Rhiannon

by Carole Llewellyn

  ‘Gus, wait,’ Adam called. ‘Before you go you’d better take these.’ Adam handed him a bunch of keys. ‘They’re your keys to my house. If you’re planning to return to Cardiff you’re going to need somewhere to stay.’

  Taking the keys, Gus said, ‘Thanks. I really appreciate it. Although I’m not sure I deserve such kindness.’

  ‘Rhiannon always said blood was thicker than water.’

  ‘Rhiannon said that?’

  ‘Oh yes. And believe me when I say that she’s said a lot more than that. Why, less than a week ago, before she left the tour, she gave me a piece of her mind. She made it clear to me that ... what happened between the two of you was none of my business. She made me reassess my first reaction, and how quick I’d been to jump to what appears to be the wrong conclusion. If that’s what I did, then I’m truly sorry.’

  ‘I don’t blame you for reacting the way you did. For years I didn’t even like myself. When I lost Mum and Dad, I lost the two people I loved the most. It made me afraid to love again, believing that anyone I truly loved would be taken from me.’

  ‘I should have helped you more. But, after their death, it seemed the obvious solution for me, your uncle, to take you in. Now, with hindsight, maybe a bachelor with no experience of bringing up children really wasn’t the right choice.’

  ‘You did the best you could. I’m not blaming you in any way. It was just the way I was. And you were right. I didn’t love Helena Biggins. So you can imagine my confusion when she took her own life. I hadn’t loved her, yet she’d been taken too.’

  ‘I always accused you of not being capable of loving anyone but yourself. Under the circumstances, how cruel was that?’

  ‘Not cruel at all, really. Part of me believed it to be true and then, just when I’d resolved never to fall in love, Rhiannon Hughes walked into my life and I fell hook, line and sinker. But, truth be known, I was terrified of the way I felt about her. In calling me to book, you gave me a way out – and I took it. Since then I’ve tried everything to erase her from my thoughts and dreams, I even turned to drink, but while dulling my senses, the effects were purely temporary. When the drink wore off the memory of her came flooding back. I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking of her and the truth is, I don’t want to.’

  ‘So what do you intend to do about it?’

  ‘As I told you earlier, I intend to get back to work and sort my life out and then, however long it takes, I shall find her and throw myself upon her mercy.’

  ‘If that’s what you truly have in mind, I suggest you take yourself straight back to our house in Cardiff. I’ll be back in time for Christmas. We’ll talk again then. How are you off for money?’

  ‘I’m fine. You always paid me well. At the moment my bank account is looking a lot healthier than I am.’

  A few days before Christmas Rhiannon read the much awaited letter from Clara.

  16 West Road,

  Witney,

  Oxon.

  England

  Dear Rhi,

  I hope this letter finds you well and that whatever problem you had with the family has been sorted out. As you can tell from the above address, I’m spending Christmas with my family and, after three months of living out of a suitcase it feels very odd.

  I bet you thought I’d never write. The thing is, ever since the tour ended, I’ve been battling with my conscience, wondering whether I should tell you something or not. Then I decided you’d want to know so ... here goes.

  A few days after you left the tour Adam got a visitor – Gus Davenport. And although I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t resist eavesdropping. Anyway, the upshot was ... although I couldn’t hear everything, I definitely heard Adam invite Gus to sit in on the February auditions. I also heard Gus ask about you and Adam tell him how you left the show.

  I don’t know if you’ll be happy to read all this – I know how you’ve battled, trying to get over him. I didn’t want you turning up in Cardiff and just bumping into him.

  I don’t know what your plans are. Adam told me he offered you a spot in his new show and, once again, he’s asked me to be your understudy – which makes me think that I must have done all right filling in for you at the end of the tour.

  I can’t wait to see you in Cardiff.

  Love from your friend, Clara.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  January 1910

  Back in Cardiff and, once again, settled into the house he called home, Gus appreciated the lifeline Adam had thrown to him. It felt good to be on speaking terms with his uncle again. Gus vowed to prove to Adam how much he’d changed.

