Page 99 of The Irish Gypsy

Patrick's eyes were drawn to her like amagnet. He held his breath. Each time she turned in the waltz hethought her breasts would come out of her gown! Without hesitationhe strode across the dance floor and cut in on the older man.

"That took a great deal of courage, to stealme from the Prime Minister," she said prettily.

"He's a known womanizer and a lecher," hesaid bluntly.

"Will I be safer with you?" she teased.

Anger and lust raged a battle within him, butlust was winning as he feasted his eyes upon her as a man starving.As the music finished he released her reluctantly. Kitty eyed theserene young woman who came to stand by him. Kitty's eyes took inthe expensive eggshell satin with the modest neckline and thegentle face devoid of any makeup.

"Patrick thinks he has to protect me, but Icould give lessons in how to handle men," Kitty said provocatively."I always know exactly what effect I'm having on them," and shecast a deliberate, sideways glance at the bulge between his legs.Patrick's eyes narrowed dangerously, but she ignored the warning."I hear you are looking for land in Ireland, Patrick. I have anestate there I might be persuaded to sell. Why don't we go overnext week and I'll show it to you?"

Well, I'll be damned,thought Patrick,she's seducing me, right here in public.He respondedeagerly as his warm glance held her possessively.

"I'd love to see anything you'd care to showme."

"Good! Shall we say next Wednesday? I'll dropyou a note giving directions to Windrush."

"Will we travel across together? My ship isanchored at Liverpool."

"I don't think so. I'll be waiting for youwhen you arrive," she told him.

Patricia Cavendish accepted an offer todance. The moment she moved away, Patrick put his finger underKitty's chin and grinned down at her wickedly.

"She wasn't any competition for you, kitten;we were just friends."

"Ha!" said Kitty as she swept past himregally, her mission accomplished.

Kitty brushed aside Mimi's offer to accompanyher to Ireland. "No, no, I'd rather you stayed with CharlesPatrick. It's just a whim so see Windrush again in the autumn."

Charles overheard them from the next room."Irish people get very, very homesick," he told Mimi.

Kitty refused to entertain the guiltyfeelings that threatened to trap her. She pushed them out of hermind and admitted to herself she was as excited as a child at thethought of Christmas.

She arrived on Tuesday. It had rained in themorning, but the afternoon sun mellowed the bricks of Windrush to amisty rose. She knew she'd never get enough of the place as sheopened her own front door and carried her valise inside. She hearda girl's footsteps running to see who had arrived and looked upexpecting to see a maid. "Barbara! Oh, my God, you haven't?" Kittyasked, dismayed.

"I'm afraid I have," she said, glancing overher shoulder as Terry came up behind her.

"Have you been here all those months you weresupposed to be in Cornwall?"

"She has," answered Terry, slipping his armsabout Barbara and nuzzling her neck.

"You know who'll get the blame for thisbloody lot, don't you? Me, that's who!" Kitty shouted.

"Blame?" said Terry, puzzled.

"Patrick's coming tomorrow. How the hell do Ikeep him from finding out?" she demanded.

Barbara giggled. "Take him to bed as soon ashe arrives and keep him there."

"Barbara!" cried Kitty, thoroughlyshocked.

"To hell with it," said Terry, "I'm tired ofsneaking about. We might as well have it out."

"Well, thank you both very much!" she saidwith arms akimbo. "I plan a secret little tryst and in its stead Iget a big stinking family fight!"

Barbara ran to her. "I'm sorry, Kitty."

"Oh, so am I. I love you both very much and Iunderstand that you fell in love almost the first time you saw eachother, but coming here and sleeping with him--my God, Patrick willrun mad!"