Firebird (42 page)
Authors: Iris Gower
âYou didn't expect me to be with Joe these past weeks and to change my mind about him, did you?'
âBut I thought he was going to marry some Indian woman in America.'
âNo, Father, and please don't talk about him as if he weren't here.'
âAll right, then, tell me the worst, what have you done?'
âThere is no worst, Father.' She knelt down beside his chair and took his hand. âPlease try to understand, I love him.'
Lloyd shook his head. âYou haven't done anything foolish, have you, Llinos?' He smoothed her hair. âSpeak to me, Llinos, tell me the truth.'
âJoe and I are married according to the customs of the Mandan tribe.'
She saw her father's face crease in anger and she spoke more forcefully. âBefore you begin to chastise me for being a loose woman again, let me tell you that we have not lived as man and wife. We decided to wait until we have a proper church wedding.'
âThank God.' He kissed her hand. âLet's get you settled in, then.' He rang the bell and almost immediately a young girl Llinos had never seen before bobbed her way into the room.
âWenna, make up two guests rooms, would you?'
Llinos put her arm through Joe's. âI'm sorry, my love,' she said softly. He looked down at her and after a moment untangled her arm from his.
âLloyd, you can't pretend I don't exist,' he said. âLlinos loves me and I love her. We intend to be together whatever you say.'
Lloyd shook his head and waved his arms as though fending off a troublesome fly.
âPlease Fatherâ,' Llinos began but Lloyd interrupted her.
âHush, Llinos, I have to tell you right away that the pottery is in trouble, bad trouble.'
She sighed softly. âWhat sort of trouble, Father?'
âThe land surrounding ours has been bought up, lock, stock and barrel.'
Llinos frowned. She did not understand, it was land that was not fit for anything but supporting manufactories.
âWhat does it mean, Father?'
âIt means I can't trade, there is no access, the pottery is ruined.'
âYou mean someone has bought Pottery Row? But that's impossible.'
âApparently not,' Lloyd said sombrely. âOf course, it's Philip Morton-Edwards who is behind this. He's always wanted me out of the way and he'll stop at nothing to ruin me.'
Llinos could not believe Philip would be so devious. He had been unfailingly kind to her. He had trusted her with his recipes for the porcelain bodies. Why was everyone so ready to condemn him?
âBut, Father, he's so rich, why would he want you ruined? What threat is the Savage Pottery to him?'
âHe is an evil man, Llinos, and you are too young and trusting by far.' He glanced briefly at Joe. âYou can't see bad in anything or anyone.'
Llinos rubbed her hands along her skirt to smooth out the creases. âOh, I've seen evil all right, Father. You forget I lived with Mr Cimla. I saw him beat Binnie to within an inch of his life and in the end it was Mr Cimla who caused my mother's death.'
Lloyd was silent for a long time. He looked up to her then, his eyes filled with tears. âI'm sorry. I'm being selfish, of course, you must live your own life. I'm not denying that but you must think about your future very carefully, my dear.'
He looked up at her, his face twisted with pain. âAll I ask is that you don't turn your back on me, not now, Llinos, I'm so worried, so alone.'
âOf course I won't turn my back on you, Father. Joe and I'll stay and help you sort out your problems, won't we, Joe?'
Lloyd turned his face away from her. âYou can't expect me to welcome as your husband the man who was only my batman.' He spoke in a low voice. âHe served me, waited on me, polished my boots, cooked my meals. Apart from being a foreigner, Joe is a menial.'
âFather!' she said, aghast. âHow can you talk like that about the man who saved your life?' Both men remained silent and looking into Joe's eyes Llinos knew he was not going to speak up in his own defence.
âI need Joe,' she said softly. âI love him, Father. We will be married as soon as possible, take it or leave it.'
Lloyd sighed heavily. âHe can stay here with us, of course. I realize that you think you love him and want to marry him.' He reached out and she went to him.
âJust promise me this, that you'll wait a little while, that you'll help me to get my life back into some sort of order.'
