Rhiannon

by Carole Llewellyn

  The irony of the situation was not lost on Gus, for his feelings for Rhiannon were so very different from those he’d had for any other woman. For a long time he’d tried to deny the way he felt about her, telling himself that it was just another of his dalliances, but tonight after their shared intimacy he knew what he felt for her was different: he truly loved her. She was like a breath of fresh air and he loved everything about her: from the way her unruly chestnut hair fell on her small shoulders, her slim yet well-formed tight little figure, to her shapely legs, right down to her tiny feet; she was a perfect package of innocent beauty. Oh yes, he was well and truly smitten.

  Gus had thought of going back to Adam’s, to plead his case one more time but, remembering the grim determination on his uncle’s face he knew how futile it would be. No, there was only one thing he could do. The time had come for him to move away. The thought of Rhiannon not seeing him in a good light, maybe even hating him, would be too much to bear.

  ‘Mrs Gordon, forgive me for calling at such an early hour,’ Adam apologized, ‘but I really need to clarify what really happened – to explain the reason for Rhiannon’s late return.’

  ‘Well, I must say, I expected better from you.’

  ‘It really was my fault. I’m afraid I got carried away, discussing new shows and the possibility of Rhiannon joining our next tour. I should have realized the time. I’m sure you of all people are aware of what an exciting new talent she really is?’

  ‘More reason to keep her feet firmly on the ground, I say. It wouldn’t do to put too many high ideas into such a young head. I’m all for nurturing new talent, but not at the cost of one’s sense of decency and decorum.’

  ‘Quite. Have you spoken to Rhiannon yet?’

  ‘No, not yet. I’ve asked her to meet me here in the parlour after she’s had her breakfast.’

  ‘I wonder ... would you mind if I joined you? There are a few changes to the scheduled performance that I think you both should know about before the band-call.’

  Rhiannon gave a light tap on the parlour door; it was time to face Mrs Gordon.

  ‘Come in,’ Mrs Gordon called.

  Rhiannon entered and was surprised to see Adam Fletcher seated alongside Mrs Gordon. On seeing her he rose to his feet. ‘Good morning Rhiannon,’ he said.

  ‘Adam – Mr Fletcher, I didn’t expect to see you here.’

  ‘Mr Fletcher came to explain how your late return last night was entirely his fault. I have accepted his apology on the understanding that it will not happen again.’

  Rhiannon’s eyes met Adam’s; she hoped he would see in hers her heartfelt thanks for taking the blame. Turning to Mrs Gordon, she said, ‘Thank you for being so understanding, I promise it’ll not happen again.’

  ‘Good. Now let that be the end of it. Mr Fletcher, you mentioned a change in schedule?’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Gordon. Rhiannon, it’ll soon become common knowledge but I wanted you to be the first to know that Gus Davenport has left the company. I—’

  ‘Gus has left? When? Where? Why?’

  ‘Miss Hughes. I’ll thank you to watch your manners. Sudden as it may seem, the reason for Mr Davenport’s departure is surely no concern of yours.’ Mrs Gordon voice was stern ‘Now, please leave the room. It’s almost time for you girls to leave for the theatre, you’d better go chase up Clara. Band call is at ten-thirty this morning, remember.’

  Rhiannon reluctantly did as Mrs Gordon ordered and left the room.

  ‘Mr Fletcher, I do hope you’ll excuse the child’s outburst, although I must say the news about Mr Davenport was a shock. I can see what a disruption to the show his leaving might cause.’

  ‘Yes, the suddenness of his departure has caused me quite a headache, I can tell you. I’ve been up half the night, thinking of who could fill the MC spot. I’ve come up with this idea: I thought to dismiss the whole idea of the MC and use a member of the cast to announce the acts instead. Tom O’Reilly seems favourite. I’m sure his comic banter between acts would go down well. What do you think, Mrs Gordon?’

  ‘I’m flattered you think me worthy of an opinion.’

