Rachel, the beautiful daughter of dying Connor O'Brian, is taken in by his old friend Maxwell. Rachel falls for Maxwell's son but Gertrude, Maxwell's wife, is a cruel woman and Rachel's life is blighted by bitterness and deeply buried secrets.
They wended their way around narrow tracks and roads she had never seen before. Gradually, she became aware of the biting cold and huddled more closely into her mother’s cloak, glad of its warmth now, even though it was far too long for her. Beside her Molly sat as silent as a stranger, indeed th...
There was a mixture of regret, curiosity and genuine sympathy. The laird seemed too young to die and most of the locals regarded him as the last of another county family. There was much craning of scrawny necks when Ellen Wilshaw came in through the vestry at the front of the church. Rosemary sen...
Doctor Burns had told him to move as much as he could to keep his muscles exercised and he was trying hard, but there were times when he was so frustrated by the paralysis in one arm and his leg that Hannah feared he would burst into tears. The weather was still bitterly cold but Steven visited t...
Her eyes fell on her clothes draped over a nearby chair and she realised she was completely naked beneath the bedclothes, yet she had no recollection of getting undressed. She frowned as hazy memories began to stir – Conan opening the buttons down the back of her dress – Conan… She struggled to r...
Libby didn’t mind because she was often at High Bowie herself when she was not helping her mother with calves or hens. She loved looking after Mimi and Mary appreciated her help. Sometimes Willie brought Billy into the house to join them for the midday meal or afternoon te...
She climbed into the car beside Mr Shaw, hugging an excited Conan on her knee while trying to brush aside her tears and wave goodbye, all at the same time. Mr Shaw gave her a few minutes to compose herself ‘All right now?’ ‘Y-yes. Th-thank-you,’ Rachel stammered nervously. She had noticed Mistres...