I sighed and went out to join Dom. I was about to tell him what Kathleen had said, but he spoke first. He obviously had other things on this mind.

“You’ve done well for yourself, Delia,” he said, reaching out his arm toward me.

I didn’t answer.

When we reached the footpath, he stopped and looked back up at the house. “This house is a far cry from the likes of the one you told me about on the ship. And you said you’d be down on your knees scrubbing.”

He waited for me to answer. “You’re right,” I said at last. “I passed myself off to them as Nora.”

“But you’re not Nora,” Dom said quietly. He reached for my hand. “And you’re not one can live with lies.”

I bowed my head. “I’m doing it for Lily,” was all I said.

“’Tis your own business, Delia. I’ll not say another word about it. Come on, we’ll be late for the dance.”

Nora

Nora

It was pleasant enough living at Mrs. Shaw’s house, and I wasn’t unhappy, but after a while I started to get bored. The sameness of every day began to suffocate me. There were only so many times I could go for a walk or sit on the bench in the garden playing with Silver. I was desperate for something else to do, or other people to meet. One day, when Mrs. Shaw was on her way out for the day, I plucked up the courage to ask: Could I go with her? Even if it meant taking my life in my hands riding in that car of hers, it would be worth it to get away from here even if just for a day.

“I’d be delighted to have you join me, dear,” she said. “I didn’t invite you earlier because I thought you needed peace and quiet for a while. But I can see for a young girl like you, peace and quiet has its limits.”

Gingerly, I climbed into the car and slid down in the front seat while she started up the engine. The car roared to life, and I gripped the seat as she took off down the drive and out on to the road. I said a prayer to the Virgin Mary to let me come back alive.

“You chose a marvelous time to come with me,” she shouted over the engine noise. “I’m going to join the ladies marching to protest against poor working conditions for women. I imagine you won’t have seen the likes of such a protest back in Ireland.”