Rhiannon

by Carole Llewellyn

  Gus took her arm. ‘Come on. They’ve turned the corner. The coast is clear, let’s go.’

  They entered the apartment building and climbed the stairs.

  ‘This is it, 21A,’ Gus said.

  Rhiannon banged on the door ‘Mair! Mair! It’s me. Open the door!’

  ‘Rhi? Oh Rhi ... is it really you?’ Mair’s voice sounded desperate.

  ‘Yes-yes, love, I’m here, and I’ve brought a friend. We’ve come to help you. Open the door!’

  ‘Rhi, I can’t. It’s locked.’

  ‘What do you mean, locked? Just get the key and open it!’

  ‘You don’t understand. Harry and Nellie have the only keys. They keep me locked up. Please, Rhi, you’ve got to get me away from them.’ Mair was sobbing.

  ‘Gus, what can we do?’ Rhiannon pleaded.

  ‘I’m afraid I’m totally stumped. The door’s too solid to kick down. I can’t believe those evil bastards. Fancy locking her in like this.’

  ‘Gus, we’ve got to do something?’ Rhiannon pleaded.

  ‘Rhi,’ Mair called, ‘I must get away before next Saturday night! Rhi – you don’t know what they’ve got planned for me.’

  ‘Tell me.’ Rhi urged.

  ‘I-I can’t. It-it’s too awful.’

  ‘Listen, Mair. You don’t know me but my name is Gus and I’m a friend of Rhiannon’s. Mair, if we’re to help you, you’ve got to tell us.’

  Mair stayed silent.

  ‘Mair please ... I beg you,’ Rhiannon coaxed.

  ‘They plan to s-sell me t-to the highest b-bidder,’ Mair’s frightened voice stammered.

  ‘Sell you? What do you mean, sell you?’ Rhiannon demanded.

  This time there was no answer from Mair, just the sound of her muffled sobs.

  Taking Rhiannon’s arm Gus pulled her to him, his warm lips pressed against her ear. ‘Rhi, she’s a young virgin, I think it may be their intention to sell her to the highest bidder,’ he whispered.

  Rhiannon caught her breath. ‘No! Not that? I can’t believe that even they would—’

  ‘Believe it,’ Gus said.

  Rhiannon’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Mair, my love, don’t worry. We’ll think of something. And whatever happens, I promise to have you out of there before next Saturday!’

  ‘Rhi, I’ve an idea that I think could work,’ Gus whispered.

  ‘What is it? Tell me?’ Rhiannon urged.

  ‘We need to find Adam. Then, if he agrees, and if we’re quick, I’ll still have time to get to the King’s Head before Harry and Nellie leave for home.’

  ‘Adam? What’s Adam’s part in this? I don’t understand.’

  ‘It will soon become clear. Now, come on. We really must get a move on.’ Rhiannon hesitated, loath to leave Mair, but she trusted Gus; if he had a plan that would free Mair from Harry and Nellie’s clutches, she needed to go with him.

  ‘Mair, love,’ Rhiannon called softly through the door. ‘We’ve got to go now. But take heart. We’ll be back before Saturday, I promise.’

  ‘We’ll head for Adam’s house. Just keep your fingers crossed that he’ll be in; it’s our only chance.’

  Rhiannon sensed the urgency in his voice and asked, ‘Is it far?’

  ‘No. Only a ten-minute walk.’

  Adam’s house was a large, detached Victorian, city-centre property overlooking the beautiful Sophia Gardens.

  If Adam was surprised to see Rhiannon with Gus he didn’t show it.

  ‘What a pleasant surprise. Please come in.’

  They entered the spacious hallway behind Adam and followed him into the parlour. ‘This is something of an occasion. I think it may call for a glass of sherry. Gus would you do the honours?’

  ‘I’m afraid that, as pleasant as that would be, there’s no time,’ Gus urged.

  ‘I’m intrigued. What’s the big rush?’

  ‘Adam? We need a big favour,’ Gus said.

  ‘What sort of a favour? Gus, if you’ve ...’ he threw Gus a challenging look, then turned to Rhiannon, ‘Rhiannon, are you in some sort of trouble?’

  ‘No. It’s my stepsister, Mair,’ Rhiannon assured him.

  Adam shook his head. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘If you’ll be quiet and stop that overactive mind of yours jumping to the wrong conclusion, I’ll explain,’ Gus said.

