Love of Lady Liana.

by Alvarez y Losada

  It was on the awares and it saw seated Rogan as opposed to a me­sita, devouring chicken, cheese and bread.

  -- What you are doing here? -- it asked Liana --. Why you brought to me to this place? ¡The wine! You put something to him.

  -- He was my brother, my brother, whose time on es­ta Earth very is limited, added a drug to the wine.

  -- and it brought to me here?

  -- it brought Us to both, while we slept.

  Liana seated in the bed and took a walk watched after the naked small room: a bed, a table and two chairs and a es­tante in order to deposit a candle.

  -- it has given to the Howard -- it said in low voice --. Its plan is to yield the castle to them?

  Rogan watched it as if it had been the idiot of the village.

  -- My brother sometimes can be stupid and also obstinate, but he is not a traitor.

  -- Then, why it did this?

  Rogan returned the eyes towards the food. Liana descended from the bed.

  -- Why it narcotized to us and it brought to us here?

  -- Who knows it? Now, it eats.

  Liana felt that it lost the stirrups. it approached the doors, it tried to push them, it unloaded the fists on the wood and it shouted protesting that released it, but did not go anybody. One approached two narrow small windows and shouted trying to call the attention of which they were in the patio, but was no answer. One became towards Rogan.

  -- How you can eat? How long we will be prisoners? How we can leave here?

  -- My father prepared east place stops to keep prisoners, we cannot leave.

  -- That is to say, until your stupid one and prepotent herma­no allows it. Why I married with a member of a family like this? Perhaps some of your men has a little intelligence?

  Rogan watched it with expression lasts and Liana arrepin­tió immediately of which it had said.

  -- I... -- it began to say.

  It raised a hand.

  -- You can return hardly with your father let us leave here.

  Rogan separated from the table and walked until the narrow window. Liana approached him.

  -- Rogan, I...

  One separated from the young person.

  They spent the day quiet and irritated. Liana watched Rogan and remembered that he had said that the money was the unique thing that it interested to him. And then it thought: Be. It would return with its father or it would shelter in one of its personal properties and would live without the family Peregrinate and without the skulls of horses hung on the rim of the home.

  the foods arrived at them surrounded in a linen cloth, forming a bulk that could happen through the small window. Rogan it received the food and to shouts it explained to Severn which seted out to do to him when he was free. It took its food to the opposed end of the room and it refused to seat to the table with Liana.

  The night arrived and not yet they were spoken. She lay down in the bed and she was wondered where she thought to sleep Rogan and she began a to protest when he lay down to his side, being given him the back; but really it did not say anything, only had cuida­do of which it did not touch it.

  But when the first lights of the dawn they penetrated by the small window, Liana woke up and discovered that the arms of his husband narrowed it with force. Forgetting dis­putas and the differences, it kissed the smooth mouth of Rogan.

  Rogan instantaneously woke up, and it kissed with all the intensity that felt. After the kiss, both parecie­ron to stun itself in a jumble of rejected clothes, because each one looked for frenetically the skin of the other. Unie­ron quickly and yet enthusiasm, with an accumulated passion during last the two weeks.

  Later they lay one in arms of the other, united by the transpirada skin, clinging mutually. First im­pulso of Liana was to ask to him if it thought that it was in ugly rea­lidad and if she were decided to repudiate it; but one abstained.

  -- Vi the ghost -- it said finally.

  -- In the camera that is here underneath?

  -- She is the Lady who I thought that I was Iolanthe. Recuer­das that I said to you that it had more age than Severn? It spoke to me of Jeanne Howard.

  Rogan did not answer and Liana became a their arms and watched it.

  -- You also dresses it, right? -- it asked after a little while.

  -- No, I did not saw it. There are no ghosts. It is only...

  -- It is only what? When it was? It was sewing or hi­lando?

  It delayed the answer a little while.

  -- Sewing the carpet with unicornio.

  -- you said it to somebody?

