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Authors: Henrietta Reid
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interested voice, hoping the discussion would now centre on the peculiarities of poultry rather than revert to the wret c hed soda-cake.
But to her dismay Owen bent down and picking up the remains of the soda-cake placed it in his pocket. ‘I shall keep this as a memento of you, so that some day when you’re back in England and I’m regretting that Mrs. Murphy isn’t a pretty young girl in a frilly apron, I’ll take it out and have a look at it and console myself for your loss by remembering what a rotten hand you were at baking. ’
‘Thanks !’ Kate snapped, all embarrassment disappearing at the ungallantry of the remark. But then it was typical of him, she told herself hotly as, in silence, she accompanied him back to the house, preceded by the treacherous Bedsocks. No man could be more unlike the Owen Lawlor who had written so tenderly on those green sheets of paper!
As they went through the orchard gates a car drew up and a hard-featured and elegantly dressed middle-aged woman got out and moved towards them.
‘Aunt Alice !’ Owen sounded surprised and a little sardonic. ‘It’s not like you to honour us with a visit.’
But his aunt ignored his words. Her eyes were firmly fixed on Kate with such a look of outrage that Kate felt herself wilt. ‘So this is the young woman! Do you realise, Owen, that’s it’s all over the countryside that you’re sharing house with a strange young woman? I realise, of course, that it was my irresponsible son who instigated the whole wretched affair, but at the same time I’m amazed that you hadn’t the decency to get rid of the girl before the story became a subject of sniggering gossip.’
Completely ignoring this speech, he said mildly, ‘This is my aunt, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Kate.’ Then, turning to his aunt, he said easily, ‘As you appear to know all about Kate, I suppose there’s no point in introducing her.’
‘None whatsoever,’ Mrs. Fitzpatrick said furiously, as she pulled off her gloves. ‘And might I point out, Owen, that you should have a proper servant to answer the door. I was knocking for ages and then had to drive into the yard.’ She looked about with distaste at the untidy jumble of half sawn logs, the old disused trap and milk chums under the open shed, the straw that straggled from the open stable door.
There was a short pause and Owen said, ‘Won’t you come in and have a glass of sherry? I’m sure,’ he added, ‘you’d rather discuss your problems in the more civilised atmosphere of the sitting-room.’
‘ Yes, perhaps it would be better.’ She sounded completely unaware of any sardonic overtones in his remarks. ‘Although there’s really no problem. I’ve heard all about Mrs. Murphy’s accident, but it’s useless to pretend that this girl could possibly be a substitute for her. Your duty is quite clear. She must go immediately. However, it is essential I have a few words with you in private, Owen,’ she announced pointedly when they had reached the sitting-room and Kate began to fill the glasses.
‘No, not in private, Aunt,’ Owen said quietly. ‘Anything you have to say can be said in front of Kate.’
His aunt shrugged. ‘Very well, but I assure you they won’t be complimentary, for I’m not going to beat about the bush, Owen. You’ve disgraced the family and dragged your name in the mud. It may be all very well and good for you to live as you please, but the Fitzpatricks have always been looked up to. Why, the whole village of Ballyfeeny lived on what they earned in the Fitzpatrick mills.’
‘Yes, at one time,’ Owen agreed, and Kate realised that he was about to enlarge on this, but had changed his mind.
‘Anyway, it’s an undoubted fact that the villagers look up to us and expect us to give an example.’
‘Nicky’s example—or the twins’, for that matter?’ her nephew inquired dryly.
Mrs. Fitzpatrick compressed her lips. ‘They have, unfortunately, inherited a certain amount of wildness from
But to her dismay Owen bent down and picking up the remains of the soda-cake placed it in his pocket. ‘I shall keep this as a memento of you, so that some day when you’re back in England and I’m regretting that Mrs. Murphy isn’t a pretty young girl in a frilly apron, I’ll take it out and have a look at it and console myself for your loss by remembering what a rotten hand you were at baking. ’
‘Thanks !’ Kate snapped, all embarrassment disappearing at the ungallantry of the remark. But then it was typical of him, she told herself hotly as, in silence, she accompanied him back to the house, preceded by the treacherous Bedsocks. No man could be more unlike the Owen Lawlor who had written so tenderly on those green sheets of paper!
As they went through the orchard gates a car drew up and a hard-featured and elegantly dressed middle-aged woman got out and moved towards them.
‘Aunt Alice !’ Owen sounded surprised and a little sardonic. ‘It’s not like you to honour us with a visit.’
But his aunt ignored his words. Her eyes were firmly fixed on Kate with such a look of outrage that Kate felt herself wilt. ‘So this is the young woman! Do you realise, Owen, that’s it’s all over the countryside that you’re sharing house with a strange young woman? I realise, of course, that it was my irresponsible son who instigated the whole wretched affair, but at the same time I’m amazed that you hadn’t the decency to get rid of the girl before the story became a subject of sniggering gossip.’
Completely ignoring this speech, he said mildly, ‘This is my aunt, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Kate.’ Then, turning to his aunt, he said easily, ‘As you appear to know all about Kate, I suppose there’s no point in introducing her.’
‘None whatsoever,’ Mrs. Fitzpatrick said furiously, as she pulled off her gloves. ‘And might I point out, Owen, that you should have a proper servant to answer the door. I was knocking for ages and then had to drive into the yard.’ She looked about with distaste at the untidy jumble of half sawn logs, the old disused trap and milk chums under the open shed, the straw that straggled from the open stable door.
There was a short pause and Owen said, ‘Won’t you come in and have a glass of sherry? I’m sure,’ he added, ‘you’d rather discuss your problems in the more civilised atmosphere of the sitting-room.’
‘ Yes, perhaps it would be better.’ She sounded completely unaware of any sardonic overtones in his remarks. ‘Although there’s really no problem. I’ve heard all about Mrs. Murphy’s accident, but it’s useless to pretend that this girl could possibly be a substitute for her. Your duty is quite clear. She must go immediately. However, it is essential I have a few words with you in private, Owen,’ she announced pointedly when they had reached the sitting-room and Kate began to fill the glasses.
‘No, not in private, Aunt,’ Owen said quietly. ‘Anything you have to say can be said in front of Kate.’
His aunt shrugged. ‘Very well, but I assure you they won’t be complimentary, for I’m not going to beat about the bush, Owen. You’ve disgraced the family and dragged your name in the mud. It may be all very well and good for you to live as you please, but the Fitzpatricks have always been looked up to. Why, the whole village of Ballyfeeny lived on what they earned in the Fitzpatrick mills.’
‘Yes, at one time,’ Owen agreed, and Kate realised that he was about to enlarge on this, but had changed his mind.
‘Anyway, it’s an undoubted fact that the villagers look up to us and expect us to give an example.’
‘Nicky’s example—or the twins’, for that matter?’ her nephew inquired dryly.
Mrs. Fitzpatrick compressed her lips. ‘They have, unfortunately, inherited a certain amount of wildness from
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