The willing hostage Page 5

eing to the hilly north, die agricultural lands to the south. )on Rafael drove through the suburbs, over the Roman fridge and into the heart of die city, because he said dieir dsitor ought to see a real Andalusian town. He pointed out he cathedral, still called die Mosque, but said diey had not 83 die farm and regretted he must leave them. The Condesa conducted Rosalie back to the chairs in the arcade, and Jacobo brought them coffee.. 'Where is the farm?' Rosalie asked, when he had left them. Dona Teresa indicated the vine-draped wall in front of them. 'That is die back of the farmhouse. On the other side the ground is terraced as it descends the hillside. We grow all our own fruit and vegetables, we also keep goats, poultry and pigs, so we are practically self-supporting. The estate extends over several hectares and includes some olive groves, but it has shrunk from what it once was and we can no longer keep horses, which used to be my husband's pride.' She sighed. 'I do not know how much longer we can maintain the castle ... now.' Rosalie knew she was thinking of Consuelo's lost fortune and felt a spurt of antagonism. Neither she nor her son had any thought for the girl's happiness, all Aey wanted was her money. The Condesa went on to tell her that die Santaellas possessed a small property in the much more productive region of Andalusia, die income from which paid the taxes on Las Aguilas. 'Castile and Aragon are the land of the black legend,' she informed her. 'They are sun-struck, stark and menacing, cruel country with a cruel history, but Andalusia is that of the white legend, white buildings, red soil, lush plains, laughter and song. Maybe we will retire there if Don Rafael has to sell the casde, but he so dislikes die idea of it becoming anodier parador, and nobody wants it for anything else. It is offensive to our pride to allow our ancestral home and it has been ours for centuries, to be so degraded.' She 56 evidently identified herself entirely with her husband's people. Privately Rosalie thought that such pride was an expensive luxury. The Castillo obviously needed extensive repairs and modernising to be comfortable. Nor could life in it be very amusing for the Condesa, for it transpired that she was unable to drive the car, -their one extravagance, and' she did not entertain. It was unlikely since Consuelo had eluded him that Don Rafael would be able to capture another heiress. Later, when the sun was sinking, and a faint breeze produced some air, her hostess suggested that Rosalie might like to see over the house, and she accepted with alacrity. From one of the towers she was able to look out over the roof of the farmhouse, and she saw that die land on die furdier side of the castle was much less bleak and barren than on die one widi which she was familiar. There were patches of cultivation on the descending terraces as the Condesa had said, fruit and vegetables, but she was informed they had to be watered morning and evening to survive. 'Jacobo and his grandson do that,' she explained. 'The Lorcas live in the farmhouse and Dolores, his son's wife, does our cooking. Come and be introduced to them.' They descended to die vault4ike kitchen where the vast range was augmented by a humble oil cooking stove. Strings of onions and garlic hung from the soot-blackened rafters, and an ancient crone, who turned out to be Jacobo's wife, was turning the handle of a small hand churn, making goat's cream into butter. The Lorca family comprised the old couple, Dolores and her husband and their two sons, boys of eight and ten. 'In Spain the abuelos and abuelas live with their fam57 ilies, and they still have their uses,' Dona Teresa remarked, watching the old woman's efforts. 'We do not put them in ghettos like you do in your country.' 'We don't do that,' Rosalie protested. 'What else are your old people's homes? Here the young and old live happily together without being segregated, they are all part of die family.' Rosalie thought it would be too difficult to explain die economic stresses which led to the isolation of old people, die principal one being lack of accommodation. Of diat diere seemed to be plenty in the casde and the farm. 'It isn't always practicable to be all together,' she said, wondering what she and Philip v/ould have done widi two sets of grandparents on their hands. Actually they had none living. 