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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

To Moira’s surprise, Mrs. Wilson pondered this for only a moment, before saying that she would employ her as a lady’s maid. Mr. Kennedy said he would leave them alone for a moment to discuss Moira’s wages and stepped onto the terrace. He was curious to see the area where Blackie would build the conservatory, as well as giving the women privacy.

“Please sit down, Moira,” Mrs. Wilson said, “and let’s discuss your duties as a lady’s maid.”

Moira did as Mrs. Wilson asked, opened her reticule and took out an envelope. “Here is a reference from my last employer, Mrs. Wilson.” She gave it to her as she spoke.

“Thank you,” Mrs. Wilson replied, and took out the reference and read it not once, but twice.

Moira noticed that Mrs. Wilson seemed surprised, yet pleased, when she laid down the letter, which was written on headed stationery, and looked across at her. “Lady Henrietta Fitzgerald Chandler. Why did you leave her service, Moira?”

“Sadly, she died, Mrs. Wilson. My parents had both died within a year of each other, three years ago now, and after Her Ladyship passed away, I was all alone.”

“I see; I understand. This is a most favorable reference. Her Ladyship does speak most highly of you. I think you will fit in perfectly here, and I had been considering hiring a lady’s maid because I may have to travel with my husband in the near future. I see from the reference that you traveled with Lady Fitzgerald Chandler.”

“Yes, Her Ladyship lived in London part of the year, for the season, you know, and also in Galway. She had a lovely house just outside the town.”

“You worked for her many years,” Mrs. Wilson commented, glancing up from the reference she was holding, staring at Moira.

“I did. I lived with her as a child; what I mean is I lived in her two homes because my mother was her housekeeper and my father the butler for Lord and Lady Fitzgerald Chandler. When I was twelve, I became a junior lady’s maid.”

“I understand,” Mrs. Wilson murmured, and rose. “Come along. I’ll take you upstairs and show you your room, and we will discuss your wages and other matters.”

“Yes, of course, Mrs. Wilson.”

Once Moira was alone, she walked around the room that Mrs. Wilson’s housekeeper had told her would now be hers. Compact in size, it was nonetheless comfortable, with a single bed with a headboard, a chest of drawers and a sturdy wardrobe, all made of a warm dark wood. There was a rug covering the polished wood floor and a small chair near the fireplace.

A large window let in lots of light and the long green-and-blue brocade curtains matched the upholstery of the chair.