'It's Simpson,' Kitty said quickly. 'The Honourable Miles Simpson.'
'Thank you, my lady.' The assistant completed the note and slipped it between the two boots on the counter. 'Our policy is to hold the boots for a week,' he explained. 'After that they will be returned to the window. The deposit is, alas, non-refundable, sir.'
'I understand.' Arthur rose to his feet, took out his purse and handed the man the required money, and then offered his arm to Kitty. 'Come, my dear.'
She slipped her hand through his arm and the assistant hurried to the door to open it for them as they swept out of the shop and on to the street.
Kitty pressed her spare hand to her face to conceal her laughter as she pulled Arthur along the street, out of sight of the shoemaker's shop.
'Simpson?' he queried. 'Why Simpson?'
'Why not? It's a perfectly admirable name. Besides, I had a wonderful governess called Simpson.' She took her arm back from Arthur. 'Well, that was fun.'
'Yes. I suppose it was.' Now that the moment was over Arthur was not sure what to do next. He had Kitty to himself and should not waste the opportunity to further their friendship. 'Miss Pakenham – Kitty.Would you do me the honour of having some lunch with me?' He nodded towards the better end of the street. 'At Brown's.'
'Lunch at Brown's?' She raised her finely plucked eyebrows. 'Well, I don't know.What would people say if they saw me in the company of a young rake?'
'Ah, but since we are married, there would be absolutely nothing for people to remark at.'
Kitty stared at him a moment and then laughed. 'Well, Miles, my dear, it seems the Simpsons are dining at Brown's today.'
They did not dare to keep up the charade when they reached the hotel's dining room. Brown's was the kind of establishment that drew heavily on the best of Dublin society for its clientele and Arthur had to nod greetings to several acquaintances before the maitre showed them to a table overlooking the street. Arthur did not pay much attention to the food he ordered and as he ate his mind was wholly fixed on Kitty. Her conversation maintained the light-heartedness she habitually affected. When he tried to shift the ground to a more serious subject, she artfully directed the conversation back to gossip and frivolous humour. But Arthur was happy to go along with her in the way that young men are inclined to defer to women they are keen to impress.When at last he happened to glance at the case clock against the wall opposite the window, Arthur was shocked to see that nearly two hours had passed and that he was already fifteen minutes late for his meeting with John Page.
'Damn!'
Kitty started. 'What on earth?'
'I completely forgot an appointment,' Arthur blushed. 'Kitty, I must go.'
'What?' She looked hurt. 'Already?'
Arthur asked for the bill. When it arrived, he was horrified to see that it came to more than he had in his purse. Kitty read his expression precisely and reached over to pat his hand.
'Please allow me. It's the least I can do if I have made you late.'
'Good God! No.' Arthur leaned back in his chair with an insulted expression. 'I couldn't possibly allow that.'
'Ah, but I have the advantage,' Kitty smiled. 'You can't pay for the meal, and I can.'
Arthur cringed inside. This was awful. Quite the most awful thing that could happen to him. He had hoped to impress Kitty Pakenham, yet here he was, financially embarrassed and worse still, beholden to her in a way that no gentleman should ever be. But what could he do? There was the bill on the table before him and the rude mathematics were quite incontestable. He cursed himself for paying the ten-shilling deposit on the boots.That was at Kitty's instigation, he reasoned. So there was at least some responsibility on her part for his embarrassment. He looked at her and nodded.
'I insist on paying you back at the earliest opportunity.'
'I should think so! I am not in the habit of subsidising the eating habits of others. In fact I insist that you repay your debt as soon as possible. This Saturday afternoon.You will come to tea at our house in Russell Square. And you can repay me then,' Kitty said firmly.
Arthur nodded his agreement, and bowed his head as he rose from the table. When he reached the door he glanced back at Kitty and smiled as he saw her watching him. She flapped her hand to usher him away and Arthur hurried off to the offices of John Page.The agent was sipping from a cup of tea as Arthur was shown into his room.
Page was a stout man with a fleshly neck and heavy cheeks that were ruddy and had a misleadingly cheerful red hue. His cold dark eyes revealed his true nature, that of a pitiless individual dedicated to amassing as large a personal fortune as possible from the commissions he drew from the income of his landed clients. He rose ponderously from his chair and ostentatiously drew a heavy gold pocket watch from his fob, and raised his thick eyebrows. Arthur ignored the gesture and got straight down to business.
'My brother Richard has written to me from London to request that you realise his assets here in Ireland as soon as possible.'
Page sat up in surprise. 'Sell everything, my lord?'
'Everything. Starting with the house in Merrion Street. Then the Kildare estates, and finally, Dangan.'
Page frowned thoughtfully for an instant before he responded. 'The first two shouldn't present too much of a problem. Prices in Dublin have been steadily improving since the establishment of the parliament. However, since the trouble in France, there is a perception that Irish property is no longer the safe investment it once was. Not that anything will come of these unnatural French notions of egalitarianism, but there is a fear amongst property speculators that the Irish might revolt, and perception is everything in the property market, sir. If we sell now, the Merrion Street house should fetch a good price. The Kildare estates likewise. Dangan is the problem. It is, as you must realise yourself, not in saleable condition at present. The castle will require considerable work on it to achieve a good market price. I take it you wish to authorise me to act on your behalf in such remedial expenses?'
'Of course, as long as the costs are contained.'
'I'll do my best, sir.' He smiled at Arthur, and there was a moment of silence before Page coughed and continued politely, 'Is there anything else?'
'Well, yes,' Arthur began awkwardly. 'You see, the thing is that I'm somewhat financially embarrassed myself at the moment and-'
'How much do you require, sir?'
'How much?'
'I assume you wish me to extend your line of credit?'
'If it's not too much trouble.'
'None at all, sir. I have, in my time, been of similar service to many young gentlemen like yourself.'
Arthur was sure he had. It was a fine way to maintain clients from one generation to the next. Arthur raised his eyes as if making a quick mental calculation.'Let me see. A trifling amount, say forty guineas.'
Page nodded, and reached down to a drawer behind his desk. There was a rattle of a key and then Arthur heard the dull chink of the agent's hand reaching into a large pile of coins. Page glanced at him. 'Forty, you say?'
Arthur nodded and Page counted out the coins, in four neat piles on the desk. He pulled out a small ledger, flicked through the pages until he came to Arthur's entry and then dipped his quill and made a note. 'There we are, sir. On the same terms as the existing sum.'
'Thank you, Page.That's damn good of you.' Arthur placed the coins in his purse and rose to leave. 'I'm sure I am imposing on your valuable time.'
The agent opened his hands out and shrugged modestly. 'A pleasure, as always, sir. I'll see to that business of your brother's at once.'
As soon as he had quit the agent's offices Arthur made his way back to the shoemaker on Connaught Street and paid the balance on the riding boots. Uncomfortable as they were, he looked at them fondly. After all, it was thanks to these boots that he had at last been able to make some ground in his pursuit of Kitty Pakenham.
Chapter 71
