Kingdom's Dream (22 page)

Pedr went out, closing the door behind him.

‘He's so worried about you, Shanni. He must love you very much,' Katie said.

‘I know,' Shanni said, ‘and I'll spend the rest of my life making up to him for what I've done.'

It was with relief that Katie left the house a little later. She wished she had never called, had never been the one in whom Shanni had confided. Once she got back to the Morton-Edwards household Cook would be waiting for the latest gossip and what could she say?

She walked towards town, leaving behind the potteries and the little huddle of houses. She turned into the Carmarthen road, trying to ignore the navvies working on the railway line. Then she caught sight of Bull: his big shoulders and tall frame made him stand out from the other men and Katie longed to run to him and throw herself into his arms. She turned away her face, hoping he wouldn't see her. But he did. Suddenly he was standing in front of her, barring her way.

‘Katie, I must talk to you, please. Just give me a few minutes of your time, that's all I ask.'

She looked up at him. She had thought him so dear, so wonderful, and yet he was a cheat and a liar. ‘What can you say, Bull? You have a woman and that's an end to it.'

‘No. I took Rhiannon in because she was alone, defenceless. She needed protection from the other men.'

Katie stared at him. ‘Are you telling me you live with her like brother and sister?'

He faced her squarely. ‘I can't tell you that, Katie, but since I met you I haven't—'

‘Stop! I don't want to hear it, Bull. You should have told me about Rhiannon.' She hesitated. ‘Are you willing to send her packing, then, Bull? Would you do that for me?'

For a long moment he was silent. ‘No,' he said at last. ‘I wouldn't throw Rhiannon to the wolves. I owe her more than that.'

‘Well, that's all there is to say. ‘ Her voice was cool, but part of her respected him for his loyalty.

‘I'll be getting a house soon,' Bull said, ‘and, given time, I can make arrangements for Rhiannon to find work in a good home. I never meant to ask you to be my wife until I'd sorted out my affairs properly.'

‘But you should have told me about Rhiannon. How do you think I felt when she begged me not to take you away from her? She loves you so much, Bull, and you've just used her in the same way as all the other men used her.'

‘It wasn't like that. I was trying to help her. I gave Rhiannon a bit of security instead of watching her being passed from man to man. Was that so wrong?'

‘I don't know, Bull,' Katie said wearily. ‘All I do know is I can't share you, not with anyone. Goodbye, Bull. Please don't bother me again.'

Katie sounded strong, a woman in charge of her feelings, but once she had walked away from him the tears came and she knew that her world was coming to an end.

Rhiannon had watched the little scene between Bull and Katie, her heart in her mouth. She could see that they were arguing and she knew it was over her. Would Katie win him away from her? She tried to read Bull's expression. Was she being fair in trying to keep him for herself? She was denying him a good marriage and a family. Was that the way to show her love for him?

‘Hell and damnation!' she said aloud. ‘He's my man and I can't let him go.' She watched, with a sense of triumph, as Katie walked away, leaving Bull staring after her. It was clear that Katie had finished with him once and for all.

Slowly Rhiannon went back to the hut. She built up the fire and put a pot of water on to boil: she would make him a good meal, a nice chicken soup with chunks of potato, and some bread and cheese to come after. Rhiannon looked around her at the bare wooden walls of the hut, the crude window covered with paper-thin curtains. It was not much but it was the home she shared with the man she loved.

Later, when Bull came home, Rhiannon served his meal and sat beside him at the rough wooden table. ‘Had a good day, Bull?' She dare not tell him she had seen Katie Cullen stop and talk to him. The last thing she wanted was to quarrel with him and hear the truth about his feelings.

‘Average.'

‘Heard any more about your promotion?' She was on risky ground but she had to know what was going on. ‘When will you move into the new house?'

‘I'm seeing the engineer tomorrow and I'll know more after I've spoken to him.' He pushed away his plate. ‘I'm going for a drink with the men. I've got such a thirst on me I could drink the sea dry.' It was an excuse and they both knew it. Still, he would come home mellowed by the beer and perhaps he would make love to her, the way he used to before he met Katie Cullen. It was a vain hope but Rhiannon clung to it, knowing in her heart that she had already lost the battle.

