by Jane Corrie
Her words produced a smile of appreciation from Don Emilio, and as he took his leave of her Mary noticed that his figure was just a little more erect than before, and his step just that little lighter. There was an assurance about his bearing that said more than words could ever say, and she felt a spurt of pure pleasure at the thought that she had contributed a small amount towards his recovery.
Her step was lighter too as she went in search of Enrique and as the sound of children's laughter drifted towards her as she approached the pool her mouth relaxed in a smile, for children's laughter was infectious.
When she saw a lounger placed by the side of the pool, she saw that she had not been the only one who had had the thought of keeping in eye on the boys.
A plump blonde woman rose to greet her as she neared the pool area and held out her hand with a welcoming smile on her face. 'I'm Juan's mother,' she said with a slight lilt in her voice that spoke of the Welsh hills. 'And I presume that you are Miss Allis?'
Mary took the proffered hand and smiled back at the woman. 'Please call me Mary,' she said, feeling a surge of happiness at meeting a countrywoman of hers, and knowing instinctively that they were going to like each other.
`Thank you, I'm Joan,' replied Senora Santos in a tone of voice that echoed Mary's sentiments. 'How are you coping with the heat?' she asked solicitously as she pulled another lounger up next to hers for Mary's use. 'I must confess it took me a long time to get used to it when I first came here. Now I'm used to it, but still have to remember to wear a hat when I go out.' She looked at Mary's empty hands and then at her bare head. 'Never go anywhere without a hat, Mary,' she scolded her gently. 'Not between July and September, anyway.'
Mary gave a rueful smile. 'I shall have to tie one round my neck,' she said. 'It would be stupid of me to learn the hard way with sunstroke, wouldn't it?'
At that moment Juan rushed up and surveyed Mary with dark shy eyes. He was a plump, dark version of his mother, but his hair was already showing signs of turn
ing a lighter colour and would probably be of a chestnut hue when he was older.
'This is Enrique's mother,' said Joan, giving Mary a conspiratorial look that told Mary that she was aware of the true relationship between them. 'Say "how do you do," Juan.'
Juan's small plump hand was held out tentatively as he gravely repeated the salutation, and Mary was tempted to reply in his native tongue but resisted the temptation and replied, 'I am very pleased to meet you, Juan,' with the same amount of gravity slightly underlined by a twinkle in her eyes.
`Juan can swim the whole length of the bath! ' exclaimed Enrique, rushing up to join them, his slight wiry body still streaming with water from the pool. 'But I'm going to swim every day until I can too,' he declared in a challenging manner. 'Come on, Juan!' and as if time was of the essence he raced back to the pool with Juan in hot pursuit.
Mary watching the boys begin a mock race, heard Joan give a sigh before she said quietly, 'You can't imagine how happy I am that Juan has someone of his own age to play with.' She turned to look at Mary, her hazel eyes serious now. 'He's been so very lonely, Mary. We're quite a way out here, and although Pedro has many friends, none of them live within reasonable distance to us. Enrique will stay now, won't he?' she asked anxiously.
Mary smiled back at her newfound friend. This appeared to be her morning for giving assurances, she thought ironically. 'Yes,' she replied quietly; 'this is his home, and this is where he belongs.'
Joan caught the underlying note of sadness in her voice and gave her a searching look. 'But you're not,'
she said. It was , a statement, not a question, and surprised Mary. She had no idea that her answer had been so telling.
With her eyes on the boys now splashing each other, Mary replied, 'Well, it's early days yet, of course, but I honestly can't see where I fit in in these surroundings.' She gave Joan a light apologetic smile. 'When all is said and done, I'm a working girl, you. know.' Her eyes took in their immediate surroundings and the luxurious pool they were sitting beside, and she gave a light shrug. 'It's just as if I were on holiday in one of those luxurious hotels one reads about, but 'there's a time Emit attached to it.' Her smile widened as she added, 'I suppose . I could become addicted to it given time, but we shall have to see.'