  ‘All right, but this had better be good,’ Adam warned.

  Gus, keeping it short, relayed Mair’s story.

  ‘I see. I’m sorry Gus, I thought—’

  ‘I know what you thought.’

  ‘So what can I do to help?’

  ‘Well, I’ve this idea. I’m sure that if we could raise enough money between us, I might be able to persuade the unscrupulous pair to release Mair.’

  ‘How much money are we talking about here?’ Adam asked.

  ‘Well, I can get my hands on one hundred pounds. I thought that, if you could match it, then two hundred pounds should do the trick,’ Gus replied.

  Adam nodded. ‘It may take me a few days but, I’m sure I can do that.’

  ‘Gus. Adam. No! I couldn’t possibly let you do this. It’s such a lot of money. It would take me ages to pay you back,’ Rhiannon argued.

  ‘Rhiannon, be sensible. Don’t let your silly pride stop you accepting our help. After all, what’s money compared with saving an innocent child from some degenerate?’ Adam urged.

  ‘Put like that, I suppose—’

  ‘That’s settled then. Now, Rhi, you stay here with Adam while I get myself down to the King’s Head. With a bit of luck Harry and Nellie will still be there and I can get this matter sorted out, once and for all.’

  ‘I’m coming with you: safety in numbers and all that. Rhi, you just make yourself at home. We’ll not be gone long.’ Adam smiled.

  ‘Thank you both. Good luck,’ Rhi called, as she watched them leave the house.

  The two men entered the King’s Head pub and, with Gus leading the way, pushed their way through the lively crowds in the bar area. There was no sign of Harry and Nellie, so Gus headed towards the snug and, opening the door, heard Nellie jibe, ‘Well, if it isn’t our Rhiannon’s fancy man.’

  She and Harry were seated, with beer tankards in hand, surrounded by their cronies in the corner of the snug.

  Gus, closely followed by Adam, edged his way to their table.

  ‘I need a word in private,’ Gus announced.

  ‘In private, you say? Now what would that be about, then, eh?’

  ‘Do you really want me to discuss your plans for Rhiannon’s stepsister right here, right now?’ Gus said warningly.

  ‘Go on, Harry, take them outside to the back yard; they’re fair turning my beer sour.’

  Harry stood up. ‘I suppose out back to the privy wouldn’t hurt.’ He gave a loud belch. ‘As it happens, I could do with a piss.’

  Harry led the way and, on reaching the dilapidated outbuildings that served as toilets, turned to face Gus and Adam.

  ‘Well? What’s this you’ve heard about Nellie’s daughter, then?’

  ‘I’ve heard there’s to be an auction.’ Gus said.

  ‘If what you’ve heard is true, what’s it to do with you?’

  ‘I-we are here to make you an offer. And if you’ve got any sense you’ll take it.’ Gus tried to stay calm.

  ‘An offer, is it? Now there’s a thing. What’s the matter? Rhiannon getting too old for you, eh?’

  Gus made to lunge at Harry, but Adam pulled him back. ‘Don’t, Gus, he’s not worth it.’

  ‘Look, we haven’t met before, but my friend and I have a proposition I think you might find interesting,’ Adam offered.

  ‘All right, I’m listening. What’s the proposition?’

  ‘We’re here to offer you, and Mair’s mother, the princely sum of two hundred pounds, we—’ Adam was cut off in mid-sentence.

  ‘What’s the catch?’ a woman’s loud voice called from behind.

  Adam and Gus both swung round and s
aw Nellie standing in the doorway with hands on hips.

  Gus struggled to hold his temper. He so wanted to give this woman a piece of his mind, yet instinctively he was aware that now was not the right time. ‘No catch,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘All you have to do is hand over Mair, together with a signed statement giving Rhiannon sole responsibility for her future care and upbringing.’

  Nellie sniggered. ‘Two hundred pounds, you say?’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure it’s more than you could possibly get if you were to proceed with this immoral auction.’

  Gus’s gaze followed Nellie as she sidled over to Harry. ‘What you say to this then, Harry love?’

  ‘I say it all depends.’ He looked over at the two men. ‘If, and only if, I were to agree, when would we see the colour of your money?’

  ‘All we need is a few days to secure the funds. How does five o’clock Friday evening sound?’

  ‘Where would we meet?’

  ‘We’d pick Mair up from your digs.’

  Harry looked surprised. ‘Know where I live then, do you?’

