Luna Tango (11 page)

‘Roberto—'

‘No, Louisa. If you loved me, you would let all this go.' He gestured towards the house and expansive gardens. ‘Damn Eduardo and his wealth. Damn Eduardo and his contacts. Damn Eduardo and his hold over you.'

‘It's not what you think, I promise.' She desperately needed a way to convince him of her love, yet not betray her word to Eduardo.

‘You're used to the good life, I can see. You never look uncomfortable when he showers you with presents. You parade throughout the concert halls in designer gowns and precious jewels. I can't give you this—not yet. I can give you my love but obviously that's not enough.' He crossed his arms and scowled.

Unfortunately, his words held truth. Most young women in her position would have done the same, especially when the benefactor didn't expect sexual payment in return. Material wealth wasn't everything, but if she were entirely honest, returning to an uncertain life and poverty would be torture.

She sighed and looked him directly in the eyes. ‘Roberto, I love you more than heaven and earth and as much as I want to be with you, we do have other factors to consider.'

‘Tell me what they are.'

‘I can't, I ...' This was getting too hard, too complicated. ‘I can't.'

‘Not good enough.'

‘You're right, and I want to give you a full explanation for my staying with Eduardo, but I can't tell you why right now.' She looked to the bright blue sky and focused on a wispy cloud. It had been years since her father had passed and she'd honoured her promise to him to have integrity and keep her word above all else. This was the only thing he'd asked, yet here she was, about to lose the love of her life because she'd made a promise she couldn't break.

Jealousy flashed in Roberto's eyes. ‘Are you sleeping with him?'

‘No! I was a virgin until last night.' She bit her lip and studied her hands clasped in her lap. She should be hurt but it was anger at Eduardo that had fuelled his thoughtless question.

‘I'm sorry.' He placed his hands on hers. The warmth from his fingers travelled through her body and melted the chill at the base of her spine. ‘This situation drives me crazy. I want to understand and respect your wishes, and do as you ask, but he makes me boiling mad. And after today's effort, he's going to ditch me. So I've lost you and my career.'

‘It might not work out like that. I'll talk to him and smooth things over. Just stay away until I tell you it's safe.'

‘Maybe I don't want to perform and run his affairs. Who's to say I can't make my own way on the circuit? I'll play in seedy bars again if I have to and I'll save every cent so you can be with me.'

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a cigarette. Lighting it, he inhaled deeply and let the smoke fly out in an acrid cloud.

‘When did you start smoking again?' She reached for the offending cigarette but Roberto pulled it away.

‘Since this stress has gotten to me.' He turned his head to the side and took a puff.

‘It makes you smell like a chimney. Please put it out.'

He gave a nonchalant shrug and kept puffing. This rebellion was meant to hurt her. After all, she'd caused him pain with her refusal to elaborate about her reasons for staying with Eduardo. She'd give him this one act of defiance, even if he stank.

They sat in silence while Roberto puffed and Louisa worried. He leant forwards and flicked the butt into the empty garden bed.

‘Roberto, you need to think. Tango runs through your blood. You live and breathe it. Could you really turn your back on it all? Your passion for the music is one of the qualities I love about you.' She placed her finger under his chin and lifted his head to meet her eyes. ‘This is your dream. Do you want to destroy it because of a spat with Eduardo? He'll leave soon, then you can take the reins with his blessing and let the world see what a talented musician you are.'

‘But he's taking you.'

‘I don't know how it will happen but I will return. You have my word, and that's the most precious thing I can give.'

‘Apart from your heart.'

‘You already have that.' She smiled and pushed a stray strand of hair behind his ear.

‘I miss you already.' The sadness in his voice soothed her agitation.

‘I miss you, too, even when I'm with you. It's hard being in the same room and knowing what we share—shared—we can't relive again. Let's enjoy the last moments we have together.' She edged closer. Sandalwood mixed with cigarette drifted across the late afternoon breeze.

With pounding temples and a racing heart, she angled her body forwards, anticipating the moment when their lips would meet. A small sigh escaped her mouth before they connected. His arms enveloped her, his chest pressed against hers, and she got lost in the intoxicating passion. Desire set every molecule of her being on fire. Her skin craved his touch. She wanted him. Here. Now.

