by Iris Gower
‘We are old friends, Doctor,’ Bull said. ‘Rhiannon is quite safe with me, I assure you.’
‘That is not the point, though, is it? It isn’t proper for a young lady to visit a gentleman alone.’
Rhiannon closed her eyes. Clearly Richard knew nothing of her past: he imagined she was a well-brought-up young lady of gentle birth. If she hadn’t felt so ill she would have tried to explain.
‘So you think it’s scarlet fever, Doctor?’ Bull’s voice echoed dimly in her mind before she drifted away again into a deep darkness.
Rhiannon was sailing over the town. She felt her wings lifting her higher than the Town Hill. She could see Poppets Hill and the stark shape of the gibbet outlined against the red earth. And then the sun was going down, she was drifting towards the sea, but she could no longer keep her eyes open. It was hot, so hot that it should have been the sun, not the moon, shining down on her. And then she was falling into a deep cavern where a bed of writhing snakes waited to claim her . . .
Rhiannon woke abruptly and gasped in fear. But the snakes had gone and all she could see now was the sunlight through the chink in the heavy curtains. For a moment she wondered where she was but then she realized she had been ill and remembered she was at Bull’s house.
She heard the rustle of a starched apron and turned her head with difficulty. She saw a nurse coming towards her.
‘Ah, Mrs Beynon, you’re in the land of the living again. That’s excellent!’ She held Rhiannon’s head and adjusted the pillows. ‘You’ve been thrashing around like a crazy woman but that’s the fever. It’s broken now and you’re going to be all right. I’ll just go and give your husband the good news. He’s been that worried he’s hardly slept.’
Rhiannon wanted to tell the nurse she had no husband, but the woman disappeared through the door before she could frame the words.
Bull came into the room and sat on the bed. ‘Thank God, Rhiannon, you’ve been so sick I feared for your life.’
‘Oh, Bull, I’m sorry to be such a trouble to you.’ She wanted to cling to his broad shoulders and beg him to let her stay with him for ever, but that was out of the question. ‘I’ve got to get back to the hotel, they’ll all be wondering where I am.’ She was surprised at the weakness of her voice. She tried to take a deep breath but it hurt her chest.
‘Don’t worry about the hotel. I’ve sent a message to Mrs Paisley and she told me she’d manage on her own.’
‘Oh dear, she’s not well and here I am lying about the place like a sick cat.’ Rhiannon wanted to find her clothes and shoes and ask Bull to call a cab to take her home, but she didn’t have the strength.
‘You’re not to worry about anything. Just rest.’
The nurse bustled into the room just in time to hear Bull’s last remark. ‘There, didn’t I tell you he’d been worried about you? You’re a lucky girl, having such a good husband.’ She tucked the bedclothes around Rhiannon’s shoulders. ‘Now, do as he tells you and get some rest. You’re far from well and I won’t have all my good work undone because you won’t listen to my advice.’
‘But, Nurse, I’m not—’
Bull laid his finger over her lips. ‘Do as the nurse tells you, Rhiannon, and rest. There’ll be time enough to talk later when you’re feeling better.’
Rhiannon felt her eyes beginning to close. Bull was right, she must rest. As she snuggled down under the sheets, she felt a warmth around her heart. Bull was sitting close to her, taking care of her, just as he had in the old days long ago when they were lovers.
CHAPTER THIRTY
IT WAS A crisp day and the leaves on the trees were turning to shades of red and gold. Now Bull had to be extra vigilant, looking for cracks in the line where the rail had expanded in the heat of summer and might now be contracting as the colder weather came in. He walked along the railway track, staring down at the iron rails gleaming in the mellow September sunlight. Uncharacteristically he wasn’t thinking about work, he was thinking of Rhiannon, how sick she’d been, and how it had torn at his heart to see her laid low. Now that she was on the road to recovery she’d moved back to the hotel and Bull missed having her under his roof, close enough for him to touch her, hold her and kiss her full lips. Of course he had done nothing of the sort, he had treated Rhiannon as a dear friend, but he was beginning to see that she meant a great deal more to him than that.
