Paradise Park (39 page)

A scattering of applause greeted her words, and Rhiannon was about to step down when a voice called her name from the back of the room. Rhiannon looked up in surprise to see Richard Frost waving his arms for silence.

‘I don't think you good people here know what sort of woman she is.' He gestured towards Rhiannon. ‘She might be dressed in fine clothes but she's nothing more than a street girl, a shanty-town woman who lived off ignorant navvies. Go on, woman, deny it if you can.'

A hush fell and curious eyes turned in Rhiannon's direction. She felt her colour rise but she lifted her head proudly. ‘What I used to be is nothing to do with what I am now. At least I've learned the error of my ways and tried to make a success of a respectable trade.'

‘Hear, hear!' Eynon Morton-Edwards stepped forward. ‘This young lady worked for me, and I know that her honesty and integrity are beyond question. Give her a chance to carry on with her respectable business and don't condemn her. Rather, congratulate her for putting her past behind her.'

Richard wouldn't be silenced and his voice rose. ‘As well as being a harlot this woman is a gaolbird. How can anyone patronize such a woman and such an establishment? I'm sure you must all be aware that this hotel was once a bawdy-house. Who's to say it won't be one again?'

Rhiannon bit her lip. Richard Frost had certainly done his homework. She looked round at the sea of accusing faces, wishing she was anywhere but on the dais in full view of everyone. She just wanted to crawl away into a hole and hide. There seemed nothing she could say in her defence.

Richard Frost hadn't finished with her yet. ‘She's a whore and a thief. She has no right to be mingling with respectable folk. She should be drummed out of the town. What sane person could trust her now?'

‘I could.' Bull's voice rang out with conviction.

Rhiannon jumped: she hadn't seen him come into the room.

The crowd parted as he made his way towards her and then he was taking her hand, smiling down at her in the way she loved. Suddenly she felt strong, as though she could face anything with Bull at her side.

He held up his hand for silence. ‘I think most of you here know me for an honest man.' There were murmurs of assent. ‘I am a magistrate, and I can tell you that Rhiannon was falsely accused of theft. She was, unfortunately, caught up in the quarrel between a certain married couple. She was subsequently released because she was cleared of all charges.'

Bull looked directly at Richard Frost. ‘As for you, Doctor, isn't it true that Rhiannon gave you work at the hotel, providing you with the sort of living you would not have otherwise enjoyed?' He didn't wait for a reply. ‘And that your intention was to ask her to marry you?'

‘You don't know what you're talking about, man,' Richard Frost blustered. ‘I'm a good doctor and I came to help out at the hotel because I don't like to see people sick and suffering.'

‘You had no qualms about it once being a bawdy-house then, did you? It was only when Rhiannon rebuffed your advances that you became angry. You were a man rejected, made to look the fool you are.'

‘I – I—' Richard Frost was suddenly white, his face pinched, as he stared around the room, sensing the crowd's hostility now. Then he turned and rushed out of the hotel into the night.

‘Now,' Bull said, ‘before you good people go on to enjoy the rest of the evening I'd like you to give me your attention for a little longer.'

Rhiannon looked up at him as he took her hand and held it to his lips. ‘Rhiannon, over the past weeks I've come to realize how much you mean to me. I know I can't be happy without you so will you do me the honour of consenting to be my wife?'

Suddenly it was as if the room was full of rainbows, and stars seemed to burst inside her head. She looked into Bull's eyes, saw the love there, and her breath caught in her throat. Then she was in his arms, sheltered and protected by him in the way she had always wanted to be. For a long moment he held her close and then at arm's length. ‘Well, Rhiannon?' His words now were for her alone. ‘I love you and want to marry you. Are you going to give me an answer?'

‘Oh, Bull, if you really want me of course I'll marry you. I love you so much, I've always loved you and . . .' She fell silent as Bull put a gentle finger over her lips.

‘I know, my darling, there's no need for any more words.' He drew her close to him and kissed her hair, and she felt his warmth, and knew that this was meant to be. It was written in the stars that she and Bull were to be together.

It was Eynon Morton-Edwards who started the cheering, then the servants, who had gathered in the doorway, were clapping, shouting congratulations, and soon the whole room was applauding.

Bull took her hand and led her through the crowd of smiling faces and out into the cool of the evening air. She heard the band strike up in the ballroom, saw the lights shining from the hotel windows, and felt that Mrs Paisley was up in the heavens looking down at her in approval.

Rhiannon's heart was full of joy, love and hope because here, in her arms, was the greatest prize of all: her beloved Bull Beynon. Then everything was blotted out as his lips claimed hers and she lost herself in the wonder of his kiss.

THE END

Iris Gower was born in Swansea, where she still lives. The mother of four grown-up children, she has written over twenty bestselling novels. She received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Wales Swansea in 1999 and was recently awarded an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cardiff.
Paradise Park
is the sixth and final novel in her
Firebird
sequence. The first book in her romantic new series about the cattle drovers,
The Rowan Tree
, is now available in hardback from Bantam Press.

THE LOVES OF CATRIN

WHEN NIGHT CLOSES IN

The Sweyn's Eye Series

COPPER KINGDOM

PROUD MARY

SPINNERS' WHARF

MORGAN'S WOMAN

FIDDLER'S FERRY

BLACK GOLD

The Cordwainers Series

THE SHOEMAKER'S DAUGHTER

THE OYSTER CATCHERS

HONEY'S FARM

ARIAN

SEA MISTRESS

THE WILD SEED

The Firebird Sequence

FIREBIRD

DREAM CATCHER

SWEET ROSIE

DAUGHTERS OF REBECCA

KINGDOM'S DREAM

PARADISE PARK

The Drovers Series

THE ROWAN TREE

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First published in Great Britain by Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers

Bantam Press edition published 2002

Corgi edition published 2003

Copyright © Iris Gower 2002

Iris Gower has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library

Version 1.0 Epub ISBN: 9781407094069
ISBN: 9780552144520

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