Paradise Park (32 page)

Llinos walked up to the man. ‘Good evening, John,' she said. ‘Don't you remember me?'

He frowned, not at all pleased to see her. ‘Yes, I remember you, Mrs Mainwaring. What can I do for you?'

‘It's Mrs Morton-Edwards now, John, and you can tell me where I can find Guy Fairchild. I want nothing else from you.' She saw the lines etched into the man's face and knew that, in spite of his prosperity, he was not happy. Her tone softened. ‘How is life treating you, are you still with Lily?'

‘Lily?' Pendennis looked as if he'd forgotten the woman with whom he had run away. ‘Oh, she died some years ago.'

‘I'm sorry.'

‘Don't be sorry for me. I'm a rich man now and I don't want or need anyone's pity.'

‘All right, John, but I need help. I have to find Guy Fairchild.'

He looked thoughtful. ‘Why?'

‘I can't discuss the reason with anyone but Mr Fairchild.' She moved a little away from Pendennis and leaned over the harbour wall, watching as a ship was loaded: chutes projected from the side of the dock enabling the thick, heavy clay to slide straight down into the hold.

‘Anything in it for me?' Pendennis's voice broke into her thoughts, and she looked up at him quickly.

‘All I want is to find Guy Fairchild. I'm not here to do business, I've left the pottery now, as you probably know.'

‘Aye, I did hear something about it from Watt Bevan when he was down here, but he didn't say much. We never were the best of friends, were we?' He thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘As for Fairchild, the last I saw of the man, and that was several weeks ago, he was staying at Rose Mount House. It's a small place on the other side of the bay.'

‘Is it within walking distance?'

Pendennis looked at her with a spiteful smile. ‘Not for someone your age. I'd take a pony and trap, if I were you.'

Llinos ignored the remark. ‘I heard you were doing business with Mr Fairchild. Surely you know if he's still in Cornwall?'

‘Mr Fairchild and I didn't agree on certain matters and he might well have left Charlestown by now, for all I know or care.'

‘Perhaps you would be so kind as to give my driver directions to Rose Mount House.'

‘I told you, it's over there on the other side of the bay. Now, if you don't mind, I've business to attend to and you're wasting my valuable time.' He turned away from her and Llinos returned to where the trap was waiting. ‘We'll drive round the bay,' she said. ‘I'll have to ask directions to Rose Mount House when we get there.'

The task of finding Guy Fairchild was more difficult than she had thought. It might even be that she was here on a wild-goose chase. And even if she did find Mr Fairchild, would he welcome her or would he simply tell her to mind her own business? She settled back in her seat.

Rhiannon faced the servants, who had gathered in her office, and tried to think of encouraging phrases to cover the catastrophe but none came. She decided to settle for straight talking and hope they understood. She saw Mrs Jones ease one foot out of her shoe and hid a smile: the old cook would stick by her, she had no doubt of that. So would Sal, but Violet and Hetty might want to move on to more secure positions.

‘We're in trouble,' Rhiannon said. ‘As you know, Mrs Paisley's ill and has to take things easy until she's well on the road to recovery.'

There was a murmur of assent from the servants.

‘I'm afraid there's more bad news,' she went on. ‘Money has been stolen from Mrs Paisley's desk.' She held up her hand as Violet and Hetty looked at each other and began to talk at once. ‘No one here is suspected, but at the moment I haven't got the money to pay you for your work.'

It was Mrs Jones who spoke up. ‘We been in that pickle before,
cariad
, and we can manage again, I'm sure.' She paused. ‘But who do you think took the money, Rhiannon?'

‘Well, it's hard to tell, what with the workmen all over the place, but I do know it was none of you.' She looked around the group of servants and waited for them to speak.

‘Well, I'm staying put,' Hetty said firmly. ‘I've got a good bed and enough to eat and, what's more, I like working here in the hotel.' She glanced at Violet coaxingly. ‘And we do get our time off regularly.'

Violet nodded. ‘Aye, I might as well stay, I suppose.' She grinned. ‘Who knows? I might meet a handsome guest who'll carry me off and treat me fine!'

Rhiannon raised her eyebrows but refrained from commenting. ‘Good, we've got our main staff, then, but we can't get a boy in to help with the luggage. We'll have to manage that between us.'

