Page 80 of The Irish Gypsy
When the doctor examined Kitty, he told herthat she should be delivered in about two weeks. Charles doubledhis efforts at persuading her to marry him before the child wasborn. As the time drew closer, the housemaids filled her ears withlurid stories of death from childbirth, and Kitty began to panic atwhat would happen to her child if she did die. She thoughtseriously about accepting Charles' proposal, but it seemed such anunequal bargain to her. She would be gaining wealth, a title,security for her child and couldn't even offer love in return. Shefirmly rejected the idea, only to have the most appallingnightmares of living in the slums where everyone screamed'bastard!' at her child.
Charles had to work late one evening, andwhen he returned he went straight to Kitty and said, "I've beenthinking how selfish it is of me to keep pressing this marriageupon you, my dear. It's so one-sided, with all the advantages goingto me. I'd be getting a beautiful young wife and a child I couldpass my title to, and all I'd be giving in return is financialsecurity. There are hundreds of men who could do that, all of themcloser to your own age." He stopped when he noticed how white shewas about the mouth.
"Charles, don't get cold feet, just when Iwas about to accept you."
"I'll send for the priest immediately, but inyears to come, don't recriminate me for taking advantage of yourfear and vulnerability--even though it's true." He smiled.
In less than an hour they exchanged vows.Though she was trying to conceal it, he could tell that she wasexperiencing pain, so as soon as his heavy gold ring was on Kitty'sfinger, Charles lifted her into his arms and hurried upstairs."Into bed with you, my duchess; the doctor's on his way."
Kitty smiled through her tears.
She was not smiling fourteen hours later,when she still was in hard labor but had not delivered. There hewas again anxiously hovering over the bed. Poor Charles! His facewas haggard; his eyes clearly showed the misery he was feeling. Agreat surge of anger arose at Patrick.He should be the onepacing the floor in a fever of anxiety over our unborn child. I bethe's enjoying himself this very moment.She stuffed the sheetinto her mouth and bit down hard.By God, I'll make him pay forthis!she vowed.
When she became conscious the first sound sheheard was her son screaming for food. She opened her eyes andlooked at the most beautiful creature who had ever existed.Granted, there was an angry red mark on his forehead, left by theforceps, but his eyes were dark blue and he had an appealing cropof black curls. The relief showed clearly on Charles' face, thegrim lines softening as his eyes rested upon mother and child.
"How do you feel?" he asked softly.
"Tired....happy....quite brilliant, really,like I've accomplished something worthwhile."
"And so you have, my dear. Now, Katie here isgoing to be the baby's nurse; also, the doctor recommended a wetnurse who delivered a couple of days ago."
Her eyes were closing sleepily and shestifled a yawn. "Whatever is a wet nurse, Charles?"
"Well....er," he colored slightly, "wealthyladies usually don't feed their babies at their own breasts, sinceit spoils the figure, so a wet nurse is substituted."
Kitty laughed delightedly. "Oh, Charles, youmake up the most absurd stories to amuse me."
Charles smiled to himself. She didn't evenbelieve him, so he might as well keep quiet and let nature take itscourse the way it was meant to. He kissed her brow. "Rest, mydarling. I'll come back later."
She was up and about in a week. She had a newreason for being alive, which was obvious to everyone who saw her.To Charles she was a delight. She wore ruffled white dresses withvivid red hibiscus blossoms in her hair, and she sang constantly tothe baby.
"Are you happy, Kathleen?" he ventured oneevening after she had put the baby to sleep in his cradle.
"Charles, I can't remember feeling so secureand content in my life."
He smiled. "We should get him christened.
"Yes, we will call him Charles....CharlesPatrick."
"You know, that would please me above allthings. Are you sure?"
"Yes, very sure," she said firmly.
"When the baby is a month old, we'll have ourwedding reception. The island society is dying to meet you. Ireceive questions about you every day from the planters and theirwives."
"Won't it seem awkward having a weddingreception so many weeks after the wedding? I don't want to be anembarrassment to you, Charles."
"You're not an embarrassment; you're mysalvation. If you like, it can be a large dinner party, butwewill know it's our wedding reception. You shall have awhole new wardrobe." He hesitated. "Kathleen, you aren'tsorry you agreed to be my wife?"
"As a matter of fact, I'm looking forward tobeing introduced as your wife, and after the reception I'm going tomove into the master bedroom, where I belong."
"Sweetheart, there's something I should havetold you, but it's such a source of shame to me that I've keptputting it off. I'd die if this information ever got about--infact, one of the reasons I wanted a wife was to show her off to theworld. Now, I have a son, and of course everyone thinks it's mychild, and that's exactly what I want them to think."
"I don't think I understand," Kitty said.
"The thing is, I don't honestly believe I'mcapable of having a child, but I wish the world to think that I am.Is that very despicable of me?"
"I'm delighted to have you as the father ofmy child. I've never met a kinder man, or one I liked more." Shesmiled.