CHAPTER TWENTY

‘What on earth is wrong with you, Dafydd?' Jayne frowned as her husband walked across to the window for the umpteenth time that evening. ‘You're so restless. Is business bothering you?'

He ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on end, and Jayne smiled: he was like a little boy wanting to confess a misdemeanour to his mother, but what could Dafydd possibly want to confess?

He returned to his seat and smiled absentmindedly. ‘I'm just fretting over the damn railway shares,' he said. ‘I missed getting my hands on some the other day.'

‘How did that come about?'

‘I got talking to Ben Knightly, the head of the bank. Seems the family of some old man wanted to offload the shares he held. If I'd got them I'd have a foot in the door at least.'

‘Who did get them, then?' Jayne watched her husband's face. Had he known it had been her he would have confronted her by now.

‘He wouldn't say, professional etiquette, but I do know it was his second-in-command who kept the shares for a favoured customer. Damn! I only wish Ben had come to me first.'

Jayne hid a smile. ‘Well, Dafydd, you have enough money as it is without wanting to make more.'

She was wondering if this was the right time to tell him she had enough shares for both of them when he spoke again, impatiently, as though to a child. ‘Don't be silly, Jayne! It's not just a case of money. There's a great deal more than money to consider but how can I expect you to know anything about business?'

Jayne swallowed an angry retort. If Dafydd chose to think of her as a foolish woman that was his loss. He strode to the door.

‘Where are you going?' she asked, aware of the peevish note in her voice but unable to prevent it.

‘To the club for an hour. I need the company of men of my own kind, ambitious men, who think it good to have an aim in life.'

‘What makes you think I'm a fool?' She was standing now, her hands clenched at her side. ‘If you only knew how much I resent your attitude to me!'

‘Oh, I know, all right,' Dafydd said. ‘You made your feelings clear to Llinos Mainwaring. How could you go crying to another woman about the way I treat you?'

‘You've seen Llinos? When? Did you go to her home, then?'

‘Yes.'

‘Are you not satisfied with me? Do you have to cling to the skirts of an older woman? You're like a child looking for mothering.'

‘Anything would be better than a wife who lies there like a piece of stone. I'm used to a full-blooded woman and all you are is a young, inexperienced girl.'

‘So you would prefer it if I had been a trollop, lying with any man who took my fancy just as Llinos Mainwaring does?'

‘Don't talk rubbish! Llinos is no whore, whatever you say. She loved me and was not afraid to show it in bed. You, on the other hand, are a disappointment.'

‘Oh, you think she's so good, so loyal. Well, I happen to know that Llinos and my father have been lovers for years.' It was a lie, but Jayne was past caring. She wanted to hurt Dafydd as he was hurting her.

‘Don't make me laugh! Llinos and your father were never lovers. He's not enough of a man for her. He's vapid and colourless, just like his daughter.'

‘Get out of my sight!' Jayne's voice was low. ‘Go – before I forget that I'm a lady.'

She stood trembling in front of the fire long after the door had closed behind her husband. But he had never been a proper husband to her. He had never satisfied her in bed – and she wished now that she had told him so to his face.

At last she sat down and stared into the flames, watching the coals shift in the grate. It seemed that her world had shattered: she knew what Dafydd thought of her now and the truth hurt. She was cold and dead inside, her hopes and dreams vanished. But why was she surprised? She had sometimes suspected that her marriage was one of convenience. Yet she had clung to the hope that, one day, Dafydd would come to love her.

Perhaps even now if she had his children he would become a fond husband and father. Dafydd loved children – she could see the envy in his eyes whenever he saw his brother's family, so happy together even now when Ceri was so ill.

Tears welled in her eyes. Could she ever forget the way he'd talked to her, go to his bed knowing he thought her cold? Well, she would just have to make herself more welcoming to him because she had no intention of giving up on her marriage. She would make it work, whatever it cost her.