  ‘You’ve been part and parcel of the Empire since even before I took over the company, and that’s nearly ten years ago, so who better to ask?’

  ‘Well, put like that, I think your idea to change the format a good one. I, like you, think it would be hard to find a MC as capable as Mr Davenport at such short notice. I’m sure Tom O’Reilly as compère would work well.’

  Rhiannon was in shock. Surely Adam was mistaken. Gus wouldn’t just up and leave her like this. Not after what had gone on between them last night. If it were true, she needed to speak privately to Adam. He would put her straight.

  ‘What’s up with you? Still pouting over what I said last night?’ Clara asked. ‘Rhi, I’m sorry if I upset you. I only wanted to set you straight regarding the likes of Gus Davenport, honest.’

  ‘I know. And there’s been a development but I really don’t want to talk about it. All I’ll say is that you’ll find out at band-call. Now, come on, get a move on, I don’t want to be late.’

  ‘Development, what sort of a word is that? At band-call you say? I’m intrigued.’

  At 10.30, with the cast assembled for band-call, Adam told them the news regarding Gus’s sudden departure. He gave no reasons, although no doubt there’d be much speculation; all he said was that Gus had moved on. ‘I’m sure we all wish him well. Without an MC I intend to change the set-up.’

  Adam’s changes were greeted with mixed feelings, especially regarding Tom O’Reilly’s new role, but they all admired Adam Fletcher’s work and decided, at least for the time being, to trust his judgement.

  Band-call seemed to go on for ever, restructuring the timing, the set; the removal of Gus’s table and gavel seemed particularly final. Rhiannon was desperate to speak to Adam and, if necessary, would wait all day.

  Eventually she heard Adam call, ‘That’s it for today, folks. Thanks for all your hard work. Good luck for tonight – fingers crossed that the audience likes the changes made; we can but do our best. See you at curtain-up.’

  As everyone left, Rhiannon held back.

  ‘Adam, I need to speak to you,’ she spoke quietly.

  ‘That makes two of us,’ he snapped.

  He sounded angry with her. Surely he didn’t blame her for Gus’s departure.

  ‘Adam, I need to know why Gus left so abruptly.’

  ‘Rhiannon, I know what went on between you and Gus last night and I’m sorry.’

  ‘Why should you be sorry?’

  ‘I blame myself. I knew only too well what Gus was like. I should have warned you.’

  ‘Adam, please don’t reproach yourself, what we did was—’

  ‘I should have insisted on walking you back to your digs myself last night, instead of letting him do it. The thing is, I truly believed that, where you were concerned, he could be trusted. What a fool I was in thinking he’d changed.’

  ‘Adam, please don’t think too badly of him. What happened between us was with my consent. He loves me and I love him—’

  ‘Oh Rhi ... Rhi, I’ve heard that from his previous conquests so many times before.’

  ‘Please, Adam, I don’t want to know. What’s past is past.’

  ‘Well, you’re damn well going to.’ Taking her hand he led her to sit in the stalls. He stood over her, visibly trembling. ‘I’ve stayed quiet for too long. Five long years to be exact. She was a young chorus girl – her name was Helena Biggins. And she, like you, fell for his overwhelming charms and, again like you, she believed he felt the same way about her. Of course he didn’t. The upshot was that after he succeeded in seducing her he moved on to his next conquest without as much as a backward glance.’

  ‘That was then. The way he feels for me is ... different.’

  ‘Rhiannon, stop fooling yourself. Face the truth. Gus is incapable of loving anyone but himself.’

  ‘Adam, why are you doing this? Surel
y as his uncle—’

  ‘You mean blood is thicker than water? For years I’ve felt the same and have always given him the benefit of the doubt. He was my brother’s son and close relatives don’t stand in judgement ... but I was wrong. What happened five years ago proved what a shallow human being he’d become.’

  ‘Was what he did five years ago so terrible?’

  ‘Oh yes. Yes. You see, a few weeks after Gus walked away, the poor girl found herself in the family way and, with no family and no means of support, she took her own life and that of her unborn child.’