'Oh, do try,' replied Joan, with a pleading note in her. voice. 'Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same when I first came here. Oh, not that my home surroundings are half as grand as they are here, but they're just as far removed from the semidetached house I was, brought up in as, say, a crowded London suburb.' She gave Mary an interrogative look. 'You do come from London, don't you?' She then gave her an apologetic smile. 'We talked of nothing else, you see, for days after we heard the news. It was so wonderful that after all' this time Enrique's child should be found. My Pedro isn't one to show emotion, but he was pretty choked at the news, and when he saw young Enrique, well—' she gave a sigh. 'According to him, it's just as if Enrique had come back as a child again, the likeness is so striking: She smiled at Mary. 'He used to play with Pedro when they were boys, you know, and I think there's always some kind of a bond formed under those sort of circumstances, don't you?' she asked gravely.
Mary nodded, not knowing what else to say. It was nice to know that someone else apart from Don Emilio wanted her to stay on, but it wasn't going to be as easy as that, not unless Rafael Alvarados removed his intimidating presence from the villa in the very near future. As for the mindboggling conversation she had overheard the previous evening—she drew in a swift breath —maybe one day, when and if she ever got to know Joan well enough, she might be able to explain the reason why she was so certain that she did not belong there, and never would.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AFTER Mary, had made Joan's acquaintance things were much easier for her and she was able to look forward to their meetings. Sometimes Joan would come over in the mornings with Juan, and the boys would spend most of the morning in the swimming pool with Enrique making a strong bid to outdistance Juan in the many races they challenged each other to, while Joan and Mary spent the time getting to know each other and indulging in local gossip.
On one occasion Mary went to Joan's home for morning coffee and sat in their sunny garden afterwards while 'the boys amused themselves either climbing the numerous fruit trees, or pretending to be bandits and skulking through the greenery, jumping out at intervals and uttering bloodcurdling yells that made Mary blink in astonishment the first time it happened, and made Joan chuckle at her reaction.
Invariably Rafael Alvarados's name would come up in the conversation, mainly because it was only on the occasions that Pedro came over to the villa to discuss business with Rafael that Joan was able to accompany him as she had sprained her ankle a week or so before Mary and Enrique's arrival, and as yet it was not strong enough for her to make the journey on foot as there was almost a mile between the two properties. There was no such problem for Mary, who had delighted in the walk to Joan's home, particularly as the route took her through the villa's garden and through an orchard
that separated the properties.
It was now the weekend, and the bathing party Rafael had mentioned at the dinner party was to take place the following day. Mary, assuming Joan would be present, asked her what the party involved, mentioning that she was glad that there would be one person besides Don Emilio who could be relied upon to talk to her, whereupon Joan made a little moue with her wide generous lips and slowly shook her head. 'Oh dear,' she said with a grin. 'I'm afraid you'll have to rely on Don Emilio after all,' she frowned slightly, 'that's if he honours the occasion, he doesn't usually, he much prefers to stay in the shade with an informative book.' Knowing At Mary's look of dismay she added quickly, '
Don Emilio, I shouldn't worry, Mary. He'll see that you're looked after.'
Mary wished she could echo these sentiments, for although she knew Don Emilio would do his best to see ' that she was entertained after what had happened at t
he dinner party she had no great hopes of his success. Her lips folded together firmly; in that case she would join him in the shade with a book of her own—she could always plead a headache—or that the heat was understand just a little too much for her. Don Emilio at least would
this, and she didn't care whether Rafael Alvarados believed it or not. In all probability he would be relieved at her withdrawal from the scene. She, had not seen much of him since the night of the dinner party, and only once had he honoured them with his presence at the dinner table, and then she suspected only at his father's insistence. His frequent absences were explained away by an apologetic and slightly embarrassed Don Emilio as duty calls on various friends. 'He has worked in London for almost two years now,'
he told Mary, 'and rarely has the opportunity of seeing his friends. This is the longest stay he has made since he took over our interests abroad. I have no doubt that we shall see more of him when he tires of the social round. He is, not much inclined to social gatherings, but no doubt he is mixing business with pleasure,' he had added philosophically.
