THE DURHAM TRILOGY: All 3 Emotional Stories in 1 Volume by Janet MacLeod Trotter

Author:Janet MacLeod Trotter [Trotter, Janet MacLeod]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Emotional tales of love, war and survival against the odds, The Durham Trilogy follows the lives of 3 remarkable heroines and their families in Durham mining villages, through the heart-breaking and momentous times of strikes, poverty and world war. Stirring, passionate and uplifting.
Publisher: MacLeod Trotter Books
Published: 2013-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

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Sara watched the Dimarcos and Perellas disgorge in great numbers down the church steps, to a peal of bells and a blast of music behind them. The disruption of noise was even more deafening in contrast to the unaccustomed quiet of the Durham Road on Big Meeting Day. With talk of war on everyone’s lips, all but the most elderly or infirm had gone into Durham to enjoy themselves on what might be the last Gala before conflict put a stop to frivolity. Only the ancient, the incontinent and the sandwich makers had stayed, Sara thought resentfully, having spent the morning at the Memorial Hall preparing a cold tea for when the pitfolk returned.

Yet she had succeeded in slipping away from the watchful eye of Mrs Sergeant, who had been detailed to look after her until Ida came back from Durham on the early afternoon train in time to supervise tea for the returning villagers. Sara and Mrs Sergeant had been preparing sandwiches when Sara, declaring she was feeling faint and needing some fresh air, made a dash from the hall. She half suspected Mrs Sergeant saw it for the excuse it was and that the older woman had allowed her to go and watch the wedding procession. The surly grocer did not share Uncle Alfred’s aversion to foreigners or Catholics, especially good paying ones, and had herself sent Domenica a present of a tea caddy, albeit an unsold one left over from the Royal Jubilee of 1935, depicting the late King George V and Queen Mary.

The sky was gun-metal, and ominous with rain as Sara peered out from behind a large chestnut tree. She sighed at the fairytale sight of the pretty dark-eyed bride in swathes of white satin and lace on the arm of a well-dressed, full-faced young man with thick dark eyebrows and a peak of black hair on his square brow. Sara was struck by how happy Domenica and Pasquale looked. Following them came Domenica’s bridesmaids in fresh yellow, Rosa looking flushed and attractive beside a rather dumpy girl whom she took to be cousin Albina from Sunderland. A tall, good-looking young man with wavy hair and a thin moustache stood beside the girls and Sara wondered if this was the best man, Emilio, about whom Domenica had teased Rosa. A flock of neatly dressed young children hampered the photographer who was trying to catch the joyous moment and Sara tried to work out who all the relations might be.

She experienced a stab of jealousy to see Joe looking handsome in a suit she had never seen him wear before, talking animatedly with a slim, poised girl in spectacles who looked elegant in a simple blue dress and straw hat. Sara felt her loneliness and isolation compounded by the transparent joy of these close-knit families coming together to give the young couple their blessing. She was envious of Domenica’s radiance, envious of Rosa’s appearance, envious of the Dimarcos’ protectiveness and the warmth that surrounded them while shutting her out.

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