Nothing like this had ever happened to Blackie O’Neill before in his young life. His instant and intense attraction to Angela Welles had startled him. Now he sat rigid in the chair, as if frozen. His eyes never left the kitchen door and, when Sarah spoke to him, he paid no attention.

Sarah grabbed his arm. She said in a low but firm voice, ‘You’re in some sort of trance. Pull yourself together before my sister comes back.’ She tightened her grip on his arm, and finally he turned his head to look at her.

‘I’m not in a trance, I’m just taken aback, sure and I am. What man wouldn’t be, I be asking ye? Angela has … great beauty, Sarah.’

‘I know it. Now you do, and so does the entire world. At least, those who’ve met her do. Men are agog, just as you are. And women, and children, and dogs and horses. And even birds, I suppose.’

There had been laughter in Sarah’s voice as she had said these words, and Blackie couldn’t help chuckling. ‘In fact, she’s a genuine knockout, I be thinking. I stared at her, Sarah, and she stared back … our eyes met and held.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Do ye think she would go to the dance hall, if I be inviting her?’

Sarah, looking shocked, shook her head vehemently. ‘Oh no, she’d never go there, not be seen dead there. If you ask her out, you’d have to take her out somewhere more elegant. Perhaps the theatre or the music hall. Or one of the nice restaurants. In Leeds.’

‘Oh, I see, well, I can do that, sure I can, on the heads of the Blessed Saints, I would.’

Although his prompt acceptance of this suggestion had surprised Sarah, she kept silent for a moment before asking, ‘Do you know any of them? What I mean is, are you familiar with any special restaurants in Leeds?’

‘The Cameo,’ Blackie replied instantly. ‘And I may be knowing they are expensive, Sarah, but I can afford it.’ This was the truth, since Blackie had his nest egg from being a navvy a few years ago, and from the bonuses he’d earned from his uncle. This was why he had not quailed when Sarah had mentioned restaurants. He saved his extra earnings, was in no way a spendthrift, knowing the power of money.

Before either of them spoke again, the kitchen door flew open, and Angela came into the room carrying a large tray.

Blackie sprang to his feet and rushed to take it from her.

Angela allowed him to do so, looking into his eyes. ‘I hadn’t realized how tall you are, Blackie, and strong.’

A faint pinkness flushed his face, but he made no comment, simply carried the tray over to the table in the corner of the room and put it down.