With all her heart Mary wished she could explain to the kindly old man that he was not to feel embarrassed on her account for his son's disregard of social etiquette where she was concerned. She also fervently wished that she could tell him the reason behind his behaviour towards her, but without revealing the fact that she had overheard a certain conversation that would no doubt embarrass him far more than he already was by his son's diffident attitude, not to mention her feelings on the matter, she was powerless and had to remain silent.
There was another little side issue to consider too, and that was that she felt that Rafael was making sure that his father suffered from no illusion that he would eventually concede with his wish that he should propose to her, and this was his way of showing him that he had no intention of carrying out such a disagreeable task. If Mary was aware of this, so too must Don Emilio be, and until his departure probably in the near future, Mary could see no happy solution for either herself or Don Emilio.
Joan jerked Mary out of her silent reverie with a question. 'How many are going to be at this party, did they say?' she asked.
Mary shook 'her head She wouldn't know any of the guests anyway, apart from the Alvarados's and Isabel, she said. At the mention of Isabel's name Joan's
eyes widened slightly. 'So she's back, is she?' she said musingly. 'I thought she was in South America.' She gave Mary a knowing look. 'She must have heard that Rafael was home,' she added. 'I can't see her changing her plans for any other reason. It would also explain why we didn't receive an invitation,' she told Mary with a wry smile. 'We don't exactly get on,' she explained at the look of puzzlement she received from Mary. 'At least,' she added, 'Pedro has never liked her, quite apart from the fact that she treats us like servants —which we are—of course, but she has a way of making sure that you remain aware of the fact and don't attempt to rise above your station.'
`That I can well imagine,' said Mary quickly, remembering how she had been treated at the dinner party. She then recalled the conversation between Rafael and Don Emilio that had taken place after the dinner. 'She was engaged to Enrique, wasn't she?' she asked.
Joan gave her a surprised look. `So you know about that, do you?' she replied, and shrugged. 'It's all so long ago and ought by now to be pushed into the archives, but that wouldn't suit our Isabel—not when she's still hoping to capitalise on it "
without `Where Rafael's concerned, you mean?' Mary queried
realising that she was showing more knowledge of the situation that she could possibly have learned in the short time that she had been there, and it was too late afterwards to wish that she had held her tongue.
'Did Don Emilio tell you this?' asked Joan with a trace of wonder in her voice.
Mary looked hastily away from her. 'Well, no'
she conceded slowly, and looked back at Joan wondering whether to tell her the truth of how she had ob
tained the information and ,what she had overheard, where Isabel was concerned, that was, but where she was concerned it was much too personal to repeat even to someone as sympathetic and as understanding as Joan Santos.
Her mind made up, she related the event to Joan, who gave her an appreciative grin as she imagined Mary's discomfiture at finding herself an uninvited discourse eavesdropper on what was 'an exceedingly personal
between Don Emilio and his son. When she had finished, Joan nodded in confirmation of what she had said. 'It's true that Isabel has great hopes of Rafael honouring Enrique's pledge,' she said musingly. 'According to Pedro, it was Rafael she really wanted and she accepted Enrique's proposal out of pique.'
She was silent for a few seconds after this as she thought back to that time. 'Pedro and I had just become engaged around then,' she went on. do remember Pedro saying that Isabel would never make Enrique happy.' She looked over the pool towards Juan and Enrique's son now having a light hearted argument about something or other, and her expression softened. 'He was very fond of Enrique, as I've told you, and I knew he wasn't happy about the engagement, particularly when the girl concerned was in love with his brother Rafael.'
'Didn't Enrique know this?' queried Mary wonderingly.
Joan shrugged her shoulders expressively. 'You've seen Isabel,' she said dryly. 'There was never a lack of suitors, and judging by the odd .snippets of gossip, nothing's changed, but there's only one Rafael Alvarados and she's not likely to accept anyone else while he remains a bachelor. As for Enrique, he was as smitten
with her as the others that hung around her. He was too mesmerised by her beauty to see that she was using him to get at his brother. Leaving home was the best thing that ever happened to him. It gave him time to shake the stardust out of his eyes and see things as they really were. I honestly don't think he would have married Isabel, not after he had had a chance to think things out.'
