Unveiled. Part 19

"Oh, Paddy." Katie hugged him back, overwhelmingly glad that he was with her once more.

"We have to make plans, however," Patrick continued, embarra.s.sed by her reaction. "He may not want us to stay. You need some money help-I can provide an income. And there's Sean to think about. John Sweeney will find us again, sooner or later. We have to find a way to deal with him."

"The troubles never end, do they?" Katie questioned softly. But her grandfather's words had made her dry her eyes. He was right-and she needed all of her resources to deal with the inevitable.

"No, they don't. At least, not for us."

"May I come in?" Charles Pepper knocked lightly on the office door, stunned to see Christopher seated behind his desk with a brandy bottle before him. It was late afternoon and most of the clients had gone, but it didn't take a genius to figure out that something was terribly wrong.

"Shut the door," Christopher said abruptly. Charles complied, and Christopher nodded. "Good. The last thing I need is for your old man to see me like this. Charles, I really want to be alone."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Charles took a seat, then indicated the bottle. "May I?"

"Sure." Christopher pushed it over to him, then indicated the bookshelf. "There are gla.s.ses in there."

Charles retrieved a gla.s.s, then poured a drink, more alarmed by the moment. He sipped the brandy, waiting for his friend to speak, but the silence continued. Finally Charles began.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

"No." Christopher finished his gla.s.s and then refilled it. Charles saw the half-empty decanter and shuddered.

"Is everything here all right? Father says you are doing extremely well, so that couldn't be the cause."

"Your old man is correct." Christopher laughed sarcastically, then drank down the potent liquid. "In fact, I make more d.a.m.ned money for his clients than any of your other bankers. Doesn't that strike you as ironic, Charles? Tens of thousands of dollars cross my desk every day, and I can scarcely afford lunch."

Charles struggled, as if wanting to say something, then sighed in frustration. "But you are paying off your debts. At the rate you're going, Chris, you'll be solvent within a month. Then you can start clearing up the debt at home."

"And within another year, I can hold up my head again. But what do I do in the meantime? I have Aunt Eunice to take care of. And Katie." Christopher laughed bitterly. "My beautiful, deceitful wife."

"Chris!" Charles seemed shocked. "How can you say something like that? Why, Katie has stuck by you in a situation that would make most women run. And she is devoted to you-even Bertrice says that."

"Ha." Christopher poured another drink with the steady precision of the very drunk. He refilled Charles's gla.s.s, ignoring his protest, then lifted the gla.s.s eye level. Swirling the amber liquid, he spoke softly, almost to himself.

"Brandy is so deceiving, isn't it? The color of it is beautiful, like soft gold. And the smell of it..." He rolled the gla.s.s, then breathed deeply of the scent. "It's like the finest of perfumes. One would never think of the effect it can have on the unsuspecting."

Charles's brow knotted. "Chris, did something happen between you and Kate?"

"The man is a genius." Christopher bowed, ignoring the angry flush that came to Charles's face.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"No," Christopher said softly. For a split second Charles glimpsed the pain in his face, but it was gone in a moment, replaced by the sarcastic scowl. His anger dissipating, he thought of Bertrice and how terrible he would feel if something happened between them. He rose and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Come on, let me take you home before my old man sees you."

"I can't go back there." Christopher stared across the room at nothing. "You see, they've taken over my house. There's a leprechaun, an actress, and..." His face convulsed with pain.

Charles nodded, unable to understand a word. "All right, let's go to my club then. You can sleep there."

Christopher hesitated a moment, as if he hadn't heard him, then rose reluctantly to his feet. He turned to his friend, then spoke seriously.

"Charles, when this is all over, will you do one thing for me?"

"Certainly," Charles said earnestly.

"Good." Christopher took a deep breath, then indicated the brandy bottle. "Tell your father his liquor stinks."

Charles stared at him, then broke into laughter.

TWENTY-ONE.

Christopher walked into his house and stared with astonishment. Patrick sat on a wooden box, a checkerboard between his knees, and a sodden old gentleman sat across from him, contemplating his next move. A gin jug sat beside them, and as each man took a turn at the game, a little of the liquor disappeared as well.

Aunt Eunice sat on the floor, playing with Sean and a tabby cat that appeared to be the newest addition to the household, while Katie energetically whisked dishes from the table and poured tea. Sean, basking in Eunice's attention, laughed merrily as the kitten chased light beams from the chandelier overhead, which was newly ablaze with gas. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and Christopher leaned against the door, feeling like an outsider in his own home.

