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 himself was descended from the Norsemen, who had sailed from Nordic lands, going around the top of Scotland, down into the Irish Sea. The Vikings in their long ships with carved heads at the fore and aft, heads of beasties and monsters … all that had been aeons ago.
And through all those centuries, the men and women of Ireland had been noted for their fine looks; their colouring had told everyone their true origin. They were also deeply rooted in its Celtic traditions, the Druids they came from, and the history of their ancient island with its multifaceted folklore.
How odd all this was, Patrick suddenly thought, very odd indeed, being able to know a person’s country of birth at a glance. Would he be able to pick out an Englishman? Yes. A Frenchman? Of course. A smile flickered in those deep blue eyes … every man had his origins stamped on him, no two ways about it. And clothes told their own story, even if the face and colouring did not. Every country had its own style of dress.
Patrick’s eyes focused on his nephew once again. He had been pleased to see that Blackie had arrived off the ship looking neatly dressed, not in rags. For a split second, he had been startled by the boy’s height and build, and by those staggering looks.
Shane Patrick Desmond O’Neill, to give him his full name, was one of the handsomest young men he had seen lately. And he looked older than thirteen.
I’m going to have to keep a strong hold on him, Patrick realized unexpectedly. Keep him near me and under my wing. Women will be after him, and women of all ages. A sigh escaped, and Patrick closed his eyes, thinking of his own past and, to be exact, his present. Women. Trouble on two legs. Another sigh escaped: I’ll think about that tomorrow.
SEVEN
It was deep twilight when Patrick and Blackie disembarked from the train in New Station in Leeds. Both of them were glad to stretch their legs and stride out after the long ride on the train.
‘This way, Blackie,’ Patrick said, taking his nephew’s arm, leading him to the left. The boy was gaping, looking up above at the vaulted roof above the cast-iron pillars, trains and noise all around. ‘Once we’re out on the street, it’s only a few seconds away from the tram stop,’ Patrick explained.
‘I’ve never been on a tram,’ Blackie ventured. ‘I can’t wait. Do they go very fast?’
‘No, no, they push along at a medium speed. You’ll enjoy the ride. I know I always do.’