The Arrogant Duke (14 page)

'Naturally,' murmured Juliet, feeling that some remark was warranted. 'Er - can I - can I offer you some tea?'

Estelle's smile was a little tight. 'In the
quinta
I feel completely at home,' she said. 'If I require tea I have only to ask for it.'

'Oh, oh, of course,
^'
said Juliet awkwardly. 'I just thought..,...' Her voice trailed away, and Estelle glanced around, apparently assuring herself that they were alone.

'Tell me,' she said, leaning forward, 'your - er - relationship to Teresa has improved intensively, I hear.'

'Teresa and I are good friends, if that is what you mean,' returned Juliet, a trifle dryly.

'Of course, of course. That is exactly what I meant. That is good. She has accepted you. Acceptance is
the
most important thing, don't you think?'

Juliet inclined her head, unwilling to make any comment.

'However, that is not entirely the whole of my reasons for speaking with you, Rosemary. I - er - I want to tell you something about Laura Weston.'

Juliet stiffened. 'Teresa has already told me a little about her previous companion,
senhora
,' she said politely.

Estelle's whole attitude, her casual use of her supposed Christian name, the almost confiding tone she was using, was intended to imply a confidence that Juliet was far from feeling.

'Yes, I suppose she has. After all, she was absolutely delighted when Laura made a positive fool of herself over the Duque. However, I think I can be a little more sympathetic about the whole affair.'

'I don't see what this has to do with me,
senhora,'
said Juliet, feeling slightly nauseated now.

'Don't you? Oh, well, perhaps not. Nevertheless, I feel I must tell you about Laura's unfortunate dilemma. You see—' Estelle glanced round yet again, '—you see, my dear, Laura was a rather - how shall Iput it? - er - attractive girl, and well - quite used to being pursued by men.' She gave a slight laugh. 'After all, Americans are noted for their pursuit of their women, aren't they? At any rate, when she came here, ripe for romance, as they say, and encountered the Duque, who even I must admit is quite devastatingly attractive, she misinterpreted the Duque's interest in her work as something much more personal.'

'How unfortunate!' murmured Juliet dryly.

'Yes, wasn't it?' Estelle put just the right amount of sympathy in her tone. 'And of course, when the Duque discovered her - well - penchant for him, he had no option but to dismiss her.' She sighed and gave an expressive gesture. 'Of course, in her case it was not a tragedy. She and Teresa had never gotten along. Their relationship had been stormy at the best of times, so that her departure was quite a relief, really.'

She rose to her feet, surveying her dainty sandals with a critical eye. 'But you, Rosemary,
you
are different. Teresa likes you, she has taken to you, and I really believe that with you she could make genuine progress, particularly as you appear to have that odious Madison woman taped from the start. I never liked her, of course, and the sooner she can be dismissed the better.' ,

'Thank you for your confidence in me,' said Juliet, biting her lip. 'Is - is that all, because if so—'

'No. No, Rosemary, not quite all.' Estelle compressed her lips, obviously looking for words to phrase her next statement. 'The fact is, I came here yesterday when you were out with the Duque. Consuelo told me.'

Juliet had known this was coming all along. And now it was here, and she felt frozen.

'Oh, yes,' she managed, in a tight little voice.

'Yes.' Estelle compressed her lips again. 'My dear Rosemary, I have no desire to offend you, but - well, I am afraid you might fall into the same trap as did poor Laura.'

'I don't think—' Juliet began, only to be interrupted.

'Wait, please. I know you are a sensible girl, and I don't want you to misunderstand me, Rosemary, but as I have said, the Duque is the kind of man whom women seem to find irresistible—'

Now Juliet interrupted Estelle.
'Senhora!
I can set your mind at rest. I am perfectly aware of your position, and of that of the Duque. And I am also not foolish enough to imagine the passing interest the Duque showed in me yesterday, by taking me to Lauganca Bay, when he was probably bored, as anything more than what it was.'

Estelle stopped moving about restlessly, and stared at her. 'I really believe you mean that, Rosemary.'

