The Hamiltons of Ballydown (29 page)

Sunday afternoon was fine and warm when they drove off down to Corbet Lough with two bags of crusts for the swans. Back at Ballydown, Rose and John sat by the stove reading the Sunday papers.

‘Did you know this was goin’ to happen?’ he said suddenly, his paper lowered to his knees.

‘Yes, I did,’ she replied, dropping hers on her lap.

‘Well, if it’s not a rude question, how did ye know?’

‘John dear, he’s been fond of Sarah since she was a wee girl,’ she said laughing.

‘Aye, ah know that. I’m not completely blind. But how did ye know Sarah was fond of him?’

‘I knew from the questions she was asking me. Only a week or so ago, she asked me how I knew you were the man for me.’

‘An’ you told her?’

‘Of course, I did,’ she replied. ‘That’s what mother’s are for.’

‘But why last night, Rose?’ he persisted. ‘Why
did she suddenly away off when I was out seein’ to Dolly and the next thing we knew Hugh was askin’ my permission to marry her? My goodness, I’ve never seen a man shed the years like our Hugh last night. Sure, he cou’da been in his twenties and the sight o’ the pair o’ them standin’ there did my heart good.’

‘They say love does that to people, John. Had you forgotten that in your old age?’ she asked, teasing him.

‘Aye, well,’ he said sheepishly. ‘I am gettin’ old I suppose, but I haven’t forgotten that,’ he went on. ‘But ye haven’t answered me. Why, last night after all that talk about Jamie?’

‘I’m not
sure
, love, but I think suddenly Sarah saw her way. Maybe it was the contrast between her and Jamie. Jamie is ambitious, he has a plan and marriage is a part of that. Sarah has great hope. She wants to do things, but she could never use someone like Jamie could. With Sarah love must come first. She just had to be sure of herself. She may be young, but she wasn’t hasty.’

‘No, I can see that. Hugh wouldn’t let her do something that wasn’t the right thing for her. That’s why he’s never spoken.’

He paused, staring at the flames through the open doors of the stove.

‘Do you think they’ll be as happy as we are, Rose?’

She smiled and looked across at him, smartly dressed, with his Sunday coat hung over the back of his chair, his dark hair well dusted with grey at the temples. There were times when she felt such an overwhelming tenderness for this man with whom she had shared so much, she hardly knew what to do about it.

‘Yes, I think they’ll be happy. If they’re as happy as we’ve been, they’ll do well,’ she said, getting up and bending her face close to his to brush a kiss against his wind roughened cheeks. ‘Sarah told me Hugh said they should cherish the time they had. Good advice, don’t you think, love?’ she asked gently.

‘Aye,’ he replied. ‘Cherish the time
an
’ cherish the ones that love you. We’ve got so much, Rose, we’ll waste no time on regrets,’ he said, with an air of finality.

I am once again indebted to family, friends and complete strangers, who have spared me their time, told me their stories, allowed me to climb on their field-gates with my camera, or tramp across their land to explore some long-abandoned house.

I am also grateful to librarians and the keepers of archives, particularly at the Irish Studies Centre and the Robinson Library in Armagh, and at the Banbridge Heritage Centre in County Down.

Even more encouraging than these generous people are the people who put their names on library waiting lists as soon as they know there is a new novel due. When the work is difficult or demanding, these are the people who keep me going, both by their numbers and their comments.

It is to them that I dedicate this novel:
The Hamiltons of Ballydown
.

A
NNE
D
OUGHTY

Now in her fifties and a grandmother, Rose Hamilton has much to be thankful for in the steady love of her husband, John, and their relative prosperity, but she is concerned for her children.

Sarah, recently widowed, is broken-hearted at the loss of her beloved Hugh, and worried by signs of hostile Trade Union activity in the Sinton mills where she is struggling to keep up his commitment to hundreds of workers.

Sam, married to cold and selfish Martha, is struggling to support his large family on a modest income.

As world events impinge on the family with the sinking of the Belfast-built Titanic and the growing prospect of war in Europe, mother and daughter face new challenges in their daily lives. But it is events in Ireland that make the greatest demand when Sarah becomes involved in the Easter Rising of 1916.

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A
NNE
D
OUGHTY
was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland. She is the author of twelve novels including
A Few Late Roses
which was longlisted for the Irish Times fiction prize. After many years living in England she returned to Belfast in 1998 and wrote the first of the novels that make up the Hamiltons series.

The Woman from Kerry

The Hamiltons of Ballydown

The Hawthorns Bloom in May

A Girl Called Rosie

For Many a Long Day

Shadow on the Land

On a Clear Day

Beyond the Green Hills