by Rosie Harris
‘Everything?’
‘You have only to name it. I’m leaving from Liverpool in three weeks’ time. That gives you plenty of time to work out your notice and to pack your bags. From now on the world will be your oyster, my lovely. Isn’t that right, Mr Lewis?’
Lloyd looked from one to the other of them, shaking his head in bewilderment.
‘The choice is hers, of course, but from what you’ve been telling me you’re certainly a very enterprising fellow. You seem to have your future well mapped out.’
‘I always have had, Mr Lewis. It’s just that I was so eager to get started that I rushed things at the very beginning. I admit I made a bit of a mess of our lives when we were at university, but it’s different now. I won’t be letting Sarah down this time.’
‘No, you certainly won’t,’ Sarah told him firmly. ‘You won’t be letting me down because I won’t be going with you. I’m not interested in your proposal and I think it is high time you left.’
‘Sarah!’
The hurt in Gwyn’s voice and the look of surprise on his face almost made her smile as she stood up and opened the door into the hall indicating she wanted him to leave immediately.
‘You cleared off and left me to grieve on my own after I lost our baby,’ she reminded him as her father pushed past them and walked up the stairs saying that he was off to bed. ‘I had no one except my family and even though I’d broken their hearts by going off with you, and living down in the slums of Tiger Bay, they took me back and forgave me. Now you want me to desert my dad and leave him on his own.’
‘No, of course I don’t. He can move with us, I’m sure we can find him a place nearby.’
Sarah shook her head. ‘I’ve no intention of coming with you or of leaving him on his own. I’m marrying Owen and I’m pleased to hear that you are moving so far away from Cardiff because that way I shan’t have to worry that someday I might bump into you again.’
‘Sarah!’ There was rasping anger in his voice and a look of fury on his face.
Before she knew what was happening he had grabbed hold of her and was holding her in such a tight grip that she couldn’t even struggle. As his mouth came down hard on hers she was left so breathless that she couldn’t even scream or protest.
His embrace was savage and possessive. It was as if he intended to force her into submission and it revived vivid memories she’d thought she’d managed to forget about the turbulent life she had endured in the squalid rooms in Tiger Bay. Now it came rushing back in such frightening clarity that she couldn’t stop shaking.
Owen’s warning words before he’d left drummed inside her head. Not that she needed them; never would she contemplate going back to Gwyn. All she wanted now was to get free from the stranglehold he had on her and to see him out of the door.
Gwyn had no intention of letting her do any such thing. Roughly he backed her up against the wall and, oblivious of the fact that her father was upstairs, he began fondling her intimately, all the time keeping his mouth glued down on hers so tightly that she was unable to make a sound.
Sarah fought wildly, struggling and kicking at his legs but they were like solid rock and her feeble attempts to hurt him made no impact whatsoever.
She felt terrified about what the eventual outcome was going to be. She knew from the past that Gwyn had no compassion or tenderness. As he struggled to get her down on to the floor he stumbled against the chiffonier. The impact dislodged all the glasses, vases and ornaments displayed on it causing everything to crash to the ground with such a horrendous noise that it roused her father.
‘Duw anwyl! What is going on down there?’ he demanded in a startled voice.
Sarah was unable to answer; she was pinned down on the floor by Gwyn’s bulk and she felt terrified. Memories of his brutish ways came flooding back into her mind; horrendous experiences that she’d tried so hard to forget since they’d parted.
She tried desperately to call out to her father, to ask him to make Gwyn release her, but her face was pressed so hard against Gwyn’s chest that her words were muffled.
Gwyn seemed to ignore him completely, intent on one thing and one thing only. As his hand slid up under her skirt and she felt his fingers kneading her bare flesh she struggled even more frantically.
She knew Gwyn was far too caught up in his own desires to even notice her struggles or resistance and panic built up inside her until she felt a black mist forming in her mind.
