by Iris Gower
‘Father, are you never going to offer me an explanation?’ Jayne’s voice was high-pitched, hard and angry. ‘Why did you bring a harlot into my house last night? Have you no shame?’
‘The child is not a harlot. What makes you think she is?’ he asked. ‘I spoke with her when I got up, and as she appears to be looking for work I’ve said I’ll take her on here as a maid.’
‘Well, you always were taken in by a pretty face, Father.’ Her tone changed. ‘I suppose I shall have to put up with your little ways now you’re getting older – and I realize you must have been lonely since you lost Isabelle. She was a good wife but surely you can do better than a girl of the lower orders, Papa?’ She sighed then smiled at him. ‘But as I love you so much I’ll forgive you this time.’
‘Why are you being so reasonable all of a sudden?’ Eynon’s daughter never did or said anything without good reason.
‘Father, I’ve got something to tell you and I know you’re not going to like it.’ She did not meet his eyes. ‘Now, promise you’ll hear me out and you won’t get angry.’
‘All right, out with it. What’s happened? Have you run up a bill at the milliner’s, perhaps?’
‘No, Father, nothing so trivial!’ She looked uneasy. ‘I’ve fallen in love and I intend to be married before too long.’
‘This is all rather sudden, isn’t it? Who, may I ask, is the lucky lad?’
‘Stop treating me like a child, Father. This is serious.’
‘Listen to me, Jayne. We all fall in love more than once in a lifetime – look at me, I’ve had two wives and countless ladyfriends.’
‘I’m different from you, Father. I’m really in love, and the last thing I want is to fall out with you about it.’
‘Why should we fall out?’ Eynon was humouring her. ‘It’s not some chimney-sweep or an Irish navvy, is it?’
‘No, Father, don’t be so silly.’ She played with the ribbon in her hair.
Eynon frowned. ‘Very well. But who is this man that you want to marry?’
‘It’s . . .’ She hesitated. ‘It’s Dafydd Buchan.’ She held up her hand. ‘And please understand that I intend to marry him whatever you say.’
Eynon felt as if someone had dealt him a mortal blow. ‘Buchan of all people! How could you, Jayne?’
‘I told you. I’ve fallen in love with him.’ She set her lips. ‘Just think about my feelings for once.’
‘But you can’t marry Buchan. He’s a womanizing waster.’ His tone was sharp. ‘Where have you been seeing him, and how long have you been deceiving me?’
‘I’m not trying to deceive you, Father – I’ve just told you about him, haven’t I?’ Jayne glared at him.
He tried a softer approach. ‘Come here, cariad,’ he said.
‘You won’t coax me out of it, either,’ she said, but came to him slowly, and he enfolded her in an embrace. Her hair was fresh-washed, soft as silk, pale as his own. She was his beloved child, his only child, and he could deny her nothing but marriage to Buchan. For God’s sake, how could he stomach it?
‘Sit here beside me, Jayne.’ He led her to the plump sofa that faced the large windows. Beyond the bright garden, the sea rolled into the shore aglow in the sunshine. ‘I want only what’s best for you,’ Eynon said. ‘You know what a reputation Dafydd Buchan has around here, and I’m afraid you’ll be hurt.’
‘Please, Papa, forget about the past. Dafydd is a respectable businessman now. His pottery in Llanelli is flourishing and he owns half of Carmarthen. He’s richer even than you, so I’d be well cared for.’
Eynon knew she was trying not to lose her temper, but he had to make her see sense. ‘The fact remains that Buchan is the father of an illegitimate son. Have you forgotten the scandal that raged throughout the town about his liaison with Llinos Mainwaring?’
Jayne looked at him mutinously.
‘Even if you don’t remember other people will. Can you live with the shame of people talking about you, saying you’re second best to Llinos?’
His words stung, and Jayne moved away from him. ‘That’s over and done with now!’ she snapped. ‘And you forget, Father, that your own past isn’t above reproach, is it? I think your own feelings for Llinos are clouding your judgement.’
‘That’s beside the point.’ Eynon swallowed uneasily. ‘I deplore Buchan’s lack of moral fibre but it’s his interference in the laws of our country that worries me.’ He struggled to keep calm. ‘Burning down gates and storming the workhouse isn’t the sort of behaviour expected of a gentleman, is it?’
