Chapter 70
Dublin, 1791
One morning in March, nearly a year after he had begun his campaign to win the seat for Trim, Arthur was wandering down Connaught Street, moving from shop window to shop window as he looked for a pair of riding boots. In the afternoon he had an appointment with the family's land agent, John Page, and Arthur hoped to have a quiet lunch in the dining room at Carlton's, where the windows looked directly on to the Liffey, and the distant roofs and towers of Dublin Castle rose up above the buildings on the opposite bank. His meetings with Page were never enjoyable since Arthur had little interest in the financial details of the family's holdings. More aggravating still was the fact that he owed the man thirty guineas from two years before and Page rarely passed up the chance to remind Arthur of the debt, in a manner of finely honed deference. Now, to cap it all, Arthur had need of more money, to pay off an outstanding mess bill and to purchase a new pair of riding boots. Page was the best source of a small loan since the only interest he charged was the pained look of disapproval he affected when discussing Arthur's financial situation.
So ran Arthur's thoughts as he gazed into the bay window of one of the gentlemen's shoemakers. Before him stood a fine pair of boots, the dark brown leather gleaming like varnished wood. He imagined himself arriving at the hunt on Sunday in those boots and drawing admiring glances. But were they really worth twelve guineas? He stood back a few paces into the street to see how the boots looked from a less intimate distance and once again pondered the justification for such an expensive luxury.
'Why don't you just go in there and try them on?'
Arthur started, and turned towards the voice. Standing a short distance away Kitty Pakenham laughed at his surprised expression. 'I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you jump.'
Arthur blushed and struggled to recover his composure, quite unsure of how to react to the sudden discovery of Kitty smiling at him in the middle of a Dublin street.
'Ah, hmm,' he managed, and then bowed his head formally. 'Miss Pakenham, a pleasure to see you again.'
'You make it sound like we have not attended the same party for months on end. Why it was only last Tuesday that we conversed over a light supper at Lady Tremayne's soiree. Am I so forgettable that you do not recall the event, Mr Wesley?'
'Forgettable? No, ma'am. Not at all. I think of you all the time. I…' Arthur frowned. 'Forgive me, what I meant to say was-'
'That you think of me none of the time?' Kitty teased. 'Oh, pardon me. That doesn't sound terribly grammatical. Or syntactical. ' She waved her hand dismissively. 'Whatever the dreadful expression might be, it doesn't sound it. Oh dear. Nor did that.'
Arthur laughed, and after a moment Kitty joined him.
Once they had recovered from their amusement Arthur smiled and said, 'Shall we start again, Miss Pakenham?'
'Yes. And let's begin by calling me Kitty. Otherwise I shall think that you really don't like me at all.'
'Very well, Kitty it is.' Arthur relished the sound as his tongue moved from his palate and its tip pressed against the back of his teeth. Kitty. Here in the street and all to himself. He felt his heart lift as he realised this was the very opportunity that he had been waiting for. Then there was a rush of anxiety as he feared that he was not ready for it and that he might make a complete mess of this chance – surely his only chance – to make a favourable impression. Already he had let slip that she was on his mind and he cringed at having exposed his true feelings so clumsily. He must guard against that in future. Looking into her clear eyes, he continued, 'And you must call me, Arthur. Well, that is, I'd like you to call me Arthur, if that's not an imposition?'
'It would be a pleasure to be on first-name terms after all this time. Do you remember that picnic where we first met?'
'Of course.'
'That was nearly two years ago. I thought you a terribly dashing young soldier then.'
'Then?'
'Of course. Now you are more mature.' She swept an appraising glance over him. 'Quite the gentleman, and a member of parliament as well. Why, you are almost respectable, Arthur. The only thing missing is that fine pair of boots you were admiring in the window. Shall we go inside and have a proper look at them?'
'Miss – Kitty, I wouldn't presume to-'
But she had already swept past him, and was standing by the door of the shoemaker's, waiting for him to open the door for her. Arthur hurried over, opened the door and stood to one side as she swept past, her skirts rustling as she entered the establishment. One of the staff immediately hurried out from behind the counter and bowed to the two customers.
'Welcome, sir. And how may I help you or your good lady wife?'
Arthur coloured and glanced at Kitty, who raised a gloved hand to smother her smile. She coughed, made a sober face and gestured towards the window.
'My husband was interested in those riding boots you have in the window. Would you fetch them, please?'
'Of course, madam.' The man bowed and hurried across the shop floor to the display window. Arthur turned to her anxiously. 'Kitty, what on earth are you doing?'
'Shhh! Arthur,' she whispered.'I'm having some fun. I've never been married before. Let's see what it's like.'
He glanced across at the shop assistant leaning over the rail to retrieve the boots. 'I really don't think this is appropriate.'
'Quiet. He's coming back. Just play your part and everything will be fine.'
'What?' Arthur felt his cheeks tingle with embarrassment.
'Here we are, madam!' the assistant smiled as he returned to them, holding the gleaming boots aloft. He turned to Arthur and, looking at his buckled shoes, he made a quick estimate of his customer's size. 'They should be a fair fit. Would sir like to try them on?'
'Erm, yes. I suppose so.'
'Very well, sir. Please take a seat.'The assistant gestured towards a couch to one side of the counter and Kitty bustled over to it, sank herself down and patted the cushion beside her.
'Don't keep the man waiting, dearest.'
Arthur winced, and then resigned himself to going along with her little game with as much good grace as he could manage. Taking a deep breath he crossed to the couch and sat down beside Kitty, and smiled at her in the indulgent manner with which he had seen real husbands smile at their wives. Arthur leaned forward to unbuckle his shoes and remove them, before taking the boots proffered to him by the assistant. He slipped them on, stood up and walked a few steps up and down in front of Kitty.The leather was stiff and uncomfortable and chafed the tendon at the back of his heel so that even though they looked undeniably elegant Arthur could not wait to be out of them. He turned to Kitty.
'Well, what do you think, my darling?' He added the last words lightly, but there was a little thrill of pleasure as they passed his lips. 'I'm not really sure they suit me.'
'They suit you admirably, Arthur dear. You must buy them immediately.'
'Oh,' Arthur hadn't been expecting such an affirmation and did not want to part with twelve guineas for a pair of boots that would be excruciatingly uncomfortable. But if Kitty liked them…
'Very well,' he nodded to the assistant. 'I'll take them.'
'Thank you, sir. Will that be cash or account?'
Arthur felt a warm flush of embarrassment in his cheeks. 'I don't have an account here, and don't have the required cash with me.'
The smile faded a little from the assistant's face. 'That is unfortunate, sir.'
'Yes. Would you be kind enough to put the boots aside while I visit my bank to draw some cash?'
'Of course, sir. But a small deposit will be required. Ten shillings will suffice.'
Arthur nodded unhappily, sat down and pulled the boots off, relieved to take the pressure off his heels. He frowned as he saw that the heels of his stockings were already stretched and torn. Slipping his shoes on, he fastened the buckles while the assistant started to write a small note.
'May I have your name, sir?'