  -- Until now, no.

  The words of Rogan originated feeling of triumph in Liana.

  -- When it dresses it? What said to you? -- it spoke to him in low voice.

  -- It was after Oliver Howard... it took.

  -- To Jeanne.

  -- Yes, to Jeanne -- Rogan answered -- me it approached and it said to me that it loved Howard and that it would have a son of him and it requested to me that it suspended the war. It would have had to kill to that dog with my own hands.

  -- But you could not.

  -- Be that as it may, I did not do it, I returned here in search of provisions, we had been fighting to the Howard a year whole number, and an early morning I shot an arrow to prove an arc, the wind it turned aside the arrow and it took ha­cia a window to it on the lot. At least, that is what I thought then. Also it seemed to me to hear the shout of mu­jer. I was towards and I visited the quarters of above there. Nobody lived in that place from for years, because of the rumors on a ghost. My father was accustomed to to curse it, because when she had guests it always appeared and she scared them.

  -- and also you were scared when you were to look for your arrow?

  -- I then was so angered with the Howard that little concerned a ghost to me. There were lost my two brothers and were needed all the arrows.

  -- and it was there?

  Liana saw that Rogan smiled hardly.

  -- I thought that a ghost one was one she is present at bru­mosa, but it had a very real aspect, maintained in the hands me arrow and reprimanded to me saying to me that almost it had hurt it. Then no I thought about that I had been shooting towards the field from the walls of castle.

  -- Of what they spoke?

  -- He was strange, but I spoke to him like never there was he­cho with anybody.

  -- it happened to Me the same, knew so many things of me.. They spoke of Jeanne?

  -- Yes, and she like wife said to me that, no he was perso­na indicated.

  Liana watched it.

  -- Indicated why?

  -- I do not know it. Their words seemed to me logics mien­tras was speaking with her, but they lost sense cuan­do me I marched. I suppose that it had certain relation with the poem.

  Liana was on very great the awares.

  -- What poem?

  -- Later, and during years, I did not return a to think about that. To tell the truth, it seemed a riddle rather. Sight...

  When red and the target forms black

  When the black and gold are united

  When the one and red one is based

  Then you will know.

  Liana remained immovable in the arms of Rogan and it thought about the enigma.

  -- But, what means?

  -- I do not have idea. Sometimes, I was in the bed and pen­saba in the subject, but I did not reach any conclusion.

  -- What thinks Severn? Or Zared?

  -- I never asked no of them.

  Liana separated a little from Rogan.

  -- you never asked to them? Perhaps it has certain relation with the registries of the parish. The Lady is your grandmother, and probably she is the person who knows where they are the re­gistros.

  Rogan frunció entrecejo.

  -- It is a ghost, long ago that died and perhaps I did not saw it and dreamed about the enigma.

  -- I did not dream the explanation that she me he gave about you and Jeanne Howard. The Lady said to me that he was very he
rmo­sa and that you you loved it deeply.

  -- As soon as I knew that Howard dog and no memory that was particularly beautiful. Certainly, nothing pareci­do a Iolanthe.

  Liana covered the naked chests with the sheet and seated.

  -- Ah, so that you wish Iolanthe, with she you could have money and beauty.

  The formed affluent face of Rogan expressed confusion that felt.

  -- Iolanthe is a dog, I am safe of that it planned all this.

  With a gesture it indicated the closed door.

  -- Why? It wants to force me a perdonarte by ha­ber this in the presence of your men who I am horribly ugly?

  Rogan also seated in the bed, mouth opened in an astonishment gesture.

  -- I never said similar thing.

  — ¡You said it! You assured that you had yourself married with me by my money, not by my advice or my beauty.

  The confusion of Rogan was accentuated.

  -- I only said the truth, not even I saw you before the wedding, except, and then once nonwise who eras. It could to marry me for a different reason that the money?

  Liana felt the frustration tears that they flew to his eyes.

  -- I married with you because I thought that you... that you wished me. You kissed to me when you did not know that it had money.

