lass. And being the right sensible lass I see her to be, she’ll agree with me.”
Kathleen Fitzgerald pinkened a second time. “I wanted to wait until the two of ye had met.” She looked beseechingly at her daughter. “Aisleen, ye’ll remember that I wrote ye about the gowns I copied for Mrs. Gorham from the London fashion plates she showed me. I sketched them myself and even made a few small changes in the designs before I cut the patterns. Mrs. Gorham was so pleased with the results that she gave me permission to shop for her and charge her personal accounts.”
“That is how we met,” Patrick Kirwan said with a wink at Kathleen “She’s as meek as a mouse and as clever as a cat, yer ma, but she’s nae head for business. I told her that the first day.”
Ignoring the comment, Aisleen waited patiently for her mother to continue.
“Mr. Kirwan owns a fabric shop as well as Kuwait Mills,” Kathleen continued after a moment’s hesitation. “We met when I was in his shop to select a bolt of cloth.”
“A fateful day that was,” he added. “One look at yer ma’s sketches told me she’s as clever as she is pretty.” He smiled at Kathleen. “She gives them away, did ye know? Nae, ye couldn’t be knowing or ye’d have said the same as I. She should make her customers pay for the sketches. Sold three of them in me store, but she won’t take the money.”
Aisleen turned to her mother in amazement. “I knew your sketches were splendid, Mother, but why did you not tell me that people were willing to pay you for them?”
Kathleen smiled. “They are willing to pay Mr. Kirwan for what hangs in his shop.”
“’Tis the same thing,” Patrick maintained. “Five shillings each, and she could make more if she heeded me advice.”
Aisleen saw the intent expression on his face, and all at once she understood his interest. It was so simple she nearly smiled. Mr. Patrick Kirwan wanted control of her mother’s talent, and marriage was the quickest and easiest way of ensuring that he would always have it.
“I agree that your advice is sound, Mr. Kirwan,” she said with a direct look at him. “I shall begin at once to encourage Mother to set up a business of her own.”
“That’s the ticket,” he answered with a smile she did not expect. “Did nae I tell ye she’d see my way in it, Kathy?”
Kathleen shook her head with a small smile. “Perhaps Aisleen should consider setting herself up in business. As for myself, I am quite content.”
For the first time, Patrick Kirwan regarded Aisleen with a deep, penetrating gaze. “Are ye not satisfied with yer post in Yorkshire?”
Aisleen felt her cheeks warming with embarrassment, but she held his gaze. “I am no longer employed there. I am seeking a new post.” She glanced at her mother. “Perhaps in London.”
“London? Ye cannot be thinking of returning all the way to England, not when I’ve not seen ye these last twelve years,” Kathleen protested. “Can ye not seek a situation closer by?”
Aisleen flashed her mother a look of annoyance. She did not want to discuss her private life before a stranger. She had seen the look of surprise Mr. Kirwan quickly masked when they were introduced. She was nothing like her mother. That look had discomforted her. She did not want his approval, but neither did she want his pity. “I am ever resourceful, Mother, never fear.”
“Well, I will,” Kathleen answered in motherly concern. “Until ye’re settled I cannae think of anything else.”
“She’s well spoken,” Patrick Kirwan said. “One would think her English born and bred by the sound of her.”
Aisleen did not look up, uncertain whether he considered that a compliment or not.
“The very thing!” he continued, as if struck by inspiration. “I could use a lass of learning in me shop.”
Kathleen looked at him with gratitude. “Ye have such a place open in yer business?”
“ Musha , I did not say that. But I’ll be making a place, if
Kathleen Fitzgerald pinkened a second time. “I wanted to wait until the two of ye had met.” She looked beseechingly at her daughter. “Aisleen, ye’ll remember that I wrote ye about the gowns I copied for Mrs. Gorham from the London fashion plates she showed me. I sketched them myself and even made a few small changes in the designs before I cut the patterns. Mrs. Gorham was so pleased with the results that she gave me permission to shop for her and charge her personal accounts.”
“That is how we met,” Patrick Kirwan said with a wink at Kathleen “She’s as meek as a mouse and as clever as a cat, yer ma, but she’s nae head for business. I told her that the first day.”
Ignoring the comment, Aisleen waited patiently for her mother to continue.
“Mr. Kirwan owns a fabric shop as well as Kuwait Mills,” Kathleen continued after a moment’s hesitation. “We met when I was in his shop to select a bolt of cloth.”
“A fateful day that was,” he added. “One look at yer ma’s sketches told me she’s as clever as she is pretty.” He smiled at Kathleen. “She gives them away, did ye know? Nae, ye couldn’t be knowing or ye’d have said the same as I. She should make her customers pay for the sketches. Sold three of them in me store, but she won’t take the money.”
Aisleen turned to her mother in amazement. “I knew your sketches were splendid, Mother, but why did you not tell me that people were willing to pay you for them?”
Kathleen smiled. “They are willing to pay Mr. Kirwan for what hangs in his shop.”
“’Tis the same thing,” Patrick maintained. “Five shillings each, and she could make more if she heeded me advice.”
Aisleen saw the intent expression on his face, and all at once she understood his interest. It was so simple she nearly smiled. Mr. Patrick Kirwan wanted control of her mother’s talent, and marriage was the quickest and easiest way of ensuring that he would always have it.
“I agree that your advice is sound, Mr. Kirwan,” she said with a direct look at him. “I shall begin at once to encourage Mother to set up a business of her own.”
“That’s the ticket,” he answered with a smile she did not expect. “Did nae I tell ye she’d see my way in it, Kathy?”
Kathleen shook her head with a small smile. “Perhaps Aisleen should consider setting herself up in business. As for myself, I am quite content.”
For the first time, Patrick Kirwan regarded Aisleen with a deep, penetrating gaze. “Are ye not satisfied with yer post in Yorkshire?”
Aisleen felt her cheeks warming with embarrassment, but she held his gaze. “I am no longer employed there. I am seeking a new post.” She glanced at her mother. “Perhaps in London.”
“London? Ye cannot be thinking of returning all the way to England, not when I’ve not seen ye these last twelve years,” Kathleen protested. “Can ye not seek a situation closer by?”
Aisleen flashed her mother a look of annoyance. She did not want to discuss her private life before a stranger. She had seen the look of surprise Mr. Kirwan quickly masked when they were introduced. She was nothing like her mother. That look had discomforted her. She did not want his approval, but neither did she want his pity. “I am ever resourceful, Mother, never fear.”
“Well, I will,” Kathleen answered in motherly concern. “Until ye’re settled I cannae think of anything else.”
“She’s well spoken,” Patrick Kirwan said. “One would think her English born and bred by the sound of her.”
Aisleen did not look up, uncertain whether he considered that a compliment or not.
“The very thing!” he continued, as if struck by inspiration. “I could use a lass of learning in me shop.”
Kathleen looked at him with gratitude. “Ye have such a place open in yer business?”
“ Musha , I did not say that. But I’ll be making a place, if
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