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
“Yes, she’s quite a comic,” Patrick agreed. “But she’s served me for donkey’s years, and she’s very fast, efficient.” He looked around the table. “Take a gander and decide what you fancy for dinner. And glance at the food listed on the blackboard.”
Jack said to Moira, “All the dishes are good here. We think it’s the best place to eat in Leeds, because it’s like good home cooking. And delicious.”
“Thank you for explaining,” Moira said, and looked at each one of them. “Thank you, all of you, for coming to rescue me. I really am relieved to be out of the Ham Shank. You were brave to do what you did for me—a stranger.”
“Best we could do, time was short,” Finn explained. “We knew we had ter go in, grab ye and get ye away fast. No time for manners and stuff—smash and grab, sort of.”
She nodded. “It’s a dangerous place. The Wild West, some call it. But it’s worse.”
“Why did Tommy O’Hara send you there?” Patrick asked, raising a brow.
“He had one person he knew of in Leeds—Jane, his cousin by marriage. And, you see, I don’t think he knew how bad it was in the Bank. He’d never been there, or heard much about the place.”
“I’m sure that’s right,” Jack Blane said, entering the conversation. “As you said, how could he ever think the Ham Shank was a living hell, a cesspit full of deadly men on the ready to kill and maim?” He grimaced. “And this is England, hard to believe, with a slum like that!”
“The greatest empire in the history of mankind, some empire indeed,” Patrick announced, sarcasm ringing. “Well, my friends, I am going to enjoy a sirloin steak,” he went on, pushing his anger about the government of his country to one side.
“Moira, what would you like to order? Do you know yet?” Patrick asked, his voice kind. “It’s all on me, no need to worry.”
The girl blushed. “Yes, I think I’ll have the pie. It’s ages since I’ve eaten that.”
Blackie said, “It’s fish-and-chips for me.” He turned to Finn. Knowing he was a bit shy, and never wanted to look greedy, he said, “I know ye like meat, so why don’t ye have the liver and onions. I know ye’ll enjoy it.”
Finn grinned. “Awright, and I’ll start with the Yorkshire pudding. I hope it’s as good as yer aunt’s, with lots of gravy.”
“It is, yes, ye’ll soon see,” Blackie reassured him, and looked across the table at Jack. “What tempts ye, Jack? Meat or fish? Liver? Steak-and-kidney pie?”
“You’ve got it, Blackie! Steak-and-kidney pie. Definitely. Goodness, I haven’t fancied it for years, not since Beth died, in fact. It’ll be a nice change.”