Paradise Park (29 page)

‘He's a stubborn man, though.' Llinos looked down at her hands, and twisted her bright new wedding ring. ‘He's angry, but his pride has been hurt more than anything.' She looked up and Jayne met her eyes. ‘His intention was for Guy Fairchild to get your shares from you. He never thought you two would fall in love.'

‘Well, it just serves him right!' Jayne knew she sounded childish. ‘He's a fool! I offered him the shares and he wouldn't take them!' Jayne tried hard to keep her voice level. ‘I think all Dafydd wants now is to punish me for loving Guy and not him.'

Llinos stared out of the window and Jayne knew that she had no ready solution to her problem. But perhaps, just perhaps, there was something Llinos could do for her.

‘Llinos, will you find Guy and give him a message? Please tell him I was forced to lie to him and I love him. I need him to come for me or I'll die in this room.'

‘Mr Fairchild has left the area,' Llinos said gently. ‘I think you and Dafydd convinced him you were giving the marriage a second chance.'

It seemed that all her struggles to be free had been pointless. If Guy had gone away, if he believed she would rather be with Dafydd than with him, there was no point in fighting any more. She might just as well resign herself to living alone in this one room for ever.

‘Jayne,' Llinos leaned towards her, ‘what did you mean when you said Dafydd forced you to lie? How could he force you to do something you didn't want to?'

‘He had a pistol,' Jayne said, ‘and he would have used it if I hadn't done what he said.' She sighed heavily. ‘Don't be shocked. There's a darker side to Dafydd, a side you've never seen.'

‘I can believe that,' Llinos said. ‘I knew he was capable of violence when he ran with the rioters, but I never thought he'd bring that side of him into his home.'

‘You know my husband better than I ever did,' Jayne said, ‘and now I no longer care. I just wish to God he still wanted you.' She put her head in her hands.

‘Don't be downhearted, Jayne,' Llinos said softly. ‘If it will help I'll try to find Mr Fairchild, tell him what really happened.'

A glimmer of hope crept into Jayne's heart. ‘Would you do that for me, Llinos?'

‘I could try,' Llinos said. ‘With your father's help I'm sure I'll manage to track him down.'

‘Where do you think he's gone?' Jayne asked. ‘The world is a big place, he could be anywhere.'

Llinos pushed a curl away from her face. ‘I did hear he'd gone to Cornwall. Watt Bevan was down there on business and he saw Mr Fairchild. It seems he was investing money in some china-clay business.'

‘Are you sure it was Guy he saw? Putting money into china clay doesn't sound like Guy,' Jayne said doubtfully. ‘He doesn't know anything about the pottery business and never showed any interest in it.'

‘Well, I don't think Watt would be mistaken over something like that. He loves the china industry and he's every inch a businessman.'

‘Oh, I'm not doubting Watt's word,' Jayne said, ‘but I hardly dare hope that finding Guy would be so easy.'

‘Strangely enough, Mr Fairchild was doing business with a man who used to work for me a long time ago. You wouldn't remember John. He's a man not over-blessed with scruples so I think Mr Fairchild would do well to watch his investments closely.'

Jayne was not the least concerned about Guy's ventures: he had money to invest and to spare and he was too clever to be duped in business matters.

‘So, you know where to find him, then?' Jayne's voice shook with excitement. ‘Oh, Llinos, please get a message to him as soon as you can.'

‘I'll do my best,' Llinos said. ‘But, Jayne, don't hope for too much. After all, what can Mr Fairchild do? You are married to Dafydd and have a responsibility to him, both in the eyes of the townspeople and the law.'

Jayne didn't give a fig for the townspeople or the law: she knew that Guy would stop at nothing to get her away from Dafydd and he was clever enough to use guile rather than knock on the front door again. ‘Guy will get me away from here, I know he will. Just tell him the truth and that I'm being held against my will.'

‘I'll do everything I can,' Llinos said, ‘but he might have moved on, found himself other interests. After all, he's a single man – a rich and handsome man.'

