Kingdom's Dream Read Free Page B

dreadfully, even now, Papa, but I’m here. I’ll always be here when you need me.’
    â€˜You’re right, I still have you, my lovely child,’ he said. ‘Promise you’ll give your father some of your time when you’re a married woman.’
    â€˜Don’t worry, Papa, I’ll always love you – and don’t forget you still have good friends.’ She paused and there was an edge to her voice when she spoke again. ‘You’ll always have Llinos Mainwaring to keep you company, won’t you? You still love her – you’ve always loved her, even when she disgraced herself so badly. If she hadn’t been married to the foreigner you’d have married her like a shot.’
    â€˜Llinos is a good friend and I won’t hear a word against her,’ Eynon said sharply.
    â€˜All right, Papa. We won’t talk about it any more. But you must promise you will be polite to Dafydd. I’m always nice to Llinos, aren’t I?’
    â€˜Yes, Jayne, I’ll grant you that.’
    Suddenly they heard a carriage drive through the gates and went to the window. ‘Here’s Llinos now!’ Eynon exclaimed.
    â€˜Talk of the devil!’ Jayne had come to his side. ‘Mrs Mainwaring and her bastard offspring, no less.’
    Eynon caught his daughter by the shoulders. ‘Jayne!’ he said sharply. ‘You aren’t being polite about her now, are you?’
    Jayne twisted out of his grip as the front-door bell echoed through the house. Eynon heard the maid’s voice in the hall and his heart leaped in anticipation. Even after all these years, Llinos’s presence still had the power to stir him.
    She came into the room like a breath of fresh air, leading her son by the hand. She was flushed from the sunshine, her eyes were glowing and her hair, soft and silky, was shaped into a bun on her slender neck. She was still as lovely as the day he had first set eyes on her.
    â€˜Llinos! How delightful.’
    â€˜I’m sorry to arrive unannounced,’ she said breathlessly. ‘It’s such a beautiful day that I couldn’t stay in the house. I hope you don’t mind.’
    â€˜Of course not. Sit down, the maid will bring us refreshments.’ He glanced at his daughter. ‘Take Sion into the garden, Jayne, and show him the changes we are making.’ It still hurt him to look at the boy. Dark and strong-featured, the image of his father. God damn Buchan! Eynon wondered briefly how Llinos’s husband coped every day with the tangible evidence of his wife’s infidelity.
    â€˜Don’t let him be a trouble to you.’ Llinos kissed Jayne’s cheek.
    After a brief pause, Jayne looked at Sion and smiled. ‘Come on, let’s go out and leave these old dears alone.’ She halted in the doorway. ‘I know you want to talk about me, Father, but it won’t do any good, you know. My mind is made up.’ Then she left the room, and Sion followed her, anxious to be out in the sunshine.
    â€˜Forgive her forthrightness but my daughter can be a little wayward.’ Eynon grimaced.
    â€˜There is no need to apologize,’ Llinos said. ‘A great many people are sharp with me now.’
    â€˜Oh, Llinos,’ Eynon said softly, ‘I can’t bear anyone to hurt you, and it’s time my daughter learned to be more tolerant.’
    Llinos smiled. ‘Jayne can wrap you around her little finger with no trouble,’ she said.
    Eynon watched as Llinos settled her full skirts around her dainty ankles. Her waist was as trim as a girl’s and her breasts rounded and womanly. Even now Eynon lusted for her. He cleared his throat. ‘I have something to tell you.’ This was going to be difficult. ‘Jayne is talking about an engagement.’ He released his breath sharply. ‘She thinks she’s in love with Dafydd Buchan.’
    Llinos pressed her hands together and looked up at