Kingdom's Dream Read Free

was up early and had long finished breakfast when his daughter put in an appearance. She said she wanted to talk to him and he knew exactly what she was going to say. She’d give him hell over Katie Cullen and then she’d forget all about it.
    He could hear the impatient tap of her foot as he stood in the drawing room, gazing out over the long stretch of land that led down to the bay. The fog of the previous night had vanished and the gardens of the Big House were bright with early spring blooms. Drifts of daffodils glowed yellow among the trees and crocuses lent patches of brilliant colour to the flower-beds.
    â€˜Father, are you never going to offer me an explanation?’ Jayne’s voice was high-pitched, hard and angry. ‘Why did you bring a harlot into my house last night? Have you no shame?’
    â€˜The child is not a harlot. What makes you think she is?’ he asked. ‘I spoke with her when I got up, and as she appears to be looking for work I’ve said I’ll take her on here as a maid.’
    â€˜Well, you always were taken in by a pretty face, Father.’ Her tone changed. ‘I suppose I shall have to put up with your little ways now you’re getting older – and I realize you must have been lonely since you lost Isabelle. She was a good wife but surely you can do better than a girl of the lower orders, Papa?’ She sighed then smiled at him. ‘But as I love you so much I’ll forgive you this time.’
    â€˜Why are you being so reasonable all of a sudden?’ Eynon’s daughter never did or said anything without good reason.
    â€˜Father, I’ve got something to tell you and I know you’re not going to like it.’ She did not meet his eyes. ‘Now, promise you’ll hear me out and you won’t get angry.’
    â€˜All right, out with it. What’s happened? Have you run up a bill at the milliner’s, perhaps?’
    â€˜No, Father, nothing so trivial!’ She looked uneasy. ‘I’ve fallen in love and I intend to be married before too long.’
    â€˜This is all rather sudden, isn’t it? Who, may I ask, is the lucky lad?’
    â€˜Stop treating me like a child, Father. This is serious.’
    â€˜Listen to me, Jayne. We all fall in love more than once in a lifetime – look at me, I’ve had two wives and countless ladyfriends.’
    â€˜I’m different from you, Father. I’m really in love, and the last thing I want is to fall out with you about it.’
    â€˜Why should we fall out?’ Eynon was humouring her. ‘It’s not some chimney-sweep or an Irish navvy, is it?’
    â€˜No, Father, don’t be so silly.’ She played with the ribbon in her hair.
    Eynon frowned. ‘Very well. But who is this man that you want to marry?’
    â€˜It’s . . .’ She hesitated. ‘It’s Dafydd Buchan.’ She held up her hand. ‘And please understand that I intend to marry him whatever you say.’
    Eynon felt as if someone had dealt him a mortal blow. ‘Buchan of all people! How could you, Jayne?’
    â€˜I told you. I’ve fallen in love with him.’ She set her lips. ‘Just think about my feelings for once.’
    â€˜But you can’t marry Buchan. He’s a womanizing waster.’ His tone was sharp. ‘Where have you been seeing him, and how long have you been deceiving me?’
    â€˜I’m not trying to deceive you, Father – I’ve just told you about him, haven’t I?’ Jayne glared at him.
    He tried a softer approach. ‘Come here, cariad ,’ he said.
    â€˜You won’t coax me out of it, either,’ she said, but came to him slowly, and he enfolded her in an embrace. Her hair was fresh-washed, soft as silk, pale as his own. She was his beloved child, his only child, and he could deny her nothing but marriage to Buchan. For God’s sake, how could he stomach