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Back A Man of Honor
Chapters (71)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. Part One
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Part Two
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-One
  26. Twenty-Two
  27. Twenty-Three
  28. Twenty-Four
  29. Twenty-Five
  30. Twenty-Six
  31. Twenty-Seven
  32. Twenty-Eight
  33. Twenty-Nine
  34. Thirty
  35. Thirty-One
  36. Thirty-Two
  37. Part Three
  38. Thirty-Three
  39. Thirty-Four
  40. Thirty-Five
  41. Thirty-Six
  42. Thirty-Seven
  43. Thirty-Eight
  44. Thirty-Nine
  45. Forty
  46. Forty-One
  47. Forty-Two
  48. Forty-Three
  49. Forty-Four
  50. Part Four
  51. Forty-Five
  52. Forty-Six
  53. Forty-Seven
  54. Forty-Eight
  55. Forty-Nine
  56. Fifty
  57. Fifty-One
  58. Fifty-Two
  59. Fifty-Three
  60. Part Five
  61. Fifty-Four
  62. Fifty-Five
  63. Fifty-Six
  64. Fifty-Seven
  65. Fifty-Eight
  66. Fifty-Nine
  67. Sixty
  68. Sixty-One
  69. Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
  70. About the Author
  71. Newsletter Sign-up

At the end of the week, Emma began to feel despairing. She made her way to Leeds Market. Rosie had told her to go there, had added that the market was worth a walk through anyway. Lots of goods available.

Feeling intrigued, she wandered through all the food stalls, and then headed for the other side of Leeds Market, marveling at its size and the fact that it also sold clothes, shirts, underwear, shoes, hats, bicycles, china, linen, leather goods—almost everything under the sun. It had high stone walls around the humungous space, and a high-flung glass roof. Shopping could continue six days a week, even if it rained.

Her thoughts turned to Blackie. He had been the person who told her that Leeds held all kinds of shops and opportunities. She wondered how he would greet the news of her coming to the city. He had told her it was no place for a young girl. But she had had no choice.

One stall suddenly caught her eye, and she came to an abrupt stop. Many small items of clothing were displayed on the stall. But it was the sign that was most significant to her. It read: “DON’T ASK THE PRICE. IT’S A PENNY.”

How clever, Emma thought, as she studied everything. A way to pull in customers at once. She glanced at the name above the stall. “Marks & Spencer.” She also made a mental note of that catchy line. She also reminded herself to never fill a window with too many items. It looked too muddled, was distracting to the shopper.

When I have a shop, I’ll put just a few things in the window.… The thought slipped away and she stood perfectly still, startled. “When I have a shop,” she murmured to herself wonderingly, and then a small smile flickered on her mouth. Of course, that was it! She was going to be a shopkeeper, go into retail. “TRADE.” The word loomed large and so did her future. She loved clothes and was adept at sewing, alterations and even designing. She had sketched many a gown for Olivia Wainright and had made blouses for her.

It was turned two o’clock and the moment Emma saw the fishman’s stand she hurried over to it. She was desperate to save every penny, but she had to eat. After eating a plate of winkles and mussels covered in vinegar, she felt better. These days she craved spicy food, and put vinegar on almost everything and pepper as well.

Back outside she set off toward North Street. There were many tailoring shops in that area, and one of the girls from a dress shop she’d inquired in had suggested she might find a job in one of them, especially the smaller tailoring shops.