by Jane Corrie
receiving her grateful nod left her to continue her exploration.
The time flew by, but Mail was unconscious of it; there were many tourists visiting the Cathedral and each party had a guide, and sometimes she would linger on the edge of the gathering and listen to the guide
relating a particular piece of history regarding a certain relic.
It was at one of these times when the deep voice of Rafael cut into her absorption in Christopher Columbus's tomb after the party she had temporarily joined had left.
Mary's start and unconcealed dismay at his reappearance at what seemed to her to be a short time after his
departure did not go unobserved by him. 'Perhaps,' he said, 'I should have made it two hours! '
Her eyes met his, not certain whether he was annoyed with her, or if he was just passing a general comment, but she could detect no annoyance in his eyes, only that same still watchfulness that she had become aware of.
`Have you finished?' he asked with slightly lifted brows, 'or is there something else you would like to see?'
It was all Mary could do not to gape at him. He was actually trying to please her and this was a new experience . for her; she swallowed quickly and to cover her embarrassment looked around for Enrique and Isabel.
'I have left Enrique sampling an ice with Isabel,' he told her, proving that he was aware of her discomfort and, she suspected, deriving some amusement from the fact. 'They are quite, capable of entertaining themselves,' he added softly.
Mary had come out of her surprised state and was now slightly wary of the change in Rafael's mariner towards her, and the phrase of 'if you can't beat them, join them,' hovered around her bemused mind. Even if there had been something she had particularly wished to see, this new development would have completely driven it out of her mind. 'No, thank you,' she
found herself saying, and looked round wildly for the exit, having a sudden longing for Enrique and Isabel's company..
Rafael, however, was not so easily discouraged. 'Your interest is pleasing,' he said quietly. 'I am as proud of our heritage as my father is. It would be no hardship to me to escort you to whatever part of the Cathedral you wish to visit.' His eyes lingered on the beautiful stained glass windows ahead of them. 'The paintings alone are worth a second visit,' he added slowly, then gave her a slow heartstopping smile. 'Perhaps you are right. I shall make a point of ensuring that you have more time on your next visit.'
'Thank you,' was all Mary could find to say in her confusion at the sudden switch of attention that Rafael was affording her. '
'We're going to see a bullfight,' announced Enrique as soon as Mary joined them, and at her look of utter consternation Rafael intervened with, 'Not today, tomorrow. The ladies may be excused, of course.'
'But I adore bullfights,' complained Isabel, giving Rafael an accusing look: 'You know I do! Please include me in the treat,' she begged him pleadingly.
'Very well,' replied Rafael, but Mary could tell that he was not pleased with .her. Neither was Enrique,. if the scowl on his face was anything to go by! '
'Girls don't like that sort of thing,' he said darkly yet hopefully.
'I am not a girl! ' answered Isabel acidly. 'I'm a senorita. Surely you've learnt that much? And senoritas like bullfights,' she added pithily, then turned back to Rafael, dismissing Enrique's indignant reply to her scathing remark on his Spanish as if it were of no consequence. 'You didn't think I would want to miss such
an opportunity, surely? Remember how we used to queue for hours when we were young?' she reminded him, adding on a sad note, 'There seems to be much that you have forgotten.'
Rafael answered her in their native tongue, and it was the first time that he had used Spanish in Mary's and Enrique's company, but it proved to Mary that his patience with Isabel was wearing a little thin. Although he spoke rapidly, Mary was able to gather the gist of his words, and they were not at all loverlike or complimentary to Isabel. He told her in no uncertain terms that there were times when the feminine element was not required, and this was one of them, and for that simple reason he had arranged to spend the afternoon with his nephew.
The quick flush in Isabel's cheeks told Mary that she had taken the point, but nevertheless resented it. She did not, however, bow out of the visit as Mary would have done in the same circumstances, but replied sharply that she would be sure to find some friends there, and if that was what he wanted then she would sit elsewhere.
After this short but highly instructive altercation between Rafael and Isabel, Mary began to have second thoughts about the probability of Rafael marrying Isabel.
As pretty as Isabel was, she was also thoroughly spoilt, and had no intention of taking second place to anyone, even begrudging a child a few hours' privacy with his uncle.
On the way back to the villa Mary sat with the still fuming Isabel in the back of the car, while Enrique lorded it in the front seat beside his uncle. There was something about his dark upright held head that told
Mary that he was well pleased with the turn of events. He did not understand Spanish, but 'the look in his uncle's eye when he had spoken to Isabel was proof enough for Enrique that Isabel had been well and truly put in her place. If he had had any doubts on this, her furious response would have soon dispelled them.
She was not, Mary thought, being very clever; if she had stopped to think about things she would have realised that she was not helping her cause one little bit by these shows of tantrums, for that was what they really amounted to. Everything was fine as long as she received what she considered was her due accolade from whatever company she was in, but woe betide anyone who attempted to put her in the shade.
Even while condemning Isabel's attitude, Mary was able to partially understand it. She knew that the Spaniards revered beauty in any form, and there was no denying that Isabel was beautiful. She must have grown up with an exalted opinion of herself at the many highly complementary remarks she would have received from the appreciative male population, who' would not have stinted their admiring comments.