âI don't know if I can promise you that, Father.' Llinos tried to smother her anger. Her father did not know what he was asking. Her whole being ached to belong to Joe, to lie with him, to be his wife.
She looked at her father. He had grown old, old and frightened. âI just don't know. I feel torn, do you understand that? Tom between the two men I love.' She moved towards the door.
âI'm going to my room. I think I can find it without help from anyone, thank you,' she added, as her father lifted his hand to the bell. She hurried through the hall and up the familiar stairs. The woodwork was polished, the carpet was freshly brushed. But Llinos could see nothing for the tears that blinded her.
Joe stared out of the window at the throbbing heat of the kilns and tried to be calm. He had been installed in a large, cold back bedroom. It was comfortable enough but it marked his place in the scheme of things as Lloyd saw them. He was a foreigner, a half-breed and second best was good enough for him.
Joe moved the narrow bed and flung himself down, his arms beneath his head. The door opened and Llinos entered the room, frowning as she looked around her.
âJoe, I'm sorry about . . . well, about everything.'
He did not speak. He was tempted to just get to his feet and walk out of her life for ever, he seemed to bring her nothing but tears and unhappiness.
He lay back, his eyes closed as if to shut her out, and he felt the depression in the bumpy mattress as she sank down beside him.
âJoe, look at me. In the morning, I shall find out exactly what has been going on.' She spoke briskly now and he knew she was hurt by his lack of response. He could read her thoughts. Joe, patient, wise Joe, would wait for ever. Well, would he?
âMy father is an old man, you can see he's in pain and his very livelihood is threatened. I can't just think of myself now, can I?'
He remained silent, this was something she must work out for herself if she was to grow. After a moment, she rose and left the room, closing the door with a thud behind her. Joe stared up at the light glancing across the ceiling and thought with longing about clear rivers and rich grasslands and the wide open spaces of America.
âSo Binnie didn't come home after all.' Maura's voice was low, tear-filled. Eynon tried to think of something comforting to say but failed.
Eynon was sitting with Llinos in the small drawing-room and in that instant he was angry with her. Maura stood before him, her shoulders slumped, and as he looked into her eyes he saw the tears welling over. He coughed to hide his embarrassment.
Damn Llinos! Her impetuous behaviour had acted as a spur to Binnie to leave his wife, sometimes Llinos could be so irresponsible. Now it was left to Eynon to explain matters to Maura.
âBinnie has remained behind in America, he intends to find work there. I expect he'll send for you when he's set up.'
Maura looked at him and he could see she did not believe a word he said. âI'll get you some tea, sir. Shall I bring it into the drawing-room?'
âYes, please, Maura.'
Llinos was playing with a necklace that hung against her pale skin. She looked very beautiful, flushed from her walk across the valley. Eynon ached with despair, how could he love her so much knowing she felt nothing for him?
âEynon, I'm sorry, it wasn't pleasant for you breaking the news to Maura.' She held out her hand and he took it. Her fingers were slender and delicate and yet she could wedge and mould clay with the strongest of workers. She was a remarkable woman but she needed to grow up, face facts. If she married Joe she would never be accepted in polite society.
âWill you go back to America?' he asked, looking out through the window, trying not to see how lovely she was.
âOne day, perhaps. Eynon, look at me.' Her voice trembled and suddenly, she appeared vulnerable.
âEynon, I seem to be hurting everyone but I love Joe and I will be with him, whatever happens.'
Eynon shrugged without speaking. Llinos changed the subject abruptly and the moment of intimacy vanished.
âMy father is in trouble, someone is buying up the land around the Savage Pottery. Any idea who it could be?'
âMy father, who else?'
âEynon! Why should it be your father?'
âIt has his stamp, he can't bear to see anyone content and happy. He's had Father Martin sent away just because we were friends. Oh, yes, he's the one out to ruin the Savage Pottery, no doubt about it.'