'The English are a coldhearted people,' the Condesa said loftily, and led the way back to the arcade. Rafael did not reappear and the Condesa had their evening meal brought out to diem on a tray. A lantern was lit above their heads and big moths and other insects circled round it. Jacobo squirted insecticide into the shadows to discourage mosquitoes and gnats. Fireflies gleamed among the foliage of the orange trees, and cicadas kept up a lively chorus. Finally when a bat skimmed over the Condesa's head, she suggested it was time to go indoors. They repaired to a room on the opposite side to the dining room, which Ddiia Teresa called the sola, and here she produced a vast workbox. It seemed that she occupied most of her time doing needlework. She turned and patched her own clothes and Don Rafael's, and embroided squares to cover the worn places on the furniture. Rosalie was no needlewoman, but she admitted that she sketched in her leisure hours. Forthwidi her hostess demanded to see her work and she fetched 58 portfolio. Dona Teresa was much amused by her im||pressions of the guests at the parador. I 'You have much talent,' she told her, 'surprising in a yrwda, but then you are not really a maidservant, are you? |j am told foreign students often hire themselves out to | hotels during their holidays, but don't your relations mind?' | 'Mine couldn't care less,' Rosalie told her, 'and at home | I'm employed in a shop.' I' Her hostess gave her a shrewd glance. I 'Is that so?' she murmured, and Rosalie sensed that she I did not believe her. 'I should be honoured,' she went on, 'if I; you would make a picture of me.' I Rosalie had been itching to do so ever since she had met J; her. The Condesa's proud profile framed by her lace man-I tilla was shouting to be portrayed. Her featues were very I like me masculine ones which had so intrigued her, but she | would never dare to ask Don Rafael to pose for her. How-I ever, diere was nothing to stop her from drawing him from | memory so long as he never saw the fruit of her pencil. I Time crept by v/hile Rosalie drew and Condesa sewed. ' As the minutes passed, Rosalie became more and more ner-I vous, her ears stretched for the sounds of Don Rafael's re'@, turn. She was expecting die inquisition to which he had ; promised to subject her, and she felt too weary to be able to : cope with him. Spaniards always kept late hours, and he would think nothing of starting to question her in the small hours of the morning. Some time after midnight Dona Teresa remarked, to her relief that he did not appear to be coming and it was time diey bodi went to bed. 'I am glad diat he has found a diversion to take his mind off his troubles,' she said, as she folded away her sewing. Rosalie wondered what form diat diversion had taken; 59 there did not seem to be much in that countryside except at the parador, and he would not want to go diere now. Her hostess apologised for his non-appearance, saying it was unlike him to neglect a guest. Under the circumstances Rosalie was only too glad to be neglected, but she said politely that of course it did not matter, and meekly followed Dona Teresa up the stone stairs. Although she was very tired she could not relax. Uneasily she paced her bedroom, wondering if she dared undress. The great bed seemed to dominate the room, the marriage bed of the Santaellas. She could not rid herself of the feeling that Don Rafael meant to take his revenge in an only too obvious manner. He had said that having lost one woman he had found another to console him. Though Dona Teresa had hinted he was finding solace elsewhere tonight and did not seem to think he was harbouring any evil intentions towards herself; she had been surprised when Rafael had told her where he had lodged the guest. Rosalie's fears had been lulled during the uneventful evening, but now they returned to her in full flood. True, die Condesa had told him she would speak to him alone, and possibly she had reasoned him out of his madness, but Rosalie judged her to be a devious and subde woman, who might say one ming while she meant another, and she might well be as incensed against her as her son was. Strung to a high pitch of expectancy as she was, Rosalie's eyes continually turned towards the iron-studded door, wondering what she would do if it began to open. The thick walls- excluded all sound, and the entrance to the castle lay on die opposite side, so she could not tell if Don Rafael had returned. A thought struck her. Going to the door and opening it cautiously, she sought the key on the furdier side. Extri60 |S
cating it from die lock, she froze, as she heard soft footfalls H along the passage leading to it. Shutting it hastily, she fc locked it on her side and stood listening, tense in every |- nerve, expecting an imperious knock. Nothing happened. ^ Then at last she undressed and sank wearily into the ^capacious bed, falling at once into deep sleep. But before ill-she became unconscious she was aware of a vague sense of it anti-climax, and her dreams were haunted by a dark narrow ll.face with a charming smile. Is". 61

