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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For a moment Jack was silent, and then he said slowly, “We would have to get her somewhere else to live, you know. If you’re thinking of taking responsibility, you’ll have her on your hands, Patrick. Let’s really consider this.” Jack gave his friend a long look, his open face troubled. “Eileen might not like that idea at all.”
“I realize that, and I’m not taking responsibility. I’m going to tell Finn he has to do that.… At least, he has to get the girl to safety, because she’s been sent to Leeds by someone Tommy O’Hara knows, who has no idea how bad the Bank is, to use its real name. No one would’ve sent her there if they knew.”
“I’m happy you understand what I’m saying—for you yourself. Blackie is a good lad, strong, and tough. He’ll be of help. Yes, I’ll go with you next Saturday, and between now and then we’ll think about what to suggest to her. Maybe she would agree to move here. Upper Armley’s a safe place, and she could easily find a job, plenty of work at Thompson’s Mill. Perhaps it’d be easier than in Leeds.” Jack took a swig of his pint.
“I agree. Or I can ask Mrs. Wilson if she needs another maid, and that would be a live-in job. Mrs. Wilson has several people in service. A maid, Cook and a butler, as well as outside domestics.”
“That’s a good thought, Pat, and I’ll talk to my sister. Adele knows a lot of wealthy women, those she makes clothes for. Adele just might have a candidate.”
“It is a good thought. If not, Finn will have to find somebody with a room to let. There are quite a few people looking to make an extra bob or two, renting out in the Greenocks and in the Thorntons.” Patrick let out a sigh, and said, “I know I’m being a busybody, worrying about a girl I don’t know, haven’t even met. But I just can’t stand the idea of some young woman fresh from Galway, over here with no protection or family, living in that hellhole. Rape is commonplace and murder not far behind.”
“I don’t think you’re interfering, Pat. I believe you’re a good man who has a conscience and the balls to go on his instincts and step into a situation that is undoubtedly rotten. No two ways about that. And I’m joining you. We’ll look like a gang of sorts, but who the hell cares.”
Patrick began to laugh, and then said, “When we were kids, I used to say there was safety in numbers, but you insisted we could fight the world and win. Just the two of us.”
Jack grinned, his dark eyes full of laughter, and shot back, “And we bloody well can, even now.”