‘Dafydd was protesting against the toll charges, as you well know.’ Jayne’s voice was filled with righteous indignation. ‘He was trying to help people less fortunate than himself to get justice. In any case, that was a long time ago. Father, I intend to marry Dafydd whatever you say.’
She stared at Eynon challengingly. ‘He’s coming here tonight to speak with you, and if you don’t want to lose me for good please be civil to him.’
‘And what if I send him away with a flea in his ear?’ But he knew what Jayne would say, even before her lips framed the words.
‘I shall elope with him and bring disgrace on you.’ She came to sit beside him again and snuggled her head into his shoulder. ‘Please, Papa, just give Dafydd a chance.’
Eynon relented. He could never deny Jayne for long but this infatuation with Buchan was not to be borne. Still, a little diplomacy might not go amiss. ‘All right. If this man is the one you really want, then what can I say? Just promise me you’ll have a long engagement. You’re still very young, you know.’
‘Probably as old as my mother was when she married you,’ Jayne said. She kissed his cheek. ‘I’m going to have a bath and change into something special for tonight.’ She smiled at him. ‘I really must have a new wardrobe soon, Papa. My gowns are so old-fashioned, I dread to be seen in them.’
Eynon was on safer ground now and smiled in relief. ‘Get the sewing woman up here any time you like, and make sure the bolts of material are from new stock or you’ll be buying sun-damaged goods.’ He hugged his daughter and kissed the top of her head. She was so precious to him. Jayne had been the only bright thing in his life since he lost Isabelle.
‘You’ve gone all dreamy, Papa. You’re thinking of Isabelle again, aren’t you?’
He remembered the terrible events that had led to Isabelle’s death. The rioting against the tolls had reached a crescendo and she had been caught in the thick of the fighting at the Carmarthen workhouse. She had been crushed beneath the hoofs of the horses ridden by the dragoons. Dafydd Buchan was to blame for it all, and now his daughter wanted to marry the man.
‘I know you miss her dreadfully, even now, Papa, but I’m here. I’ll always be here when you need me.’
‘You’re right, I still have you, my lovely child,’ he said. ‘Promise you’ll give your father some of your time when you’re a married woman.’
‘Don’t worry, Papa, I’ll always love you – and don’t forget you still have good friends.’ She paused and there was an edge to her voice when she spoke again. ‘You’ll always have Llinos Mainwaring to keep you company, won’t you? You still love her – you’ve always loved her, even when she disgraced herself so badly. If she hadn’t been married to the foreigner you’d have married her like a shot.’
‘Llinos is a good friend and I won’t hear a word against her,’ Eynon said sharply.
‘All right, Papa. We won’t talk about it any more. But you must promise you will be polite to Dafydd. I’m always nice to Llinos, aren’t I?’
‘Yes, Jayne, I’ll grant you that.’
Suddenly they heard a carriage drive through the gates and went to the window. ‘Here’s Llinos now!’ Eynon exclaimed.
‘Talk of the devil!’ Jayne had come to his side. ‘Mrs Mainwaring and her bastard offspring, no less.’
Eynon caught his daughter by the shoulders. ‘Jayne!’ he said sharply. ‘You aren’t being polite about her now, are you?’
/> Jayne twisted out of his grip as the front-door bell echoed through the house. Eynon heard the maid’s voice in the hall and his heart leaped in anticipation. Even after all these years, Llinos’s presence still had the power to stir him.
She came into the room like a breath of fresh air, leading her son by the hand. She was flushed from the sunshine, her eyes were glowing and her hair, soft and silky, was shaped into a bun on her slender neck. She was still as lovely as the day he had first set eyes on her.
‘Llinos! How delightful.’
‘I’m sorry to arrive unannounced,’ she said breathlessly. ‘It’s such a beautiful day that I couldn’t stay in the house. I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not. Sit down, the maid will bring us refreshments.’ He glanced at his daughter. ‘Take Sion into the garden, Jayne, and show him the changes we are making.’ It still hurt him to look at the boy. Dark and strong-featured, the image of his father. God damn Buchan! Eynon wondered briefly how Llinos’s husband coped every day with the tangible evidence of his wife’s infidelity.