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE inquisition that Rosalie had so dreaded never did take place./Don Rafael's manner towards her changed completely. No longer aggressive, always a little aloof, he treated her with a distant courtesy, but both he and his modier were continually watching her. At first she diought dley were expecting her to try to escape, but as time went by she began to suspect that if she walked out of die casde, no one would try to stop her. She could not do so until she was released from her promise and her passport and money were returned to her, and she was reluctant to raise the subject until her host did in case she precipitated some kind of crisis. She surmised that if truth were told, Rafael de Santaella was a little at a loss to know what to do widi her. Having in the heat of his rage and chagrin, yielded to a vengeful impulse, he had secured her as being the nearest he could get to the delinquents, widi some vague idea of making her pay for the affront her brother had put upon him. Now his temper had cooled he no longer harboured any such desire, nor did he even wish to question her, for it was obvious that Philip and Consuelo were by now beyond his reach, and that they would be married as soon as possible. He contented himself by making some sneering remarks about pre-marital precipitancy, rousing Rosalie hotly in dieir defence. Though die couple were deeply in love, they would wait for dieir union to be legalised before they consummated it. 'Philip will respect Senorita Nunez's upbringing,' she 62 wjj; said firmly. 'I tell you he loves her and would not do anyj| thing to distress her.' (* 'You think so much of dlis love?' Rafael asked sardonically. 'You believe that it justifies everything?' When he put his question, die three of them were sitting j. in the arcade, watching the sunset flush the sky. Don Rafael J had been out all day and on his return had changed into his |i. white coat and black sash. With Dona Teresa's sombre I, draperies, their dark hair and eyes, they created a symk phony in black and white. Rosalie's rose-coloured dress was ;' the only touch of colour in the group. Jacobo had brought f out glasses and a jug of Sangria, a mixture of red wine, j, mineral water and fruit juices. They were enjoying an / aperitif before their evening meal. ;' In answer to Rafael's enquiry, Rosalie told him: ; 'Not everything, but it isn't as if diere had been any real ; barrier between them.' 'Only a broken troth,' he observed moodily. @ 'And a diamond bracelet.' She raised her clear candid eyes to his. 'Be honest, Don Rafael, you didn't care a fig for Senorita Nunez as a person, it's only the bracelet and her dowry that you regret. You were completely indifferent to her.' She waited a little anxiously for his response, for it was a daring diing to have said, but it was Consuelo's justification. He stared into the grey depths of her eyes with a considering expression, as if he were assessing her. Rosalie wished that she could read his thoughts. Did he still believe she was a cheap go-getter? She was hoping he had revised his opinion of her now he had been in daily contact with her. 'You are still young enough to cherish romantic fflu63 sions,' he said at length. 'A good marriage requires a more stable foundation than a sudden infatuation; similar backgrounds, and of course nationality. Consuelo would not have found me neglectful as a husband.' His eyes gleamed as he recalled the girl's beauty. 'But I am a practical man, . and not one to be misled by the lure of the senses. I needed that money to preserve Las Aguilas, but that is no great matter.' Dona Teresa made a movement of surprise. 'The bracelet, however, is something else. Its loss I will never cease to regret. It has been worn by all the Santaella brides. You did not wish to give it up, did you. Mama?' 'I only valued it because your father placed it on my wrist, and I never wore it after I was married, it was too heavy,' Dona Teresa told them. 'What I do regret is that it will not be available for the woman you do marry, mi hijo.' Rafael shrugged his shoulders. 'I shall never marry now.' 'Of course you will,' his mother told him briskly. 'In fact you must, you are die last of your line.' 'Then I will marry a campanesa, at least she would appreciate the honour,' he said bitterly. They seemed to have forgotten Rosalie's presence, and she sat back in the shadows watching the two fine faces. Rafael's fierce pride was rejecting the idea of wooing another woman, but Dona Teresa was determined that he should do so to preserve his heritage and his family name. 'Peasants have no money,' she pointed out. 'It is your duty to .marry money, and there are other heiresses beside Consuelo.' 'Then find me one,' he said savagely. 'Perhaps she is not very far to seek,' she said significantly. 