  When the tour ended and Adam returned they spent a quiet Christmas together and settled back, almost, to how they used to be: living and working together in harmony. They had already begun planning for the forthcoming auditions. It felt almost like old times; Gus being as ever, keen to learn from his uncle’s vast knowledge of the nuts and bolts of putting on a successful show.

  For the majority of Adam’s shows Gus was given the prestigious role of master of ceremonies. This proved to Gus how much his uncle trusted him to take control and create the magic needed to spark off and encourage great performances from each and every artist. And up to now, at least in this, he’d never let Adam down.

  During their time together, although Rhiannon’s name popped up occasionally concerning her role in the show, Gus felt it prudent not to push his uncle regarding her whereabouts. Gus’s instinct told him that the only place she would have gone was back home and, while he knew she was a valley girl, he didn’t have a clue which valley, much less the exact address. His only hope was that Adam might decide to back down and tell him.

  ‘Frank, I wish I could come with you,’ Mair moaned.

  ‘Me too, but I really think a trip to Cardiff would take too much out of you.’ Frank turned to Rhiannon. ‘You know the baby-carriage she wants, don’t you, Rhi?’

  ‘Yes, Jones the post’s wife has the only baby perambulator in the valley; it has a wooden carriage, four spoked wheels and a handle to push it. Very posh it is, too.’

  ‘My major concern is how to bring it here from Cardiff. Our only hope is if the station master will let us put it in the goods wagon. I’m not so worried about the last few miles from Pontrhyl railway station up the valley to Ponty. Blodwyn Jones was allowed to put hers on top of the charabanc, so I’m sure we can too.’

  The girls nodded their approval. Frank seemed to have it all in hand.

  ‘What time shall I expect you back in Ponty?’ Mair asked.

  ‘If we leave now, we should be back long before it starts to get dark. Mair, you’ll be able to watch for us on the doorstep.’

  As Gus made his way through the streets of Cardiff, he felt in good spirits. Thanks to Adam his life was back on track. He’d stopped drinking and was helping his uncle with the new show. This gave him the impetus he’d needed; if he could have another chance to get back with Rhiannon life would be fulfilled.

  Gus stopped in his tracks and, not believing his eyes, blinked a few times. It was Rhiannon. She was coming out of the large Howells department store, and she wasn’t alone. Behind her, a young man dressed in uniform was pushing a baby-carriage. Gus watched as the young man moved alongside Rhiannon. Now they were walking side by side, both pushing the carriage, and looking very pleased with themselves.

  Gus ducked into the doorway of the nearby tobacconist. He didn’t want to risk her seeing him. She looked so beautiful and so ... happy. At that moment Gus felt devastated.

  ‘What’s up with you? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,’ Adam joked.

  ‘No ghost – just Rhiannon,’ Gus snapped.

  ‘You saw Rhiannon? Where? Why didn’t you bring her back with you?’

  ‘She didn’t see me. I was on the other side of the road. I saw her coming out of Howells, with a young soldier in tow. They were pushing a baby-carriage.’ Gus dropped his head in his hands.

  ‘And you didn’t think to cross the road to speak to
her?’

  ‘No. What was the point? Come on, Adam. You don’t have to be a genius to work it out ... new, handsome, soldier boyfriend ... new baby-carriage ... now I wonder?’

  ‘You mean you thought the baby-carriage was for her?’ Adam gave a loud belly laugh. ‘Now who’s jumping to conclusions? I should make you sweat but instead, let me put you out of your misery... . If I’m not mistaken, the young soldier you saw her with was Frank Lewis. They grew up together and he’s like a brother to her. As for the baby-carriage, I’m sure that, under the circumstances Rhiannon wouldn’t mind me telling you—’

  ‘What?’ Gus urged.

  ‘The baby-carriage was probably for Mair – the poor girl is more than six months gone. It’s a long story. I’m afraid our idea of thwarting Harry and Nellie’s plan failed. I’ll tell you exactly what happened... .’

  While Adam relayed the story Gus sat in silence.

  ‘I can’t believe that all this happened after I left. And what was I doing? I was drowning in self-pity. Poor Mair – what she must have gone through! Is that why Rhiannon left the tour?’

