Paradise Park Read Online Free Page B

her inner turmoil. She went downstairs and then she was standing close to him, so close she could have touched him. But he was no longer her man. Bull belonged to Katie.
    â€˜Rhiannon, it’s good to see you and looking so beautiful too.’ He spoke impersonally as if they had never been lovers.
    Rhiannon summoned up a smile. ‘You can thank your wife for the way I look because she’s just lent me some of her clothes. I’m hoping to find work this morning and Katie’s determined I’ll look my best.’
    â€˜I meant to get in touch with you and tell you how sorry I was about old Cookson. He was a fine man and I owe him so much.’
    They stood in silence for a moment. Then Bull spoke again: ‘I caught a glimpse of you at the funeral but you left before I could offer my condolences.’
    They were speaking to each other like strangers and Rhiannon knew then that whatever Bull had felt for her in the past had dissipated.
    Katie came into the hallway and smiled as Bull took her in his arms. They looked so happy, so much in love, that tears came to Rhiannon’s eyes. ‘I’d better be off then,’ she said quickly. ‘Thank you, Katie, for your kindness. I won’t forget it.’
    â€˜Oh – take this,’ Katie said. ‘I’ve written out a reference for you. I know I’m far below the Buchans in society but I thought it might do a bit of good.’
    â€˜I’m sure it will.’
    â€˜Come back and let me know how you get on,’ Katie said. ‘I’d like to know you were safely settled somewhere.’
    â€˜I will.’ Rhiannon smiled and left. She closed the front door behind her and began the long walk across the hills to where the élite of the town lived. She was alone now, but she was strong and one day the whole of Swansea would know that she was a woman to be reckoned with.

CHAPTER THREE
    JAYNE BUCHAN WAS a pretty woman with pale blond hair and a fine complexion. She had been born to wealth: her father Eynon Morton-Edwards was one of the most influential men in Swansea. She appeared to have everything a young woman could want: a handsome, successful husband, a fine home and a doting father. But Jayne’s pale beauty was marred by the downward droop of her full lips, which revealed that she was an unfulfilled woman.
    She was in need of a new maid – maids were inclined to come and go from the Buchan household in quick succession. She looked now at the girl standing before her. She seemed sensible enough, clean and neat, and willing to work. ‘So, you kept house for Mr Cookson, the engineer, then, for almost a year.’ Jayne pursed her lips consideringly. ‘Why haven’t you a reference from him?’ She might be in desperate need of new staff but she would not take just any girl who chanced along.
    â€˜He died suddenly, Mrs Buchan,’ the girl looked down at her feet, ‘and when his sister came from England to take over the house she dismissed me.’
    â€˜Wouldn’t she give you a reference?’
    â€˜She felt she didn’t know me well enough, Mrs Buchan.’
    Jayne studied the girl, who looked familiar, but couldn’t place her. ‘Have I seen you before?’
    â€˜I worked for your father for a time, and Mr Morton-Edwards was always very kind to me.’
    â€˜Ah, that’s it.’ Jayne made up her mind to take on the girl. ‘I’ll give you a month’s trial. I haven’t many rules, except that I don’t like my maids encouraging callers. If you want to go courting, do it on your days off. Is that clear? And remember your place especially when Mr Buchan is around. He’s inclined to be too lenient with the maids.’ Jayne felt it wise to offer a warning: this girl was good-looking in a world-weary way, with a full figure and luxuriant hair. Not that Dafydd Buchan had resorted to bedding the maids yet but Jayne did not mean to take chances.