by Iris Gower
‘We’ll have soup to start and a nice bit of poached salmon to follow.’ Mrs Jones crossed her meaty arms over her chest. ‘Sal fetched us a fine bit of beef for the main course and I’m going to stuff that with oysters.’
Rhiannon nodded, grateful that the cook was experienced enough to make a meal fit for the gentry, let alone travelling businessmen and their families. ‘And to follow?’
‘Apples stuffed with cream, and chopped peaches served with a good thick custard. How does that sound?’
‘Wonderful. You’re a treasure, Mrs Jones.’
‘It’s easy to be a treasure when there’s plenty of money to go round, but I’m proud to say this dinner is economical to make. I bought a cheap cut of beef and I’ll cook it real slow. As for the fish, I got it for nothing.’
‘How did that happen?’
Mrs Jones laughed. ‘Not because of my charm, cariad, I’m too old for that sort of caper. No, I did a favour for the fishmonger’s wife, cooked four chickens for her in that lovely big oven we got in the kitchen.’ She paused. ‘I know we have to go careful for a while so I’m looking for any way I can find to cut costs.’ She squared her shoulders. ‘But I can’t stand here gossiping all day, I’ve got work to do.’
On an impulse Rhiannon hugged her. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
Mrs Jones brushed a hand over her eyes. ‘Don’t talk daft. If it wasn’t for you I’d be on the streets.’
As the door closed behind Mrs Jones, Rhiannon went to stand in the window again. She hardly saw the traffic, or heard the calls of the street vendors. She was hoping for another glimpse of Bull Beynon.
‘So he’s sent you now, has he?’ Dafydd Buchan stood looking at Llinos, the woman he had loved so dearly, lost to him now because of Morton-Edwards – curse him! Why did the women in his life turn to other men?
‘No one sent me!’ Llinos said, her eyes alight with anger. ‘You should know me better than that. I came of my own accord.’
‘All right, but for heaven’s sake, sit down. Don’t stand there glowering as if you want to stick a knife in my heart.’
Llinos sat down. ‘I don’t want to quarrel with you, Dafydd, I just want to be sure that Jayne is all right.’
‘Of course she is. How is my son?’ Dafydd saw Llinos frown. ‘There’s nothing wrong, is there? Sion is well, isn’t he?’
‘He is well and happy.’ She looked up at him and her beautiful eyes were filled with tears. ‘But he would rather be with his friends than with his mother.’ She shrugged. ‘I suppose that’s natural.’
Dafydd sat beside her, taking her hands in his. ‘What the boy needs is a fatherly hand to guide him.’ He felt a flicker of anger as Llinos took her hands away.
‘The only father Sion knew is dead and buried. Don’t try to have a part in his life now, it’s far too late for that.’ She sat up straight. ‘I would very much like to see Jayne.’
Dafydd sighed. He could never refuse Llinos anything – not when she looked up at him so earnestly with those wonderful eyes.
‘You can go up to her room,’ he stood up reluctantly, ‘but I’ll have to lock you in. You can ring the bell when you want to leave.’
Llinos looked at him and he could read the scorn in her eyes. ‘Is that the only way you can keep a woman these days, Dafydd?’
‘Don’t interfere in my business, Llinos. No one is allowed to do that, not even you.’ He felt ashamed but he would never let Llinos know that. ‘This is a favour I’m doing you, and please don’t get any foolish ideas about helping Jayne escape because you’ll both be closely watched.’
He walked up the stairs ahead of her but on the landing he paused. ‘I was cuckolded by my dear wife. Do you think any man could take such betrayal and not be bitter?’
Llinos didn’t reply and Dafydd unlocked the door and let her in to the room that had been his wife’s prison for more than a week. He locked it again, went back downstairs and stood, hands thrust into his pockets, wondering to what depths he had sunk in imprisoning a woman who despised him.
He took a deep breath. Jayne had brought it all upon herself. It was only right that she suffered for what she had done. It made his blood boil to think of her in Guy Fairchild’s arms. Fairchild would marry someone else now and then Jayne would learn what loneliness and betrayal meant.
Dinner was turning out to be a jolly occasion and Rhiannon, her dark hair tied up in a knot, helped to serve it. She was able to observe the guests seated around the long table and knew they were enjoying a hearty meal in pleasant company.
