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
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“Thanks, I will, Mrs. O’Malley. It’s the best rabbit pie I’ve ever eaten. Delicious.…” There was a small pause before she added, “Rabbit tastes like chicken, at least when it comes out of your oven.”
Mrs. O’Malley brought the dish to the table, and each of them served themselves. After giving Blackie the dish to hold, Mrs. O’Malley put a spoonful on her own plate, then took it back to the table near the sink.
When they had finished, Blackie and Michael helped Mrs. O’Malley carry the empty plates to the sink. Siobhan joined them and within half an hour they were all sitting around the fire, holding a mug of tea, relaxing in the warmth and comfort of the small kitchen. Their bellies were filled with good food, and they were peaceful in their surroundings.
The following afternoon, Siobhan and Michael arrived home early. For once, Blackie was in their cottage and not at Mrs. O’Malley’s.
When they walked in they found him polishing his boots. He looked up from the task when he saw them, and smiled. “It’s only five; did Her Ladyship let ye off early?”
“Yes, she did.” Michael took something out of his coat pocket, then shrugged the coat off his shoulders. After hanging the overcoat on a hook on the wall, he walked over to the fireplace where Blackie sat with his boots and a shoe brush.
Siobhan took her coat off, hung it on another peg on the wall, and hurried to the fireplace. “Is the water in the kettle hot, Blackie?”
“Indeed it is, and I can make a pot of tea if ye want.” He looked at Siobhan and then Michael hungrily. “Did Cook send us anything for our tea?”
Siobhan nodded. “It’s in the bag near the door. That’s where I put it when we came in.”
“What did she give us?” Blackie wondered out loud.
“A big jar of soup with vegetables. It’s a nice tea, Blackie.”
He nodded. “Cook’s never let us starve.”
“Yes, she’s been kind since you came to us.” Michael walked over to the fireplace and sat down opposite his twin. Gazing at his cousin, Michael took the piece of paper he was holding and smoothed it out. After scanning it, he said to Blackie, “Uncle Pat sent us a telegram today. It came to us at the mansion, care of Her Ladyship.”
Blackie dropped the boot and stood up, surprised, staring at Michael, putting out his hand. “Can I read it, please?”
Michael gave it to him, and explained, “He’s ready for you to go to Leeds. You leave here on Thursday for Queenstown and go straight to the docks and get on the ship. Uncle Pat will be waiting there at the docks in Liverpool.”