'Of course I mean it,' exclaimed Juliet, a little angrily, angry because inside her heart felt as though it was being torn apart by the strength of her emotions. But it was not love. That moment of revelation on the beach was not love. It could not be. It was infatuation. Love was a gentle thing, not this ravening monster that held her in its thrall.

Estelle smiled, rather smugly, Juliet thought. 'I'm so glad you understand, my dear. It's very difficult for me to have to broach such a subject, but Felipe seems to have no idea of the effect he has on susceptible females.
^'

'I am not a susceptible female,
^'
said Juliet tightly. 'Unlike Portuguese women, British women are encouraged in gaining complete independence, and the Duque is by no means the most attractive man I have met!' She said this with vehemence, causing Estelle
^'
s
eyes to narrow slightly.

'You mean you have known a lot of other men?' questioned the older woman, her eyes enigmatic.

Juliet shrugged her shoulders. 'Of course,
^'
she said, forcing a light tone. 'You don't imagine British women marry the first man who takes an interest in them, do you?
^'

Estelle shrugged. 'Of course, your ways are not our ways. I forget.
^'
This was said with just that touch of arrogance, making Juliet feel wholly inferior.

'Is that all, then,
senhora
?
^'
Juliet rose to go. She wanted to get as far away from Estelle as the
quinta
would allow. Her earlier suspicions of Estelle Vinceiro had been realized. She could be just as ruthless as anyone could be when there was a chance of her plans being thwarted. Juliet began to wonder whether Laura Weston's abrupt dismissal had been wholly justified. Maybe she had become interested in the Duque, and Estelle, afraid of competition, had exaggerated the girl's feelings into something distasteful to a man as fastidious as the Duque de Castro.

And on the heels of this thought came another. That first day when in her anger she had told the Duque that Teresa was in love with him had resulted in an immediate response. If Estelle was insinuating her opinions into his mind at every turn he might find it difficult to distinguish what was truth and what was not. Obviously Estelle was obsessed with the idea that every woman who laid eyes on the Duque might have designs on him, and he had probably ignored her remarks to begin with. But when she, Juliet, had accused Teresa, she had unwittingly put more power into Estelle's hands by supporting her. Heavens, she thought, what a situation! She was tempted to put the whole affair behind her and return to England with her father if he indeed was there to meet her tomorrow.

But she knew she would not - she could not! This was something she had to see through to the end, even if that end was anathema to her. And there was always Teresa, who in time, Juliet was sure, would realize the futility of her feelings for a man old enough to be her father.

And Teresa needed Juliet, that was certain, now that Estelle had revealed herself in her true colours. Estelle didn't care about anybody but herself. Teresa was- just an unnecessary encumbrance, for whom she had to find a companion, to free the Duque for more personal motives. If, through changing companions, Teresa suffered, that was just part of the pattern.

Estelle now was all smiles. 'It's so good to know I have an ally in you, Rosemary,
^'
she said silkily, but Juliet just shook her head, and somehow walked blindly towards the entrance to the
quinta.
She dare not speak. For once her emotions ruled her head, and she couldn't have cared less what construction Estelle placed on her abrupt departure.

T
HE
next morning dawned bright and clear, a wonderful morning, and yet Juliet found it difficult to drag herself out of bed. Apart from the mental torture of spending a day in the Duque's company, she had the daunting prospect of her father to face and some sort of excuse to offer to the Duque as to why she should want some free time alone in Bridgetown. Of course, as she had not officially had any free time since arriving on Venterra he could hardly object, but he -would be bound to be curious.

When, dressed in a slim-fitting sheath of scarlet linen, with a scooped-out neckline and no sleeves, she went down to the patio for breakfast, she found the Duque himself breakfasting with Teresa, the sound of the girl's laughter echoing warmly round the impressive environs of the courtyard of the
quinta.

He rose at her approach, wished her
Bom dia,
and waited until she was seated at the glass-topped table before reseating himself. His expression was enigmatic, and she wished she knew what he was thinking. The previous evening he had dined out, and although she knew she was stupid, the memory of that explosive moment on the beach continued to haunt her thoughts.

'Are you ready for our trip?' he asked politely, and Juliet nodded.'Yes,
senhor.
But - well, there was something I wanted to ask you about that.'

