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
‘Yes, please,’ the three of them said in unison; a moment later Cook was serving them. She then brought a small plate of three warm teacakes to the table. ‘Help yourself, Siobhan,’ she ordered, and looked across at Blackie and Michael. ‘Don’t be shy. Enjoy a teacake, me boyos. I’ve made a large batch for the family for later.’
They did as she asked, their mouths watering at the sight of the teacakes. This week was turning into a good one for food.
Once breakfast was over, Michael and Siobhan went to change into their work clothes, and Blackie remained seated at the table.
‘I’ll join ye for a second,’ Mrs O’Rourke said, and smiled at Blackie. She had worked for the Lassiters for many years, and as a local woman she had watched him grow up, and was fond of him and his cousins.
She pursed her lips, and said in a low voice, ‘I’ve a suitcase for ye, Blackie. It belonged to my son, Conor. I don’t think ye knew him. He was the one in the Indian army. He got killed there in an accident.’ She shook her head, and a flash of sadness slid across her face. ‘Not even fighting for Queen and country, and he had to go and die like that! In an accident. In a foreign land.’
‘I’m sorry, Mrs O’Rourke. Ye have told me much about Conor, and he must have been a lovely young man.’
‘Aye, he was that.’ She stood. ‘Well, we must get on; talking about him won’t bring him back. I’m going to get ye the suitcase. Back in a tick.’
Blackie watched her ample figure moving over to a large cupboard at the end of the kitchen. Although she was plump, he thought how graceful she was. And she certainly had a kind heart. She had often spoken to him about Conor, and when he had wondered out loud why he was in the Indian army, she had explained it to him. ‘It’s the British army in India, with British officers and regular soldiers, but Indian soldiers as well. Mostly there to keep the peace, I suspect. There’s always rumblings in India.’
Mrs O’Rourke returned to the fireside carrying the suitcase. After placing it on a chair, she turned the key in the lock, opened the lid, then glanced at him. ‘Look inside, Blackie, it’s brand new.’
‘I can see that it’s as clean as a whistle. Perfect size for me. Thank ye.’ He cleared his throat and stared at her. ‘Are ye sure ye want to part with this? It’s a grand suitcase. Ye might need it.’