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Lady Hermione was back in moments, with a fistful of bank notes in her hand. “Here, Paddy, here’s a hundred pounds. I trust you. You and Charley should ride with her to Cornwall, if you can—see she gets there safely.”
“Lady Josephine said she’d pay you back, my lady,” Paddy assured her.
Lady Hermione brushed his remark aside, saying, “Of course. I know that. She’s my best friend. I’d gladly give her every farthing I have, if it brought her back safely.”
* * *
Paddy excused himself and asked if he might go below stairs and say hello to his friends down there. The first person he encountered in the kitchen was Mrs. Donovan.
After greeting her and explaining he had come to deliver a message from Lady Josephine to Lady Hermione—and Mrs. Donovan was polite enough that she didn’t ask what it was—Paddy asked if he could see Mary alone for just a few minutes.
“Mary? She’s busy right now, collecting the breakfast trays from the upstairs rooms.” But seeing the anxious look on Paddy’s face, she relented a little.
“I can send for her—for just a few minutes, mind you. But I don’t know that she should be meeting you here in her master’s house, all alone. I know you’re a good lad, but we have to keep up how appearances look.”
“Mrs. Donovan,” Paddy burst out. “I mean to ask her to marry me. She’s the only girl in the world for me. I may be out on the road over the next few weeks or months, taking care of Lady Josephine’s and my boss Mr. Smith’s business. But I want to be sure of her while I’m gone.”
“Well…,” said Mrs. Donovan. She obviously liked this spunky lad from County Kerry.
Mary was sent for. She came into the kitchen, graceful and serene as ever. “Why, Paddy,” she said, “What a nice surprise that you’re back.”
“It won’t be for long. And I need to talk to you alone before I go.”
Mary looked over at Mrs. Donovan. “You may go, Mary. Out to the back garden. But only for a few minutes, mind you. And you behave yourself, lad.”
It was a fine summer morning. Despite being in the heart of London, the back garden was completely quiet, except for the chirps of some birds.
Paddy reached for Mary’s hand, and she gave it to him. Then he took from his pocket the thin gold ring, and he fell on one knee. “Mary, will ye make me the happiest man alive? Will ye say ye’ll marry me?”
Shyly, Mary nodded and smiled. “Yes, Paddy,” she said, without hesitation.
He slipped the ring on her finger. “‘Twas me mother’s. She told me to find the right girl and give it to her. And now I have.” He kissed her for the first time, and nothing had ever tasted sweeter than her lips.
* * *
Of course, there was great joy in the kitchen when the good news was announced.
But Mrs. Donovan reminded Paddy, “I’m happy for the two of you. But the girl is not of age yet. I’m going to need to write to her parents and get their permission. I’m like her parent, while she’s here in London. I have to look out for her.”
“Oh, me Da and Ma will love Paddy,” Mary assured her. “They’ll send their permission, I’m sure of it.”
“And the parish priest at St. Bridget’s, Father Muldoon? The two of you should see him before you leave town, Paddy. So he can write to your home parish and get your baptismal records. And he’ll want to start announcing the banns of marriage, for three weeks in a row.”
It was becoming clear to Paddy that he couldn’t just give Mary a ring and then walk away. There was a lot to be done.
“We can see Father Muldoon right after morning Mass,” Mary said. “If ye’d give me leave to walk over there and come right back tomorrow morning, Mrs. Donovan?”
“No more than a half hour, Mary. Don’t let Father start talking at you, or you’ll be there all day!”
They all chuckled at that. Father Muldoon was known as an endless font of stories.
“Well, it seems you’ll be staying in London tonight, Paddy. Do you want to stay here?” Mrs. Donovan asked. “It would save you and Mary time in the morning, since we’re already so near the church.”
Before he knew it, he had agreed to stay the night. Mrs. Donovan sent for Mr. McTavish, who shook Paddy’s hand in a manly manner. “Congratulations, Mr. O’Connor. You’ll be getting a fine lassie in our Mary.”
Then Mrs. Donovan planned for a celebration in honor of Paddy and Mary, to be held below stairs in the kitchen once the servants had finished their supper. “We’ll toast the happy couple!” she said enthusiastically.
A good time was had by all the servants that night. Since they had no idea of the terrible trouble Lady Josephine was in, there was nothing to spoil their delight over the young couple’s engagement. Even Polly put aside her sour expression and congratulated Mary with a kiss. “I hope you’ll be happy,” Polly managed to say, even as she wondered if anyone would ever propose to her.