He moved up the bank away from the railway. He might as well go home – he wasn’t getting any work done today, not with his mind in confusion. He stepped on to the road and a pony and trap pulled up beside him. In it was Richard Frost. ‘Morning, Mr Beynon. How is Rhiannon feeling now that she’s back at work?’
‘She’s still a little pale and she needs to eat some hearty meals to build her up but when she makes up her mind to do anything there’s no telling her to stop. She simply won’t listen.’
The doctor stepped down from the trap on to the roadway. ‘I wanted to talk to you, Mr Beynon. Have you a minute to spare?’
Bull murmured his assent and the doctor moved closer. ‘I must confess to being a little puzzled. Rhiannon is called Mrs Beynon yet I know she’s not your wife.’ He coughed, and it was clear to Bull that the man was more than a little embarrassed. ‘What exactly is your relationship to her? This is not idle curiosity, you understand. I’m becoming fond of the lady and I want to know if it’s proper for me to approach her.’
Bull was at a loss. He felt anger and, yes, a flare of jealousy, yet he could hardly tell the doctor the truth. He improvised quickly. ‘Mrs Beynon is a courtesy title only. Rhiannon has never been married.’ He was uncertain how to go on. ‘Rhiannon is no relation, but she’s a very dear friend. You do realize that Beynon is a common name in Wales.’
‘Of course. Has she family or anyone I can speak to about my intentions?’
Bull shook his head. ‘Not as far as I know. The best thing you can do is to talk to Rhiannon herself.’
The doctor smiled and suddenly Bull felt an urge to smack him on the nose. Instead he said, ‘I’d better get on. I’ve got reports to write up and I’m sure you have patients to visit.’
‘I have indeed. Well, good morning to you, Mr Beynon, and thank you for taking the time to talk to me.’
Bull strode away, fighting outrage that the doctor should question him about Rhiannon. What was he supposed to say, that she’d been a prostitute and had lived with him for many months? He knew he was being unreasonable but something about Richard Frost set his teeth on edge.
The man was a good doctor yet Bull was wary of him. He seemed too good to be true but, then, perhaps he was being unreasonable. Perhaps he would think that way about any man who was interested in Rhiannon. He kicked at a stone, knowing he was behaving like a sulky child. Suddenly the day felt dark and dreary as Bull made his way back to his empty house.
Llinos was in the conservatory, tactfully keeping out of the way, and Jayne smiled. How she’d misjudged her all this time. Ah, well, she knew better now. Llinos would be on her side whatever she wanted to do.
‘Llinos, I’ve had a letter from Guy.’ Jayne felt like clutching the piece of paper to her heart. ‘He’s at the Paradise Park and he’s going to come for me today. I have to be ready with my boxes packed. But first I have to talk to Father, try to explain to him how I feel.’ She searched for the right words. ‘I want him to understand that I know what I’m doing.’
‘Eynon’s been out since early morning, Jayne. He’s in court today.’ She smiled. ‘But whether your father approves or not you’ll be going away with Guy.’
‘And you’re not angry and disgusted with me?’ Jayne watched Llinos’s face but all she saw there was compassion and understanding.
‘I’ve been in your position myself, Jayne, and love is heady stuff. But remember that I was shunned by polite society until your father married me, and even now I’m merely tolerated by the good ladies of the town. Think carefully before you do anything rash.’
‘I want to be with Guy and no one is go
ing to stop me. I don’t care about my good name. In any case, don’t you think the gossips have made free with my indiscretions already?’ She moved away from Llinos and stood close to the door. ‘I’m staying with Guy at the Paradise Park tonight, and first thing in the morning we’re taking the train for London. Please tell Father that if he wants to say goodbye he will have to come up to the hotel.’
‘I’ll tell him – and, Jayne, for what it’s worth, you go with all my good wishes and I hope you will be very happy.’
At the sound of hoofs and the rattle of wheels on the drive outside Jayne looked up sharply. Guy was here! She ran to the door, flung it open and then she was in his arms, her face turned up to his. ‘Oh, Guy, I thought this day would never come.’