Someone loudly cleared their throat.

Roberto and Louisa sprang apart. She spun around to find Stanley Wyler standing on the bottom step of the gazebo, staring at them with glazed eyes.

‘Canziani had a visit from his accountant so he sent me out into the garden to find you,' said Wyler, his eyes travelling from Louisa to Roberto and back again.

‘I—we—'

‘You don't need to explain. I don't know whether the old boy can see it, but for me, the chemistry between you two is obvious.' Wyler climbed the last steps and placed his large frame on the cushions opposite.

‘Are you going to tell him?' Louisa's voice shook.

Wyler took off his hat and wiped the back of his neck with a handkerchief. ‘I don't think so. What you two do doesn't concern me. I now understand your reaction before, Roberto.'

‘Could you employ me to work with your orchestra?' Roberto's tone bordered on desperate.

Wyler pushed his palms down his thighs. ‘Ah, that is not possible. Even if you are as good as everyone says, I cannot risk getting Eddie offside. If he changes his mind, I lose my chance at creating musical history. If he does not want you in Hollywood, I cannot do anything about it.' As if sensing their fear, he said, ‘Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.'

‘Thank you,' Louisa and Roberto said simultaneously.

‘Although, Louisa, I thought you were ...' He coughed into his fist. ‘How shall I delicately put this? Romantically inclined with the Argentine royalty in there.' He cocked his head towards the house.

‘Uh ...' she said, not sure what to say. Roberto straightened his spine. ‘Lots of people think—'

‘I don't care what they think. Hell, I don't care what I think. It's your life. Eddie has no idea, eh? I see the way he looks at you, Louisa. He's like a puppy dog. A cantankerous mutt, but a puppy dog nonetheless. He says he can't write or perform without you nearby.'

Louisa gave a small shrug. ‘I haven't had a chance to see if it isn't so.'

‘Would you be game to?' Wyler didn't pause long enough for her to answer. ‘What if it was true and he couldn't perform if you left him? Argentina would suffer the loss of their greatest musician, and in these turbulent times, they need their national icons for consistency. Believe me, I've seen what instability can do to unhappy people. And, of course, on a purely selfish note, I don't want him to fall apart before we get these tango movies underway. Imagine how proud the Argentines will be when Eddie succeeds in getting the world to fall in love with tango once more.' Wyler slapped on his hat. ‘I should keep my big mouth shut but I have to say, Argentina—and my studio—can't afford to have Eddie fail, and I imagine if he knew about what you two have been up to, his fall would be hard and fast.'

‘I know.' She lowered her eyes. Wyler's words supported what she and Roberto had discussed on many occasions. ‘We had no intentions of going this far.'

‘You two should go to the house.' Roberto cocked his head to the mansion, his eyes pleading with Louisa to remain quiet.

Leaning towards Wyler, Louisa wrapped her hands around his, surprised at their smoothness. Looking at him earnestly, she said, ‘I can't thank you enough for your judiciousness.'

‘I heard enough of your conversation with Roberto to know this is not a fling. However, I do suggest you think about what you're doing. Whatever you do will not only affect the two of you but will have great repercussions on the future of your country's lifeblood— the tango.'

Her grandma's phone rang and as it did so, Dani hoped she didn't answer. This way, she could say she tried to contact Stella and not have to deal with the continuing fallout.

‘Hello?'

Damn
.

‘Hi ... Grandma?'

‘Dani?' Stella's icy tone sent chills down Dani's spine.

‘Yes.'

‘Where are you?'

Squeezing her eyes shut, she said, ‘Argentina.'

‘You found that mother of yours?'

‘No.'

‘Good. You're not learning how to dance
it
are you?'

‘Um ...' She couldn't lie to her grandma, no matter how angry Stella made her.

‘You are playing with fire, girl. That dance is a curse on our family.'

‘I don't believe in curses. And anyway, have you seen me dance? The most musical I've ever gotten was trying to work out how to use my iPod and remember how that turned out?' She pictured the mass of wires on her desk at home.