Rafael would not have agreed with this supposition at all, thought Mary, and there was Don Emilio's strict code of honour to take into account as well. She spoke her thoughts aloud. 'I think you're forgetting Don Emilio, Joan, remember that Isabel is the daughter of an old friend of his.'
Joan gave another shrug at this. 'If Enrique had reached home,' she said slowly, 'and Don Emilio had heard about the child,' she gave Mary an apologetic smile, 'he would have been furious, yes, but he loved Enrique enough to bow to his wishes in this. It wasn't as if it was one of these accidental happenings. He really loved your sister.' She looked at the children and added thoughtfully, 'You know; I wouldn't be surprised if what happened wasn't deliberate. He must have known that it wasn't going to be easy extricating himself from his engagement to Isabel.' She gave a wry grimace. 'I can't imagine anything worse than being in love with someone and being forced to marry someone else, can you?' she asked Mary.
Mary wholeheartedly agreed with this; it was bad enough when you were heart free, as she had good cause to know, and the. thought of such a contract being formed between herself and Rafael Alvarados made her shudder.
'And to be perfectly frank,' went on Joan, 'what
you've just told me about Rafael's determined stand to remain a bachelor somewhat eases my mind. I can see a lot of changes coming if Isabel ever becomes mistress here, and they wouldn't be in our favour. I know she resents the easy relationship that exists between the Alvarados's and Pedro's family, but as the children were more or less brought up together such a relationship is bound to exist. Not,' she added hastily, that Pedro ever takes advantage of this. He's turned down many invitations on account of it. He knows his place, and has no intention of overstepping the boundary between boss and foreman. He has his pride, too, you see, and Senorita Isabel has a nasty way of stepping on that pride. If Rafael did marry her, then we should have to go, there would be no question of our staying op, Pedro would not even consider it.'
From what Mary had seen of Rafael Alvarados she could not imagine such a happening coming to pass even if he did marry Isabel, not if he wished Pe
dro to stay on as overseer, and she said as much, ending with, 'I simply can't see anyone changing his mind once it's made up—not even his wife,' she announced forcibly, unknowingly letting her feelings get the better of her.
Joan's brows lifted slightly at her vehemence. 'I gather you don't get on,' she said with a smile, then was serious again 'Well, in that aspect you're quite right. . He's a law unto himself, and woe betide anyone who attempts to swerve' him from his course. Even so,' she added slowly, 'it would make things extremely awkward all round—Pedro's dislike of Isabel is well known to the family,' she grinned at Mary. 'That's why we didn't receive an invitation to the swimming party, we wouldn't have come anyway if we'd have known she was going to be present. Not,' she added swiftly, 'that that
would have deterred Rafael from marrying Isabel if he'd a mind to do so, nothing would, but he's a proud man and would expect us to remain loyal to the family, and that's where the awkwardness would come in.'
Mary gave her a sympathetic nod. 'It would, wouldn't it,' she said slowly, then brightened. 'Well, you've no fear in that direction, not unless .he suddenly has a brainstorm and falls under her spell, and somehow,' she tacked on with a twinkle in her eye, 'I can't see that happening, because although I don't much care for his personality, I think he can be relied upon not to lose his head, he prizes his freedom too much for that.'
The party began an hour after lunch; and Mary, not bothering to seek out Maria to see if she could provide her with a swimsuit, settled for a simple cotton dress and the inevitable straw hat, and wandered" down to the pool with no great hopes of enjoying herself. One thing had pleased her though, and that was that even though Pedro and Joan would be absent, their son Juan would be present, and that meant that Enrique's time would be fully occupied. It also meant that Mary would find that she had to occupy herself in some other recreation as she had no intention of receiving another dose of thinly veiled insolence from either Rafael or Isabel.