  ‘Yes, she wanted to be with her sister.’

  ‘To think I saw Rhiannon today – and once again, in my foolishness, I let her slip through my fingers.’

  As instructed by Frank, in the early afternoon Mair stood eagerly waiting on the doorstep. She didn’t have to wait long for, in the distance, she could see her baby-carriage precariously perched on top the charabanc as it went past. She waved furiously to everyone inside.

  Minutes later, when Frank and Rhi came towards her pushing the carriage, she couldn’t contain her excitement a moment longer.

  ‘Oh Frank, thank you, it’s so lovely.’

  ‘You’re worth it, and more,’ Frank said, and putting an arm around her he gently kissed her cheek.

  Mair, her face a picture of happiness, turned to Rhiannon. ‘Rhi, it’s just what I wanted. You chose so well, you clever thing you.’

  A week later, when Frank had returned to his regiment, Rhiannon and Mair spent time together making a layette for the baby: nappies, vests, nightgowns, cot and pram sheets. With the baby due in March, there was still a lot to do. Normally, while they worked, they chatted furiously, but not today – today Mair couldn’t help but notice how unusually quiet Rhiannon was.

  ‘Rhi, what’s wrong? You’re so quiet.’

  ‘I’m all right. Honest. Now don’t you go worrying yourself about me. You’ve enough on your plate, it won’t be long before you have a baby to care for.’

  ‘You must be joking. What with Aunt Ethel, Sadie and Martha all staking a claim, I doubt if I’ll get a look in.’ Mair chuckled.

  Rhiannon didn’t respond.

  Mair put down her sewing and took her sister’s hand. ‘Rhi, it’s Gus isn’t it?’

  Rhi nodded, ‘It’s always Gus.’ She swallowed hard. ‘I go to bed thinking of him. I wake up thinking of him. And, in between, I see him around every corner. Why, the other day when Frank and I were in Cardiff, I even imagined him secretly watching me – of course, it was just wishful thinking on my part.’

  ‘My – you have got it bad!’

  Just then, a loud knock on the front door made them both jump.

  ‘I’ll answer it,’ Ethel called from downstairs.

  Not long after they heard voices – men’s voices.

  ‘I wonder who’s come calling?’ Mair said.

  ‘Probably friends of Uncle John’s,’ Rhi offered.

  A few minutes later they heard Ethel call up the stairs, ‘Rhiannon, could you come down. You have visitors. We’re in the parlour.’

  Rhi looked at Mair. ‘Visitors for me? No one knows I’m here.’

  ‘Well, someone obviously does. And for Ethel to have shown them into the parlour, she must think them important. Well, don’t just sit there. Get yourself downstairs and see who it is.’

  ‘You’re not coming?’

  ‘Of course I’m coming. I’m bursting to know who’s there. But I’d like to make myself presentable first. I’ll follow you down shortly. Now go!’

  Rhiannon entered the parlour and nothing or no one could have prepared her for the scene in front of her. Auntie Ethel was pouring tea into her best china tea service, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, for Adam Fletcher and, even more unbelievable ... Gus.

  On seeing her, both men stood up. Rhiannon reached for the back of a chair to steady herself.

  Adam spoke first. ‘Rhiannon. I know what a shock our being here must be to you but ...’ he turned to Gus, whose eyes stared adoringly at Rhiannon, ‘this nephew of mine, since seeing you and Frank in Cardiff the other day, he’s been like a dog with a bone, pestering me for your address.’

  Rhiannon stared back at Gus. ‘So I didn’t imagine it; you were watching me in Cardiff?’

  Gus nodded ashamedly.

  ‘Now, that’s neither here nor there,’ Adam insisted. ‘What I had to consider was how you’d feel if he just turned up on your doorstep. That’s when I decided to come with him – to soften the blow. And hope you wouldn’t think too badly of me for giving in to him.’

  ‘Rhi, they said they were friends of yours.’ Ethel looked worried.

  ‘It’s all right, Aunt Ethel. You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s a bit of a shock that’s all.’

