Dragon's Lair (9 page)

She always did think the world of him ...' Mrs Parry broke off in

sudden embarrassment as if aware that the tenor of her remarks was

hardly likely to recommend them to Gethyn's wife. 'But they weren't

enough, of course, for the pony-trekking, so Huw Morgan

suggested he go in with her as a kind of sleeping partner. He and

his sisters had always ridden, but when the girls married and moved

away the horses were just there, eating their heads off.'

'It sounds an ideal arrangement.' Davina was not sure of her

reaction to an implication that there might be a warmer than merely

cousinly feeling between Gethyn and Rhiannon. She was a lovely

creature with that wild, rather coltish beauty which, for Gethyn,

would not be spoiled by hostility or resentment. She frowned to

herself, realising now the probable reason for Rhiannon's overt

dislike. . But it gave her also a glimmer of hope. If Gethyn was

attracted to his young cousin—if he was already in love with her,

then wouldn't he be more than ready to accede to the divorce? With

a slight pang, she recalled the sensual pout of Rhiannon's lower lip

and the fullness of her breasts under the faded shirt. Gethyn would

be more fortunate with his second choice, she
told
herself.

Rhiannon
would
not poison their wedding night with her qualms

and doubts, but then she and Gethyn would not be strangers to each

other. Perhaps they were even lovers already.

But a glance at Mrs Parry's serene expression and untroubled eyes

told her that this could not be true. It was impossible that they could

be carrying on such a relationship beneath this roof without her

being aware of it, or even suspecting as much, and there was none

of the guilt of hidden knowledge in her smile as she thanked Davina

for helping her with the vegetables.

Davina guessed she wished to be alone to put the finishing touches

to the meal and made a tactful withdrawal. Some of the guests

staying at Plas Gwyn had returned while she was in the kitchen, and

when she pushed open the sitting room door she seemed,

disconcertingly, to be confronted by a sea of unfamiliar faces. But

mutual introductions were soon completed and Davina found

herself drawn into the general conversation. It was taken for

granted that she was there on holiday like themselves and she was

soon the recipient of a number of maps and guide books which, she

was assured, would help her make the most of her time at Moel y

Ddraig.

There were a number of games in a cupboard at the far end of the

room, and before long she had succumbed to the lure of Snakes and

Ladders with some of the younger members of the group.

'I saw a snake today,' said Timothy Fenton, a freckled

eight-year-old, with a disarming air of earnestness as he slid his

counter up the rungs of a ladder. 'I thought it was an adder, but Dad

said it was only a grass snake.'

His tone made it clear that in the excitement stakes, grass snakes

were virtual non-starters. Davina repressed a shudder.

'I'm not very keen on snakes,' she admitted, and Jenny, Tim's

younger sister, sent her a grateful look. 'Are there many round

here?'

'Millions,' said Tim cheerfully. 'But you're O.K. as long as you stick

to the paths, or at least that's what Mr Lloyd said. He said snakes

won't bother you as long as you don't disturb them by treading on

them or anything.' Again the implication was clear that Mr Lloyd's

words were law second only in importance to that of the Medes and

Persians. 'We walked right up the stream to the waterfall. I wanted

to go behind the waterfall to find the dragon's cave, but Jenny

wouldn't. She spoils everything,' he added with brotherly candour,

throwing a six.

Davina gave Jenny a sympathetic grin. 'Is there supposed to be a

dragon behind the waterfall?' she enquired.

Tim nodded vigorously. 'When it's stormy, you can hear him

roaring. Mr Lloyd said so, but Huw Morgan said it was just the

wind blowing through a hole in the rock.' He groaned and rolled

over on his stomach. 'Isn't it ever going to be dinner time? I'm

starving!'

'Then starve quietly,' his mother put in sternly from her chair by the

window. 'And you can't be that hungry. You ate twice as many

sandwiches at lunch as anyone else.' She smiled at Davina. 'Don't

let all this talk of snakes and dragons put you off walking up to the

waterfall. It really is very lovely, and the pool below is marvellous

for swimming.' She grimaced. 'I hope the cold water has done my

bruises some good before we start trekking again tomorrow.'

The sitting room door opened and Rhiannon appeared. She had

changed into a dress with a vivid print pattern and the dark unruly

hair was tied back by a ribbon. She smiled round, managing at the

same to ignore Davina.

'The meal's ready, if you'd like to go in.' She stood back, allowing

the guests to precede her out of the room. Davina hung back too,

wondering if she should follow. At last, Rhiannon looked at her.

'There's not a lot of room in the dining room, so Mam wants to

know if you'd mind eating with us in the kitchen,' she said as if

repeating lines she had unwillingly learned.

Davina smiled politely. 'Whatever's most convenient for your

mother,' she replied quietly. She followed Rhiannon down the

passage, and stood waiting while Mrs Parry bustled about with

brimming soup bowls, looking hot and flushed from her exertions.

'Can't I help carry some of the things to the dining room?' she asked

at last.

'No, thanks,' said Rhiannon, picking up a loaded tray and starting

off with it. 'We can manage. We always have.'

Davina bit her lip at the snub which she supposed she had invited

and kept out of the way until the main course had been served.-The

flans had been cut into generous wedges and pushed into the dining

room on a trolley so that the guests could serve themselves when

they were ready.

The food was as delicious as the smell had promised it would be,

but Davina had little appetite for it. She was conscious all the time

too of Rhiannon's resentful face just across the table, and that was

not exactly conducive to the relaxed enjoyment of her meal.

