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Chapters (73)
  1. Cover
  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. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  70. Keep Reading …
  71. About the Author
  72. Also by Barbara Taylor Bradford
  73. About the Publisher

Patrick and Eileen exchanged knowing looks, understanding that he had gone hungry for most of his life. Eileen’s food was simple, even plain, but it was like a feast to him. Her style of cooking became his favourite kind of meal, and for him it surpassed the fancy dishes served to him in the world’s gourmet restaurants later in his life.

At the end of that day, as his aunt sewed by the fire and his Uncle Pat studied the paper, Blackie knew his luck had once again saved him. Here in Leeds was the opportunity he had dreamed of, to work hard and build a new life. In his uncle’s face he saw echoes of his mother’s, and was grateful for the bond that had endured, even after they were separated as children. The love between a brother and sister, two people with the best hearts he knew, was the reason his uncle had offered him a home now. He would always be grateful.

Gratitude and memories of his family were in his heart, but in his mind too was his dream of being a builder one day. And he would make his dream come true. That was a promise to himself – and to his uncle, silently, too. He might not have a mam or da, but he would make his uncle proud.

PART TWO

Dreams Come First

Leeds, England

1903

TWELVE

When Patrick Kennedy stepped out of his house on Town Street, he automatically looked up at the sky as he usually did.

Today he smiled. This was just the kind of weather he loved: a clear blue sky, no clouds and the pristine northern light shining down, with a promise of sunshine later in the day. He’d left Ireland when he was six and he was every inch a proud Yorkshireman now.

There was a spring in his step as he headed up the street, making for Tower Lane. When he came to the corner shop, he went in, greeted Mr Brill behind the counter, picked up the racing paper and the Daily Mail, and paid. Tucking them under his arm, he went out of the shop and continued on up Town Street.

It was Friday 5 June, in the Year of Our Lord 1903. Three years into the brand-new twentieth century, one which had brought with it better days. At least, so far for him and his little family, including Blackie, who had made his home with himself and his wife Eileen for four years now.

It seemed to Patrick that things had never been brighter in the country as a whole. England was at its zenith, the greatest empire in existence, perhaps even the greatest ever. And while London, the capital, was the centre of everything that was exciting, where it was said anything at all could be achieved, Patrick also believed Leeds could lay claim to be the second greatest city in the country.