Page 94 of The Irish Gypsy
"What advice was that, Charles?"
"About finding yourself a nice youngman."
"Ah, that's my secret," she teased. "You knowthe husband is always the last to know. But you're divertingattention from yourself. We were discussing how tired youlook."
"Why don't we have a holiday? It would do usboth good. What we need is a dose of Ireland! We'll visit my seat,Drago Castle in County Armagh."
"It sounds marvelous. I've never been to thatpart," she said excitedly.
"It will give Charlie a chance to run wildbefore we saddle him with a tutor. I'll charter a boat to take usup to Dundalk-- Bay. Your cousin Patrick keeps a yacht in Liverpoolat the ready to take him wherever he wishes."
She pulled a slight face. "How decadent ofhim."
"Kathleen, you have a blind spot when itcomes to Patrick," he said.
"What do you mean?" she asked faintly.
"Well, you never have a good word for him,and a more worthy fellow I can't imagine," he told her.
"Worthy?" she questioned.
"Well, I'm not supposed to bandy it about,but at this very moment he's taking secret messages from ourgovernment to Mr. Lincoln's government in America. An occupationthat could very easily get him shot."
An ice-cold hand gripped her heart. Patrick'swords drifted back to her: "One last time....I'll never bother youagain." Surely he didn't think he was going to his death. He hadn'tseemed worried, but then again that was the impression hegave--never caring if he won or lost!
Drago Castle was foreboding, but itfascinated Kitty. Only one wing was habitable. The rest was damp,dark and quite forbidding. The suite of rooms Charles and Kittyused were kept cozily warm by blazing fires night and day. Katieand Mimi, the servants Kitty brought, were deathly afraid of theplace and swore there was a ghost around every corner.
Charles said, "When I was a child the placeterrified me, so I can understand how the girls feel."
"Well, I don't want them frightening Charliewith their ideas. I'll soon put a stop to it," she promised.
Mimi came to her not ten minutes later."Ma'am, I hear footsteps following me whenever I go to bringanything from the kitchen. I dare not go again." She trembled.
"Ah, I see I shall have to tell you the storyof the castle ghost. It seems that Charles' grandfather had adarling little dog when he was a young boy. It had such an enormousappetite for a tiny dog that whenever the servants brought foodfrom the kitchens, it followed them every day. It was such afamiliar sight that around the castle, mealtimes weren't the sameunless the little dog trotted about after the servants. The legendis that if someone comes into the castle who is extremely kind toanimals, they can hear the little dog pattering about behindthem."
"Oh, the dear little thing! That's not veryfrightening, is it?" said Mimi, and she went from the room withouttrepidation.
Charles was bemused. "And what happened tothe dear little dog?"
Kitty made claws and growled at him. "Thedragon ate it!"
Charles chuckled. "I think she believedyou."
Kitty shrugged and said, "People usuallybelieve anything you tell them."
He studied her for a minute. "You'd never fobme off with a pleasant story, Kathleen. You'd always tell me thetruth, wouldn't you?"
She regarded him quietly with her head on oneside, then said softly, "Not if it would break your heart,Charles."
The autumn air was crisp and tangy. Kittyrode every day. She finally allowed her son to ride a small pony,which put him in his glory. Charles took the dogs and went hunting.Kitty noted the fresh air must be doing him good, as he certainlylost the tired look and seemed quite relaxed.
Kitty visited one middle-aged woman wholooked after orphaned children. After she left, she felt ashamed atthe way she had frittered away her time in London in a whirl ofsocial functions. Plans were already being formed to get money forthis orphanage and others by having charity functions. She knew somany people who were far too heavy in the pocket. It would be likedoing them a favor to lighten them a bit. She hired one or twogirls who came up to the castle looking for work. A few more cameand she wondered how the household could absorb any more younggirls. Kitty felt a definite obligation to these young women whodesperately needed employment. By the time she had agreed to takeback five girls with her, the stream had turned into a steady flowof colleens eager to take their place in domestic service.
Charles chided her, "I think you're runningan employment agency, my dear." She began to write letters to herfriends in London to try to secure places for them. Finally shecalled half a dozen aspirants together for a word of warning sheknew had to be said.
"You will be alone for the first time in yourlives. You all seem far too young and innocent to be going to aworldly place like London. There are dangers to be avoided at everyturn." Kitty hesitated, she was on the brink of warning them ofmoney matters and traffic, when she let out a heavy sigh and said,"A young pretty maid is almost the property of her employers. Thesons of the family will take liberties every chance they get. Andit's not just the sons," she warned. "The master of the house willdo his best to seduce you every time the mistress turns her back.They'll attempt to lift your skirts in every dark corner they cancatch you."
The girls blushed and giggled, but she wenton, "Be determined never to let anyone make a victim of you andyou'll manage fine in London, or anywhere else, for thatmatter."