‘I've just thought of something,' Violet said quickly. ‘I saw Seth hanging about the office the other day. Might not mean anything, mind.'

Sal spoke up for the first time. ‘Don't go blaming Seth, he's honest as the day.'

Rhiannon held up her hand. ‘We mustn't start quarrelling over this. I'm not pointing the finger at anyone.' She moved away from her desk. ‘Look, we've got a few minutes so let's all go down to the kitchen, have a cup of tea and work out how we're going to feed our guests until the end of the month.'

‘I'll run down and put the kettle on,' Violet said, brightening up at the thought of a break in the middle of the afternoon, and disappeared with a swish of her skirts.

The others followed at a more leisurely pace, taking the lead from Mrs Jones, who was getting slower on her feet. ‘It's my chilblains playing me up,' she explained.

‘Well, you shouldn't sit with your feet up against the fire, should you?' Hetty snapped.

‘Wait till you're my age, my girl,' Mrs Jones rounded on her, ‘you might have bad feet by then.'

Hetty snorted and pushed back a tangle of golden hair that had escaped from her cap. ‘I'll be an old married lady by then with a bunch of grandchildren round my feet.'

Sal gave her a little push. ‘You'd better be quiet, Hetty, 'cos no man wants a shrew for a wife.'

Rhiannon listened with amusement. The news about the theft of money had made no lasting impression on the women: they were more concerned with mundane things like tea and chilblains. She felt more optimistic now: somehow they would get through to the end of the month when the guests paid their bills.

In the kitchen she sat for a while drinking tea and listening to the girls sparking off each other, until eventually she put down her cup and got to her feet. ‘I'd better go and see Mrs Paisley. Hetty, will you make sandwiches and some tea and bring them up for me?'

‘All right, it won't take a tick.'

Mrs Paisley was well enough now to sit in a chair, but it was thought wise to keep the bed in her office for the time being. When she saw Rhiannon she handed her a letter.

‘What's that?' Rhiannon asked.

‘It's from Dr Frost. Did I tell you he called when you were out and gave me a good checking over?'

Rhiannon's heart sank. ‘It's probably his bill.' She unfolded the letter. She read it quickly and looked at Mrs Paisley in bewilderment. ‘Why is he letting us off his fee?'

‘Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Rhiannon. Just be glad I told him about our misfortune.'

Rhiannon felt hot colour flood into her face and words of anger rose to her lips. She suppressed them: what good would it do to upset Mrs Paisley and perhaps make her sick again? Still, she couldn't let the bill go unpaid.

‘Hetty is bringing you some tea in a minute.' Rhiannon tucked the note into her pocket. ‘I'd better get on – there's lots to do.' Her first task was to see the doctor and put him straight on a few things.

Outside in the street, she took out the letter and looked at the address. Her heart missed a beat: the doctor lived almost next door to Bull Beynon. Perhaps she might catch a glimpse of him.

She walked swiftly, her skirts billowing around her ankles. She had no idea of how striking she looked, the autumn colours of her cloak setting off her dark hair to perfection. It did not take her long to reach the doctor's house but, to her disappointment, there was no sign of Bull. Even though she lingered outside his house for longer than was necessary she could tell by the dark windows that no one was home.

A young maid opened Dr Frost's door and stared at Rhiannon with a puzzled frown. ‘The doctor isn't seeing any more patients today, madam. I've had strict instructions not to let anyone else in. He's fair worn out.'

‘I'm here to consult the doctor about a bill, not about my health,' Rhiannon said firmly.

The maid stepped back at once to let her into the hall. ‘That's good, that is. The doctor don't often get his bills paid, too soft-hearted by far he is.'

Rhiannon was shown at once into the drawing room and Dr Frost was happy to see her. A fire burned in the grate and the easy chairs pulled up to it looked inviting.

‘Miss Rhiannon, how nice of you to call, but I sorted out the business of the bill with Mrs Paisley. Didn't she tell you?' He gestured towards one of the chairs. ‘Please sit down.'

Rhiannon's feet were aching and so was her back – she'd been at work on the accounts since early that morning, trying to stretch a few shillings. ‘I'm not here to pay your bill, Doctor,' she said softly, ‘well, not now anyway.'

