not enough that you were crippled in the war. Did you want me wounded from the war, too?”
“Crippled? Are you calling me a cripple?” Patrick stood, unable to put his trousers on without help. “Damn it,” he growled, “could someone help me here?” He looked at Patricia.
Katherine felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. Finally, she walked to Patrick and let him lean on her, soaking her dress, so that he could clothe himself. “I have arranged for you to leave the hospital with me today,” she said through gritted teeth. “Tomorrow we go to Philadelphia. At least no one in Philadelphia knows of your adultery.” She literally pushed him ahead of her. “Now you’re going to show me that you are a racehorse on crutches.”
As Patrick moved quickly down the path, Katherine walked to the river bank. “You are a despicable hussy. I hope you drown.”
“Patrick is better off with me. We were made for each other. Our bodies fit together.”
“If I had a gun I would shoot you. You are a whore.” Katherine turned and followed Patrick.
Patricia stared at the fleeing backs of Patrick and Katherine and said defiantly, “You may think you sustained a wound today, Miss Katherine. But wait. You have just begun to hurt.”
Chapter Ten
SURPRISE
K atherine’s mind was troubled by the pending visit of Patricia O’Reilly. She couldn’t imagine why O’Reilly had requested a formal meeting “to discuss business matters of highest importance to you,” as she pretentiously put it. O’Reilly had even suggested she could have a lawyer present if desired, and Katherine had asked Arthur Hampton to be in an adjoining office. Katherine had no fear meeting this woman alone. It was five weeks since she had called Patricia a whore, and she was ready to back it up.
Katherine knew Patrick’s problem was the opium and whiskey that he had consumed continuously at the hospital. That succubus of a nurse had simply taken advantage of his weakened moral condition, and with his desperate need for pleasure, her body was irresistible. It was easy to forgive him. He had spiraled downward from a hero to an injured cripple and was forced to adjust in a helpless state. Now Patrick was in Pennsylvania Hospital, being treated for his addiction, and when he was home again she would give him all the love they had missed.
Promptly at four p.m. she heard the bell of the front door. Her body tensed as she waited for the butler to deliver her guest. A rustling sound in the hall alerted her they were near. She stood and placed one hand on the corner of her desk.
“Good afternoon, Miss Lovington.”
“Have a seat, Miss O’Reilly,” Katherine said coldly, motioning to a chair in front of her desk. She did not wait for the woman to begin. “Your letter did not mention the nature of our meeting. Pray tell why you want to see me. You must know that I despise you.”
“I am here because I have a business proposition that you need to hear.”
“Which is?”
“The afternoon you found Patrick and me together was not our first time. Patrick and I were...intimate daily for two weeks. Quite successfully.”
Katherine squirmed in her seat at the image of Patrick between this whore’s legs. She was inwardly furious. “If you have come here to gloat, I shall have you put out on the street, where you belong.”
“I am pregnant with Patrick’s child.” Katherine felt as if her body were caving in on itself. This was a nightmare without end. She said nothing and Patricia continued. “I do not need to tell you the child will be an heir to Donovan & Sullivan. As the mother and guardian I will oversee the business interests of my child. I want to represent our interests by replacing you as president of the company.”
Katherine felt herself relax slightly. The woman was deranged. “Don’t be ridiculous. I hardly think our Board would appoint you just because you whored around with Patrick Sullivan.”
“I don’t think ‘whored
“Crippled? Are you calling me a cripple?” Patrick stood, unable to put his trousers on without help. “Damn it,” he growled, “could someone help me here?” He looked at Patricia.
Katherine felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. Finally, she walked to Patrick and let him lean on her, soaking her dress, so that he could clothe himself. “I have arranged for you to leave the hospital with me today,” she said through gritted teeth. “Tomorrow we go to Philadelphia. At least no one in Philadelphia knows of your adultery.” She literally pushed him ahead of her. “Now you’re going to show me that you are a racehorse on crutches.”
As Patrick moved quickly down the path, Katherine walked to the river bank. “You are a despicable hussy. I hope you drown.”
“Patrick is better off with me. We were made for each other. Our bodies fit together.”
“If I had a gun I would shoot you. You are a whore.” Katherine turned and followed Patrick.
Patricia stared at the fleeing backs of Patrick and Katherine and said defiantly, “You may think you sustained a wound today, Miss Katherine. But wait. You have just begun to hurt.”
Chapter Ten
SURPRISE
K atherine’s mind was troubled by the pending visit of Patricia O’Reilly. She couldn’t imagine why O’Reilly had requested a formal meeting “to discuss business matters of highest importance to you,” as she pretentiously put it. O’Reilly had even suggested she could have a lawyer present if desired, and Katherine had asked Arthur Hampton to be in an adjoining office. Katherine had no fear meeting this woman alone. It was five weeks since she had called Patricia a whore, and she was ready to back it up.
Katherine knew Patrick’s problem was the opium and whiskey that he had consumed continuously at the hospital. That succubus of a nurse had simply taken advantage of his weakened moral condition, and with his desperate need for pleasure, her body was irresistible. It was easy to forgive him. He had spiraled downward from a hero to an injured cripple and was forced to adjust in a helpless state. Now Patrick was in Pennsylvania Hospital, being treated for his addiction, and when he was home again she would give him all the love they had missed.
Promptly at four p.m. she heard the bell of the front door. Her body tensed as she waited for the butler to deliver her guest. A rustling sound in the hall alerted her they were near. She stood and placed one hand on the corner of her desk.
“Good afternoon, Miss Lovington.”
“Have a seat, Miss O’Reilly,” Katherine said coldly, motioning to a chair in front of her desk. She did not wait for the woman to begin. “Your letter did not mention the nature of our meeting. Pray tell why you want to see me. You must know that I despise you.”
“I am here because I have a business proposition that you need to hear.”
“Which is?”
“The afternoon you found Patrick and me together was not our first time. Patrick and I were...intimate daily for two weeks. Quite successfully.”
Katherine squirmed in her seat at the image of Patrick between this whore’s legs. She was inwardly furious. “If you have come here to gloat, I shall have you put out on the street, where you belong.”
“I am pregnant with Patrick’s child.” Katherine felt as if her body were caving in on itself. This was a nightmare without end. She said nothing and Patricia continued. “I do not need to tell you the child will be an heir to Donovan & Sullivan. As the mother and guardian I will oversee the business interests of my child. I want to represent our interests by replacing you as president of the company.”
Katherine felt herself relax slightly. The woman was deranged. “Don’t be ridiculous. I hardly think our Board would appoint you just because you whored around with Patrick Sullivan.”
“I don’t think ‘whored
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