Paradise Park Read Online Free

Cookson helped. He was a fine man and so kind to me. He’d be angry if he knew his sister had turned me out of the house.’
    Katie’s steps slowed as she came to the hill leading up to her house. She leaned on a wall and took deep breaths. ‘I’m as heavy as a cow at milking-time,’ she said. ‘This baby is going to be a big one.’
    Rhiannon felt a stab of jealousy that Katie had everything she wanted: Bull for a husband, a baby on the way and a nice house to live in.
    â€˜Did you know Bull and I have a new home?’ Katie asked. ‘His employers thought so much of him they bought him the house by way of a bonus.’
    Rhiannon looked at the large gates and at the square, solid house behind them. ‘No, I didn’t.’ She had often heard Mr Cookson talking about Bull, of course. The two men had worked together until Mr Cookson retired, but he had never discussed matters of business or finance with her. ‘Bull has done well,’ she said proudly. ‘I always knew he would.’
    Katie looked at her quickly, ‘He speaks highly of you, too, Rhiannon. And I hope you don’t think I’m showing off about the house because I wouldn’t hurt your feelings for the world.’
    â€˜Why are you such a nice person?’ Rhiannon asked, in exasperation. ‘I couldn’t hate you however hard I tried.’
    â€˜I suppose it’s easy to be nice when you’re happy,’ Katie said simply.
    They entered the large hallway and Rhiannon looked round in appreciation. ‘What lovely colours you’ve got in here,’ she said, unaware that she sounded wistful. ‘The pale blue silk paper on the walls and the deep blue of the carpet go so well together.’
    A young maid hovered around them, taking Katie’s shawl and waiting politely for Rhiannon to take off hers. Rhiannon was impressed. ‘Imagine having a maid of your own! You have gone all posh, Katie. And you’ve got a cook too now. You never have to light a fire or bring in coal or spend time in a hot kitchen. It must be so nice.’
    â€˜I suppose I’ve got used to it,’ Katie said. ‘I never had such luxuries at home, mind, and then when Mam died I worked as a maid myself. You know that, Rhiannon, you came to work with me for a while.’
    â€˜I remember it well,’ Rhiannon said. ‘I more or less pushed you into asking Mr Morton-Edwards to take me on. He thought a lot of you, didn’t he?’
    â€˜Aye, but only because he nearly ran over me with his coach and horses! It was then I met Bull. I used to think the navvies a rough lot and I never thought I’d end up marrying one.’
    â€˜Well, Bull’s hardly a navvy, is he? He’s a posh manager with a respectable wife and a lovely home. It’s what you both deserve, though,’ Rhiannon said, ‘and I don’t grudge you any of it.’ And she didn’t, but she would have lived with Bull in a shabby, rat-infested hut for ever and been the happiest woman alive.
    â€˜I’ll get you something fresh to wear.’ Katie’s voice broke into her thoughts. ‘If you’re going for a job we have to make you look nice, don’t we?’
    â€˜It would be nice to work here.’ Rhiannon regretted the words as soon as they were spoken. Of course she couldn’t work in Katie’s house. How could she live under the same roof as Bull and not pine for him every moment of the day? ‘But I can see you’ve enough staff as it is,’ she added quickly, ‘and I know it wouldn’t work me being here. In any case, you’ve been kind enough as it is.’
    â€˜Sit down, make yourself comfortable,’ Katie said, ‘and I’ll see we’re brought a nice cup of tea.’
    She left Rhiannon alone in the sitting room and Rhiannon stared around her at the pictures, the curtains and the cheerful fire burning in the grate. One day, she