  ‘Oh yes, we know where you’ve been keeping Mair, locked up like a caged animal.’

  ‘How do I know you won’t bring the rozzers?’ Harry asked.

  ‘Believe me, if I thought calling the police would help, I might consider it,’ Gus snapped.

  Harry laughed aloud. ‘Why, the police would be more likely to cop the pair of you for wasting their time. You see, we’ve not done anything against the law. Mair’s Nellie’s daughter, so it’s our word against yours.’

  ‘Of course, you’re right. Who’d believe that a mother could stoop this low?’

  ‘You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you?’ Nellie spat.

  ‘That’s enough,’ Harry ordered. ‘All right, you’re on. Two hundred pounds, five o’clock Friday, it is. Don’t be late.’ Harry began urgently unbuttoning his flies. ‘Now will you all bugger off? As I said – I need a piss.’

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Harry and Nellie, having treated themselves to a few extra drinks on the strength of their promised two-hundred-pound windfall, left the King’s Head feeling even more tipsy than usual.

  ‘Harry, love, why didn’t you make it known in the pub that the – you know – the auction thing – was off?’ Nellie slurred her words as she hung on to Harry’s arm for support,

  ‘Off? Who says it’s off?’

  ‘But I thought ...’

  ‘Well, you thought wrong. It’s not off. It’s just a simple case of bringing it forward a day, that’s all’

  ‘B-but Harry, now that we’re to have two hundred pounds, we don’t need to—’

  Harry’s hand whipped across Nellie’s face. ‘Since when do you tell me what we do and do not need, eh? I say we bring it forward. That way we’ll get double money, do you hear?’

  ‘Sorry, Harry,’ Nellie whimpered, her hand holding her burning cheek.

  ‘That’s better. As I see it, the deal is to hand Mair over to them on Friday evening. This I intend to do, just slightly damaged.’ Harry laughed. ‘If those jumped-up toffs think to get the better of Harry Stone they’ve another think coming. Now, get a move on. I hope the young ’un has cooked us something good, I’m starving.’

  Mair’s spirits had lifted. How could she have ever doubted Rhiannon? When Nellie boasted about the fifty-pound pay-off for Florrie Grayson to be rid of her, and, fuelled by Nellie’s constant jibes about her stepsister being selfish and only thinking of number one, Mair assumed that Rhiannon must have been party to it. But, on reflection, how, with no forwarding address, could Rhiannon have possibly found her? Mair had surely done her stepsister an injustice.

  For weeks Mair had been dreading the moment when Harry and Nellie would leave her at the mercy of some stranger, willing to pay to have his way with her.

  When Mair pleaded for Nellie’s help, her reply had been, ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I lost my virginity at the back of Carne Terrace to a lecherous old bugger, a supposed friend of my father, who promised to look after me. Of course he’d lied. I didn’t get a penny. Then there was your Jack-the-lad father; promised me the world he did, only to join the army and turn his back on us. In hindsight, I should have listened to my parents and got rid of you. Don’t look at me like that! You should try bringing up a young ’un on your own! At least this way there’ll be money in the bank.’

  That was the day Mair ceased even to think of Nellie as her mother. What mother would agree to set her daughter up for this? No, from now on Mair would only ever think of her as Nellie Parsons.

  Now, against all odds, Rhiannon had not only found her, but had promised to get her away before Saturday.

  Mair heard the door being unlocked. Harry and Nellie were home. Judging by the way they practically fell in the door, they were obviously the worse for drink.

  ‘Well hello, you conniving little bitch, you. Got something to tell us then, eh? Had any visitors?’ Harry lunged towards her.

  ‘No – no,’ Mair said, stepping out of his way.

  Harry continued to lunge forward. Almost losing his footing, he made a grab for the chair to steady himself. ‘Don’t lie to me girl! Tell her Nellie. Tell her how we came to be talking to Rhiannon’s two sugar-daddies back at the King’s Head.’

  ‘It’s true, Mair. You’d best come clean,’ Nellie urged.

  ‘I ... I—’ Mair hesitated.

  ‘The truth now, or as sure as my name’s Harry Stone, I’ll give you the hiding of a lifetime,’ he growled.

  ‘Please, Mair. Tell him the truth,’ Nellie pleaded.

  ‘Yes, all right. Just after you both left for the pub Rhiannon and a man did come to the door.’