The last time he had acted like this when she’d been pregnant she’d closed her mind to what was happening because she’d been so afraid that her unborn child might suffer if she struggled too violently.
Now she did not have anything like that to consider so she fought against the enveloping mist, kicking and screaming. Far away she could hear someone hammering on their door and she prayed that her father would answer it. He was obviously too bewildered by what was going on to help her but if someone else came into the room then surely they would come to her assistance and do something to stop Gwyn.
The waves were getting darker now and she was afraid she would lose consciousness.
When it seemed impossible to stop that happening or to free herself from Gwyn’s assault, the pressure on her body lifted.
Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to scream, then strong hands were on her arms again, only this time they were gently lifting her to her feet. Someone was holding her close, comforting her, reassuring her that she was safe and that all was well.
She tried to focus, to thank them, but she felt so disorientated that it was impossible to do so. Everything was spinning and then it went blank and even the voice that was murmuring words of comfort faded as she felt every scrap of energy drain from her body.
When she next opened her eyes she was lying on the sofa, a rug over her, and someone was sitting close by. The moment she stirred they were at her side.
‘What happened, what are you doing here?’ she whispered weakly as Owen gently pushed her hair back from her face and bent and kissed her on the brow.
‘Thank heaven’s you’re all right,’ he breathed. He held a glass to her lips. ‘Have a sip of this; it will make you feel better.’
She took a mouthful and then gagged as she swallowed it. She’d been expecting it to be water, not brandy, and the fire as it hit the back of her throat almost choked her.
Even so, it restored her and she struggled to sit upright, glancing around the room bewildered.
‘Where is he? Where’s Gwyn Roberts?’ She shuddered.
‘Gone and he won’t be coming back if he knows what’s good for him,’ Owen told her grimly.
‘How is it you are here?’ Sarah frowned. ‘I thought you went home ages ago?’
‘I did, but I didn’t like the way that fellow was behaving before I left and I felt uneasy so I came back again to see if everything was all right. I must have arrived outside just as that crashed over,’ he went on, pointing to the chiffonier that lay on its side, with all the ornam ents that had been displayed on it strewn everywhere.
‘Thank heavens Dad let you in.’
‘Only after I’d almost banged the door down,’ Owen said grimly. ‘If he hadn’t answered when he did, then I’d have put my shoulder to it and forced my way in because I was so sure that there was something wrong. As I’ve already said, I had my suspicions about that fellow and felt that I shouldn’t have gone home and left you.’
As she attempted to stand up Owen gently, but firmly, pressed her back on to the sofa again. ‘Stay where you are, Cariad. Your dad’s gone back upstairs to bed so I’ll make you a hot drink before I leave.’
Sarah felt so shaky that she did as she was told without any argument. When he brought in their drinks she patted the sofa for him to sit there beside her.
‘Do you have to go home tonight? Couldn’t you stay here in the spare room? I don’t want to be in the house alone.’
‘Well,’ Owen hesitated, ‘you won’t be on your own; your dad will be here with
you.’
Sarah shook her head. ‘You saw how he reacted.’ Tears trickled down her face. ‘If you hadn’t come back when you did then I don’t know what would have happened.’
‘Of course I’ll stay if that is what you want,’ Owen assured her. ‘Will your dad mind, though?’
‘No, I’m sure he won’t.’
Owen nodded; then he pulled Sarah into his arms, holding her protectively. ‘I don’t want you to be in a situation like that ever again,’ he murmured. ‘Don’t you think it’s time we were married so that I can be with you all the time?’
‘I want that more than anything but surely it’s too soon after my mam’s death? Shouldn’t we wait at least a year?’
‘Sarah, you’re talking nonsense. Your mother wouldn’t want you to do that. She was looking forward to our wedding.’
‘Yes, I know she was.’ Sarah nodded, her eyes filling with tears at the memory of all the preparations they’d made together and how excited Lorna had been. ‘I’d like to talk to my dad about it first, though, before we go ahead.’