Mrs Paisley came into her own when guests were present and kept them amused with stories about the days when she was young. Her easy manner encouraged laughter and even Mr Summers, who at first kept his distance, was drawn to speak about his travels.
Once back in the kitchen, Rhiannon sank into a chair. Mrs Jones looked at her and smiled. ‘Worn out, are you, love?’
‘Yes, but I’m contented too. You’re to be congratulated on providing a dinner fit for a king, Mrs Jones.’
‘Well, there’s praise indeed!’ The cook was flushed with pleasure. ‘It’s nice to have a pat on the back now and again. That’s something the gentry don’t realize.’ She looked up as Sal came into the kitchen with a tray full of dishes. ‘You can leave those until later, Sal. Come and sit down and we’ll all have a nip of the sherry, shall we?’
Rhiannon smiled her approval. ‘That sounds like a very good idea. I think we’ve worked our fingers to the bone tonight. Soon we’ll need more staff, we can’t go on doing everything ourselves.’
‘Vi and Hetty are out of a job.’ Sal placed the dishes on the side of the sink and sank into a chair. ‘Seems they were dismissed soon after us.’
‘I wouldn’t want that Hetty round here,’ Mrs Jones said. ‘Tongue like a viper that girl’s got.’
‘Oh, go on, she’s not that bad,’ Sal protested.
Rhiannon poured the sherry into three glasses and handed them round. The dishes could wait. Most of the upstairs work was done and the guests would be retiring to their rooms before long. She supposed the beds should be turned down but even that could wait while she drank some of the amber liquid. It was warm and comfortable in the kitchen and everyone deserved a respite before getting back to work again.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to employ Hetty and Violet, she thought. They knew the way Mrs Jones liked to organize her cooking, they had both shopped for the best cuts of meat, they were bright girls and, most of the time, good workers.
‘You’re quiet, Rhiannon.’ Sal held her small feet close to the fire, her thin legs protruding from under her skirts, and Rhiannon felt a wave of pity for the girl. The last few weeks had been hard on her. Still, now that she was in a good job and had good food to put in her belly, Sal would soon blossom again.
‘It’s not a bad idea of yours to bring in Hetty and Vi. I’m sure they’ll both work harder than ever now that they know what being out of work feels like. Do you think they’d like a job in a hotel, Sal?’
‘They’d jump at the chance!’ Sal smiled. ‘So long as the pair of them keeps their eyes off my Seth we’ll get on just fine.’
‘Oh, he’s your Seth now, is he?’ Rhiannon said teasingly.
Sal blushed. ‘Well, he seems to like me and he doesn’t care anything about my past.’
‘Well, good luck to the pair of you.’ Mrs Jones heaved herself out of her chair. ‘He’ll be getting a good one if he gets you, my girl. Now, come on, Sal, me and you will do the dishes, let Rhiannon rest a bit.’
‘Why should I be allowed to rest?’ Rhiannon asked.
‘Well, you got to do more paperwork and you’re running the hotel. I don’t see it fair you should be a kitchenmaid as well.’
‘All right. I’ll go and turn down the beds.’ Rhiannon got to her feet and stood at the door for a moment watching Sal pile dishes into the sink. The aroma in the kitchen was a mingling of sweet and savoury smells, the fire crackled cheerfully in the big hea
rth and all was peace and harmony.
Rhiannon crossed her fingers for luck and, for good measure, sent up a silent prayer that all the good things would continue. She’d seen enough bad things to last her a lifetime.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
JAYNE SAT QUIETLY in her room, a feeling of resignation washing over her. She had tried to get away from Dafydd, she had pleaded with him, threatened him and even attempted to bribe him, but he wouldn’t budge an inch. It seemed she was doomed to spend the rest of her life in captivity. Not even a visit from Llinos had changed his mind.
Her father had called – more than once she had heard his angry voice in the hall – but Dafydd had always denied him entrance. He was not even allowed to see Jayne, let alone speak to her. ‘Please, Father, bring some men and get me out of here,’ Jayne whispered, under her breath.