  ‘And you – you couldn’t wait to tell them ’bout our little arrangement, could you?’

  ‘No ... yes! I told them everything and Rhiannon has promised to have me away from here before – before Saturday – so there!’ Mair blurted out.

  Harry slumped in the chair. ‘At last the truth. Well done.’

  Mair was confused. Why was he taking it so calmly?

  ‘Well, the good news is that your precious Rhiannon was also speaking the truth,’ Harry mocked.

  ‘She was?’

  ‘Oh yes. Your mother and I have agreed to let you go. We think it’s for the best. Don’t we, Nell?’ He looked towards Nellie and smirked. ‘Anyway, truth be known, you’re cramping our style.’

  ‘Mam – Nellie. Is this right? Am I really going back to stay with Rhiannon?’

  ‘Y-yes, it’s all arranged. They’re coming for you at five o’clock on Friday evening.’ Nellie avoided meeting Mair’s eyes.

  Mair looked skyward, ‘Oh thank you, Lord, thank you!’

  ‘Now, what is it the Bible says? Oh yes, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh way.’ Harry smirked. ‘Now, enough of that. Let’s eat.’

  Gus and Adam returned to the house.

  Rhiannon greeted them at the door. ‘Well?’ she asked, in eager anticipation.

  ‘Good news. It’s all settled, we’ve arranged to pay them the money,’ Gus said.

  ‘They agreed?’ Rhiannon shook her head in disbelief, ‘When? Where?’

  ‘It’s true. The two hundred pounds definitely did the trick. They’ve agreed and we’ve arranged to pick up Mair, together with a written statement giving you full parental control for your stepsister’s well-being, from their digs at five o’clock Friday evening,’ Adam assured her.

  ‘Oh Gus – Adam ... thank you so much. It may take me a while but I promise to repay you every penny.’

  ‘Not necessary, glad to be of assistance,’ Adam insisted. Then, walking towards the spacious kitchen area, he said, ‘Hey, something smells good.’

  ‘I hope you don’t mind. Waiting here on my own, I needed a distraction. I took the liberty of raiding your larder and managed to cook a corned-beef pie.’

  ‘Great. I do believe I’ve just the bottle of wine to wash it down with. Come on let’s eat and
raise a glass to celebrate a successful result of our day’s endeavour,’ Adam said.

  They ate their meal sitting around the large kitchen table. When they had finished Gus and Adam enjoyed a cigar and a glass of port, while Rhiannon busied herself clearing away.

  ‘There’s really no need for you to do that,’ Adam said, ‘Gus and I are quite capable, you know.’

  ‘No, please. I want to,’ Rhiannon insisted. Spending the day in Adam’s house had made a welcome change from life in a hotel and boarding house. It felt real; she’d missed being able to prepare and cook home-made food.

  ‘I for one won’t stop you spoiling us; being greeted with such a warm welcome, home-cooked food and clearing away to boot. We could get used to this, hey Adam?’ Gus teased.

  ‘Yes, but sadly, I don’t think we stand a chance. I’m sure this budding star is destined for greater things.’ Adam raised his glass of port. ‘To Rhiannon!’

  Gus followed suit.

  Rhiannon felt her colour rise.

  The clock struck six o’clock.

  ‘It’s getting late. I’d better be off, before Mrs Gordon and her sister send a search party.’

  The men stood up from the table.

  ‘I’ll walk you back,’ Gus offered.

  ‘There’s no need, really,’ Rhiannon said.

  ‘There’s every need,’ Adam insisted. ‘Can’t have you wandering the streets of Cardiff on your own. Gus, you make sure to deliver her safely home, do you hear?’

  ‘Trust me. She’ll be safe with me.’

  Did Rhiannon imagine a stern look pass between the two men?

  ‘Goodnight, Rhi. See you at tomorrow morning’s band call. Half past ten sharp. Don’t be late!’

  ‘I’ll be there. And Adam, thanks again.’ Rhiannon reached up and kissed his cheek.

  Adam took her hand and gently brushed his lips across her palm. ‘My pleasure,’ he whispered.

  ‘All right, where’s mine?’ Gus teased.

  Adam, taking Gus’s hand, immediately kissed the back of it.

  Rhiannon laughed. ‘You two are quite mad!’

  As Gus led the way down the hall she noticed him hesitate, then, almost as if it were some sort of secret, deftly remove a set of keys from a hook near the front door and place them in his waistcoat pocket.