Jayne shook her head in exasperation. Llinos, of all people, should know the power of love. Guy truly loved her, he wanted to be with her, and she hungered to be with him. ‘Just get the message to him, that's all I ask.' Jayne went to where Llinos was sitting and knelt down beside her. ‘I know I haven't always been kind to you and I wouldn't blame you if you turned me down, but I vow I'll never ask another thing from you if only you'll do this for me.'

Llinos hesitated, but then, after what seemed an eternity, she nodded. ‘I'll do as you ask – but, Jayne, don't let anything slip in front of Dafydd.'

‘I don't give Dafydd the time of day, let alone discuss my lover with him,' Jayne said firmly. She was filled with excitement, her mind racing, and it was hard to keep her voice low. ‘I'm glad you came, you've given me new hope,' she said, her voice breaking with emotion. ‘I know Guy loves me as much as I love him. Oh, Llinos, if only I could be with him again I'd be so happy.'

‘Are you sure about that, Jayne?' Llinos asked. ‘Do you want to spend your life as an outcast from society?'

‘You've never worried about what people say, Llinos,' Jayne said. ‘You had your son and everyone in Swansea knew that Dafydd was the father, so being an outcast never bothered you. In any case, Guy and I will go away, perhaps abroad to Paris or Italy. All I know is that I want to be with him.'

The door swung open and Dafydd stood on the threshold. ‘I think you two ladies have had enough time to conspire against me,' he said, and Jayne could tell by the look in his eyes that he had heard Guy's name mentioned. She remained silent as Dafydd moved further into the room.

‘So, you've been discussing your lover with Llinos, have you, Jayne?' he said, in a hard voice. ‘Well, you'll never see him again so don't fool yourself into thinking Llinos can help you.' He moved closer to Jayne. There was a strange look in his eyes.

Llinos pushed him aside and hugged Jayne. ‘I'll come back to see you again . . . if Dafydd will allow it,' she said.

‘Come by all means, but don't try bringing Morton-Edwards and a gaggle of men with you. And, Llinos,' he caught her arm, ‘don't meddle in something that is none of your business. I let you see Jayne to make sure she is well but if you overstep the mark you won't be allowed into my house again.'

‘I understand,' Llinos said quickly. ‘I don't want a war any more than you do, Dafydd.'

‘Good. Now come along, it's time Jayne was having her afternoon rest. She's not as young as she used to be,' he said cruelly.

‘Not as young as that harlot you bring into my house, you mean,' Jayne said flatly.

Llinos saw a glimmer of a smile cross Dafydd's face. ‘Oh, so the servants have been talking to you, have they?'

‘They haven't needed to. I could tell by the girlish laughter outside my door that you had a young woman in the house.'

Llinos stared at Dafydd, waiting for him to refute Jayne's words but he did not. ‘Come along, Llinos, it's time you were going before my wife starts to spit like the cat she is.'

Jayne watched as Llinos was bundled out on to the landing. She pulled out of Dafydd's grasp. ‘There's no need to treat me like that,' she said.

Dafydd apologized at once. ‘Forgive me, Llinos, I sometimes forget myself after spending more than a few minutes in the company of my wife.'

Jayne watched Dafydd close the door and heard the key turn in the lock. She had hope now, and if Llinos kept her word, it would not be long before Guy came for her.

Llinos followed Dafydd down the graceful staircase, wondering what had happened to the young man with whom she had once been besotted. All she saw now was a man who lived life to excess in every way.

In the hall, Dafydd rested his hands on her shoulders. ‘Don't judge me too harshly, Llinos.' He spoke gently, the anger gone from his face. ‘Jayne has humiliated me, rebuffed me. What sort of wife will not sleep in her husband's bed?'

‘The sort of wife who has grown tired of being bullied and ridiculed. You can't claim you've been a good husband to Jayne, not even in the early days of your marriage.'

‘Oh, but you're wrong there. I fell in love with Jayne – some time after I married her, I'll grant you – but love her I did.'

‘Well, none of this is my concern,' Llinos said. ‘I came here because Eynon asked me to and because I feel sorry for Jayne. What sort of life is she leading, locked up like an animal? Can't you let her go, Dafydd?'

‘I might release her some time but not just yet. Jayne needs punishing for what she's done to me.'

Llinos moved towards the door, ‘I'd better go, there's nothing more I can do here.'

