‘I’m glad you told me, and I do understand why you wanted to make so much money. It was great temptation. Still, the Ham Shank is known to be a very dangerous place. People get killed in there for no reason at all, so I’ve heard.’

‘Aye, they do, and I were lucky, but I had me own little gang, ye knows, five other strong men. We went in and out together, faith, and we weren’t harmed.’ He finally sat back, relieved to have spoken out to her.

‘I’m glad you’ve told me,’ Laura said, her voice full of warmth, a sympathetic look on her face. ‘And I will keep your secret. It’s safe with me. I told you the other day that you can trust me. Always.’

‘I knows that, love. The thing is, I still don’t want to tell Uncle Pat …’ His voice trailed off, and Blackie gave her a helpless look. ‘I just can’t.’

Laura looked thoughtful. He knew she was a Roman Catholic, the same as he had been brought up, and Blackie thought she might tell him to go to confession. Even though she knew he had lost his faith. He waited, then she said, ‘There is no reason to tell your uncle. It happened some time ago, so leave it alone. You’ve unburdened yourself to me, and you’ll see, you’ll feel better in no time at all. Best to keep quiet, Blackie. Your actions were in the past. Bury them.’

‘Thanks, Laura. I shall take your advice, so I shall.’

‘I’m glad, Blackie. Telling your uncle now wouldn’t do any good; it would only upset him. Can I now ask you a question?’

‘Of course ye can, mavourneen. Ask away.’

‘Thank you, Blackie,’ she said in the same determined voice. ‘You’re a lapsed Catholic because of your awful childhood, aren’t you?’

Blackie looked at her, momentarily taken aback by her comment. But then she really did understand him and who he was.

‘Yes,’ he said at last. ‘There was no God around to help me when I was a child. I had Cook, though, and women like Mrs O’Malley. It was them who came to my aid. Not God. So it’s them that are meaningful. I’ve no idea if God even exists.’

Laura was stupefied by his comments and had no words to answer him.

Blackie could see them ahead, standing at the edge of the lake, and, as he drew closer, everything clicked together in his head and made sense.

He smiled to himself. Now he knew who Moira Aherne reminded him of … Lord Robert Lassiter. Their colouring was different, but Moira had his chiselled features, slender nose, and they both had dimples in their chins. The family resemblance was clear as crystal, and especially when they laughed.