Now the ringing of the doorbell vibrated through the house and Jayne lifted her head, wondering if her prayers were about to be answered. She hurried to the door and pressed her ear against the keyhole. Had her father arrived with a band of men to demand her release? Perhaps she might even dare to hope that Guy had come back for her. But, then, Guy thought she no longer loved him: he had gone away thinking she wanted to be with Dafydd.
She backed across the room as she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. The key turned in the lock and the door swung open. Jayne tried to hide her disappointment as Llinos came into the room.
‘Jayne, Dafydd’s given me permission to visit you again.’
Jayne held out her arms. ‘It’s good to see a friendly face.’ She kissed Llinos’s cheek. ‘Is he letting me out of here?’
Llinos smoothed back Jayne’s tangled hair. ‘I don’t know.’ She looked troubled. ‘He wasn’t easily persuaded to let me in.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Jayne sank onto the bed and gestured for Llinos to take the plush armchair near the fire. ‘But, then, Dafydd would never refuse you anything.’
‘He’s a stubborn man, though.’ Llinos looked down at her hands, and twisted her bright new wedding ring. ‘He’s angry, but his pride has been hurt more than anything.’ She looked up and Jayne met her eyes. ‘His intention was for Guy Fairchild to get your shares from you. He never thought you two would fall in love.’
‘Well, it just serves him right!’ Jayne knew she sounded childish. ‘He’s a fool! I offered him the shares and he wouldn’t take them!’ Jayne tried hard to keep her voice level. ‘I think all Dafydd wants now is to punish me for loving Guy and not him.’
Llinos stared out of the window and Jayne knew that she had no ready solution to her problem. But perhaps, just perhaps, there was something Llinos could do for her.
‘Llinos, will you find Guy and give him a message? Please tell him I was forced to lie to him and I love him. I need him to come for me or I’ll die in this room.’
‘Mr Fairchild has left the area,’ Llinos said gently. ‘I think you and Dafydd convinced him you were giving the marriage a second chance.’
It seemed that all her struggles to be free had been pointless. If Guy had gone away, if he believed she would rather be with Dafydd than with him, there was no point in fighting any more. She might just as well resign herself to living alone in this one room for ever.
‘Jayne,’ Llinos leaned towards her, ‘what did you mean when you said Dafydd forced you to lie? How could he force you to do something you didn’t want to?’
‘He had a pistol,’ Jayne said, ‘and he would have used it if I hadn’t done what he said.’ She sighed heavily. ‘Don’t be shocked. There’s a darker side to Dafydd, a side you’ve never seen.’
‘I can believe that,’ Llinos said. ‘I knew he was capable of violence when he ran with the rioters, but I never thought he’d bring that side of him into his home.’
‘You know my husband better than I ever did,’ Jayne said, ‘and now I no longer care. I just wish to God he still wanted you.’ She put her head in her hands.
‘Don’t be downhearted, Jayne,’ Llinos said softly. ‘If it will help I’ll try to find Mr Fairchild, tell him what really happened.’
A glimmer of hope crept into Jayne’s heart. ‘Would you do that for me, Llinos?’
‘I could try,’ Llinos said. ‘With your father’s help I’m sure I’ll manage to track him down.’
‘Where do you think he’s gone?’ Jayne asked. ‘The world is a big place, he could be anywhere.’
Llinos pushed a curl away from her face. ‘I did hear he’d gone to Cornwall. Watt Bevan was down there on business and he saw Mr Fairchild. It seems he was investing money in some china-clay business.’
‘Are you sure it was Guy he saw? Putting money into china clay doesn’t sound like Guy,’ Jayne said doubtfully. ‘He doesn’t know anything about the pottery business and never showed any interest in it.’
‘Well, I don’t think Watt would be mistaken over something like that. He loves the china industry and he’s every inch a businessman.’
‘Oh, I’m not doubting Watt’s word,’ Jayne said, ‘but I hardly dare hope that finding Guy would be so easy.’
‘Strangely enough, Mr Fairchild was doing business with a man who used to work for me a long time ago. You wouldn’t remember John. He’s a man not over-blessed with scruples so I think Mr Fairchild would do well to watch his investments closely.’
Jayne was not the least concerned about Guy’s ventures: he had money to invest and to spare and he was too clever to be duped in business matters.
