The Harrogate Secret by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson [Cookson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780552147873
Google: 8s9yAgAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0552147877
Goodreads: 670379
Publisher: Corgi
Published: 1988-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

He evidently surprised her by saying, ‘Yes; yes I know. That’s why I’m here.’

‘You know about him…I mean, who he is, the Mister Birkstead, as he calls himself, when it should be Gallagher? He’s taken his granny’s name. I recognised him the first day he stepped in the door. And when I heard his name I knew it was his granny’s. I can see her standing now in the hall, her nose turned up in distaste, saying, “This place has been neglected.” Then looking at me and saying, “I’m not really blaming you. It was impossible for one person to keep this house clean, but I won’t require you or your mother’s services in the future. I am bringing my own staff.” That was Mrs Birkstead…And then there he was that day—I saw him from the office as he came in—he was with two other men and they ordered rabbit pie. I couldn’t take my eyes off him; it was as if I was looking at the old master like he used to be when I was a young girl. And I used to think he was handsome in those days, and kindly. He was kindly, wasn’t he, Ma?’

‘Oh, aye; in his young days he was kindly enough, except at times when his temper got the better of him. That’s when he took to the powder to calm him down, I think. But he changed altogether after the first one died. Oh, I’ll say. And he married the second one just in time else he wouldn’t have had a roof over his head, up to his eyes in gambling debts he was…Would you like a drink, lad? Well, I shouldn’t call you lad any more—should I?—because you’re a well set-up man now. We’ve got a good port. It comes from the right place. My! I never knew there were so many underhand dealings went on until we moved to this city.’

‘Shut your mouth, woman.’

‘And you shut yours.’ She now pointed at her husband. ‘And use your napper, have some sense, ’cos if anybody knows about underhand dealings it’s this young man here. He was the best runner the river ever had ’cos the ones that came before him would have bought you at the fore end of a boat and sold you at the aft. Anyway, what about a drink?’ When she inclined her head towards Freddie, he said quietly, ‘No thank you. I take very little, and never any this early in the day.’

‘Chapel are you?’

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