‘Don’t let him be a trouble to you.’ Llinos kissed Jayne’s cheek.
After a brief pause, Jayne looked at Sion and smiled. ‘Come on, let’s go out and leave these old dears alone.’ She halted in the doorway. ‘I know you want to talk about me, Father, but it won’t do any good, you know. My mind is made up.’ Then she left the room, and Sion followed her, anxious to be out in the sunshine.
‘Forgive her forthrightness but my daughter can be a little wayward.’ Eynon grimaced.
‘There is no need to apologize,’ Llinos said. ‘A great many people are sharp with me now.’
‘Oh, Llinos,’ Eynon said softly, ‘I can’t bear anyone to hurt you, and it’s time my daughter learned to be more tolerant.’
Llinos smiled. ‘Jayne can wrap you around her little finger with no trouble,’ she said.
Eynon watched as Llinos settled her full skirts around her dainty ankles. Her waist was as trim as a girl’s and her breasts rounded and womanly. Even now Eynon lusted for her. He cleared his throat. ‘I have something to tell you.’ This was going to be difficult. ‘Jayne is talking about an engagement.’ He released his breath sharply. ‘She thinks she’s in love with Dafydd Buchan.’
Llinos pressed her hands together and looked up at him. ‘So she wants to marry Dafydd? Well, he’s very rich, and a good man into the bargain. She could do worse.’ Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and her soft lips trembled. ‘Don’t worry about my feelings, Eynon. Dafydd was bound to marry sooner or later.’
‘You still care for him, then?’ He could scarcely believe that after all the man had put her through she still wanted him. The idea made him feel angry and sick.
‘He’s the father of my child and will always have a special place in my . . .’ she hesitated ‘ . . . in my affections.’
‘I’ll never understand women.’ Eynon shook his head. ‘And I’ll never understand Joe’s forbearance.’
‘Perhaps he has a more forgiving heart than you, Eynon,’ Llinos said softly. ‘Anyway, it’s a case of “let he who has never sinned cast the first stone”, isn’t it?’
Eynon could find no answer and thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘It hurts that you allowed Dafydd Buchan into your bed and always denied me,’ he said at last.
‘So it’s your pride that’s hurt, then, is it?’ Llinos asked. ‘Eynon, can’t you see that a woman is ruled by her heart while a man is ruled by lust?’
‘That’s not true! Llinos, my love for you has always been pure. Have I ever tried to make you betray your wedding vows?’
‘No, you’re a true gentleman, my dear friend.’
‘And that makes Buchan anything but a gentleman, and I’m supposed to agree to him marrying my daughter.’
‘Eynon!’ Llinos got to her feet abruptly. ‘Jayne is a woman now and she has feelings – strong feelings. She must love Dafydd very much to set herself against you.’ She rested her hand on his arm and he resisted the temptation to pull her close. ‘No man has an unblemished reputation. You know that from your own experiences with Jayne’s mother, don’t you?’
‘I was a very young man when I met her.’ He knew his protest was weak. ‘I never loved her, but I married her when I learned she was expecting my child.’
‘You were tempted by a beautiful, willing woman and you succumbed. No one would blame you for that.’
‘At least I was free to marry, which was more than you were when you bedded Buchan.’ He watched as she made her way to the door. ‘Llinos, I’m sorry.’
‘I have to go, Eynon, I have no part in any of this. It is no concern of mine who your daughter marries.’
Eynon followed her into the hall. ‘Please, Llinos, don’t go like this. Stay and talk, drink tea with me. I didn’t mean to upset you.’
‘Well, you have upset me.’ Llinos was taking her gloves from the maid. ‘I am upset that you still choose to judge me.’ She looked up in his face and Eynon felt his love for her melt his heart. ‘You are my dear friend, Eynon, and no man or woman will ever take your place, but there is a limit to what I will accept from you.’
He watched helplessly as she slipped her arms into her light coat. ‘I’m sorry, Llinos. I was carried away with anger against Buchan and I took it out on you. Say you forgive me.’
‘I’ll consider it.’ Her lips were trembling.
‘You’ll come to see me again, soon?’ he asked pleadingly.