'I know who you have in mind, but I am not persuaded. that she is suitable,' he returned. 64 The Condesa nodded her head widi a sphinx-like smile. 'She will be, when she has been taught to conform.' Of the two, Rosalie thought, die Condesa was almost die more formidable, and she pitied the poor girl she had selected to be instructed in conformity. She knew die family name and possessions meant a great deal to her hostess, and she could understand how she shrank from seeing her ancestral home commercialised; the Morenas were cousins of the Santaellas and so she regarded it as such. The civil war had nearly ruined bodi families, and Dona Teresa was ruthless in her efforts to reinstate them. But she had no right to sacrifice her son's happiness to bricks and stones, though as far as Rosalie knew Rafael's heart had never been involved, and presumably he would accept the next moneyed girl as indifferently as he had accepted Consuelo. She wondered whom Dona Teresa had found, and felt sickened by the cold-bloodedness of her planning, though it was nothing to her whom Rafael married. He did not deserve a loving wife, for he had shown himself lacking in consideration and he had acted in a tyrannical and threatening manner towards herself. She hoped the girl would be able to stand up for herself, otherwise she would soon be flattened, but wasn't that what was expected of a Spanish wife? She had to admit that Don Rafael no longer showed any sign of tyranny or threats since she had given her parole. He set himself to play the courteous host, and made no restrictions, though he did not suggest she went outside the castle grounds. Not that she had any wish to do so, there was only the rather dull village and the parador widiin miles of mem. Over their leisurely meals he told her a great deal about the country and its customs, and some of his family history, which went back to Ferdinand and Isabella and the Christian knights who had fought to drive out the Moors. 65 'Actually the Moriscos brought us a much finer civilisation man existed anywhere else in Europe at diat time,' he told her. 'And diey were less cruel than dieir Christian opponents. There are fine examples of their building still remaining in the south. You have heard of the Alhambra, of course? They were a very clean people and always taking barns. The mediaeval knights existed in dirt and squalor.' Though he never questioned her, as he had direatened to do, he pounced upon every item she let slip about her life. Thus he learned that she had served in a cashier's desk, but instead of sneering as she had expected, he gave her a long speculative look, which she could not interpret. So a week passed, and then one afternoon when the Condesa was taking a siesta and Rosalie was sitting a little disconsolately in the arcade trying to read a Spanish book, a letter came from Philip. Don Rafael brought it to her and she looked up in surprise at his approach, for he usually avoided being alone with her, not considering it was correct. Then she saw the envelope in his hand. 'For you, Senorita Smeeth.' Taking it she recognised the handwriting and saw it was addressed to the parador. 'But does Senor Gomez know I'm here?' 'Claro.' She flushed. Of course everyone must know that she was at Las Aguilas. Dolores Lorca gossiped with Juana. She .wondered what they all made of it. 'Are you not anxious to read your episde?' She would have much preferred to peruse it in private, but since he was obviously waiting to hear the news, she had no option but to open it. She did not want to provoke him into taking it from her. Ph
ilip was as she had expected staying with dieir mother 66 and was shortly to be married to Consuelo. He asked if 'old Gomez' would give her a couple of days off to attend the wedding, but pointed out that it would be a big expense for her. He was sorry he could not offer to help_ her. He could hardly ask his bride to oblige and though satisfactory negotiations widi Uncle George were pending they had not yet materialised. Ma Pas, which was his disrespectful name for Mrs Smith, would let her have a bed for the night following die reception, but she didn't like demands made upon her hospitality. 'She's lazy and doesn't like putting herself out even for her family,' he commented, which was no news to Rosalie. In a postscript he added: 'We're deliriously happy.' It was a perfunctory invitation and obviously it had never crossed Philip's mind that he might have made trouble for his sister. Rosalie folded the diin paper and looked up to meet Rafael's questioning gaze. He .was seated on the iron railing, his back against a pillar, swinging one foot, his hands thrust into his trouser pockets. 'It is from the twin brother?' he asked with assumed, at least she supposed it was assumed carelessness. She nodded. 'It's an invitation to his wedding.' 