  ‘No!’ Rhiannon gasped and placed a hand over her mouth to mask a pitiful scream.

  ‘Yes! And I let it happen. Maybe, if I’d warned her... ? And now look what he’s done to you! When he returned to my house last night, I guessed what had happened between you. I told him I was going to tell you everything. I ordered him out of my house and out of my life, and, guess what? True to form, the coward ran away. The only good thing he did was leave this envelope for you.’

  ‘Is there a letter?’ For a moment her hopes were raised.

  ‘No letter, just his share of Mair’s ransom money. At least he kept his word on that. Now he’s gone and I say good riddance!’

  ‘But Adam, I love him.’

  ‘I’m sure you do. But trust me – we’re both well rid of him.’

  Rhiannon returned to her digs, still struggling to come to terms with what Adam had told her and the fact that in a matter of just a few hours she’d found and lost the man she loved. Had she been taken in? Had he used her? She tried to recall Gus’s actual words. Had he actually said he loved her? According to Adam he was incapable of loving anyone. Yet what they’d shared had felt so right. She didn’t want to believe that it meant nothing to him. But if he truly loved her, why the sudden departure? No, Adam was right, he’d used her.

  Rhiannon entered her room, threw herself onto her bed and burst into tears. But when the tears stopped, she went over and over in her mind every moment she had spent in the theatre with Gus the night before.

  There was a tap on the door.

  Clara entered. ‘Rhi, Mrs Gordon has called us for tea. Are you all right?’

  Rhiannon rose from the bed, slowly making her way to the washbasin on a stand in the corner.

  ‘Thanks, I’ll be there in a minute.’

  ‘Oh Rhi, you’ve been crying. I’m so sorry. I can see how much Gus has hurt you. I’d give anything not to have said what I said about him last night. I hated falling out with you. Please say we’re still friends?’ Clara pleaded.

  ‘Our falling out was my fault, not yours. I didn’t want to believe he—’ Rhiannon put her head in her hands.

  ‘Come here.’ Clara crossed the room and threw her arms around Rhiannon. ‘Rhi, if ever you want to talk, I’m here for you. That bloody man has a lot to answer for.’

  That night, against all odds, the show went well. This was due in the main to the way Tom O’Reilly excelled himself in getting the audience rolling with laughter between the acts.

  As usual, Rhiannon performed well. But her heart was not in it; every time the song called for her to look to the gallery she imagined Gus’s handsome face smiling down on her. It was a cruel reminder of their first, and it would seem, their last night of passion. This couldn’t continue. If she were ever to get over him, she needed to change her song. She vowed to speak to Adam after the show. Adam had made it perfectly clear that, from now on, he didn’t want even to hear Gus’s name. What Rhiannon needed to do now was to focus her mind on Mair’s safe return; at least that was something to celebrate.

  ‘Adam? What would you say about my having a change of song?’

  ‘I’d say no. With only a few weeks to go until the end of this show’s run, I wouldn’t want to risk a further programme change. Up to now Gus’s departure hasn’t affected audience figures. Another change might be a change too far.’

  The disappointment on Rhiannon’s face was obvious.

  ‘Look, I’m not against you changing song. It’s just that at the moment I think it is bad timing. Why not wait until we take the show on tour?’

  Like the rest of the cast, Rhiannon was well aware of Adam’s plan to take a smaller show on tour, something he did for three months every year, thus freeing the theatre for the pantomime season. Although he’d used discussions about it as an excuse for her late return to Mrs Gordon, this was the first time he’d mentioned it to her.

  ‘Does that mean you want me on the tour?’

  ‘Well yes; the plan is to visit selected small venues around Wales and the West Country. I thought you’d enjoy the challenge.’

  ‘Yes – yes! But ... what about Mair?’

  ‘I thought we could employ her as a dresser. What do you think?’

  ‘Oh Adam! Thank you. That’s a wonderful idea and what a great opportunity for a new start for Mair. You haven’t forgotten the arrangement to pick her up on Friday, have you?’