He stood by the open front door with her and watched as she sent the maid to fetch her son. Damn Buchan! One way or another the man was ruining Eynon’s life and he could not be allowed to get away with it.
CHAPTER TWO
Bull Beynon stood looking at the scene around him with frustration. The work was going too slowly – the railway line from Landore into Swansea was only half finished and the navvies were restless. If the job was to be finished in time for the grand opening next year, the supply of new equipment must be improved.
Further along the track, the navvies were setting up their temporary huts for the last leg of laying the tracks that would carry the iron monsters a few more miles into the heart of Swansea town.
Bull caught sight of a girl with bright hair and recognized her. His heartbeat quickened. ‘Miss Cullen!’ he called.
She stopped walking and hitched her large bag on to her other arm. ‘Mr Beynon,’ she said breathlessly, and glanced around her as if she had a mind to run away.
‘I don’t mean to be forward, Miss Cullen, but I want to apologize again for the men. They won’t bother you now, you can be sure of it.’ He seemed to be rushing his words. ‘Are you well again after your accident?’
‘I’m very well, thank you,’ she looked away shyly, ‘and you were kind to stand up to them the way you did.’ She glanced up at him. ‘One good thing to come out of it all is that Mr Morton-Edwards gave me a job at the Big House and I’m settled there now. I’ve just been fetching some of my things from Greenhill.’
His eyes were a warm blue as they looked into hers. ‘Can I help you with that?’
‘No, thank you. I’ve got to get used to managing because Cook’s put me in charge of the shopping.’
Bull folded his big arms across his chest. ‘Mr Morton-Edwards has a fine reputation and I know he’ll take care of you.’
Katie smiled then and her whole face lit up. She was like a flower touched by the sun. ‘He’s a good master to work for.’ She seemed more at ease as she put her bag on the ground. Bull resisted the urge to pick it up – it looked far too heavy for a small girl like Katie.
‘And I’m sure you will make a good maid.’ He watched, enchanted, as the colour came into her cheeks. She was so pretty, so dainty, and he wanted to put a protective arm around her slim shoulders. ‘I wonder if . . .’ Was it too soon to ask her to come out with him? ‘I wonder if I can call on you sometime.’
She picked up her bag hastily, covered in confusion, and Bull cursed his clumsiness, but as Katie b
egan to walk uphill he fell into step beside her. She glanced at him then quickly looked away. ‘I’ll have to see what the master thinks about gentlemen callers.’ She stopped and faced him. ‘I shouldn’t be taking you away from your work – I don’t want you to get into trouble.’
Bull was touched by her concern. ‘As foreman I have some privileges,’ he said, ‘and I don’t often abuse them. Would you mind if I walked with you a little while, then?’
‘That would be nice. But you’d better not come right to the house in case Mr Morton-Edwards don’t like it.’
As Bull walked along beside her he was very aware of how he towered over her. She aroused within him his protective instincts. He wanted to hold her and keep her close to him. ‘Can I meet you later?’ he asked humbly. He was in charge of hundreds of men yet he was behaving like a gauche child.
‘I’ll try to pop out into the garden round the back of the house when the master’s having supper.’
Bull felt jubilant. ‘I’ll look out for you later, then.’ He watched her walk across the stretch of muddy lawn and disappear into the Big House. Then he leaned against the wall, as excited as a boy waiting for his first love. He had made progress. He smiled and looked up at the sky: the day was brightening.
Katie stood in the kitchen of the Morton-Edwards house and gazed around her. The table was scrubbed clean and the fire burned brightly in the huge fireplace. She was lucky to get a position in such a fine house.
‘Well, put the bag down, girl,’ Cook said, ‘and count yourself lucky that the master isn’t a stickler for time. You’ve been an age doing that little bit of shopping. Did you fetch the carrots I asked for?’
‘Yes, Cook, and some of my clothes from Greenhill as well. That’s why I’ve been so long.’
Cook poured tea out of a brown china pot. ‘Come on, then, sit down. No one’s going to bite you.’ She smiled wryly. ‘Except perhaps Miss Jayne. She bites all of us from time to time. Right little temper on that madam.’ She eased herself into her chair. ‘Your mam would have jumped at the chance to get you a good place like this, wouldn’t she?’