‘So did I, but now we’ll be together for ever, my darling,’ Guy said. ‘No one is going to come between us. I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’ Then his lips came down on hers and suddenly the world seemed filled with light. Jayne knew in that moment that no sacrifice was too great as long as she could be with the man she loved.
Rhiannon looked down the guest list for tomorrow’s Grand Opening of the Paradise Park. By now, most of the rooms were occupied, the good reputation of the hotel was growing, and the client list with it.
Sal came into the office and stood in front of Rhiannon with her hands on her hips. ‘You’re working too hard. You’ve been told by the doctor to take things easy for a while.’
Rhiannon smiled. ‘I’m enjoying myself. In any case, there’s so much to do before the official opening of the hotel.’
‘Can’t you leave some of the work to Mrs Paisley?’
‘You know she’s not up to it.’ Mrs Paisley was becoming more and more confused, unable to remember even the smallest item. Rhiannon spent most of her time covering up the old lady’s mistakes.
‘Well, neither are you. You’ve been very ill, Rhiannon, we almost lost you.’ Sal put her arm around Rhiannon’s shoulders. ‘I don’t know what we’d all do without you to look after us.’
Rhiannon smiled. ‘Well, I think you’ve got someone else who wants to look after you.’
Sal’s colour rose. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘You know exactly what I mean. I’ve seen you with Seth in the garden when you were supposed to be picking herbs for the dinner.’
‘Oh, Rhiannon!’ Sal clasped her hands together. ‘Do you think Seth could really care for me, after the way I’ve spent my life?’
‘I think he cares for you very much. Remember, Sal, what you did was out of necessity. It was either go on the streets or starve.’
‘I know you’re right, but I can’t believe I let myself fall into such a life. I could no more lie on my back for money now than fly to the moon.’
Rhiannon knew exactly how Sal felt. The days when she had been any man’s for the taking seemed part of another lifetime. She had lost all her self-respect, all her dignity, until she had met Bull. But thinking about Bull brought sadness to the day. She almost wished she was ill again, with Bull to take care of her. He had been so kind, so loving. She drew herself up sharply. Bull didn’t love her, he loved the memory of his dear wife, Katie. She would be a fool if she read too much into his kindness to a sick friend.
There was a knock on the door and Violet peered into the room. ‘The doctor’s here to see you, Rhiannon. Shall I show him into the drawing room?’
Rhiannon frowned. What could he possibly want? She was well now, she didn’t need Richard Frost to call on her.
‘Tell him I’ll see him in just a moment.’ Rhiannon put aside the invitations to the opening of the hotel and lifted her hand to tidy her hair. ‘I wonder what he wants, Sal.’
Sal smiled. ‘You may be clever in some things but you’re as daft as a brush when it comes to yourself, aren’t you? Surely you’ve noticed he’s smitten by you?’
‘Don’t be silly!’
‘I’m not being silly. The man can’t take his eyes off you. Whenever you’re together he lights up like there was a dozen candles inside him.’
‘Nonsense!’ Rhiannon brushed down her skirts. ‘Perhaps someone in the hotel needs his services.’ She ushered Sal to the door. ‘Now, go away and find something to do – and stop making up romantic stories in your head about me and Dr Frost.’
When she walked into the drawing room Richard Frost was standing near the fireplace and smiled at her. At that moment Rhiannon saw that Sal had been right: the doctor was taken with her. But he was smitten by the businesswoman she had become. He didn’t know anything about her past.
‘Rhiannon.’ He moved uneasily from one foot to the other. ‘I spoke to Bull Beynon earlier today and asked him about any family you might have.’
‘I see.’ Rhiannon felt a dart of unease. What had Bull said about her? He would never speak ill of her but he did not tell lies. ‘Well, he probably told you I had no family.’
‘Yes, and he told me that he and you were not related in spite of having the same name.’
‘That’s right. Please, Richard, do sit down, you’re making me feel uncomfortable.’