When Mary recalled that Rafael's brother had wanted to break off their engagement, it was not hard to imagine Isabel's fury—and it would have been fury, not sorrow, Mary presumed. Her attitude towards Enrique's son had supported Joan Santos's assumptions that she had had no intention of going through with the marriage, not while Rafael was unattached and there was still a chance of ensnaring him.
Isabel's air of affronted dignity during dinner that evening made the meal an uncomfortable one for Mary, for she found herself once again receiving attention
from Rafael and this only served to annoy Isabel further.
Don Emilio was not present at the meal, and Mary, remembering how tired he had looked that morning, was not surprised to learn that he had retired early. She sorely missed his comforting presence particularly as she was still trying to assimilate Reafael's sudden change of attitude towards her, and wondered what Don Emilio would make of it.
Her thoughtful grey eyes rested on. Rafael's strong profile as he turned to answer a coquettish remark of Isabel's, who must have come to the belated conclusion that her doleful air of wounded dignity was not having the desired effect upon Rafael, and was in fact, directing his attention to Mary.
After dinner Mary decided to go to bed at the earliest given opportunity. Without Don Emilio's company she could only envisage a miserable evening on the receiving end of Isabel's sharpened talons as her sudden recovery of spirits had not had the desired effect either, and Rafael had continued to favour Mary with his attentions.
If Mary was having trouble trying to absorb this puzzling turn of events in her favour, how was Isabel, for she had never envisaged Mary as a rival for Rafael's affections. At this thought Mary nearly choked as she drank her coffee. Whatever else she might be rivalling Isabel for it was certainly not Rafael's affections, and she wished fervently that she knew what he was up to. He had some plan in mind, that much was certain, for men like Rafael Alvarados did not s
uddenly alter their opinions, and his opinion of Mary had not been what one might term as inspired.
As soon as she had drunk her coffee, Mary chose what
she hoped would be an advantageous time to make her departure as Isabel was holding Rafael's attention by getting him to unravel a thread of silk from her shawl that had become entangled on her bracelet, and saying a hasty 'goodnight' she made her way to the door.
She had barely reached the door when Rafael's smooth voice cut off her retreat. 'I hope you are not leaving us, Mary. I particularly want to talk to you.' He gave the open mouthed Isabel a warning look before he added, `I'm sure Isabel will excuse us if we take a stroll in the garden. You might like to entertain Father for a little while,' he suggested to the amazed Isabel.
Mary's confused mind tried to come up with a few excuses as to why she would not be able to accept his, to her sensitive feelings, ominous invitation, but she was well aware that whatever excuse she came up with it would not serve to distract him from his course. She swallowed and found herself inclining her head in agreement, steadfastly avoiding Isabel's furious eyes.
`You might collect a wrap of some sort,' he told Mary, and gave an ironic smile as he added, 'but please, I beg you, not of the lacy variety, they are apt to cause diversions.'
Mary might have reminded him that she wore no bracelets, but if the truth were to be told she would probably welcome some diversion, she told herself as she went to her room to collect a cardigan.
By the time she rejoined Rafael and entered the garden with him, she had convinced herself that he had decided to offer her money to precipitate her early removal from Seville. To her way of thinking it was the only reason why he had changed his tactics and adopted a 'be kind to Mary' attitude.
There must have been something in her quiet ac
ceptance of the situation that she had found herself in during the few weeks that she had been resident in the villa that had made him decide to .bring matters to a head, she thought, as she waited in silence for him to make whatever offer he thought would meet her approval.
'There is a quietness about you, Mary Allis, that is extremely disturbing,' he began, throwing Mary out of her bitter musings and into a state of panic at the thought that he might be using flattery to enable him to gain her support for what he had in mind. 'And I must admit,' he went on in that deep voice of his, 'that at the start of our acquaintance I had not formed a very good impression of your character.' At this Mary's hands clenched at her side. He was talking about the conversation he had overheard between Derek and herself, and although she had to admit that on the face of things it must have looked as if she was out to gain recompense for bringing up Paul.
'Since then, however,' he continued slowly, 'I have altered .my previous opinion.' He stared down at the silent Mary, whose pale oval face was quite visible in the creamy light of a large moon. 'You are either an extremely clever scheming, woman or an exceptionally attractive one.' At Mary's grasp at this bald observance, he added, prefer to think of you as the latter. If I
am wrong,' he hesitated here and then went on, 'either way, you will have nothing to fear from the future as far as you and Enrique are concerned.'
They continued walking down the narrow path that led to the lower gardens and Mary wondered 'whether he expected her to thank him for this assurance for their future. For Enrique's future, she reminded herself, for if Rafael attempted to offer her some monetary
recompense he would soon find which of his two earlier observances was the correct one!
In the event she remained silent, sensing that he had more on his mind than just assuring her of their future.
