Kingdom's Dream (10 page)

Katie was doubtful about lingering in the kitchen. ‘Has Mrs Buchan been calling for me?' she asked.

‘Duw, duw,
girl!' Cook shook her head. ‘I think the mistress has more to worry about than you. She's got her father and that Mrs Mainwaring visiting. Now, sit down and put your feet up while you've got the chance.'

Katie was grateful to slip her feet out of her shoes. It had been a long walk back from town.

‘Did you hear any gossip about Mrs Mainwaring when you were out?' Cook leaned closer, not wanting the kitchenmaids to hear. ‘Rumour has it she's still seeing our Mr Buchan.'

‘Sorry, Mrs Williams, I didn't talk to anyone.' Katie changed the subject. ‘Are the visitors staying for lunch?'

‘Aye, it looks like they're staying quite a while.' Cook thumped a piece of dough on the table, sending a spray of flour over her apron. ‘I don't know how that Mrs Mainwaring has the nerve to go about in polite society. I know for a fact that the mistress can't abide her, and we don't have to think very hard to know why, do we?'

‘Mrs Mainwaring and Mr Morton-Edwards are good friends, though, aren't they?'

Cook looked at her curiously. ‘You're not thinking there's something going on between those two, are you? Cos there's not. It's true Mr Mainwaring has gone off to America with the elder boy but that don't mean Mr Morton-Edwards would take advantage.'

‘I'm sure he wouldn't. I wasn't meaning anything like that, Cook.'

‘Well, all right, then, but I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Mainwaring stayed out there in America for good rather than face the scandal of his wife's brazen ways.'

Katie concentrated on her tea, not wanting to involve herself in kitchen gossip, which spread like wildfire even if there was no truth in it. ‘He's a lovely gentleman, is Mr Morton-Edwards,' she said at last. ‘I can't see him doing anything wrong, can you, Cook?'

‘We all like to think that,' Mrs Williams cut the dough into circles large enough to fill a pie dish, ‘but he's a man for all that and likes his comforts.' She placed apple slices on top of the pastry. ‘Aye, fair play, mind, you fetched a lovely bit of fruit.'

Katie wanted to smile. If Mrs Williams knew the truth she'd throw a fit. ‘I'm glad they're not bruised or anything. I picked them out very carefully,' she said quietly.

‘Taught by your mammy, I ‘spects,' Mrs Williams said, eyeing her curiously. ‘You're from a respectable family, Katie. The Cullens were well thought of round these parts. Irish they may be but they were good honest souls for all that.'

Cook had no idea she was being patronizing: she spoke genially and meant well.

‘Thank you, Mrs Williams. My mam would have been so pleased to hear you speak so kindly about us. By the way, Mrs Williams, when do I have a day off? I'd like to visit some of my friends up in Greenhill sometime.'

‘Good heavens, you only just got here, girl, and you talking about a day off! You'll ‘ave to wait till the mistress tells you, like the rest of us do.'

Katie put down her cup. It was time she went upstairs and made herself useful by sorting out fresh clothes for her mistress. The duties of a personal maid were not onerous but Katie was at Mrs Buchan's beck and call.

‘I'd better get on. Thank you, Cook, for the tea. It was most welcome.'

‘I should think so. Not many servants get the privilege of real tea like we do. No one can complain that the master's penny-pinching.'

‘No indeed,' Katie agreed.

It was a relief to slip up the wide, curving stairs to the bedroom occupied by her mistress. It seemed strange to her that the master and mistress had separate rooms: her own parents had slept in the same bed.

It was peaceful in the bedroom, with the bright sun shining in through the windows, splashing the silk covers with vibrant colour. Katie saw that the dressing-table was littered with an array of bottles and boxes; it was easy to see that Mrs Buchan had been forced to get herself ready to meet her guests. Katie made a wry face. Would she pay for her absence later?

She began to clear up the clutter, putting perfumes and creams away in the small drawers of the dressing-table. This was the part of the job she enjoyed. She did not mind mopping up after Mrs Buchan when she had used all the water in the jug and spilt most of it over the washstand and she did not mind gathering up discarded clothes and taking them down to the laundry room. What did bother her was listening to Jayne talk about her husband, and how that witch Llinos Mainwaring had got her claws into him.

