Chapter 10
The weather deteriorated during the night. A storm blew up bringing heavy rain and gusty winds. Isaac, who had stayed up late, had a hangover and sat in the carriage with his eyes shut. The roof was up and there was little to see as they continued the journey. Delyth was in good spirits and talked about her aunt.
‘You’ll like Aunt Lily. She’s old but active for her age. She has a beautiful rose garden. She lives in Herefordshire. It’s a large house for a woman living alone but she has servants and wants for nothing except some company.’ Eira listened but her mind was elsewhere.
They arrived at Aunt Lily’s house late in the afternoon. Aunt Lily received her visitors in the drawing room. A servant brought tea and cakes. Isaac stayed for an hour, announced he would be back in four or five days and departed. Delyth chatted with her aunt and Eira sat quietly, feeling like an outsider. Aunt Lily didn’t move from her chair. Eira was daydreaming when Aunt Lily raised her voice,
‘Young lady are you listening. I asked you to ring the bell. I wish to withdraw.’ Aunt Lily pointed to a bell rope beside the fireplace. Eira got up and pulled the sash. A manservant entered the room with a bath-chair. He lifted the old lady into it and pushed her towards the door.
‘We dine at seven,’ announced Aunt Lily and disappeared.
‘You didn’t tell me your aunt was an invalid,’ said Eira.
‘Didn’t I,’ answered Delyth.
Dinner was a gloomy affair. A small oil lamp lit the table but darkness crowded in from the corners of the dining room. Eira shivered. The room was cold.
‘How’s cousin, Charles?’ asked Delyth.
‘I haven’t seen my son for months. He only visits when he wants his gambling debts paid,’ replied Aunt Lily. On the second evening, they ate in silence. Eira was beginning to dislike Aunt Lily and her sad house. She wanted to leave, to see Nye again and was counting the days to their departure.
Eira woke early the next morning. There was a gentle breeze blowing from the south, the sky was clear and it was a beautiful spring day. Eira dressed and left the house before breakfast. She wandered around the flowerbeds and reached a gate leading to a walled vegetable garden. She went through the gate and found a man planting potatoes. He lifted his cap.
‘Morning Miss. Can I help you?’ he asked.
‘Good morning. What a lovely day after all that rain. Can I walk to the village from here? How far is it?’ asked Eira.
‘Two miles, Miss, but the lane is muddy and there is nothing to see except a few houses,’ replied the gardener and returned to his digging. Eira abandoned her plan of walking to the village and returned the house.
That afternoon, Delyth spoke to Eira about her future plans.
‘You are looking so much better Eira. The country air has put colour in your cheeks. I’ve been thinking about your future. You only have a small allowance and you can’t live with us forever. Aunt Lily is lonely and needs a companion. The position would suit you admirably and solve all your problems,’ said Delyth.
‘I don’t want to live here with your Aunt,’ replied Eira.
‘I admit she’s formidable but that’s just her manner. Let’s talk about it again, when you’ve had time to consider the idea,’ said Delyth.
Eira was relieved when Isaac returned. She packed, ready, for the journey home the following day and went to bed. In the morning, she woke early and went down for breakfast. Aunt Lily was in her usual seat at the head of the table. No other places were laid for breakfast.
‘Where are Isaac and Delyth?’ she asked.
‘They left an hour ago,’ replied Aunt Lily, ‘I’ve arranged for you to take your meals with the other servants. I’ll expect you in the morning room, at ten, to read to me.’
‘I’m not your servant,’ replied Eira angrily.
‘Eira, you’re impertinent. Consider your position. You have no husband and money. I’m doing you a kindness. My servant will move your things to your new room and I’ll see you in the morning room at ten o’clock.’ said Aunt Lily and continued with her breakfast.
Nye was excited. He had been making plans for the future and wanted to tell Eira. More importantly, he wanted to see Eira again, to hold her, to tell her how much he loved her and surprise her with the news of the house they were going to build together. Nye waited on the bridge, as they had arranged. He was early. Nye could see the church clock. Five minutes and they would be together. The clock chimed the hour and Nye looked along the road. There was no sign of Eira. By quarter past, Nye was concerned. He hadn’t expected her to be late. When the church bell struck half past Nye was worried. Was Eira alright? He walked to the Thomas house and knocked on the front door. The maid opened it.
‘Tell Miss Thomas that Mr. Vaughn is calling on her,’ instructed Nye.
‘There is no one home Sir. Mr. Thomas is in Birmingham on business. Mrs. Thomas and Miss Eira have gone with him to visit an aunt,’ replied the maid.
‘When do they return?’ asked Nye.
‘Towards the end of the week,’ answered the maid. Nye hesitated for a moment, thanked the girl and was leaving when she called him.
‘Didn’t you get Miss Eira’s letter. Mrs. Thomas promised it would be delivered?’ The maid told how Eira had been surprised by the sudden trip to Birmingham and how Delyth had snatched Eiras’ letter, addressed to him, as she left.
Nye returned to the house the following Thursday. The Thomas’ were at home. Delyth told the maid to show him to the parlour.
‘What does he want?’ said Isaac.