`What I am now about to ask you may seem preposterous, but I would ask you to bear in mind the fact that my father's health, although much improved, holds out no hope of longevity. It is for this reason that I have decided not to return to England, but to appoint a manager to take over our affairs in London. There is also,' he went on slowly and deliberately, 'the undeniable fact that Enrique needs a mother's guidance and will do for several years to come.' His eyes bored into Mary's as he added, 'Taking all these things into consideration I have come to the conclusion that I must take a wife. I am asking you if you will do me the honour of accepting my proposal.'
At that moment Mary was incapable of accepting. anything, let alone a proposal of marriage from the daunting Rafael Alvarados! Her mind had gone completely blank as soon as she had grasped his intention. 'I don't—I really—' was as far as she could get, then she made a tremendous effort to pull herself together and her voice was not on its normal steady course but slightly high pitched as she tried again. 'You must see that I'm completely overwhelmed. I had no idea—I'm very grateful, of course—and honoured,' she added hastily as an afterthought, 'but marriage!' This was said with such intensity that Rafael could not have missed the inward turmoil going through her thoughts at that time.
'It need not be so distasteful,' he said quietly yet thoughtfully, as if her reaction had given him food for thought, as well it might have done since Rafael had
spent several years skilfully avoiding such a commitment. It was a new experience for him to find someone as wary of the marital state as he had once teen. The fact that Mary was alone in the world and undeniably loved the boy she had looked upon, as her own made her reluctance to accept his proposal even more startling.
He stared down at her; his past experience with the opposite sex and their intricate wiles to gain themselves a rich husband had not left a favourable impression on him, yet here was this woman now watching him with those large grey eyes of hers, plainly wanting to refuse his proposal. She was not beautiful, he mused, and could hardly be called pretty, yet she was not unpleasing to look at. He had called her attractive, and she was, he thought suddenly. Another thought then occurred to him that sent a wave of fury through him, surprising him with its depth of feeling. 'You told my father that you were free,' he said harshly. 'Was it a lie? Do you still care for the man you were engaged to?'
Mary stared up at him, no less surprised by his sudden change of mood. 'No,' she replied steadily. 'The engagement was ended. I told your father the truth.'
The reply appeared to please him and his voice lost its harshness as he said, 'This has come as a shock to you, of course, but I do ask you to seriously consider my proposal in the light of what I have told you. If you take everything into consideration, I believe that you will come to realise that it would be the perfect solution for the future. As I mentioned earlier, it need not be a distasteful experience. We can look upon it as a marriage of convenience, if you like. In time we may have second thoughts on the matter so there will be no harm done. We shall just go our separate ways.'
If this calm statement was meant to assure Mary, it had the opposite effect, and a wave of panic rushed over her. He was taking it for granted that she would accept his proposal! In point of fact he was underlying her acceptance by laying down the rules of procedure after the marriage.
There were a lot of sacrifices she had had to make in the past where Enrique was concerned, but this was one that she felt utterly incapable of making. No doubt Isabel would think her quite mad in refusing to marry this dark handsome man whom she had pinned her hopes on for all these years, but then Isabel was not afraid of him, and Mary was. She knew he could be gentle and just with those he loved, this she knew instinctively, but he did not love her. In a way, she thought, he too, was, making a sacrifice, but for whose sake? his father's or Enrique's? Had his father's slight relapse brought about a twinge of conscience? or had the fact that Isabel and Enrique simply did' not get on force this decision on him?
It was probably a bit of each, she thought miserably, and then steeled herself to say what must be said. She must be firm or she would be lost. `Senor Alvarados,' she began steadily, and was immediately stopped by Rafael who intervened with,
`I call you Mary. Please use my Christian name, too. I know you will find this difficult, but I really think we have got
past the polite stage of our acquaintance.'
Mary was not quite sure what he meant by this, but there had been a certain inflection in his voice that started her heart palpitating at an alarming rate and almost made her forget her intention of firmly refusing his proposal, but not quite. However, her next attempt was forestalled by Rafael catching hold of her hand and
placing it on his arm as he turned her back towards the villa again. 'Come, let us rescue Isabel from what she
would consider an irksome duty. We shall say no more on the subject we have been discussing. There will be time enough for such arrangements.'
With a sinking heart Mary realised that she was no match for this very clever man. She was certain he had judged her reaction to a nicety, and had also known that she was on the point of refusing him when he had made that subtle intervention and had given her no time to voice her decision.
The only ray of hope that she was able to hold out to herself when she finally went to bed that evening was that she had not said 'yes' either, and if and when she ever got the opportunity of stating her case, then surely this Would hold her in good stead? She hadn't actually lied to him, just agreed to think about it as he had suggested, so what was she worrying about? Only the fact that men like Rafael Alvarados usually got what they wanted, that was all, a tiny voice whispered in her brain.
CHAPTER TEN
THE following morning Don Emilio's doctor arrived and ordered a week's rest for him, and his confinement to bed gave Mary the excuse she badly needed to keep out of Rafael's Way.
Unlike Isabel she did not consider sitting with Don Emilio and keeping him company an irksome task. She had grown very fond of him in the short time that she had resided in the villa, and judging by the smile of welcome she would always receive from him when she visited him in his room, his sentiments were the same as hers.