"Oh, there you are." Eunice handed Sean the cat and turned to her nephew. "Christopher, where have you been? It's been two days! We were worried."

"I can see that," Christopher said sarcastically. No one seemed concerned in the least. Patrick gave him a questioning look, then returned to the game.

"Who the h.e.l.l is that?" Christopher gestured to the other gentleman. "Not another O'Connor?"

"Why, no." Eunice laughed merrily, in a way he hadn't heard in weeks. "That's Tom Gallagher, Mr. Armstrong's groom from next door. He and Mr. O'Connor have become good friends. Do you want to hear the most hysterical thing? He actually shoots the game-Mr. Armstrong has been faking it for years."

"It's a known fact to his household." The groom belched, then took another swig of the gin. "The man couldn't shoot the side of a barn. I get the game for him and he takes the bows. It seems a fair exchange."

Christopher nodded, still bewildered. He glanced up at the lights, then recalled the newly trimmed hedges and flower beds outside. "And the gardens? Who-"

"Paddy," Katie volunteered quickly. "He is a gardener, you know. He cleaned up the yard and, with some of the money he made by doing Mr. Armstrong's hedges, got the gas turned on."

"I know one of the men who lays pipe," Patrick said modestly, as if reluctant to take full credit. "He said he'll let me make payments."

"Where is the milk?" Eunice glanced up from the icebox, then shared a wink with Sean. "I'll get the kitty a drink, but I can't find-"

"What about those?" Christopher pointed to the lace curtains that hung from the wall, and the pretty valances that covered them. "Where did they come from?"

"Moira," Katie said. "She is an excellent lacemaker. Eunice had some material, and Moira made the headings. She also did the dining room and the hall."

"Where is that milk?" Eunice continued.

Patrick jumped three of his companion's checkers, then guffawed as the groom slapped his knee in disgust. "Told you you weren't watching. Never play checkers with a man that drinks. That's what I always say."

"Well, give me another." Tom wiped his lips, then turned to Eunice. "The actress has your milk. Says she's taking a bath in it."

"Moira?" Eunice looked to Kate.

"Oh, yes. When she's playing Miss Lillie, she likes to take milk baths. She'll be down directly."

Christopher leaned against the wall, staring at the chaos that was now home. It was as if everything had gone mad. Turning furiously to Katie, he indicated the garden.

"I want to talk to you. Now."

She nodded quickly, then removed her ap.r.o.n and followed him outside. He stopped beneath a huge oak that had already been denuded of leaves with the coming of winter. Fighting to catch his breath, he stared at her as if unable to decide what to do with her.

And she looked so d.a.m.ned beautiful. Just having not seen her for two days made him newly appreciate the glossy blackness of her hair, the clear blue of her eyes, which now stared at him, full of fear, and the slender curves of her body. Her lip quivered and he was newly angry. How could she stand there, looking so innocent, when...

He'd done nothing but think about it, about her with another man. He knew it was foolish, but he couldn't help comparing that image with the one of their lovemaking. Had she made the same sounds, a.s.sumed the same expressions as she did with him? What did any of this mean to her?

And to hide a child from him! It wasn't so much that she had a baby out of wedlock. Christopher was enough of a sophisticate to understand that these things happened. But that she'd never told him, that she'd hidden all of this from him...it was that which he couldn't forgive or forget.

He didn't want to think about it, or about her. In those two days he had made a decision. In some small part of his mind, he hoped that she would fight him on this, but the stubborn part of him, the hurt part, insisted that he say it anyway.

"Katie." She continued to stare at him like a little girl, trusting and yet afraid. d.a.m.n her! "Katie, I have come to a decision. I can't adjust to this. You have a son which you've told me nothing about, I have a house full of your family...my G.o.d, what are you doing to my life?"

"But-"

"No. No more explanations. No more a.s.surances. This time I'm taking control. It won't work-it hasn't from the beginning. Kate, I think it's best if we separate for a while."

Her eyes filled with tears and she looked quickly away, hiding her expression in the shadows. "Is it just because of Sean?" she asked quietly.

"No." Christopher found himself choking. "No, it's everything. Katie, I can't believe in you anymore. This isn't a little thing you kept from me. How can I trust you ever again?"

"But I tried to tell you! I did-"

"Maybe you did. But Kate, if you really wanted to tell me the truth, you would have. I know you don't have money, nor does your family. I'm not proposing to throw any of you into the street. I'm going to stay at the club temporarily. In the meantime I think it wise if we both start to see other people."