‘So, you know where to find him, then?’ Jayne’s voice shook with excitement. ‘Oh, Llinos, please get a message to him as soon as you can.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Llinos said. ‘But, Jayne, don’t hope for too much. After all, what can Mr Fairchild do? You are married to Dafydd and have a responsibility to him, both in the eyes of the townspeople and the law.’
Jayne didn’t give a fig for the townspeople or the law: she knew that Guy would stop at nothing to get her away from Dafydd and he was clever enough to use guile rather than knock on the front door again. ‘Guy will get me away from here, I know he will. Just tell him the truth and that I’m being held against my will.’
‘I’ll do everything I can,’ Llinos said, ‘but he might have moved on, found himself other interests. After all, he’s a single man – a rich and handsome man.’
Jayne shook her head in exasperation. Llinos, of all people, should know the power of love. Guy truly loved her, he wanted to be with her, and she hungered to be with him. ‘Just get the message to him, that’s all I ask.’ Jayne went to where Llinos was sitting and knelt down beside her. ‘I know I haven’t always been kind to you and I wouldn’t blame you if you turned me down, but I vow I’ll never ask another thing from you if only you’ll do this for me.’
Llinos hesitated, but then, after what seemed an eternity, she nodded. ‘I’ll do as you ask – but, Jayne, don’t let anything slip in front of Dafydd.’
‘I don’t give Dafydd the time of day, let alone discuss my lover with him,’ Jayne said firmly. She was filled with excitement, her mind racing, and it was hard to keep her voice low. ‘I’m glad you came, you’ve given me new hope,’ she said, her voice breaking with emotion. ‘I know Guy loves me as much as I love him. Oh, Llinos, if only I could be with him again I’d be so happy.’
‘Are you sure about that, Jayne?’ Llinos asked. ‘Do you want to spend your life as an outcast from society?’
‘You’ve never worried about what people say, Llinos,’ Jayne said. ‘You had your son and everyone in Swansea knew that Dafydd was the father, so being an outcast never bothered you. In any case, Guy and I will go away, perhaps abroad to Paris or Italy. All I know is that I want to be with him.’
The door swung open and Dafydd stood on the threshold. ‘I think you two ladies have had enough time to conspire against me,’ he said, and Jayne could tell by the look in his eyes that he had heard Guy’s name mentioned. She remained silent as Dafydd moved further into the room.
‘So, you’v
e been discussing your lover with Llinos, have you, Jayne?’ he said, in a hard voice. ‘Well, you’ll never see him again so don’t fool yourself into thinking Llinos can help you.’ He moved closer to Jayne. There was a strange look in his eyes.
Llinos pushed him aside and hugged Jayne. ‘I’ll come back to see you again . . . if Dafydd will allow it,’ she said.
‘Come by all means, but don’t try bringing Morton-Edwards and a gaggle of men with you. And, Llinos,’ he caught her arm, ‘don’t meddle in something that is none of your business. I let you see Jayne to make sure she is well but if you overstep the mark you won’t be allowed into my house again.’
‘I understand,’ Llinos said quickly. ‘I don’t want a war any more than you do, Dafydd.’
‘Good. Now come along, it’s time Jayne was having her afternoon rest. She’s not as young as she used to be,’ he said cruelly.
‘Not as young as that harlot you bring into my house, you mean,’ Jayne said flatly.
Llinos saw a glimmer of a smile cross Dafydd’s face. ‘Oh, so the servants have been talking to you, have they?’
‘They haven’t needed to. I could tell by the girlish laughter outside my door that you had a young woman in the house.’
Llinos stared at Dafydd, waiting for him to refute Jayne’s words but he did not. ‘Come along, Llinos, it’s time you were going before my wife starts to spit like the cat she is.’
Jayne watched as Llinos was bundled out on to the landing. She pulled out of Dafydd’s grasp. ‘There’s no need to treat me like that,’ she said.
Dafydd apologized at once. ‘Forgive me, Llinos, I sometimes forget myself after spending more than a few minutes in the company of my wife.’
Jayne watched Dafydd close the door and heard the key turn in the lock. She had hope now, and if Llinos kept her word, it would not be long before Guy came for her.
