Read Online The Bohemian Girl by Frances Vernon - Free Book Online Page A

when I was a kid my dad thought himself lucky if the shop brought in a hundred and fifty pounds a year, and there was six of us! I know a good deal about keeping house. Now then, what else did he say, darling? We can talk about the money later.’
    Edward sat gazing round the bedroom and holding his wife’s hand. He thought of how, already, she had improved upon the heavy and old-fashioned decoration of this furnished house, with its dark papers and curtains, overstuffed balloon-backed chairs and billiard-cloth carpets. Kitty had bought small things in odd places for surprisingly little money, had somehow quite changed the house’s general effect: she was wholly perfect. As she looked at her distant grey reflection in the dressing-table mirror, Edward laid his head on Kitty’s lap. ‘Darling.’
    ‘Come now, Teddy-love. Tell Kitty.’
    ‘I tried to explain what sort of a girl you are – anyway, he said he was satisfied that I wasn’t such a fool as to be caught by one who was, well, bad, darling. But he didn’t like it.’
    ‘And why not? It’s happened before, our sort of marriage. And may I ask what sort of catch you are for a girl, Mr Blentham, compared to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge?’
    ‘Such an amusing girl you are,’ said Edward. ‘Love.’
    ‘Well, what else did he say?’
    ‘Well, darling, he pointed out that I wasn’t under age, and he said of course he wouldn’t attempt to do as Clancarty did with poor little Dunlo last year. Dashed good of him, wasn’t it!’ said Edward into her lap. ‘Doesn’t want more scandal than is strictly necessary. Besides, my love, he never liked Clancarty.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Kitty. ‘And I’ll have him know that I’m not such a namby-pamby creature as Belle Bilton, with her bastard kid, and her self-pity, and marrying Lord Dunlo while living with that other poor chap! Oh, I don’t deny she was innocent of adultery proper – I’m glad they gave her flowers at the Empire, I’m sure. But talk about a girl with no character!’
    ‘Yes, darling love.’
    ‘And now she’ll be moping herself to death in Ireland. Well, I’ve no intention of doing that, Teddy-love. We’re going to be in Society. Are we not, sir?’
    ‘’Course we are!’
    ‘Pity your Mater didn’t quite commit herself to presenting me at court, ain’t it?’ said Kitty, putting her hands on her hips and raising one eyebrow up to her hairline.
    ‘A damn’ shame.’
    ‘Yes, well, we shan’t let it trouble us.’
    Edward raised his head from her lap. ‘You’ll win her round, Kitty, in time. She’s a grand old girl in her way, don’t you know, and less of a snob than many women.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Fact is, the only thing she can’t stand is what she calls impropriety. Once she knows you’re not that way inclined –’
    ‘That I wasn’t your mistress before I married you?’ said Kitty, swinging round from the waist. ‘But who’ll make her believe that? Or anyone believe it – though we could hardly have lived more respectably, I made sure enough of that! Look at this house, let to Deans and whatnot – I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been better for us to have made a splash from the start.’
    ‘They’ll have to believe it,’ said Edward.
    ‘There’s one economy we’re not going to make,’ said Kitty,getting up from the bed. ‘No more hired broughams and hansoms, Teddy. We’re going to Long Acre tomorrow to buy a carriage – a victoria – and you can go to Tattersalls’ for a nice pair of tits. You and I are going to drive in the Park, my boy, morning and evening, I’ll learn to ride, and first thing of all, you can send the notice of our marriage to the newspapers. After which I’ll start leaving cards. And now,’ she said, ‘you can help me dress, as I said, and then get yourself ready for Frascati’s!’
    ‘Dear Kitty, I do so love you,’ said Edward after a slight hesitation, in which both stood quite still, and looked at each