‘I feel at a loss, I should be speaking to a male relative about my feelings but as you have none I must, of necessity, speak directly to you.’ He took her hand. ‘Rhiannon, I have feelings for you, very deep feelings, and I want to ask you to do me the honour of walking out with me.’
Rhiannon’s first impulse was to draw away her hand and tell the doctor the truth about her past life, but on reflection she thought that perhaps it would not be kind of her: perhaps he would feel foolish if he knew he was all but proposing to a harlot. ‘You are very kind, Richard, but please, don’t ask me to make up my mind to anything as important as that when I’ve so many other things to think about.’
‘What things?’ He seemed puzzled – he didn’t know how much planning it had taken to organize the opening of the hotel.
‘Well, there’s Mrs Paisley, and you know that she’s more of a hindrance than a help these days.’ She sighed. ‘Can we talk about this after the Grand Opening? Just give me time to think about it with all of my mind rather than half of it.’
‘Very well.’ He sounded disgruntled. ‘You do understand what an honour I’m offering, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do, and I’m flattered, but my recent illness has made me weak and indecisive. Please, Richard, give me a few days and then we’ll talk properly.’
‘All right, then.’ He moved to the door. ‘We’ll talk again when you’re in a better frame of mind.’
As the door closed behind him, Rhiannon felt only a sense of relief. She must tell him the truth about her past and then, if he still wanted to walk out with her, she would make up her mind if that was what she wanted.
Sal was in the hall. She took one look at Rhiannon’s face and smiled broadly. ‘I told you, didn’t I?’ She caught Rhiannon’s arm. ‘He proposed, didn’t he?’
‘Oh, you and your questions! He didn’t exactly propose but he wanted me to walk out with him, as he put it.’
‘And you said yes?’
‘I said I needed time to think about it.’
‘You’re mad! A fine upstanding doctor asks for your hand and you put him off! When are you going to get a better offer, Rhiannon?’
‘I don’t think I want any man, if the truth be told,’ Rhiannon said quietly.
‘And we know why, don’t we?’ Sal shook her head. ‘Forget Bull Beynon, you’re never going to get him. Do you want to end up an old maid?’
Rhiannon didn’t reply. She was too busy wiping the tears from her eyes.
Richard Frost stood in the foyer of the hotel looking around him. It was a fine hotel, a thriving hotel, and if he married Rhiannon he would be part of it. He was surprised that she hadn’t fallen into his arms right away but women were known to be coy. Keeping a man waiting was part of the game they played.
The large doors of the hotel swung open and he stepped back courteously as a well-dressed couple
approached the reception area. He couldn’t fail to hear what they were saying as they booked a room for the night. He was about to turn away when he realized the lady was Mrs Jayne Buchan, but the man she was clinging to, as if she would never let him go, was not her husband.
He watched, outraged, as they strolled hand in hand towards the ornate stairs. Their behaviour was beyond the bounds of decency. He must speak to Rhiannon at once, tell her exactly what was going on in the hotel. Perhaps there were other irregularities that should be drawn to her attention.
He decided he would like to look round the place, see what he could find out. He wasn’t being inquisitive, he was merely protecting Rhiannon’s reputation and the good name of the hotel.
In spite of his distaste at the scene he’d just witnessed, he felt a sense of pride in what she had achieved. He could see for himself how well she had done in turning the old building into a veritable palace. Rich curtains hung at the windows and fine carpet covered the floors. The walls were lined with silk paper and several paintings gave the hotel an air of solidity, as if it had been a grand hotel for many years. He wandered downstairs and found himself looking in on a busy kitchen; the cook was getting on in years but she ran her domain like a good captain would run a ship. The floors were spotless and the mouthwatering smell of roasting beef was enough to tempt any man’s appetite.
He was backing out as the cook looked up at him. ‘Sorry, I took a wrong turning,’ he said. Another staircase led him towards the back entrance of the hotel and he decided to leave. As he made for the door he heard the sound of a woman’s laughter. Curious, he opened the door and as it swung wide he stared at the two people before him. One of the maids was in the arms of a gardener, and her face was flushed.