'Oh, yes?' His tone was guarded.

'Yes. Er - would it be all right if I took a couple of hours off, while we are in Bridgetown?'

'A couple of hours off?' He frowned. 'Forgive me, what am I supposed to gather from that remark? Surely this day in Bridgetown's hardly working.'

Juliet flushed. He was making it extremely difficult for her.

'I know it sounds ungrateful,
senhor,
but since my arrival here over three weeks ago, I have not had any actual free time. By this—' she hastened on, '—by this I mean time away from either my employers or my employer's establishment.'

The Duque's expression was glacial. 'I see. I am afraid I have overlooked this point. Perhaps I was foolish enough to imagine that the simple tasks allotted to you here did not actually constitute work. It seems I was mistaken. Of course, Miss Summers, you may take
a couple of hours off.'

Juliet shrank within herself. Even Teresa was looking hurt and distressed, and she felt an absolute heel But how could she explain her real reasons?

Such an inauspicious beginning to the day did not augur well for the trip. The hydroplane transported them smoothly across the expanse of sea and islands towards their destination, but conversation was stilted, and Juliet half-wished she had waited until later to ask for those few hours of freedom. Now she had blighted not only her own, but Teresa's, day. As for the Duque, he seemed silent and remote, without even his usual gentle tenderness towards his ward.

In Bridgetown they lunched at a hotel in the city centre, where they could watch the sometimes amusing antics of the policemen on their points, and the kaleidoscopic panorama of humanity that passed beneath their windows. Teresa was enchanted with the donkeys in the high streets, anxious to visit the market and the waterfront, so that when the hands on the clock crept round to two-thirty Juliet did not think it would be too difficult to effect her escape. The Duque had a car on the island, and it had been awaiting them at the airport, and Juliet vaguely imagined that he would take Teresa on a sightseeing tour after lunch, leaving her free to keep her assignation.

However, when she suggested that now would be a suitable time to leave, the Duque failed to respond in the manner she had expected.

'Tell me,
senhorita
,' he murmured, as they stood beside the luxurious automobile, parked irreverently in a
No Parking
area, Teresa sitting patiently in the front sea, 'am I wrong, or do you have some assignation to keep?'

The hot colour surged into her cheeks, and she moved uncomfortably beneath those piercing dark eyes.

'Please,
senhor,'
she exclaimed, 'can you not allow me these few minutes of free time without requiring a detailed explanation of everything I do?'

The Duque's expression darkened. 'No, I cannot,
senhorita
!' he replied, his tone suppressing the anger she could feel that was emanating from him. 'While you are in my employ I will know where and how and with whom you spend your time!
^'

Her emotions drawn to a taut, feverish thread, Juliet felt an unreasoning fury at his arrogant words.

'Just who do you think you are talking to?' she exclaimed angrily. 'I may be in your employ, but you don't
own
me!'

'Senhorita
, you overstep yourself,' he snapped furiously.

'It is you who overstep yourself,
senhor
!' she retorted, uncaring of the interested, speculating glances that were being cast in their direction.

'Senhorita,
I am known in Barbados, and I do not intend that you should make a fool of me, and incidentally yourself, in the heart of its capital,' he muttered violently, and almost without her realizing what he was doing, he opened the rear door of the vehicle, thrust her inside, and slammed the door after her; climbing into the front, and setting the car in motion before she had time to gather her startled wits.

'How dare you!' she gasped, leaning forward, and even Teresa seemed astounded at her guardian's uncharacteristic behaviour. She looked at him sideways, and said:

'Surely Senhorita Summers is entitled to do as she pleases, Tio Felipe!'

The Duque gave her a stony glance. 'This is nothing to do with you, Teresa, and you will please to keep out of it.' He swung the car recklessly round a corner, causing Juliet to cling on to her seat, and then said: 'If you will tell me your destination,
senhorita
, I will take you there.'

Juliet compressed her lips. The Hauser Reef Club was hardly the type of place a girl of limited means would choose as a meeting place. Then, her anger overriding other considerations, she made up her mind. After all, the Duque would not know why she was going there; it would do him good to have something he couldn't understand to think about.