‘Please, call me Richard, and forget about the bill.'

‘I can't do that, but I've a proposition to put to you.'

‘I'm not a rich man but I do have a little money put aside. If it would help I'd gladly . . .' His voice trailed off as Rhiannon held up her hand.

‘No!' she said quickly. ‘Thank you very much . . . but I'm not asking for money. What I have for you is a business proposition.'

‘I'm listening.' He smiled and Rhiannon saw that he was a handsome man. He was also kind and honourable, the sort she had rarely come across.

‘What if you become the hotel doctor? You would see to anyone taken ill at our hotel. Those patients would pay immediately for your services and the reputation of the hotel would be enhanced into the bargain.'

‘Anything that enables me to work with you will be a pleasure. What you suggest is a splendid idea and I welcome it. As you have guessed, my patients are few because I'm new to the district.'

‘Well, then, you agree?'

‘I most certainly do. Now, may I offer you some refreshment? Tea, perhaps?'

Rhiannon got to her feet. ‘It's very kind of you but I must get back to work.'

He walked with her to the door. ‘I look forward to doing business with the Paradise Park in the near future.' He laughed, a pleasant sound. ‘Not that I wish any of your guests ill but when away from home minor ailments do occur and I will be ready to treat them.'

Rhiannon said goodbye and retraced her steps to the hotel, where the appetizing smell of cooking welcomed her. She pushed open the door and handed her coat to Sal, who had obviously been waiting for her. ‘Come down to the kitchen, Rhiannon,' she said, tugging at Rhiannon's arm.

‘Oh, no, what's gone wrong now?'

‘Nothing's wrong, far from it. Just wait until you see what we've managed to get while you were gadding about.'

‘What do you mean?'

‘I went down the market just before it was closing,' Sal said. ‘Vi and Hetty came with me. You'll be so pleased when you see what we brought back.'

The kitchen table was full of vegetables, cabbage, beans and potatoes.

‘How did you pay for these, Sal?' Rhiannon asked warily.

Sal burst out laughing. ‘Just look at your face! It's all right, I didn't get up to my old tricks. I just offered to clear up the stalls, scrub down the carts, that sort of thing, and in exchange, I got the vegetables.'

Violet was practically hopping up and down on the spot. ‘And me! Don't forget the 'orrible job I 'ad scrubbing down the fish carts. Ugh! Those scales sting like Old Nick, I can tell you, they stick in your fingers like needles.' She stood back to reveal the cold slab. ‘But just look at the lovely fish I've got – and all for an hour or two's work.'

‘Don't forget Hetty,' Mrs Jones said. For once her tone was approving. ‘She got the best bargain of the lot. Brought home a lovely bit of topside of beef and another of silverside, she did. The topside's in the oven now and cooking just lovely it is too.'

Hetty glowed at the praise and Rhiannon realized the girl would have been a beauty if she hadn't always been in a bad mood. But perhaps she had never had anything to be happy about – she'd had to fend for herself from an early age.

‘Thank you, girls, you've all been very clever, especially you, Hetty.'

Hetty glowed. ‘Well, I know I aren't always easy to get on with but this is the first time I've belonged anywhere. I look on you all as my family, the only real family I've ever known, and I'm not going to lose that willingly.'

Tears brimmed in Rhiannon's eyes. The loyalty and the kind-heartedness of the girls warmed her heart. Just when everything looked black, it seemed that the clouds really did have a silver lining.

‘So we'll feed our guests well now and in the future, because the girls are planning to go and work every market day.' Mrs Jones sniffed. ‘And I agree with Hetty. We're family now, your family, Rhiannon, and like every other family on earth we'll pull together, come what may.'

‘All I can say is thank you, from the bottom of my heart.' Rhiannon swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘I won't forget this ever, and so long as I have breath in my body I'll see that you all stay with me, whatever I'm doing and wherever I'm working.'

Violet chuckled. ‘What about when you gets married? You won't want us with you then, will you?'

‘I'll never get married,' Rhiannon said, and she meant it. The only man she would ever love was Bull Beynon and Katie's ghost would always be between them.