'Oh. Will you go?' 'How can I?' 'Would you if you could?' She hesitated. Consuelo's advent had loosened the ties between her and her brother. He was absorbed in his love, which was only right, but he had become remote. 'I don't know,' she said finally. It had not been suggested she should be a bridesmaid, nor could she have afforded a dress if it had. Paris would be very expensive and nobody seemed particularly anxious to welcome her. She wondered fleetingly what Philip meant 67 by satisfactory negotiations pending. Was Uncle George about to relent and allow him to borrow from the trust? A tide of resentment welled up in her. Everydiing seemed to be going Philip's way, and neidier her mother nor her uncle had spared a thought for her, presumably toiling away at die parador, except for the offer of a bed for one night. 'Where are they?' The abrupt question startled her out of her brooding and recalled die man who was die prime loser in this alliance. 'In Paris,' she told him frankly. 'So they are out of reach. No chance of a dramatic intervention.' He smiled wryly. 'Has Senor Nunez disinherited his daughter?' 'Philip doesn't mention him.' 'How strange, that I should have diought would have been a matter of supreme importance to him. He cannot keep Consuelo Nunez on a waiter's wages.' 'Philip has ... er ... got a better job.' 'It will need to be a good one.' He leaned back against the pillar behind him regarding her through half shut eyes. 'But no doubt they are still subsisting upon die proceeds from the bracelet. It was very valuable.' Rosalie said nothing; she was resolving that she would make Philip tell her to whom he had sold it and if there were any chance of redeeming it, she must prevail upon Uncle George to buy it back and return it to the Don. Its acquisition was dishonest, and that no Smith would condone. She had great hopes that she could persuade him to see it her way. Rafael looked at her downcast face. 'Sure you are not longing to join in the celebrations?' he jibed. 'No pangs of conscience need disturb your pleasure.' 'Actually they would,' she said quietly. 'I was wondering 68 if die bracelet could be recovered.' 'You know I have not the means to do so, and now I have lost touch widi Senor Nunez, who seems to have accepted its sale with equanimity.' She flashed him a quick look, but said nothing. That was not what she had in mind. 'So it is goodbye to the Santaella diamonds,' he observed regretfully. 'You might be able to buy them back when you marry die rich bride your mother has selected for you,' she suggested. 'Why, so I could,' he agreed, a little enigmatical smile edging his lips. 'But would you consider it ethical to pur: chase my love token with my espousa's own money?' 'It would be as ethical as giving a love token when love @ didn't come into it,' she told him sharply. 'What a feminine viewpoint! But you are jumping to conclusions. Love might come into it. I am not incapable of tender emotion, though you seem to doubt it.' ; Rosalie caught the satirical gleam in his eyes and turned ': her head away. Tenderness seemed unlikely in connection : with him, but she had no means of assessing what capabilities did lie beneath his arrogant exterior. The thought of his affections being bestowed upon some young woman was '. oddly unwelcome to her. 'I hope for both your sakes you do fall in love with her,' | she told him. I 'How kind of you, but my feelings are the least part of I the problem.' He looked away across the quadrangle to die | clustering grapes on the distant wall. 'I... er ... have been. s told she is a foreigner.' I His words gave Rosalie a jolt. From a nebulous abstrac-I tion his new novia began to take shape. The Condesa really I 69 had found a suitable partner for him. 'Does that matter?' she asked. 'Senorita Nunez was a Peruvian;' 'Exactly, and you know what happened, although she was of Spanish extraction and she should have known how to behave.' 'Been more submissive, you mean,' Rosalie told him tartly. 'But I see your point, most foreigners aren't submissive. It depends what nationality she is, and whether she wants to live in Spain.' She looked at him interrogatively, but he said nothing, meditatively stroking one sideburn with a long forefinger. His fine profile was etched against the golden light flooding the courtyard, and her eyes dwelt upon it wistfully. Enigmatical creature, at that moment he was as cool and impassive as a figure carved in stone, but she knew how he could flash into sudden passion. If ever he did love he, would be devastating, and although outwardly paying lip service to a strict convention, he would break all the rules if the incentive were strong enough. He would be a problem for any Nordic woman, if he chose so unwisely. 