‘Things change. When are you going back to New York?'

‘I'm not. I've got to get the stories done and—'

‘Don't give excuses, Dani. We made a promise to each other years ago. No tango. No Argentina.' Her voice lowered an octave. ‘No Iris.'

‘I was five years old for god's sake!'

‘Dani!'

‘For goodness' sake.' She gritted her teeth. ‘Life changes. People change. Grandma, I'm not ringing for a lecture, all I wanted was to tell you I'm okay.'
In case you cared
. ‘So, I've been doing some research on the history of tango—'

‘I don't want to know about it.'

‘Let me finish, please? I was just wondering if you've heard of the tango composer and singer Eduardo Canziani?' Dani grimaced the moment the words fell from her mouth and she felt ridiculous. The pause on the other end was long enough for Dani to feel uncomfortable. Stella breathed heavily through her nostrils—another sign she was pissed.

‘Why are you asking me this?' Agitation shot down the line and zapped Dani. She should have known better.

‘He was around your era and I thought you may know of him.'

‘Why is it important? If you have to cover the tango, why don't you find some young upstart who's about to become famous? Keep it edgy, as you like to say. Why didn't you stick with teaching English? You were excellent at that.' Bitterness punctuated Stella's sentences and the barbed remarks about her abilities pierced Dani's self-esteem.

‘It was just a question. Listen, I have to go. I'll call you later.'

‘Call me when you're in New York and not before.'

‘Bye, Grandma.'

The phone clicked in Dani's ear. ‘Well, that was about as successful as last month's diet.'

Dani closed the laptop, pushed it aside and stretched her legs. Running the conversation through her head, she analysed Stella's every word and reaction. Nothing stood out other than her grandma's irritation, which was expected. It wasn't like she thought Stella would burst into tears and confess she was Louisa Gilchrist and had killed Eduardo Canziani. Didn't criminals usually confess during the third conversation?

‘I watch too much CSI,' she said quietly and let out a small laugh.

This talking to herself was disconcerting. Some real-life company was needed, otherwise she'd end up like the old lady she'd seen in the park yesterday, who'd flicked seeds at the pigeons and had a grand old conversation with herself. Actually, the old woman had seemed content.

She glanced at the clock: 5.07 a.m. Way too early for anyone she knew in Buenos Aires to be awake and all her friends in New York would be snoozing.
Pfft
.

Pulling out her phone, she selected ‘Contacts' and stared at Carlos's name. If she texted him now, he'd get her message when he woke later. Sure, she could text Gualberto, but she didn't think his wife would appreciate another woman contacting him in the early hours, no matter how innocent. Texting Carlos sat better, even though he insisted on this stupid dancing-for-answers caper. At the rate she was going, she'd be in Argentina until Christmas 2025.

Carlos, what are the chances of us meeting for lunch today? Dani

Placing the phone on the bedside table, she turned off the light and snuggled under the covers. She'd do well to get some shut eye so she could have a clear head for today's research.

The phone vibrated and a green light pierced the dark room.

Let us meet in 30 minutes. La Biela, Recoleta. Chau, Carlos

Dani blinked rapidly, surprised he'd replied so fast. Dashing to the bathroom, she stripped off her nightie and flung open the door to the shower. Cold water tingled her skin as she soaped up, all the while wondering why Carlos would be awake in the wee hours of the morning. Probably talking to himself, just like her. She laughed and spat out the soap that landed on her tongue. Today had started in an interesting way.

* * *

Scooting past two red phone boxes that would have been more at home in London, Dani made it to the rendezvous twenty-eight minutes after receiving Carlos's text. She entered the café, excited to see if it lived up to the hype she'd read on blogs. She expected it to be almost empty but it was chock-a-block with patrons who had finished clubbing or were about to start their workday. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the cavernous space as waiters in black trousers, crisp white shirts and pristine aprons hurried between tables, balancing silver trays loaded with drinks and pastries. She eyed the sweets, her tastebuds doing a happy dance thinking about crusty flakes melting in her mouth.