The Made Marriage by Henrietta Reid Page B

grounds of Ballyfeeny. A lucky thing for her he had ridden over to the Fitzpatricks’ to borrow a harrow or something else, and there she was, tearing across the countryside on the big black stallion with the bit between its teeth, yelling her head off and making straight for the quarry that hasn’t been worked for near fifty years, and they say the pool at the foot of it is near sixty feet deep. Well, just as she was nearly over, the Boss makes up on her and catches the stallion by the bridle. I can tell you it were a near thing. Then she falls in a faint and the Boss carries her up to Ballyfeeny and sets her down on a sofa and fetches her a sup of brandy.’
    Yes, thought Kate glumly, a nice romantic setting with Owen rescuing the beautiful Doretta from a certain death, and when Doretta had got over the initial shock of her narrow escape no doubt she would make the best of the circumstances!
    Yes indeed,’ Joe spooned sugar from the bottom of his mug. ‘If it hadn’t been for the Boss acting so quick there would have been no chance of her ever returning to foreign parts, I can tell you.’
    ‘But then I don’t think she really intends to return to foreign parts,’ Kate said musingly. Then, as she saw the look of sly comprehension flicker into Joe’s eyes, she regretted her carelessness.
    ‘No, you’re right there, miss, for it’s said that she has her eye on Nicky Fitzpatrick and Ballyfeeny, and no doubt she’ll get it too, for Master Nicky is powerful keen on her by all accounts.’
    Kate didn’t answer, already regretting her indiscretion in discussing the girl. Suppose he should broach the subject again in Owen’s presence, it would look as if she had been discussing his family affairs with his farm-hand. Although it wouldn’t be long before the keen eyes of the country folk would notice that Doretta was transferring her interest to Owen!
    ‘Thanks, Joe,’ she said hastily. ‘The walls really look wonderfully improved. I’ll let you get back to your usual jobs.’
    Joe sighed and reluctantly got to his feet. ‘No trouble at all. It was a real pleasure, I’m sure, and any time you want me to give a hand just let me know.’
    When she had hustled him out of the kitchen Kate, feeling hot and flustered, ran upstairs and tidied up. It was typical of Doretta not to let her know at what time she was arriving, she thought crossly as she changed into a cotton frock and ran the brush through her dark golden hair. No doubt Doretta was hoping to catch her in the midst of chores and place her at a disadvantage! You’re jealous of her, Kate addressed herself severely in the mirror, so why don’t you admit it and stop pretending Doretta’s at fault? You’re fully expecting she’ll make you dance attendance on her as a sort of glorified scullerymaid, when she’ll probably be perfectly charming!
    When at last Doretta did arrive in the afternoon she did in fact seem at her most fascinating. She drove up in the large gleaming Fitzpatrick car and with the help of Joe, who somehow managed to find himself in the yard just as she arrived, carried into the house a collection of intriguing little parcels.
    When she had seen them safely placed on the kitchen table, Doretta looked around with interest. ‘But everything is so bright and shining,’ she enthused, ‘and how charming the copper skillets look against the walls which are so white!’
    Kate was relieved that Joe had at last disappeared, as no doubt he would have taken the opportunity to announce that they were barely dry after his morning’s work. She would have hated Doretta to think she was trying to impress her.
    The Italian girl shrugged out of her coat and donned a vividly patterned floral smock. ‘F irst the rice must be cooked,’ she announced, unfastening one of her packages, ‘so you will be a dear, won’t you, Kate, and start it off? But perhaps a little more fuel first, I think.’
    Kate nodded and hurried out to the shed feeling more guilty