'I hope she is a Latin,' she remarked, following her train of thought. 'Wherefore?' 'Because@please don't think me impertinent@but then she would understand your way of life and ... er ... your temperament. Besides, you seem inclined to think that foreign freedoms spell wantonness. They don't, you know.' 'I will admit I find them difficult to condone.' 'Well, there you are!' she exclaimed triumphantly. He turned his head from the contemplation of the grapes and looked at her thoughtfully. In spite of the heat, Rosalie contrived to look as fresh as an English spring morning. 70 The diin green dress she was wearing emphasised the clarity of her complexion@she had to rinse out her garments every night to keep them immaculate and die diin nylon was dripdried by the next day@her hair shone with a copper sheen, while her grey eyes were earnest, as if she found this question of Don Rafael's bride a matter of the gravest concern. Actually, she did. He had been let down once, and she almost passionately hoped he would be luckier the second time, though to her way of thinking die auguries were not good. 'You would only marry another Inglese?' The unexpected question disconcerted her. She dropped her eyes and fingered Philip's letter nervously. 'I don't think I shall ever marry,' she returned. 'When die time comes I intend to dedicate myself to painting.' Flurried by the abrupt change to her own prospects, she spoke incautiously. . 'When the time comes? What time? What do you mean?' Instantly she was on guard. 'Oh, I'm sure an opportunity will occur,' she told him vaguely. 'Perhaps you hope diat when your brother gets his hands on the Nunez fortune he will help you?' About to say that nodiing would induce her to touch a penny of it, she checked herself. For a second she had an impulse to confide in him, tell him about her expectations, that when she was twenty-five she could do exactly as she pleased, but a certain avidity in the dark eyes regarding her intently restrained her. He might imagine she was seeking to enhance herself in his eyes since he thought so much of money. 'Perhaps,' she agreed. He looked away again. 71 'You will find a paintbrush a cold bedfellow,' he observed satirically. 'At least it won't be mercenary,' she retorted, and saw him wince. 'But we were discussing your matrimonial prospects, not mine,' she concluded brightly. 'My bride has not yet materialised.' 'Oh? Indeed? I thought from the way you were talking it was all settled, or nearly so.' 'Eventually it may be@if all goes well.' 'Perhaps the lady is hesitating?' He looked faintly embarrassed. 'The Condesa is sure she will yield when the proposition is put to her.' 'I hope Dona Teresa won't try to put pressure on her,' Rosalie said, thinking that his mother would be relentless to attain her ends, and she appeared to be doing die negotiating. 'That may not be necesary. Some women have ... er .. found me presentable,' Don Rafael told her haughtily. I'm sur
e they have, Rosalie thought drearily, and I'm one of them. The idea of Rafael using his personal assets to charm a wealthy woman was repugnant to her. He had not appealed to Consuelo, she had been afraid of him, but Rosalie thought she was probably an exception, so much so that her rejection had been incomprehensible to Don Rafael, wounding his vanity and rousing die devil in him. 'I rnink before you start to court her, it would be better ... wiser, to let me go,' she said dully. He turned towards her again. 'So you are really set upon leaving us?' he asked. Rosalie pleated her skirt with nervous fingers, suddenly aware that she did not want to leave the Castillo at all. Little by litde, Don Rafael had come to dominate her thoughts and fill her imagination. Her portfolio contained a 72 variety of sketches of him; Rafael in a ruff and steel helmet @the conquistador; in a velvet cloak and doublet@die grandee; even one in a Moorish robe, the Caliph of Granada. They had been the outcomes of idle fancy, and she had not yet faced their implication and the utter folly of allowing her thoughts to dwell widi such concentration upon him. Dimly aware that she must protect herself from mat too penetrating gaze, she said sharply: 'You forget I'm bound by my promise, and my wishes have never been consulted.' 'And if I release you from your parole you will immediately depart for Paris?' 'I think it is more than time I left,' she told him, feeling she would be wise to avoid any further involvement. 'You do, do you?' His face darkened. He swung himself off his perch on the rail and standing before her said harshly: 'It is as I supposed, Spain has no appeal for you. You are weary of this primitive place and yearning for the bright lights, die big stores and the company of young people as foolish as yourself.' He was lashing himself to greater fury, though for what reason she could not imagine, unless it was me thought of Consuelo's wedding, as his next words suggested. 