  Rogan never had tried to include/understand the feminine mind, but now knew why it adopted that attitude.

  -- Also I kissed to you when I knew that eras rich. -- Co­menzó at the same time to raise the voice that left ca­ma and it inclined on her.-- I kissed after you to You entro­metiste when I was punishing the farmers, I kissed to you after you took to see a piece to me theater which it showed to me like a stupid one, I kissed to you...

  -- Because I am your wife, and not for another reason -- she said --. You said to all which you thought that I was ugly. Perhaps I am not so beautiful like Iolanthe or as pretty as your prime­ra wife, but some men they affirm that she pleases to them to watch to me.

  Rogan raised the hands in a gesture exasperated.

  -- you are not absolutely disagreeable when you are not lloriqueando.

  When hearing this Liana lay down to cry, it returned to lie down, the gathered knees, and cried with as much intensity that him the shoulders shook.

  While, Rogan watched it and in the beginning it felt irritation única­mente. It accused it of something but he did not know very well of what. It obtained that it seemed that it was co­metiendo a lack yet what it had said. It was limited to say the truth, and thus spoke to him to avoid that it interfered in the relation of the gentleman with her men. Demo­nios what they had to do its words with its beauty or its feal­dad? And with desire? Perhaps before it had a little while not shown who wished it? And curse, he no it had touched to another woman in two weeks whole. ¡Two weeks long, larguísimas

  Rogan knew that it had all the right of the world to get angry with her. It had to be the one who received conforta­miento, but when seeing it to cry it felt that something in its intimate law softened. When he he was young had cried exacta­mente as she were doing it now, and his older brothers aimed puntapiés to him and laughed of him.

  One seated in the bed, near the head of Liana.

  -- It tell me... what happens to you -- it began vacillating, sintiéndo­se clumsy and shamed.

  She did not answer and she was limited to cry with more force.

  A little while later he raised it in arms and he seated it on his knees, embracing it with force. The tears of Liana him they wet the shoulder while it caressed the ca­bellos to him and he separated them from face of its wife.

  -- What happens? -- it asked again.

  -- Crees that I am ugly, I am not beautiful like you or Severn or Zared or Iolanthe, but juglares has composed poems of tribute to my beauty.

  Rogan began to say that by money anyone did what was; but, sensibly, one abstained.

  -- you are not as beautiful as I, eh? Or like Severn? I can agree with you if one is my person, but te­nemos pigs that are more beautiful than Severn.

  -- and, without a doubt, also more beautiful than I -- respon­dió she and returned to cry.

  -- Creo that now you are prettier than first time that I saw you.

  Liana still sobbing, raised the head in order to watch it.

  -- What means that?

  -- I do not know it. -- it caressed to him hair.-- When I saw you in the church, I thought that eras a faded conejito and distinguirte of the remaining women had not been able. But now... -- it watched the eyes.-- Now I verify that mirarte is bas­tante pleasant. I... I thought about you last sema­nas.

  -- I thought about you every minute of each day. -- one clung to him.-- Oh, Rogan, tell me what you want about my person... that I am stupid, a great annoyance and that I annoy to you, but please not me say that I am ugly.

  It embraced it with more force.

  -- you never must divulge your secrets to one person, will use them against you.

  -- But I trust you.

  And Rogan then thought that confidence of Liana was a load and a responsibility. It separated a little to it.

  -- I will say to You that you are most beautiful of women if you do not deprive of authority to me in the presence of my men.

  It was called on to Liana the turn to be astonished.

  -- I? It would never make such thing. ¡Never!

  -- You revoked my orders to farmers.

  -- Yes, but you were flagellating people innocents.

  -- Trataste to burn to me in the bed.

  -- But you were laid down with another woman -- she said in­dignada.

  -- you separated to Me from my work with treats and music and pretty smiles.

  She smiled to him, because the words of Rogan conven­cieron it of which it had guessed right when marrying with him.