Lloyd didn’t like the idea at all. ‘Who is going to look after me if I’m left here on my own?’ he grumbled. ‘I need you, Sarah, far more than he does. He’s still a young man; he can afford to wait awhile before he takes you away from me.’
‘We’ve already postponed our wedding once,’ Sarah reminded him gently. ‘What about if we move in here with you?’ she suggested hopefully. ‘If you remember, that was what we were planning to do before Mam died.’
‘Oh, I don’t know, cariad, I don’t know anything any more,’ Lloyd said wearily, running his hands through his hair. ‘Do whatever you think best but let’s hope it turns out all right this time.’
Sarah bit her lip, then with a deep sigh she admitted contritely, ‘Yes, Dad, I know that up until now I seem to have made a mess of things but this time it is quite different. You like Owen and you know what a good, reliable man he is. I want to marry him and we both love each other and want to settle down and have children and enjoy a happy home life like you and Mam always had.’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
As she prepared for her wedding Sarah was constantly reminded of how her mother had wanted things to be done. She knew how excited her mother had been about it all, and how she had longed to see her married to Owen, so although there had to be some compromises she did her best to carry out as many of Lorna’s wishes as possible.
All the talk of the wedding seemed to bring Lloyd out of the inertia that had gripped him ever since Lorna had died and he assured both Sarah and Owen that they had nothing to worry about as he was feeling more than ready to play his part.
‘It will be the proudest day of my life walking down the aisle with Sarah on my arm because I know I will be handing her over into the care of a man who will look after her as well as I have tried to do all my life,’ he told Owen.
As well as having to make all the wedding arrangements, they also had to make plans for her father’s future and they did this together.
They discussed the matter at great length and they both agreed that perhaps it was better if they found a place of their own.
‘We can always move back in with your father later on if we find he can’t manage living on his own,’ Owen promised. ‘We’ll find somewhere close by, of course, so that you will be able to see each other every day as well as at work.’
Even so, Sarah wanted to be sure that he was properly cared for so she made arrangements with two of the neighbours to help look after him. Marie was coming in to do the cleaning and the weekly washing and Alvia was going to prepare his evening meal and take it along for him as soon as he came home from work each evening.
Sarah herself was going to take in sandwiches for his midday meal at work. Alvia said she’d be happy to come in every morning and cook breakfast for him if that was what he wanted but Lloyd assured her that he was quite capable of getting his own breakfast.
Sarah was not so sure about this and she and Alvia agreed that they would let him try doing so for a few weeks and then perhaps ask him again.
‘I think he will soon change his mind with winter almost here,’ Alvia said. ‘He needs a good hot breakfast inside him if he is only having sandwiches at lunchtime,’ she pointed out.
Alvia and Marie were also going to help Sarah in any way they could with the preparations leading up to the wedding.
‘It’s years since my own girl got married and I feel almost as excited about your wedding as I did about hers,’ Alvia told her.
It was a glorious September day, so warm that even though she was wearing the low-necked, short-sleeved cream satin dress her mother had chosen for her to wear when they’d been planning for the wedding at Easter, she still felt comfortable in it.
Her father looked so upright and proud in his new three-piece charcoal-grey suit: his gold watch chain looped across the waistcoat and gold links shone from the cuffs of his pristine white shirt which peeped out below his jacket. She had only the one regret and that was that her mother couldn’t be there with them to see her and Owen married.
Owen, accompanied by Bryn Morgan who was acting as best man, would be at the church waiting for her, she thought happily. In her mind’s eye she could see Owen looking so tall and solid, his thick fair hair shining in the light from the altar candles, and she felt an overwhelming love for him flood over her; a sensation of pure, unadulterated happiness.
She could imagine the warm smile of welcome that would light up his face, and felt an immense sense of optimism knowing that from this day on Owen would always be there for her no matter what lay ahead.