'You want to prance up the aisle in the wake of that perfidious woman who was to have been my bride. No doubt that would give you infinite satisfaction. You would consider it retribution for the way I treated you at the time of our encounter in the road. You give me no credit for having tried to make amends. You, a mere criada, have been received here like the noblest lady in the land.' Rosalie tried to interrupt, but he swept on regardless, his voice deepening in intensity, and his eyes flashed. 'So, you shall have your way. Go. I will not detain you 73 longer. Get up and go. Did you hear me?' She had not moved. 'Vamose, pack up your things. Get out at once!' He turned his back upon her as if die sight of her offended him, and clutched the top of the railing so hard that his knuckles showed white through the brown skin. Rosalie was overwhelmed by this sudden attack. She stared blankly at the Conde's taut back. Unpredictable creature@he had brought her to Las Aguilas by force and now was evicting her with equal violence. But she could not depart there and then without preparing for her journey, and he must have forgotten that he still held her passport and money. A surge of anger washed over her@his arrogant dictation was abominable! Then it occurred to her that she had a means of retaliation which he had overlooked. 'I'm certainly not going to lug my case down to die village at this time of day,' she said firmly, remaining anchored in her chair. 'It was bad enough last time and- the weather's become hotter now. Besides, I must make some reservations and say goodbye to the Condesa, and you've still got my passport and money. If you want to get rid of me you must do so in a more considerate manner, and I think I've a right to ask for some compensation, that is unless you want me to go to the police and tell them diat you abducted me.' He swung round to face her with raised brows. 'You would do that?' 'Certainly I will if you won't play ball. I don't suppose even the Conde de las Aguilas is above the law, and dlis is a civilised country, isn't it?' 'You might find yourself involved in considerable unpleasantness,' he warned her. 'And so might you.' He looked at her uncertainly. 'You would have to prove 74 you had been detained against your will, which of course I should deny,' he said haughtily. His lip curled sardonically. 'Women usually come willingly to my house. You would also revive all the scandal about the elopement.' Rosalie sighed, her anger abating. She had no intention of going to the police, she merely resented her summary eviction. 'Well, if you'll be more reasonable, perhaps I won't,' she conceded. He stared at her for some moments in silence, while tension built up between them. She sensed his stubborn pride was battling with his better feelings. She remained seated in her chair, one leg negligently crossed over the other, assuming a nonchalance she was far from feeling. Suddenly he relaxed. 'Forgive me,' he said apologetically. 'I spoke without thought. Of course I did not mean that you must rush away without due preparation.' 'It sounded like it,' she pointed out. He smiled faintly. 'I was nettled to learn you found my hospitality so irksome.' 'Is hospitality the right word?' 'Do you prefer imprisonment?' he demanded with a flash of anger. He checked himself. 'But I will recompense you. A cash settlement, you understand, is difficult for me, but do you really want to go to this wedding? You seemed a little reluctant.' 'I am. I shan't go.' 'No?' Rosalie turned her head away. No need to tell him that she felt she would be unwelcome, with Philip absorbed in nuptial bliss, and her mother grudging her house room. Besides, her sympathies inclined towards Don Rafael. He had 75 been treated very badly. 'No,' she said firmly. 'Then are you in any great hurry to return to your own country?' 'I had intended to spend the rest of the summer in Spain.' He sat down in the chair opposite to her, all trace of his former passion dissipated. 'At the paradorY he asked. 'I had no alternative.' 'Ah, but perhaps I can offer one.' She looked at him in surprise. 'The Condesa and I are going to die Casa Blanca,' he told her. 'That is the name of my house in Andalusia. It occurred to us that you might like to come with us@you said you wanted to see the soudi.' 'You want to keep tabs on me?' she suggested doubtfully, for she could think of no other reason for the invitation. 'Certainly not.' He hesitated, looking at his fingernails, while Rosalie watched him eagerly; she had long wanted to visit the south, but could he be going to make any proposition which would be acceptable to her? Rafael seemed to come to a decision. His manner became impersonal and businesslike as he faced her across the small table between diem. 