  -- and you disobeyed my orders in it is present at of my men.

  -- When?

  -- the morning that the Howard attacked.

  -- I only was...

  -- Entrometiéndote -- he said with severe expression --. It was not subject yours, if I did not have been drunk, you could have... -- it was interrupted. It did not wish to say to him that while it was sunk in the dream of the alcohol, the Howard could it have captured.

  -- It could have done what?

  The expression of Rogan changed and Liana it noticed that it was hiding something.

  -- What could have done?

  Rogan separated of her and it was put of foot.

  -- If that condemned brother does not send to us food, I will hang it after burning it.

  -- If you did not have been drunk, I it could have done what? -- Liana became involved with a sheet and walked behind its naked husband, who entered the toilet. Inclu­so when he began to use the orinal, she did not vacillate ­ - - Could have done what?

  Rogan outlined a face.

  -- If sometimes I capture a spy of the Howard and I want information, you I will send it.

  -- It could have done what? -- it insisted she.

  -- They could haberte captured -- it talked back dryly Rogan and returned to the room.

  -- the Howard wanted to catch to me? -- Liana murmured.

  Rogan was putting the panties.

  -- Apparently, they always wish that they have Peregrine: our earth, the castles and the women.

  -- We could give women to them a who you call the Days. -- To Rogan these words did not seem to him humoristic. Liana approached him and the neck with the arms surrounded to him.-- That tomorrow so you were angered because there was danger that the Howard seized of me? Then, Rogan, in effect you love to me.

  -- I do not have time for the love, vístete, Severn can come.

  It dropped the sheet, so that his bust desnu­do was tightened against the chest of Rogan.

  -- Rogan, I love to you.

  — ¡Hmm! For several weeks not me you speak, you have obtained that the life of all is miserable, even room of Zared has rats. And I am so light because of the lack of decent food t
hat my horse no longer me co­noce. My life was better when no woman said that she loved to me.

  But their words did not agree with force of the hug that retained it.

  -- Severn taught something to me -- she said --. Right of perpetual ownership that never I will return to dejarte single. If you offend to me, and without a doubt you will make a slight, I promise decirte to you why I am angered, I will never return to isolate itself of you.

  -- I am not what matters, but men necesi­tan decent food and..

  It put itself in foot ends stops to kiss it.

  -- Rogan, you are who matters to me, never you traicio­naré since Jeanne did. Even if the Howard you would apre­saran to me, he would continue amándote.

  -- They never will seize of another one Peregrinate -- he said he with ferocity.

  -- and now, I am Peregrine? -- she asked son­riendo.

  -- Somewhat strange, but more or less one Peregrinate -- it said Rogan reluctantly.

  It embraced it and she did not see how Rogan it smiled, the fixed eyes in the blond hair, the way in which it closed eyes while it maintained it. To him it did not please to think to him how much it had surprised it the last days or the importance that got to have to char it frivolous of his woman. It lived without her and one had fixed them very well; but insinuated Liana in his life, literally it had inflamed it. From that mo­mento, nothing it was the same. The pleasure, the dulzura and the leisure never had been part of life of Rogan, but this mu­chacha slight incorporated all those things to to occur of the gentleman of the castle and was surprising with what rapidity it had itself adapted.

  One separated from her and with her great ones hands framed the face of Liana.

  -- Creo that my stupid brother us it locked up here to obtain that you clean fourth and you speak to him with bakers.

  -- Oh? And who will convince to me that I must do what it wants?

  -- Perhaps I can -- she said deliberately Rogan and shook a little to it --. You said to all which once perhaps we spent a whole day in the bed, now your lie becomes reality.

  They made the love slowly long and, then the first febrile passion already was exhausted. They explored each one the body of the other with the hand and the language and when to the aim they were united, it was an act rested, calm and tender. Liana did not have idea of the way in that Rogan it observed, how it wished to please it, how it wanted that she enjoyed the act of love.