Page 100 of The Irish Gypsy

She took off her hat and coat and sat beforethe kitchen fire, planning strategy. "You can come and go as youplease today, Barbara, but tomorrow I want you out of sightcompletely. I expect him in the afternoon, and you will dine withus, Terrance, and entertain him tomorrow evening."

"But he'll want to be alone with you,"protested Barbara.

"Precisely! Here's lesson Number One, mygirl; you don't give a man everything he wants. Where are yousleeping?"

"In the west wing, right above this kitchen,I think," said Terry.

"Oh, that's good. The two large bedrooms atthe front are far enough away; we'll use those."

"I don't think Patrick will stand forseparate bedrooms," said Terry, winking.

"You just let me handle Patrick if you knowwhat's good for you. Now, is everything clear? Tomorrow Barbarabecomes invisible and you help me entertain our guest. He's cominghere to buy Windrush."

"What a bloody charade; you wouldn't sell theplace if you were down to your last penny!"

"You keep a civil tongue in your head and goalong with whatever I tell him. You're both going to need someoneon your side when your little bubble bursts, speaking of charades,"she said sarcastically. "Where are the servants? I hope everythingis being run properly around here."

"Stop worrying, Kitty. The household runs assmooth as glass. They aren't in evidence because we like to bealone."

"I want to speak to the manservant. Callwhat's his name, Mr. Burke! How could I have forgotten after thatday last year when I fired the housekeeper and put Mr. Burke incharge?"

She picked up her overnight case and went insearch of the man. He was warm and friendly. "Welcome home,ma'am."

"Thank you, Mr. Burke. I'm expecting agentleman tomorrow. Will you help me get everything ready? You weresuch a help to me when I was nursing my grandfather."

"It will be my pleasure, ma'am."

She headed toward the stairs. "We'll use thetwo large bedrooms at the front of the house."

He opened the door to the first room and theyboth went inside.

"It's a beautiful room; a welcoming room.Will you see that someone builds me a fire? You needn't light theone next door until tomorrow." She went to the door that connectedthe two bedrooms, opened it wide and stepped through to look aboutwith satisfaction.

"Let me see; I want you to bring a decanterof brandy and glasses. He smokes, so you'd better find someashtrays. When he arrives, make sure there's plenty of hot waterfor a bath. And I think he shaves twice a day, so he'll need hotwater again at night."

She walked back into her own room. "Make surethe beds are aired. Oh, yes, the most important thing of all, Mr.Burke. I'd like a key for this connecting door so that I can lockit."

"I'll send a maid for some towels,ma'am."

"Mr. Burke, I want you to keep the maids busydownstairs. I see none in evidence at the moment, but once Mr.O'Reilly comes through that front doorway, I have an idea they'llbe thick as moths around a candle. I'm up on all their littletricks, Mr. Burke. I used to be a maid myself."

"An attractive gentleman, I take it?" heasked with a straight face.

"Mr. Burke, he'd charm the ducks off thepond," she said and smiled.

"I'll get you that key," he said with atwinkle in his eye.

When he returned with the brandy, he lit herfire. She was looking from the tall bedroom windows over the greenpaddocks where horses grazed lazily. "I love Windrush. It's sopeaceful. Does everything run as smoothly as it seems on thesurface?"

"Just like clockwork. Terrance runseverything outside and I run everything inside. Smooth asglass."

"Really? You can expect some ripples then,Mr. Burke. The gentleman I'm expecting is Miss Barbara'sbrother."

"Oh, dear. I take it he is in ignorance ofthe situation?" he asked.

She nodded. "And I intend to keep him inignorance as long as it's humanly possible."

"I see. I believe we have some Irish whiskeyin the cellar, ma'am."