'It is like this, Senorita Smeedi. I shall be much occupied when we reach Cordoba province and the Condesa will be lonely. She needs a companion. She likes you, and in fact it is her suggestion. We are offering you employment in that capacity, and in addition to your expenses, we will pay you pocket money.' He smiled ruefully. 'We can run to that. It would be a more congenial occupation for you than that of waitress at a hotel, would it not?' 76 'It would indeed,' Rosalie exclaimed. 'Then can we take it as setded?' It was Rosalie's turn to hesitate. She knew she would be wiser to break her association widi die Santaellas if she wished to preserve her peace of mind, but the prospect was alluring, the long journey back to Pas was not. 'We wish to start the day after tomorrow, so I am afraid I must ask for your answer now,' Don Rafael went on. 'If you are not coming, we must dispose of you before we can leave and it will take me a little time to make die necessary arrangements for you.' He smiled mischievously. 'Since I do not want you to bring the Guardia Civil here to arrest me.' 'I ... I didn't really mean that,' Rosalie faltered. She looked searchingly into his dark, narrow face which was so unrevealing, and added impulsively: 'Do you want me to come?' He turned his head away as if unwilling to meet her candid gaze and shrugged his shoulders. 'I? It is immaterial to me what you decide to do. As I said, it is the Condesa who desires your company. She considers it would be a satisfactory arrangement if you are agreeable.' Rosalie was disappointed; it would have been so much more pleasing to her ego if he had declared he was anxious for her presence, but much more dangerous. 'Thank you, I... I'd like to come and I'll do my best to entertain the Condesa,' she told him. 'It's very kind of you to suggest it.' His eyebrows went up. 'Kind? It is yourself who will be doing us a favour. But you are perfectly free to go to Paris ;if you would prefer to do so and I will give you every ; assistance to facilitate your journey.' He paused, and shot ; 77 her a sideways glance. 'It might be wiser for you to do| so.' . -J 'How so?' she asked anxiously. | 'Oh, Andalusia will be very hot at this ti
me of year,' he :| told her evasively. 'I His lack of enthusiasm increased her own. ,| 'As if I cared about that!' she cried recklessly. 'I want to | see Andalusia badly, and this is a heaven-sent opportunity.' I He smiled wryly, but whether at her eagerness or his own thoughts she did not know. | 'Si, mna, and only a fool misses his opportunities. Bien, | I have warned you, so on your head be it.' I Rosalie felt a little stab of uneasiness at this ambiguous S remark, but surely he could only be referring to the | weather. Her misgivings were entirely dispelled when the : 1 Condesa thanked her warmly for agreeing to come widi i her. 1 'You will not find me exigent,' she told her. 'It is some- '| one to talk to diat I desire, and we are simpatica, are we not? It seems an ideal arrangement since your holiday time is not over yet.' Dona Teresa persisted in believing that Rosalie was a student filling in her long vacation with a working holiday in Spain. She assumed that the girl had had to leave the parador because of her brother's behaviour and that Don Rafael had offered her asylum at Las Aguilas when he found her stranded. Rosalie thought she must be either blind or stupid to accept such an explanation, to start with Don Rafael was not a philanthropist, but it made the position pleasanter to preserve this fiction, and her desire for ; Rosalie's society seemed to be perfecdy genuine. 'I like young people around me when they are well behaved,' she told her. 'You are neither rowdy nor resdess, 78 II will not pretend that life at the Casa Blanca will be here will be no parties or entertainments, but you will plenty of subjects to paint, and perhaps Don Rafael how you some of the places of interest.' salie insisted that she would be content widi a quiet ind was grateful for the chance to see more of Spain. ieno, and I am grateful to you,' the Condesa said msly, 'and who knows, our connection may become anent.' salie did not think she would want to remain with Teresa indefinitely, but now was not the time to say :er new employer was smiling at her indulgendy, but mile did not reach her eyes. Meeting them, Rosalie ised such a look of calculated cunning diat she was sntarily repelled. Then the Condesa picked up her ework and began to discuss the details of their jourShe looked so guileless that Rosalie decided she must Enave imagined that strange expression. The Condesa was only a harmless old woman who was pleased to have secured the services of a youthful companion. 79