The coffee stage had been reached, and the trays of cups and pots

carried through to the dining room by Rhiannon, when the yard

door opened and a young man walked in with a casualness which

suggested he was sure of his welcome. He was tall with dark brown

hair and laughing brown eyes. His skin was deeply tanned, and his

teeth when he smiled were even and very white. He was smiling

now as he looked at Davina.

'Hello.' His eyes assessed her quite frankly. 'Another visitor? When

did you arrive?'

'Today, and she's not a visitor. She's Gethyn's wife from England.'

Rhiannon had returned and slammed her empty tray down on the

kitchen table with more force than necessary.

'Then hello again, Gethyn's wife from England.' His grin widened.

'No use waiting round for introductions, I see. I'm Huw Morgan.'

He held out his hand.

Davina put hers into it. 'And I'm Davina Greer,' she said after the

briefest hesitation.

'Professional name?' His eyebrows rose interrogatively. 'What are

you-—an actress? A model?'

She had to laugh, and shook her head. 'How flattering! But nothing

so glamorous, I'm afraid. I'm in publishing. I work for my uncle.'

'Brains as well as beauty.' He sent a mocking glance towards

Rhiannon. 'Gethyn seems to have all the luck.'

'Stop talking nonsense,' Rhiannon said shortly. 'Do you want a cup

of coffee?'

'Of course I want some coffee,
bach.
You don't think I came here

just to see you, do you?' His tone was openly teasing, but the black

look did not lift from Rhiannon's face. She slammed round the

kitchen, fetching a cup and saucer and filling it with coffee before

dumping it unceremoniously in front of him.

'I don't think I'll come to this restaurant any more,' Huw Morgan

called after her retreating figure as she went out to the scullery. 'The

service isn't what it was.' He took an appreciative sip of coffee and

smiled at Davina. 'Don't take any notice of her. Her bark's always

worse than her bite, and something seems to have put her out

today.'

'Yes,' Davina agreed drily. 'My arrival, apparently.'

Huw sent her a meditative glance. 'Well, that's only natural, see.

Very attractive man, her cousin Gethyn. Bit of a Sir Galahad

too—rescuing Rhiannon and her mother like that and buying back

her horses. You couldn't really blame her if she took a bit of a

tumble for him, now could you?'

Davina, taken aback by this plain speaking, glanced apprehensively

towards the scullery door which stood ajar, but it was doubtful

whether Huw's quiet words could have been heard by either Mrs

Parry or Rhiannon above the clatter of the washing up.

She looked at him. 'You think that's all it is? A bit of a tumble?'

He set his cup down, his expression suddenly wry. 'I'm counting on

it.' He gave her a considering look. 'Are you staying long?'

'No.' Davina shook her head emphatically. 'I'm leaving in the

morning.'

'Without seeing Gethyn?'

'Yes.' She made herself smile. 'It's not essential that I see him. I only

have some papers for him, and those I can easily leave.'

'Hm.' The considering look deepened. 'Must be very important

papers if they brought you all this way from London with them.

Wouldn't it have been easier just to post them?'

'I think that's my business,' she said tightly.

He grinned, unabashed. 'Of course it is,
bach,
but I have

an—interest too, shall we say? And I'm sorry you're going for

another reason. Good-looking women are scarce round this way

and Rhiannon tends to have things too much her own way. A bit of

competition would have been good for her.'

Davina held up her hands in mock horror. 'And they call this the

simple life! I shall be glad to get back to sweet, uncomplicated

London!'

They were still laughing when Rhiannon returned.

'What's so amusing?' she demanded ungraciously. 'Have you

finished with those cups?'

'And the answers to those questions are "Never you mind" and

"Yes",' Huw said pleasantly. 'I'm glad to see you're all dolled up,

bach.
I'll go and change and be back for you in three-quarters of an

hour, right?'

'Why?' Rhiannon stared at him. She flushed slightly. 'I'm not

wearing this dress for your benefit, Huw Morgan.'

'There's a pity.' But he did not sound too downhearted. 'I thought we

had a date with a disco tonight.'

'Oh.' Rhiannon looked taken aback. 'I'd forgotten all about that,

Huw. I'm sorry, but I don't feel like going anyway. I've got a bit of a

headache.'

Huw shook his head. 'Sorry to hear that,' he said. 'I've been looking

forward to it myself.' He looked at Davina. 'How about it,
bach?

Would you like to sample the local night life with me, seeing as I've

been let down?'

'Huw!' Rhiannon looked scandalised. 'She wouldn't want to be

bothered with all that old nonsense. Besides, you've only just met

her.'

'Well, she's got a tongue in her head,' Huw said cheerfully. 'Besides,

she's not going to have much of an evening otherwise if you're

going to sit glaring at her all the time. She'd be much better off

going out for a bit of a dance with me. It's all in the family anyway,

in a manner of speaking.'

'She's not one of our family,' Rhiannon denied hotly, then turned

away biting her lip.

Huw smiled across at Davina. 'Come on, girl, what do you say? If

nothing else, it will give you something to laugh about when you get

back to London—
My night with the Welsh peasants
by Miss

Davina Greer. You might be able to write a book instead of just

publishing other people's.'

In spite of herself, Davina had to smile. 'I was really planning an

early night,' she began. 'I've a long drive ahead of me tomorrow…'

'See?' Rhiannon cut in rudely. 'I told you she wouldn't want to

know.'

Huw shrugged. 'Then I'll just have to go on my own.'

'No, wait.' Davina's voice halted him as he rose. She had no real

wish to go the disco, although Huw seemed pleasant enough, but