Chapters (71)
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Part Two
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Part Three
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Part Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Part Five
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Author
- Newsletter Sign-up
Blackie wrapped his arm around Siobhan and smiled down, unable to believe his eyes. He hadn’t seen his cousin in the flesh since he left Kerry four years before. He squeezed her to him.
“Come on, we’re getting wet. I’ll take ye for a bite … to Hettys Café down the hill there.”
“I was going there, Blackie, to pick up a packet for Cook. But it’s my afternoon off, so I don’t have to hurry back. It’s just lovely to run into you like this—I wrote that we should meet up and here you are!”
“It is indeed, sure and I’m glad ter see ye. How do ye like England? And how was the crossing?” He picked up his small carpetbag and tucked her arm in his as they hurried down the hill. And his mood changed, became much lighter.
Once they were settled in a cozy corner of the café, and the order had been given to the waitress, Blackie sat back and looked at Siobhan intently. “So why is Her Ladyship in Yorkshire?”
“She usually comes to her parents’ estate for the summer, before His Lordship comes to Bolton Manor for the Glorious Twelfth—you know, the start of the grouse shooting. And naturally I had to come ’cause I look after her clothes as her lady’s maid.”
“That’s a grand rise up the ladder for ye, and I’m proud of ye. And how’s Michael doin”?”
“He’s happy now he lives in at the Hall in the servants’ quarters. His life is better, and Lord Lassiter is glad to have him. He likes Michael’s work, says he’s a talented gardener.” She began to laugh, and then went on, “I’ll never forget when Her Ladyship came to see me at the cottage and was furious. She said, ‘This place is totally unsanitary! Dreadful!’ And she took us to live in the servants’ quarters at Lassiter Hall.”
Blackie grinned at her, and said, “That’s quite an imitation ye do of her. Ye are a good mimic. Mmm … that’s a posh voice ye can put on.”
“So I’m told. But Her Ladyship is not a bad employer, you know. She’s been good to us, even though some say she’s cold.”
“I do know. Lots of hand-me-downs she sent me.” He leaned across the table and held his cousin’s hand. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, sure you are. I didn’t know when I would see you or Michael again.”
She squeezed his hand back and then the waitress brought their pots of tea.
“Anyway, why are you in Harrogate, Blackie?” Siobhan asked, changing the subject.
He thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth; there was no reason not to do so.