The Velvet Ribbon

Nadine Dorries

Contents (30)

The Velvet Ribbon

Also by Nadine Dorries

The Tarabeg Series
Shadows in Heaven
Mary Kate
The Velvet Ribbon

The Lovely Lane Series
The Angels of Lovely Lane
The Children of Lovely Lane
The Mothers of Lovely Lane
Christmas Angels
Snow Angels

The Four Streets Trilogy
The Four Streets
Hide Her Name
The Ballymara Road

Standalone Novels
Ruby Flynn

Short Stories
Run to Him
A Girl Called Eilinora
An Angel Sings

Nadine
Dorries

The
Velvet Ribbon

www.headofzeus.com

First published in the UK in 2020 by Head of Zeus Ltd

The moral right of Nadine Dorries to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN (HB): 9781786697578

ISBN (XTPB): 9781786697585

ISBN (E): 9781786697561

Author photo: © Cassie Dorries

Cover Design: Rory Kee

Cover Photo: Colin Thomas Photography

Background Photo: Getty

Head of Zeus Ltd

First Floor East
5–8 Hardwick Street
London EC1R 4RG

WWW.HEADOFZEUS.COM

For my husband, Paul, who passed away at home on June 7th 2019

Also by Nadine Dorries

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Glossary of Irish terms

About the Author

An Invitation from the Publisher

Chapter 1 Tarabeg

Shona the gypsy woman and her bad-tempered grandson, Jay, had slipped into Tarabeg under the cover of darkness and camped in their old haunt, up against the church wall on the edge of the seven acres. He had complained bitterly every step of the way. ‘This is a waste of our time – why the feck are we here?’

‘We have been sent for,’ she replied, and Jay knew better than to ask for more. ‘Wrap rags around the horses’ hooves to muffle them,’ she instructed as they reached the outskirts of the village. The light had just begun to fade and the moon appeared, large, bold and orange, close to the earth. At the sight of the blood moon, Shona finally knew in her heart why it was they were there.

‘What use are the rags?’ Jay grumbled. ‘They’ll see us if they look from the bar in Paddy’s and they’ll drive us out again. Why are we even here?’ he repeated.