Mumbles Gentlemen's Club was housed in an ancient building facing the windswept waters of Mumbles Bay. As Dafydd entered the large, comfortable lounge he searched for a familiar face. Then he caught sight of Jason Prentice from the bank with Ben Knightly. Eynon Morton-Edwards and Father Martin were with them, engrossed in conversation.

Dafydd watched them, a pang of anger running through him. No doubt they were discussing the state of the shares in the Great Western Railway. It was probably Eynon who had been favoured with a tip-off from the bank.

Dafydd walked across the room and stared down at his father-in-law. ‘May I join you, gentlemen?' He forced a note of enthusiasm into his voice, and as Eynon indicated a chair he concealed a smile: Eynon would never slight his daughter's husband in public.

‘Brandy for you, Buchan?' Eynon asked. He lifted his hand and at once a waiter was at his side. ‘More drinks for us, and something for Mr Buchan.'

‘Brandy, please.' Dafydd settled back in his chair. ‘I do hope I'm not interrupting a business meeting. Talking about railway shares, were you?'

Eynon gave nothing away. ‘Our business was concluded.' He looked at Dafydd over his glass and his eyes were blank.

‘I hope you're feeling better, Eynon. Jayne told me you were ill.'

‘It was just a chill. How is she?'

‘My dear wife is well. She's planning to buy some fripperies, hats, things like that, so I thought I'd be better out of it.' He had no idea why he was making excuses to Eynon for leaving Jayne alone. Most men went out without their wives.

‘I'm sure she has more on her mind than fripperies. Don't underestimate my daughter, Buchan,' Eynon said quietly, ‘or one day she might just get the better of you.'

Dafydd frowned. What was the man talking about? ‘In what way?' He smiled to soften the harshness of his question.

‘Women are complex creatures.' Eynon did not answer directly. ‘They have strange whims and fancies, it's true, but some, Jayne for one, have a brain as well as good looks.'

‘Oh, I appreciate that,' Dafydd said. ‘Jayne is an intelligent woman. That's why I married her.'

An uneasy silence fell, to be broken a few minutes later by Father Martin. ‘Any sign of little ones on the way yet?' he asked jovially.

‘Give us a chance, Father,' Dafydd said. ‘We're just getting to know each other. There's plenty of time for children.'

‘Sooner rather than later, mind,' Father Martin said. ‘Children are a trial and they need a young mother to cope with them.'

‘Not all mothers are young,' Eynon put in, with a touch of bitterness in his voice. ‘There are one or two exceptions, as you well know, Buchan.'

Dafydd decided not to rise to the bait. ‘Very true, very true.' He took his drink from the tray held before him by the waiter. ‘Good health!' He swallowed it in one gulp. ‘Bring more of the same,' he said, replacing his empty glass on the tray.

‘Hey, steady on, man,' Father Martin said genially. ‘I'm due to conduct a burial in the morning and I must stay sober for that or I might find myself in the grave with the deceased.'

Thereafter talk became general and Dafydd pretended to join in, but he knew his company was unwelcome. Father Martin threw him a look now and again in an attempt to include him, but that was more from a sense of charity than because he wanted to. Dafydd sat it out for just over an hour and then he rose to his feet. ‘Well, gentlemen, I hope you will excuse me but I've pressing business to attend to.'

Eynon nodded and it was left to Father Martin to respond. ‘God bless you, Buchan.'

Outside in the cold air Dafydd took a few deep breaths. Eynon Morton-Edwards treated him like a leper. He did not even observe the niceties of civilized society. Then a smile curved his lips: Eynon was cold because his son-in-law had seduced Llinos Mainwaring. He thought of Jayne and how she had thrown out that Llinos and Eynon were lovers. What a fool she was! Eynon would give all his wealth for Llinos to go to his bed, but she never would. He was warmed by the memory of her passion as she lay in his arms. What a woman she was, and what a pity he could never have made her his wife instead of shackling himself to the petulant Jayne.

The thought of going home was not attractive. Perhaps he should take a ride, clear his head a little. He walked to the back of the building where his horse was stabled and waited as the groom adjusted the girth and led the animal into the night air. Dafydd pressed a coin into his hands and he touched his forelock.