Kingdom's Dream by Iris Gower

this was not love it was the nearest she was ever going to get.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Katie was still shy with Bull because he seemed so strong, so self-assured, and she still couldn’t believe he might be interested in her. It was too early to say that they were walking out together but Katie knew that she was falling in love with the big, gentle man.
    It began to rain but Katie didn’t mind: she was with Bull, which took away all thought of the weather.
    â€˜How is work going? Do you like being a lady’s maid?’ Bull looked down at her from his great height and she resisted the temptation to take his hand.
    â€˜I think I’d rather scrub floors than dress Miss Jayne, but as long as I pretend to be stupid I get on with her.’
    Bull stopped walking and put his finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. ‘You’re so lovely, Katie, funny and warm as well as beautiful. I can’t believe my luck that you’re here with me.’
    The words thrilled Katie. Bull was telling her that she was his girl and colour flooded her face. He was a perfect gentleman: when she’d told him she was picking up the last of her belongings today from the house in Greenhill he had insisted on coming with her. When they reached the house she knocked timidly on the door, feeling a flutter of apprehension. What if the new tenant had thrown her things out into the backyard?
    A large florid-faced woman opened the door. She stared suspiciously at Katie. ‘If you’re beggin’ I ‘aven’t got nothing so go away.’
    â€˜No, it’s not that—’ Katie began but the woman was closing the door.
    Bull leaned forward and held it open. ‘Miss Cullen has come to collect her belongings. I’m sure that’s all right with you, Mrs . . .?’ He smiled and the woman was transformed.
    â€˜You’re Bull Beynon from the railways. I’ve heard about you and all good. Come in, don’t stand in the doorway there and catch a chill.’ She shuffled backwards to let them pass. ‘I’m Maeve O’Connor, got some kin working on the railways, see? Do you know Seth and Dan O’Connor?’
    Bull smiled easily. ‘I certainly do. We won’t disturb you for too long, Mrs O’Connor, we’ll pick up everything now and then we won’t have to bother you again.’
    Katie followed him into the house, admiring the ease with which he had handled the awkward woman. No wonder they’d made him foreman on the line – he had such a way with people. She put her bits and pieces into a bag – there wasn’t much, just the pair of china dogs her mother had loved, and a few clothes she had not been able to carry last time.
    As soon as she and Bull left the house she sighed with relief. ‘Thank goodness that’s over,’ she said. ‘It was kind of you to come with me. I don’t think I’d have got past that dragon if I’d been on my own.’
    Bull grinned. ‘Well, even I was a bit afraid of her sharp tongue. Give me a tough navvy in drink before a woman in a bad mood any day. Look,’ he continued, ‘I’ll come with you to the Big House, drop these things off and then perhaps I could take you for a walk along the beach?’
    Katie glanced up at the sky. A breeze had sprung up and was chasing away the rainclouds. ‘That sounds lovely . . . Bull.’ She said his name shyly.
    â€˜Lovely and safe?’ Bull teased. ‘I can hardly take advantage of you outdoors with the rest of Swansea looking on, can I?’
    Not that he ever would take advantage of her. Bull had such fine manners and she loved him for it. She longed to tell him how she felt about him, but she didn’t want him to think her forward.
    â€˜Right, then, Miss Cullen, let’s get you back to the Big House, drop off these things and spend the afternoon doing just as we please.’
    Llinos felt at a loose