Chapter 26

‘Missus? I know better than to take a missus,’ he said. ‘A housekeeper’s my choice, all the time—a working housekeeper, not the aunty-praunty, change-of-an-afternoon sort, and “The Last Rose of Summer” on the piano. Some one as can keep at it!’ Gruffydd chuckled. ‘Do they give you warning pretty frequent?’ he asked. ‘No. The one I’ve got I’ve had for five years, and I don’t expect any change.’ ‘Well, you’re a wunnerful man, indeed,’ said Gruffydd, with the caressing gentleness that always preceded his most scarifyi…