Once everyone was enjoying their pudding, Blackie directed his gaze towards Moira, and asked, ‘Don’t you have any family left in Ireland?’
Her spoon was halfway to her mouth, but she put it down on her plate, and said, ‘No, I don’t. My parents are dead.’ He saw emotion in her eyes.
‘I’m sorry, Moira, for your loss. And no siblings then?’ He raised a dark brow, his curiosity most apparent.
‘No, I was an only child.’
‘I understand, and Tommy O’Hara was a friend in Galway?’
‘Yes, I knew him there …’ Her voice trailed off, and she picked up her spoon and began to eat once more.
So did Blackie but, being so interested in her background, he couldn’t help asking about her past life. ‘So did they die recently? So that’s why ye came to Leeds?’
Moira stared at him for a long moment, and then replied quietly, ‘They have been dead for a number of months, and I came to England because I knew there were opportunities here. More than in Ireland.’
‘That’s true, sure and it is, but why pick Leeds?’
‘You know very well that Tommy had a cousin here,’ she said in a slightly sharper voice.
‘I do, indeed I do. But Tommy O’Hara has lots of connections in London. I be thinking he might have been helpful to ye.’
‘He never suggested that.’
‘So did ye have a job in Ireland?’
‘A job, why yes.’
‘And where did ye live then? With a relative, perhaps?’
‘No, I didn’t. I lived with … a woman who was kind and compassionate. I was a lady’s maid.’
‘Oh, that will be useful information for Mrs Wilson, I believe. What do—’
Moira cut him off sharply, ‘No more questions, Blackie. I feel as if this is a version of the Spanish Inquisition. I don’t understand you, asking so much about my past.’
Finn exclaimed in a loud voice, ‘I agree with Moira. Stop it!’ Looking at her, he said in a quieter tone, ‘He’s a nosy parker, that’s what he is. Shame on ye, Blackie!’
A flush rose from Blackie’s neck to his face, and he said swiftly, ‘I’m very sorry, Moira. I didn’t mean to upset ye. I’m just interested in your life in Ireland, sure and that’s all it is.’
‘Why?’ she asked, still staring at him. ‘Why is my upbringing so important to you?’ Her voice had risen.
He half shrugged, suddenly embarrassed and feeling foolish, fully aware that his uncle was puzzled, even annoyed with him. And Jack had a disapproving glint in his eyes. Clearing his throat, adopting a conciliatory tone, he said slowly, ‘Because ye are different to anyone I’ve ever met from round our way – back home in Kerry, I mean. Your way of speaking, and your lovely looks, and I feel ye are well educated …’ He broke off. ‘I didn’t mean any harm, ye must understand that. Please accept my apologies.’
Moira nodded. ‘I do, Blackie. Let us forget about this.’
Jack said, ‘That’s the best thing I’ve heard in the last twenty minutes. And we’d better get going.’
‘I agree,’ Patrick said. ‘Let’s pay the bill, Jack; we’d better make haste to City Square to catch the tram to Upper Armley. Mrs Wilson’s expecting us at four o’clock.’
Once they were outside, Patrick took hold of Blackie’s arm and, stepping out swiftly, he hurried his nephew forward.
When they were a little ahead of the others, Patrick asked in a low, stern voice, ‘What on earth got into you, lad? Probing Moira the way you were. It was like pinning a butterfly to the wall. Poor girl, she was getting upset.’
‘I didn’t mean any harm,’ Blackie protested, knowing full well he had been really stupid. ‘She intrigues me, that’s all.’
‘Are you after her? Do you want to take her out? Start courting?’ Patrick glanced at his nephew. ‘She’s a beautiful lass, no two ways about that. Any man would fancy her.’
‘No, no, I’m not wanting to hook up with her, Uncle Pat! Honestly, I’m not. It’s just that she’s different from us—’
‘In what way?’ Patrick cut in.
‘Her way of speaking. She doesn’t really have an Irish accent. She sounds more English. And her clothes are of good quality.’ He shrugged and let out a sigh. ‘I expect I did go too far, but I couldn’t stop myself, I swear.’
Patrick said, ‘She is well spoken, you’re correct there, but I caught an Irish lilt in her voice and, to be honest, I thought her dress was rather plain, nothing so special. But she is a little different; I’ll grant you that, lad. But please, don’t question anyone like that, not ever again. It’s rude.’
‘I won’t, Uncle Pat, I promise, and I’m sorry I’ve upset ye. Shall I apologize again to Moira?’
‘God, no! Leave it alone. Leave her alone.’
‘Shall I come with ye to Mrs Wilson’s?’
‘Absolutely not. I am going alone with Moira. That is the proper thing to do. I got Moira the job, and we don’t need a gang of men to accompany us.’
Blackie stole a surreptitious look at his uncle, and said in a hushed tone, ‘Glad to hear that. Ye can’t take your friend Jack with ye. He’s been bowled over by her … he’s stuck on her.’
Patrick eyed Blackie and couldn’t help chuckling quietly. ‘I’m afraid you’ve hit the nail on the head there. That’s a fact. But he’s a bit old for Moira – after all, he’s my age.’
‘How old do ye think she is?’
‘I don’t know, Blackie, maybe seventeen, even eighteen.’
‘She could be older, ye knows, perhaps even twenty.’
‘Oh come on, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Why do you think she could be twenty?’
‘She’s very grown-up. Mind ye, I think she’s also well educated …’ Blackie paused, and added, ‘There’s something worldly about her.’
‘Do you mean sophisticated, perhaps?’
Blackie just nodded. After a second, he said, ‘She’s been under someone’s influence, I feel that strongly.’
‘Not necessarily bad, though. Good, I would say. Now let’s close this little discussion. We’re almost at City Square. When we’re on the tram to Armley, Moira will sit with me. Once we arrive at Whingate Junction, I’ll be off with her to the Towers. You will go with Finn and Jack down Town Street.’
‘Jack might want to come with ye.’
‘I’ll make sure he understands he can’t do that, Blackie. Leave everything to me, and don’t utter a word to Moira, except a simple goodbye.’