âI'm sure that's not true,' Llinos said. âYour father has riches enough and he has the wonderful recipes for porcelain. I'm sure he's far too busy to concern himself with the land around our pottery.'
She was so sweet, so trusting, and in some ways so immature. Had she learned nothing from her years of hardship? How could he warn her about his father when she did not want to listen?
âI'll be moving near to Martin's parish soon,' he said, âthat will annoy my father, show him he does not always get his own way.'
âOh, Eynon, I'll be so sorry to see you leave Swansea.' Her beautiful eyes, dark and mysterious, stared into his. Something had changed between them, he was on edge with her. The old ease of their friendship had gone.
âI doubt that, you managed quite well without me while you were in America.'
âThat was different,' she said. âIt was only a temporary arrangement.' She leaned forward, the beads swinging against the sweetness of her breasts.
âWhat's happened to you? The gentle, kind Eynon I knew is gone. You've become cynical.'
âI haven't changed my feelings for you, Llinos,' he said softly.
She rose and hugged him, her cheek against his and he felt his gut turn to water. Soon, she would marry Joe. He should be happy for her but all he felt was pain.
âThis is a pretty scene, I feel quite envious of you, Eynon.' His father's voice was like a deluge of cold water. Eynon tensed but he made an effort to act normally as he drew away from Llinos.
âYou don't believe in being announced, do you, Father?' He felt the words choke in his throat as Llinos greeted Philip warmly, taking his hands in hers.
âIt's good to be back among my friends,' she said. âHow are you, Philip?'
âVery well, my dear.' He held her away from him. âAnd you are more beautiful than ever. Send for some more tea, Eynon. I would like to join you, that's if I'm not intruding.'
âOf course you are not intruding,' Llinos said cheerily and moved to accommodate him on the sofa beside her.
âI have news for you, son.' Philip rested his arm along the back of the sofa. âI've managed to get your friend Martin the most wonderful advantage.'
âReally, Father? What could that be?' Eynon felt cold, his father was ruthless. He manipulated everyone and somehow got away with it. It was amazing that Llinos could not see through him.
âHe's to go to work in London, in one of the big churches there. It's one of the greatest honours any young man could hope for.'
âI see.' Eynon was aware of Llinos looking at him sympathetically. She leaned past Philip and rested her hand on Eynon's arm.
âOh, Eynon, I know it's disappointing for you but I'm sure you're happy for Martin.'
âYes, very happy.' Eynon spoke listlessly. His father had dangled a juicy carrot before Martin's eyes and he had taken it.
âI'll just ask Maura to make fresh tea.' Llinos left the room and Philip sat back, his lean face full of amusement.
âLet that be a lesson to you, boy. Everyone has a price.'
âSo you keep telling me.' Eynon was suddenly tired. His father could control any situation and turn it to his own advantage. Eynon was beginning to think that the only escape from his father was the grave.
âDon't look so down-hearted, son.' Philip rested his hand on Eynon's shoulder. âI shall always take care of you, you know that.'
Eynon looked at his father in surprise before he realized that Llinos was in the doorway, Maura following her carrying a tray. His father was clever, Eynon gave him that.
He sat up straighter, fighting a battle against a rush of anger and losing. âRight,' he said in a hard voice, âlet's all have a cup of tea and a jolly chat, shall we? Tell us, Father, who have you got it in for this week? Whose reputation are you going to ruin just to amuse yourself?'
He was aware of Llinos, her eyes wide with reproach, but he no longer cared. âDamn you, Father!' He stood up and stared at his father for a long moment before leaving the room.
He hated his father, hated his own flesh and blood, surely that was wrong? Well, the hate was there and would not go away. It was about time he found some courage and stopped trying to run away from his father, about time he stood up to him instead.
Suddenly, he felt released, free of the tyranny his father had imposed on him all these years. His father had interfered once too often and Eynon was tired of it. Now it was time to plan his revenge.
âI must apologize for my son's behaviour, Llinos. Perhaps you will allow me to take you home in my carriage.'
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