  ‘I took the liberty of introducing myself and Gus to your aunt. Although I didn’t explain why we were here,’ Adam said.

  ‘And why are you here?’ Rhiannon directed her sharp question to Gus.

  ‘I had to come. I need you to know how sorry I am for walking out on you, like I did. For letting you down, and Mair too. I should have been more help to both of you.’

  ‘You ran away!’ Rhi cried.

  ‘Mrs Jenkins, what say we leave these two young people alone for a while, eh?’

  ‘Yes – if it’s all right with you, Rhi?’ Ethel flashed Rhiannon a look that said, I’ll not leave if you don’t want me to.

  Rhiannon, forcing a smile, nodded her approval.

  ‘Right then, if you’d like to follow me into the kitchen, Mr Fletcher, I’ll make us a fresh brew in there.’

  For a while after they left Rhiannon and Gus stood in silence. Each was unable to believe the other was truly in the room.

  ‘So you and Adam are back on speaking terms, then?’

  ‘Yes. But only recently. Rhi, I came looking for you on the tour only to find that you’d left. I was devastated. Rhi, I came looking for you to apologize for leaving you.’

  ‘The way you left was so cruel. How could you go without saying goodbye? I really thought you cared.’

  ‘I did – I do. When Adam threatened to tell you the sordid details of my past, I panicked. I took the coward’s way out and ran away; it’s what I always used to do. I thought you’d hate me.’

  ‘Did you think me so fickle? I loved you.’

  ‘Loved? And what about now?’

  She didn’t answer.

  ‘Rhi, when I saw you and Frank in Cardiff, pushing that baby-carriage. . . I felt the bottom drop from my world.’

  ‘You thought that Frank and I were...?’

  ‘Yes. You can’t imagine how ecstatic I felt when Adam put me straight. Rhi, I truly love you. I can’t live without you. Please say you’ll give me a chance to prove it?’

  At that moment Mair, in her eagerness to find out who the visitors were, barged into the parlour without knocking. Only to find Rhiannon and Gus locked in a passionate embrace.

  EPILOGUE

  London 1911

  Nellie Parsons tightened her grubby shawl around her scrawny shoulders. Although it was mid May, at night there was still a chill in the air. She’d spent the last hour parading along the Embankment looking for punters, but no one seemed interested.

  Through the dense fog a man’s shadowy figure approached her. As he came closer she could tell by the way he was dressed that he was a toff.

  ‘Looking for a bit of business, eh? Ten bob can buy you
a whole lot of fun,’ she slurred her words, rubbing her body against his.

  The man roughly pushed her away, causing her to lose her balance. ‘Get off me, you filthy wretch, you stink to high heaven. Ten bob? You must be joking.’

  ‘Sod off, you cheeky bugger!’ she called out as she watched him march off towards Westminster Bridge.

  Although Nellie had sounded disgruntled, in truth she knew only too well how she looked and smelled. Since Harry had forced her out of her digs penniless she’d been living rough, sleeping under the arches, forced to live on the streets.

  The toff had been right. Who in their right mind would pay her ten bob for a bit of how’s-yer-father? Why, the way she looked she’d be lucky to get five bob. Nellie sighed ... how things had changed.

  When she and Harry had first arrived in London, fifty guineas was the going rate. Thing were so very different then; Harry, his pockets bulging with the proceeds of their ill-gotten gains in Cardiff, had rented them a posh apartment – right in the heart of theatreland parties and well-to-do punters, close to Soho.

  Harry’s promise of making an honest woman of her was soon forgotten. Instead, one night she’d come home to find their apartment emptied of everything they’d possessed and a note to say that he’d moved on ‘to better things’, whatever that meant. Nellie’s so-called friends were quick to explain, telling her about the affair he’d been having with some well-to-do French tart – and how they’d left to start a new life in Paris, France.

  ‘Good riddance! That’s what I say,’ Nellie mumbled under her breath as she slowly made the long trek to the Strand.

  Nellie stood outside the New Gaiety Theatre, situated on the Strand. It had been her regular patch since things had got hard, where she could watch the toffs in their finery parade themselves as they waited for the theatre doors to open for the evening performance.