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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As for the long trousers, they were a pair Lady Lassiter, from the big house, had given to Blackie’s cousin Michael. They had been too big for him, but they fit Blackie well. As if made to measure, Mrs. O’Malley thought, her mind focusing on Lucinda, wife of Lord Lassiter, the Earl of Harding, who lived in the big house on the hill above the hamlet. Her Ladyship was often found giving away cast-off clothes no longer used and worn by her children or even sometimes Lord Robert. Blackie had been the beneficiary of her gifts, and before him, Mrs. O’Malley’s son, Dennis, had received handouts, along with some of the younger village children.
The Lassiters were an Anglo-Irish family with ancient roots in Ireland. Ancestors of Lord Lassiter had built the large house on the hill two centuries ago, and it had stood fast and strong for all these years.
Lady Lassiter had been born to English parents, herself the daughter of an earl. Her maiden name had been Lucinda Harley, with the honor title of Lady. Her parents, who had been staying in Ireland when she was born, were Lord and Lady Harley, the Earl and Countess of Carlton. They lived in Skipton most of the time.
Drawn to their daughter’s birthplace, Lady Lucinda’s parents had brought her often to the Emerald Isle. One day she met Lord Robert and a glittering match was made, though Mrs. O’Malley didn’t think there had been much love involved. Now they divided their time between England and Ireland, with Lady Lassiter seeming to prefer the Irish mansion.
“What are ye thinking about?” Blackie said, touching Martha’s arm.
Startled, she jumped slightly, and then gave him a loving look. “I was brooding a bit, my lad, thinking how much I would miss ye once ye’d gone off ter join yer uncle Pat—”
“I’ll miss ye,” he answered, and looked at her intently. “Mam always said ye were like a second mother to us all, faith and she did, and ye were. ’Tis the truth, Mrs. O’Malley.”
“Well, yer mam is always yer mam, but I did enjoy looking after ye all, sure and I did, and I’m proud of ye, Blackie. What a grand lad ye’ve become, and handsome.”
A blush spread across his face and he mumbled, “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
Martha O’Malley said in a low voice, “Has Lady Lassiter given Michael any castoffs for ye, lad?” Her eyes were on his.
He nodded. “I’m getting an old overcoat, a jacket and another pair of trousers, so Michael told me. She’s generous, Her Ladyship is, and I’m grateful, sure and I am.”
A smile spread across Mrs. O’Malley’s face. “I have a surprise for ye. I’ve knitted two jumpers for ye and I found a bag of Dennis’s socks that will do ye well.”