"What?" Katie's head snapped up and she stared at him, incredulous. "Do you mean...courting?"

"Yes." Christopher regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. The pain on her face was open and raw, but then it was gone in a moment. Determinedly he went on. "Look, Kate, what I'm saying makes sense. Every gambler knows when to throw in his hand. We married for money and we both lost. I think we have no choice but to go back to our original scheme."

Katie looked down at the ground. "I see. And what do you have in mind?"

"I suggest we give a party. You know, a housewarming. Somehow I'll have to find a way to buy some secondhand furniture. We can meet prospective people there."

"And what of society?" Katie asked softly. "Won't people wonder?"

"By the time word gets out, we'll have this marriage annulled. But I don't have the luxury of time, and neither do you. We'll just have to make the best of it."

"I see."

"Dammit, Kate! Can't you say anything other than that?"

She stared up at him, looking absolutely stunning in the moonlight. Christopher waited for her to contradict him, to cry in outrage at his suggestion, but she didn't seem in the least disturbed. There was nothing in her manner or expression that gave him any reason to hope that they could work out their problems. Instead she simply nodded.

"If that's what you want. I know many society women now-I could help you find someone else."

"And I you," Christopher said, more furious than ever. "I'm glad we were able to come to such a reasonable decision. I'll get my things and meet with you later in the week to make the arrangements. Is there anything else?"

Katie shook her head. Christopher turned and strode into the house, slamming the door behind him. This wasn't turning out the way he'd expected.

And this time he had no one to blame but himself.

Nothing had ever hurt as much as this.

Crumbling in the garden, Katie sobbed endlessly, unable to stem the flood of tears that welled up as soon as Christopher stormed away.

How could he do this? How could he suggest such a thing? Pain enveloped her as she pictured Christopher with another woman, laughing as he did with her, sharing secret jokes and charming presents, then holding her in his arms and making her cry out in ecstasy. She had to close her eyes, the image was so agonizing.

Didn't their relationship mean anything to him? Katie could have sworn that it did, that he was beginning to care for her. But what did she know? My G.o.d, it wouldn't have been the first time she made such a mistake. Tears flowed more freely now and she hugged herself beneath the oak tree, wishing there was some way she could change things.

It wasn't meant to last. Happiness never was for her.

"Mama?" a small voice called out. Katie quickly wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress and tried to appear normal.

"What is it, Sean?"

"Mama, what's the matter?" Her little boy took one look at Katie's tear-streaked face and ran into her arms. "Did something hurt you?"

"No, it's nothing for you to worry about." Katie hugged him fiercely. It seemed as if it was just the two of them again. His small body pressed comfortingly against her and she was reminded of how desperately she loved him.

No matter what, she'd never regretted him. In spite of the hardship, the names, the difficulty in finding work, and the struggle to survive, he'd always been an addition to her life. She knew that was hard for people to understand, but truthfully she found them hard to comprehend. How could anyone look at this child and not love him?

His presence helped her with the pain, as it always did. She ruffled his hair and managed to smile back at his grin. Somehow she'd find a way to protect him, even if she had to do it alone....

"Sean? Get yourself into that house! *Tis chilly out here," Moira called from the doorway, then emerged when she saw Kate. "Go on, get inside."

Sean looked from his aunt to his mother. Katie nodded, then Sean ran into the house while Moira remained.

"What's the matter, girl?" Moira soothed Katie gently, her perfume clinging to her in the evening air. "Is he very angry?"

Katie nodded. "He's more than angry. Moira, he wants to give up on our marriage. He even wants to start seeing other people and wants me to do the same."

"What?" Moira stared at her as if she were addled.

"That's what he said. He wants to have a party so that we can both meet suitors...oh, Moira, how can he even think of such a thing?"

"Men," Moira said in disgust, wrapping her glittering shawl more closely about her. "At the first sign of trouble, all they can think about are greener pastures. Don't cry, la.s.s. They just don't think the same way we do, nor love the same way." She peered at her niece with an oddly wise stare in spite of the ridiculous outfit she wore. "Did you tell him how you feel?"

"No." Katie faced her defiantly. "I won't. I should have told him about Sean-I was wrong for keeping that from him. But I won't apologize for him! I love my son, and he is a wonderful little boy. If Christopher can't see that, then he's not the man I thought he was."

"There, there," Moira said consolingly. "Ye have pride, la.s.s. I'm glad to see that, for in the end that's all that matters. Yet you can't sleep with your pride. Now don't look at me like that," Moira scolded. "You know what I say is right. When is this affair?"