  ‘No, I hadn’t forgotten.’

  ‘I thought, with him... .’ She still couldn’t bring herself to say he’d gone, ‘I thought I’d come with you.’

  ‘I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. The business transaction was strictly between us men. Your being there could spark trouble. No, you stay at Mrs Gordon’s and wait. I promise to bring Mair straight there.’

  Rhiannon spent the next few days simply going through the motions: rehearsals, band calls, matinées and evening shows. Most nights she spent without sleep, tossing and turning, trying to understand why Gus had left her. She didn’t doubt the truth of what Adam and Clara had told her, but it still couldn’t stop her loving him. What if they were mistaken and Gus really had changed? Rhiannon had been so convinced of his feelings towards her. He’d been so tender, caring and so ... loving. But the question that nagged at her was, if he really loved her then why had he run away? Why hadn’t he been man enough to stand and face the music? No, it was time to face the truth. Gus had gone and somehow she had to try to forget him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  It was Thursday night and Mair couldn’t help but notice how Harry appeared to be in unusually good spirits.

  ‘I thought, as it’s your last night with us, that I’d treat us to a special fish-and-chip supper, and maybe a few flagons of ale. How does that sound?’ Harry gushed.

  ‘I think that’s a splendid idea, don’t you, Mair?’ Nellie urged.

  Mair wanted to scream at the both of them. Did they really think a fish-and-chip supper would make up for the way they’d treated her for the last few months: keeping her locked up with the intention of selling her to the highest bidder? She so wanted to tell them how much she longed to be rid of them both. Instead she heard herself say, ‘Thank you. I’d like that. Fish and chips are my favourite.’ Common sense told her to go along with the charade, She didn’t want to risk them backing out of their agreement with Rhiannon’s friends – she’d bide her time; tomorrow she’d be free.

  ‘Good, then that’s settled. You girls set the table and I’ll nip to the chip shop and the pub’s taproom. Nellie, remember to set for four, eh?’ he threw her a knowing look.

  ‘Four? Why four?’ Mair asked.

  ‘A friend from down the King’s Head is joining us. And I expect you to be on your best behaviour and to mind your manners – it’s not too late for us to change our mind about you going tomorrow, so take heed. That said, I intend to make this a night to remember.’

  His chuckle aroused Mair’s suspicions. What was he up to?

  Almost an hour went by with still no sign of Harry, during which time Mair, not wanting to enter into conversation with Nellie, busied herself packing her few belongings into her old suitcase: the same suitcase she and Rhiannon had used when they first left the valley, it seemed now, a lifetime ago.

  ‘I bet, instead of fetching our supper and a flagon of ale, the bastard’s swigging back ale down the pub. If he’s not back in the next ten minutes I’ll be joining him.’

  At
that moment the door opened and Harry entered, followed by a portly middle-aged man. Harry beamed a smile. ‘Well here she is, Jake, our Mair, ready and waiting as promised.’

  Mair recognized Harry’s friend as the man who had come to the apartment a few days previously. She could never forget the way he had eyed her up and down, practically undressing her, salivating so much that the moisture dribbled from the corner of his mouth and down his chin. It had made her feel sick.

  ‘What’s the highest bid so far?’ Jake asked Harry.

  ‘Up to this morning, fifty guineas. Although with all the interest shown I expect that figure to more than double by the weekend.’

  ‘And still a virgin.’ He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his chin.

  ‘Yes, that’s right. You have my word on that. Needless to say that, if you were to find otherwise, then you’d rightly be compensated.’

  ‘Harry, my man, your word’s good enough for me. I’m prepared to top whatever offer you get between now and Saturday. I’ll go to as much as one hundred and fifty pounds. Have we got a deal?’

  Harry grabbed the man’s hand. ‘Let’s shake on it.’

  Mair watched in horror as the men shook hands and in doing so sealed her fate.

  Mair heard the rustle of notes and the jingle of coins.