After the service was over they would go back to Cyfartha Street to enjoy the feast that had been organised by Alvia and Marie and her father would make his speech and then hold his glass of champagne aloft and drink a toast to them.
As the car that had brought them to the church slowed to a stop and she gathered up the full skirt of her dress, ready to alight and walk down the aisle on her father’s arm, she felt that this was the happiest moment in her life.
Before the chauffeur could help her to step out on to the pavement someone came and whispered something in his ear. Sarah saw him hesitate and then get back into the driving seat and restart the engine. As they pulled away Lloyd leaned forward to ask what was wrong.
‘The bridegroom and best man are running late so I’ve been asked to drive round for a few minutes,’ he told them.
The next time they approached the church someone simply waved them on but as they circled for a third time Lloyd insisted that they should stop and find out what had gone wrong.
The driver offered to do so but Lloyd muttered something and got out of the car and went over to the lych gate, where a small crowd was gathered. Sarah watched in concern as he seemed to be engaged in some deep conversation with them. As he turned to come back to the car he was shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
‘Well, what’s happened, Dad?’ Sarah asked as he clambered back into the car and sat down beside her.
‘Drive round once more,’ he ordered the chauffeur.
‘Why does he have to do that? What’s the reason for all this delay?’ Sarah persisted.
‘Owen and Bryn Morgan haven’t arrived yet. They’re supposed to be coming in Bryn’s car but so far there’s no news of them. Someone’s gone to find out if they’ve broken down,’ he told her.
Once more they were driven slowly around the block. When they next reached the church there was a policeman standing by the lych gate and Sarah felt a ripple of unease as their car pulled up and he walked across to them and leaned in through the window as Lloyd opened it.
‘I’m afraid I have some rather bad news,’ he told them in a halting manner. ‘Mr Owen Phillips will not be able to attend; I’m afraid he’s been taken to hospital.’
‘Hospital? Why, what has happened?’
‘He’s been injured but so far we’re not able to give you the full details.’
>
‘Injured?’ The colour drained from Sarah’s face. ‘Do you mean he has been in an accident?’
‘Not exactly an accident, Miss. He has certainly been involved in an incident of some kind,’ the policeman told her, clearing his throat uncomfortably.
‘Surely you can tell us more than that, officer,’ Lloyd pressed. ‘He is due to be married today.’
‘I know, Sir. I’m very sorry about this but I would like Miss Lewis to come with us to the hospital.’
Lloyd insisted on going with her and tried to get the policeman to explain what had happened.
‘We haven’t any details as yet, except that Mr Phillips appears to have been attacked from behind and has received some serious blows to his head and neck. He was found lying by the side of the road unconscious and was brought into hospital.’
‘Has he regained consciousness yet?’ Lloyd asked worriedly.
‘Yes, about an hour ago. He was very agitated and kept repeating that he had to be at his wedding. He managed to tell us where it was being held; that’s how we managed to trace you.’
‘You have no idea who attacked him?’ Lloyd persisted.
‘None whatsoever.’
‘Do you have any idea what time this attack happened?’ Sarah whispered.
‘Not really, Miss.’ The policeman pulled his notebook out from his top pocket and checked an entry in it. ‘As far as we can tell, it was probably shortly after midnight. He was found by a passer-by just before one o’clock this morning.’
‘It was while he was on his way home, then,’ Sarah exclaimed. ‘He left our house in Cyfartha Street a few minutes after midnight.’ She gave a shaky little laugh. ‘I remember telling him that it was unlucky for the bridegroom to see the bride on her wedding day and he teased me about being superstitious.’
The policeman nodded rather grimly. ‘I suppose you have no idea who might bear Owen Phillips a grudge?’ he asked as they stopped outside the infirmary.
‘No one I can think of,’ Lloyd asserted. ‘He was one of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. As well as the fact that he was about to become my son-in-law I worked alongside him.’