Virginia Henley Read Online Free PDF Page B

Here, why don’t you lie back and let me on top?”
    Patrick had finished his business at the mill. Remembering that the Leavers were coming for dinner, he decided to drop in on Dolly. He slipped his key into the lock and entered quietly. He could hear noises coming from the bedroom, sohe pushed the door open and stopped dead on the threshold. Dolly’s buttocks were rising and falling rhythmically and Jonathan was groaning hoarsely. Patrick looked at them coldly and said, “Father, I see you’ve taken my advice for once.” He paused and looked distastefully at Dolly’s opulent flesh. “Dolly, still doing all the work, I see. Don’t let me interrupt you, I’ll let myself out.” He placed his key on the table and quietly left. When he got outside, he leaned against the wall and laughed until the tears rolled down his face.
    Patrick opened the front door to greet the Leavers.
    “Hello, Patrick. Sorry my wife couldn’t come tonight, but her mother’s ill, so she begged to be excused and she sends her regrets.”
    “Well, I’m glad you and your son could make it, James. You’re looking very well.” He shook hands with the two men. “Ah, here’s Father,” he said, keeping a bland expression on his face as he looked the older man in the eye. The table was beautiful and Julia was at her best, especially in male company. Her wit sparkled and her conversation never lagged.
    Patrick was determined to use this visit to his advantage by letting his father in on the changes he had been making at the mill. If he could get James Leaver on his side, they would overrule the old man. Barbara sat beside her brother, desperately trying to think of something to add to the conversation. Finally she said, “This soup is delicious.”
    Her father glowered at her from across the table, and Patrick smiled down at her and slipped her hand into his. She felt better immediately.
    Patrick plunged in, “Father has abolished half-time for children at the mill.” Jonathan almost choked on his green peas.
    James Leaver looked pleasantly surprised. “That was acourageous thing to do, John; commendable, highly commendable.”
    Before his father could speak, Patrick went on, “Mind you, it will cost him, but he’s decided to be generous.”
    “Will you have difficulty finding workers to replace them?” Leaver asked. Patrick answered for his father, “As a matter of fact that’s another generous thing father has done. He’s brought over all our people from Ireland at his own expense and he’s giving them jobs at the mill.”
    By the time Leaver and his son had finished complimenting Jonathan on his beneficence, O’Reilly realized Patrick had outmaneuvered him, so he decided to capitulate and bask in everyone’s approval.
    “Have you changed over your looms yet?” asked young Leaver.
    Patrick allowed his father to answer this time. “Monday morning we start production with the improvements.”
    “Do you think there’ll be any trouble? Remember when James Barlow introduced power looms in his mill? The repercussions were terrible with the local hand-loom weavers.”
    “If there is trouble, I’ll handle it!” said Jonathan darkly.
    “Barlows—aren’t they the ones who make the satin quilts?” asked Julia.
    “Oh, Patrick gave me a beautiful pink one,” piped up Barbara, then subsided into blushes.
    Everyone smiled at her except her father. He spoke up quickly, “You two lasses can withdraw and leave us to our port.” Julia bristled—she hated these customs that gave men the upper hand in all dealings with women, but Barbara was relieved to escape.
    When the two girls were alone, Julia said, “Are you packed for London yet?”
    “No, I don’t think Papa will allow us to go,” answered Barbara.
    “Nonsense! Patrick promised, and he always gets his way, doesn’t he?”
    “You mean
you
do, Julia,” said Barbara, not afraid to be bold now.
    Julia spied Kitty and said sharply, “Get my sister’s trunks out and pack