‘Wait.' Dafydd caught her hand and held it tightly. ‘Don't look at me with such disgust, Llinos. What would any man do who learned his wife had been unfaithful?'

‘You're asking the wrong person, Dafydd, or have you forgotten that I betrayed my husband with you? Joe forgave me, but he was a better man than you could ever be.'

Dafydd drew her to him. ‘You loved me once, Llinos, and you were eager for my embrace. I remember how you cried out in joy when we made love.' He touched her cheek. ‘And you are still beautiful, Llinos. You're the sort of woman who never loses her looks. There's a magnetism about you that no man could resist. I still care about you, Llinos. You're the mother of my son, after all.'

Llinos sighed. ‘I'll never play the unfaithful wife again, Dafydd,' she said. ‘I don't feel anything for you now, except perhaps anger that you could treat Jayne the way you do.'

With an abrupt movement Dafydd's grip tightened and then his mouth was on hers. Llinos remained still in his arms. She neither responded nor rebuffed him and at last Dafydd released her.

‘Do you really feel nothing for me now?' He was like a small boy who had lost his favourite toy.

‘I feel nothing for you, Dafydd. You will always be Sion's father and I can never forget that, but as for caring for you or being bedazzled by you, that died long ago.'

Llinos hurried outside, welcoming the feel of the cool air on her cheeks. She climbed into her carriage and leaned back in the leather seat. How could one man cause so much havoc in the lives of the women with whom he became involved? Instead of going straight home, she told the driver to take her to Pottery Row: she would talk to Watt and find out more about Guy Fairchild's whereabouts.

Watt was in the painting shed demonstrating a new pattern to one of the workers. When he saw Llinos he put down his brush and wiped his hands on a cloth then came towards her. ‘Llinos, why didn't you warn me you were coming? I would have had some tea or coffee waiting for you.'

‘I just called in on a whim but some tea would be welcome.' She linked arms with him as they left the sheds and made their way across the yard towards the house.

It was strange to go in through the back door and smell the familiar scents of the house, knowing that she no longer lived there. Watt and his family were in residence now and they had made it their own. The designs Watt had created for the china were framed and hung on the walls and new curtains fluttered at the windows. The house held so many memories, most of them shared by Watt.

‘Remember when my father came home from the war in France, Watt?' she asked quietly. ‘He was so badly injured it was a wonder he survived.'

‘I remember,' Watt replied. ‘Joe was with him, looking after the captain so well you'd have thought he was his own father.'

‘All a long time ago now, Watt, water under the bridge.' But she looked round at the familiar rooms and knew that part of her would always belong to the very fabric of the house.

When they were both seated in the drawing room Llinos looked up at Watt. ‘How's Rosie?'

‘Very well, thank you. She's gone shopping in town today,' he replied. ‘But why are you really here, Llinos? Not thinking of taking up work at the pottery again, are you?'

Was there a hint of anxiety in Watt's voice? Llinos reassured him quickly: ‘No, of course not. Eynon would be furious if I even thought of such a move. No, I've come to ask you about Guy Fairchild. Jayne asked me to find out what I could about him.'

‘I didn't see much of him, but I was surprised when I discovered he was associated with a man like John Pendennis.'

‘I know what you mean.' Llinos frowned. ‘When John worked for me he was never trustworthy – he even thought he could take the pottery away from me once, do you remember?'

Watt nodded. ‘How could I forget?' He rubbed his beard, which was streaked now with white. ‘It did occur to me to warn Fairchild but it didn't seem to be any of my business.'

‘On the other hand, it might be that John has changed. He's an older and perhaps wiser man now.'

‘I don't think so, Llinos,' Watt said. ‘According to gossip, John had his revenge on a local man who offended him. It seems he ruined the man, took his business from him. No, I don't think he's changed.'

‘Well, anyway, this is not about John. I want to know if there is a way of contacting Guy Fairchild.'

‘I'll be going to Cornwall again next week so I could take a letter to him.'

‘Fetch me some paper and a pen, Watt. I'll write to him at once and tell him what a state poor Jayne is in.'

‘Llinos, you're a generous woman. The way Jayne has treated you in the past you'd have every right to hate her and yet you're helping her.'