Suddenly the door opened and Jayne swept into the room. She sat on the bed and kicked off her shoes. ‘Thank heavens that's over. It was the longest lunch I've ever had to endure. I do wish Father wouldn't bring that woman over here. He knows how I feel about her.'

Katie thought it politic to remain silent. She saw that the fire was getting low and picked up the tongs to place coals strategically over the dying embers.

‘And what did you do with yourself this morning?' Jayne asked, with unusual curiosity.

‘I just did the shopping, Mrs Buchan.'

‘But did you speak to anyone? For heaven's sake, girl, talk to me. You're not dumb, are you?'

Katie mulled it over in her mind. Should she tell the mistress about her meeting with Shanni Morgan? Surely it could do no harm.

‘I bumped into Shanni Morgan. She's married to one of the potters.'

‘Oh, did you, indeed? And did she have any gossip to impart?'

Everyone was obsessed with gossip, Katie thought, from the mistress down to the servants in the kitchen.

‘Not really, but she did ask me if I'd like to visit her on my day off.'

Jayne digested this in silence and, to Katie's relief, she did not seem to be angry about her maid talking to one of the potters' wives.

‘Did she speak about Mr Buchan?' Jayne did not look at Katie: she drew her legs up onto the bed and sat with them crossed, careless that her good silk dress was being creased.

‘Only to say that she worked for him.' Katie thought that innocent enough. She watched as Jayne pulled the combs from her hair allowing it to fall in pale waves down her back.

‘I've quite got a headache now,' she said. ‘Fetch some rosewater and bathe my forehead for me, Katie, there's a good girl. Oh, and Katie, I would like you to accept Shanni Morgan's invitation but you must keep your ears open for anything she might say about me or about my husband. Do you understand?'

‘Yes, Mrs Buchan.' As Katie left the room she was frowning. If her mistress thought she would act like a gossipmonger, she was mistaken. Still, it would be nice to make new friends, and somehow Katie felt that in Shanni she might have found a good friend indeed.

CHAPTER NINE

Llinos sat in the drawing room of Caswell House staring unseeingly into the fire. She had been so foolish to accept Eynon's invitation to visit his daughter. True to form, Jayne was keeping her guests waiting and Llinos was imagining her and Dafydd together. Jayne would watch him dress and shave, see how beautiful he was in sleep, all the intimate things she remembered so well. It hurt.

‘When will Joe be home?' Eynon broke the silence. ‘It seems so long since he went off to America.'

‘I don't know,' Llinos said. ‘He hasn't paid me the courtesy of telling me that yet.' As soon as the words left her lips she felt guilty. After all, it had been her choice to stay in Swansea.

‘I wish he
would
come home,' she said. Without him she felt vulnerable.

Before Eynon could reply the drawing-room door opened and Llinos sat back in her seat, expecting to see Jayne make her entrance. But it was Dafydd who came into the room, his eyes searching for hers. She bit her lip and looked away, as if to distance herself from him but his presence dominated the room.

Almost directly behind him was Jayne, her face flushed, her hair less than neat. ‘So sorry to keep you waiting, Papa,' she said, ‘but my husband has been busy telling me how beautiful I look, haven't you, darling?' She reached for Dafydd and as Llinos watched her kiss his cheek she felt her heart shrink.

Dafydd came towards her and she held out her hand almost without thinking. He took it, and the touch of his fingers, the way his eyes bored into hers, made her feel almost ill with regret for what might have been.

‘It's so good to see you, Llinos. Tell me how life is treating you?' He sat close to her, and she was very aware of the warmth of his body. Her heart was pounding so hard that she wondered if he would hear it.

‘My darling's had a bad day,' Jayne said.

‘There's been a bit of trouble down at the Llanelli pottery,' Dafydd explained, ‘but nothing that can't be handled by Pedr Morgan.' He addressed himself to Llinos. ‘Seems some of the men want to leave the pottery and join the railway navvies. The fools can't see that the work on the line is almost finished.'

