Chapters (73)
- Cover
- 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
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Keep Reading …
- About the Author
- Also by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Publisher
He came to an abrupt halt and swung around. Instantly, his face lifted with incredulity. Flying straight towards him was none other than his cousin Siobhan. He blinked in disbelief, and he dropped the bag and opened his arms to catch her.
As she fell against him, gasping, he gripped her tightly and held her close to him. ‘Whatever are ye doing in Harrogate, mavourneen? Of all places, I should come here today. But I’m so happy I did. Faith and ye are a long way from home.’
Stepping back, she said, ‘I’m here with her ladyship, Lady Lassiter. You know I became her lady’s maid earlier this year, after Alice died.’
‘I’d forgotten that, sure I had. A great chance for ye. Why didn’t ye let me know ye were coming over?’
‘I did. I sent you a note, but I don’t suppose you’ll get it now ’til Monday if it hasn’t arrived yet. I posted it to your uncle’s address in Upper Armley.’
Blackie wrapped his arm around Siobhan and smiled down, unable to believe his eyes. He hadn’t seen his cousin in the flesh since he left Kerry four years earlier, but she looked just the same, if a little more grown-up. He squeezed her to him.
‘Come on, we’re getting wet. I’ll take ye for a bite … to Hettys Café down the hill there.’
‘I was going there, Blackie, to pick up a packet for Cook. But it’s my afternoon off, so I don’t have to hurry back. It’s just lovely to run into you like this – I wrote that we should meet up, and here you are!’
‘It is indeed – sure and I’m glad to see ye. How do ye like England? And how was the crossing? I’ll bet you didn’t come steerage.’ He picked up his small carpetbag and tucked her arm in his as they hurried down the hill. And his mood changed, became much lighter.
Once they were settled in a cosy corner of the café, and the order had been given to the waitress, Blackie sat back and looked at Siobhan intently. ‘So why is her ladyship in Yorkshire?’
‘She usually comes to her parents’ estate for the summer, before his lordship comes to Bolton Manor for the Glorious Twelfth – you know, the start of the grouse shooting. And naturally I had to come ’cause I look after her clothes as her lady’s maid.’
‘That’s a grand rise up the ladder for ye, and I’m proud of ye. And how’s Michael doin’?’