Page 87 of The Irish Gypsy
"She doesn't go anywhere without it, doesshe?" laughed Isobel Chatham.
"We must rescue him at all costs. The lasttime she cornered me I had to get away from her before I was wormedor served!"
Kitty slipped behind Charles' chair and puther hands on his shoulders. "Darling, I was hoping you'd take mehome. It's a terrible crush tonight."
"Excuse me, Maude, duty calls," he saidpolitely.
After the theater, they often invited a fewfriends back for a light supper. Kitty enjoyed these intimateevenings because the conversation was always lively andinteresting. She became famous for her devastating imitations ofpeople in the inner circle.
"Where were you last evening? I missed you atthe opera," said Lady Derby.
"Viscountess Palmerston's soiree in CharltonGardens," answered Charles.
"Oh, it was lovely," said Kitty, "except Igot cornered by the Duchess of Sutherland. She uses all thosedouble words. What do you call it, Charles?"
"Reduplicative," he said with a smile,knowing what was coming.
Kitty mimicked, "Pish tush, I say! Thewhippersnapper talks claptrap. He's a wishy-washy, namby-pambynitwit. What a mishmash it is tonight, nothing but riffraff andragtag. Tut-tut, girl, drink up, chin-chin, no more chitchat, don'tshilly-shally. Oh, fiddle-faddle, here's the major so I'll sayta-ta."
Her appreciative audience clapped theirdelight at her takeoff. "Isn't she marvelous? Kitty, do the ForeignSecretary."
Charles cut in smoothly, "I don't think thatwould be wise. Kathleen is to be presented to Her Majesty nextweek."
"Oh, marvelous; she'll take an instantdislike to you of course--far too pretty, Remember, no brightcolors; it's an unwritten rule that all the ladies wear soberattire. What shall you wear?"
"Oh, bottle green, or something equallyhideous, I suppose," Kitty said and laughed.
Patrick's sister Julia lost no timerekindling her friendship. Kitty suspected it had a great deal todo with her new status, but she did find Julia's social adviceinvaluable. The London Season was upon them, and social activitiesreached a frenzied peak. Charles paid careful attention to dressingthe evening his wife was to be presented to the Queen. He was vyingfor a new appointment, and although he didn't think he'd get to beChancellor of the Exchequer, he thought he stood a good chance forcustoms collector for the Port of London.
Inside the anteroom the gentlemen handedtheir capes and top hats to footmen on the right, while ladies wentto the left to remove their cloaks. They came together again to beannounced as they entered the state ballroom. As he turned, Charleswas shocked to see Kitty standing resplendent in flame-colored silkwith crimson poppies in her hair.
He thought wryly:There goes myappointment.
"Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess ofManchester," rang out across the room, followed by a shockedsilence that seemed to stretch out for minutes. Inwardly, shewished with all her heart that she hadn't done this stupid,impulsive thing. Then a gentleman separated himself from a group ofcourtiers and walked down the ballroom toward Kitty. He bowed lowin front of her.
"May I have the next dance, madame?"
"Thank you, Prince Albert. You are the mostcourageous man in the room."
He raised her quickly and everyone aroundthem gave a collective sigh that she had been accepted.
Later, when she danced with Charles, she toldhim she regretted her whim. "Now I shall have to learn how todismount gracefully from my high horse. Darling, I'm sorry if thisqueers your chances with the Queen."
"Nonsense; she'll probably take pity on anold man like me, saddled with such an incorrigible snip of a girlfor his wife," and he squeezed her hard before letting her go. Shedreaded the moment coming and when at last she was face to facewith Victoria, Kitty sank into a curtsy and waited to be spoken tofirst.
"Irish, are you not?" inquired the Queen.
Kitty nodded and began, "Your Majesty, I'msorry...."
"No need to apologize; you'd stand outanywhere, rather like a tiger lily at a funeral."
Kitty had many offers to take her in tosupper. She chose Lord Liverpool, who joked that Liverpool andManchester should always go arm in arm. "Here comes the PrimeMinister," hissed Lord Liverpool.
Lord Palmerston, with a fatuous look towardQueen Victoria, said, "Ah, ladies, your cause has come a long waybecause of our gracious Queen Victoria. Because one of your ownfair sex rules, womanhood has come out of the dark ages."
"I don't agree, Mr. Prime Minister," saidKitty. "The Regency and the Georgians were frankly bawdy.Victoria's suppressions have turned us all into hypocrites."
"However do you mean, madame?"