Llinos had still not composed herself so Eynon filled the uncomfortable gap. ‘Talking of the railways, I've managed to buy some shares.' He avoided Dafydd's eye. ‘I was lucky to get them – some old man fell sick and wanted to get out of the business world. I took just a few. The rest went to an unknown buyer.'

‘I've tried my best to get hold of some Great Western shares,' Dafydd said. ‘They'll be worth a goldmine in a very short time.'

Llinos swallowed hard, wondering how soon she could make her excuses and leave. Everyone was keeping up the façade that this was a meeting of friends but she could tell from Eynon's expression that he was only too aware that Dafydd could not take his eyes off her.

‘Have you managed to buy some of the shares, Llinos?' Dafydd asked.

She shook her head, unable to speak. It alarmed her that Dafydd could still move her in this way and she wished she could leave their affair in the past.

She glanced at Jayne, who was looking smug: she had something up her sleeve, some secret. Could she be expecting Dafydd's child?

‘I must be going,' Llinos said quickly. ‘I didn't realize how quickly time was passing. My son will be wondering where I am.'

‘How is the boy?' Dafydd asked.

Llinos was afraid to look at him. ‘He's very bright, learning his lessons with no trouble. He will have to go away to school soon.'

‘It's no wonder he's bright – he has such a brilliant mother.' Dafydd spoke in a low voice, but both Jayne and Eynon heard him. ‘If you can get your hands on some railway shares, they would stand him in good stead later in life.'

‘Don't bore them with talk of railways and shares, Dafydd,' Jayne said waspily. ‘I'm sure Aunt Llinos has no interest in such things.'

Llinos rose. She had heard the hostility in Jayne's voice and wanted to escape. Good thing she'd insisted on bringing her own carriage. ‘Eynon, will you come to the door with me?' she asked, but Dafydd was already on his feet.

‘I'll see you out,' he said decisively. ‘I'm on my way to a meeting anyway.' He towered over her, but she kept her eyes turned away from his face.

‘I'll come too, darling.' Jayne slipped her hand through her husband's arm in a proprietary way. Dafydd could not hide his displeasure.

‘Let's make a party of it – I'll come too.' Eynon sounded disgruntled, and Dafydd glanced at him.

‘There's no need for all this fuss. You and Jayne stay here near the fire and keep warm. It's rather cold outside for the time of year.' He untangled his arm from Jayne's grasp and led Llinos into the hall.

The maid brought her coat, and Llinos slipped her arms into the sleeves. Dafydd opened the door and stepped out into the pale sunlight of early winter. He looked so virile, so alive . . . so dear.

‘That was foolish,' she said, as he led her to her carriage. ‘You'll give yourself away if you keep acting like that.'

He smiled. ‘I'm merely seeing a guest out. No harm in that, is there?' He took her arm to help her in. Llinos felt the warmth of his fingers and shivered – she wanted him so much. Even now, with grey hairs appearing, she still felt the urge to lie with Dafydd, experience his vigour, his love.

‘I want you so much,' Dafydd said. ‘I want to take you to bed, to make love to you until we're both exhausted. Will I never stop wanting you, Llinos?'

‘It's torture, I know.' She averted her eyes. ‘I want you just as much but it's impossible.'

‘Nothing is impossible,' Dafydd said. ‘Llinos, we both want this so much, why deny ourselves?'

She struggled to find an answer. Her mind told her that Dafydd was forbidden to her, but her body had no care for honour or truth or fidelity. She looked up at the branches of the trees, stripped now by chill winds. Overhead ominous dark clouds threatened rain.

‘You are married, Dafydd,' she said slowly. ‘I can't forget that you belong to Jayne.' But she had made love with him when she was a married woman. She had not kept her own vows.

Dafydd echoed her thoughts: ‘But you did not care about your vows when you came to me, Llinos, so why should mine be any different?'

‘Dafydd, I can't hurt Jayne in the way I was hurt.' She paused, trying not to cry. ‘I felt justified in being with you because Joe had been unfaithful to me.' She hesitated. ‘But in spite of that, I always felt the betrayal keenly, both mine and his.'

‘Joe's away. He's chosen to go off without you, which I would never do.' He sighed. ‘When I walked away from our love it was to give you and Joe a chance to restore your life together. Well, you are not together, are you?'