with? Whatthe devil did he do?"
"He kept trying to kiss me," she saidindignantly.
"I'll just go and have a little word withhim," said Terry angrily.
"Oh, no, don't. It wasn't just him. The lastone danced me behind those potted ferns and put his hand down mybodice."
"Right here in front of everyone?" askedBarbara, scandalized.
Just then, a small woman approached Barbarawith a young man in tow. "There you are, Barbara dear. Do youremember me from the wedding? I'm Amelia Brownlow, Jeffrey'scousin, and this is my son, Simon. I've been simply dying tointroduce you two. Simon, this is Julia's sister, whom I've beentelling you about."
The fair young man with lazy eyes smiled andbowed before Barbara "My pleasure, ma'am."
Amelia looked pleased with herself and said,"Well, I'll leave you young people to enjoy yourselves. Havefun."