‘Let’s go and ask him,’ replied Delyth.
‘I’ve come to see Eira,’ said Nye.
‘What business do you have with my sister?’ asked Isaac.
‘It’s a private matter between us.’
‘She isn’t here,’ said Delyth, ‘she’s taken a position as a lady’s companion in England.’
‘Where in England?’ snapped Nye.
‘That doesn’t concern you. She doesn’t want to see you. Now, we want you to leave,’ said Delyth.
‘Tell me where she is,’ shouted Nye.
‘My sister’s whereabouts is nothing to do with you. My wife has asked you to leave. Now go,’ snarled Isaac.
‘I’m going to find her and if you’ve harmed her, God help the pair of you,’ warned Nye. Isaac held the parlour door open.
‘That was easier than I expected,’ said Delyth after Nye had gone.
‘Why, were you expecting him?’ asked Isaac and poured a whisky.
‘Let’s say, I had my suspicions,’
‘You never said anything to me,’ said Isaac.
‘Didn’t I,’ replied Delyth and shrugged.
Nye went to Birmingham to search for Eira. Enquiries led him to Thomas’ business contact but the man couldn’t help. Nye rode back to Merthyr hoping Eira had returned, for a message or a letter asking him to come but there was no news of Eira. Weeks passed. Nye lost interest in the foundry and spent his time in the Star Tavern. His friends tried to raise his spirits but the energy that fired Nye’s enthusiasm and motivated him had gone. His plans for a new house were forgotten. Why build a house when there is no one to share it? When he slept, Nye dreamt of Eira. In the dreams, they were in a strange place. She would tease him, laughing and waving from a distance. Nye would run towards her but his legs grew heavy until he couldn't lift them from the ground. In his worst nightmares, Eira called him from beyond the grave but, try as he may, he could not reach out to her.
‘I’m worried about him, Will,’ said Meir one evening, ‘He’s acting strangely. He’s going to do something stupid,’
‘Then we must watch him,’ replied Will.
Nye began to drink heavily. He became loud and easily angered, revealing a temper his friends hadn’t seen before. Hung-over, he was sullen and morose. One evening, when he was drunk, Nye left the Star Tavern and wandered out into the night. Will followed his friend through the streets to Isaac Thomas’
house. He saw Nye stagger forward and take something from inside his coat. It was a pistol. Will ran towards his friend,
‘Don’t be a fool. What are you doing?’ he asked.
‘I’m going to kill them,’ replied Nye and tried to cock the weapon.
‘Then you’ll hang. Isn’t one killing enough? This isn’t the answer,’ hissed Will and took the gun from Nye. Nye wept as his friend led him home.
Aunt Lily’s routine was rigid. Eira read to her in the morning and after lunch they would embroider. In the afternoon, Eira served Aunt Lily tea, in the garden if it was sunny, or the drawing room. Aunt Lily treated Eira like a servant. Her only free time was before breakfast, when she would walk in the garden. Eira wanted to get away but she had no money and no means of travelling from England back to Wales. Escape was impossible. She wrote Nye a letter asking him to come but how could she send it? The servants couldn’t be trusted. They were watching her. Eira resolved to stay calm and pray to be rescued. She tried hard with Aunt Lily but, as the weeks passed, the old woman’s vinegar disposition slowly crushed her spirit.
Marcus Jacobs didn’t know how long he dozed but he woke to find Delyth still in his arms. The lovers untangled themselves. He waited until Delyth was comfortable,
‘You did alright for yourself,’ said Jacobs.
‘What do you mean?’ said Delyth pulling the sheet up to her chin.
‘Isaac got the old man’s money, the foundry and now Eira has vanished. What nasty surprise are you planning next?’ asked the solicitor.
‘Since old Thomas died my poor husband has been working too hard. He needs some help, someone trustworthy. A family member who can watch his back. I’ve asked my Cousin Charles to come to Merthyr and give him a hand.’
‘Does Isaac know?’ asked the solicitor.
‘Not yet, but he won’t object,’ replied Delyth. Marcus Jacobs got up and began to dress.
‘It hardly seems fair. You have a fortune and all I got was three hundred pounds,’ he said.
‘It’s what we agreed,’ replied Delyth.
‘I know but my part was worth more.’
‘What do you mean, more?’ asked Delyth.
‘Another three hundred.’
‘Marcus, I don’t have three hundred pounds. All the money’s in Isaac’s name. Anyway, why should I give you more money?’ replied Delyth.
‘To keep me from producing the real will,’ said the solicitor.
‘You still have it! You’re a fool. It would destroy both of us,’ said Delyth and sat up.
‘No Delyth. It’s my insurance and I want a fair share.’
Delyth considered what Marcus Jacobs was doing and decided to humour him.
‘It’ll take time to get the money.’
‘I knew you would be reasonable,’ said Marcus Jacobs and smiled.
‘What’s the matter, Miss, have you hurt yourself?’ Eira looked up. The gardener was standing a few feet away. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
‘No, I’m alright,’ replied Eira recovering her composure. The gardener shook his head and went back to work.
‘Oh Nye, where are you?’ she whispered.
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