The Arrogant Duke (18 page)

No! This was something she must do alone. She chewed desperately at her lower lip. But how? She could hardly order the hydroplane without the Duque's knowledge, and their isolation here did not aid any attempts at a secret departure.

Then a thought struck her. The day, that first disturbing day, when the Duque had taken herself and Teresa to Lauganca Bay he had stopped in the village to see about supplies which were coming in on the island steamer. She remembered then that Consuelo had mentioned the island steamer, telling her that it was the way the islanders visited St. Lucia and St. Vincent. If
she
could take this island steamer, she could easily pick up a charter flight from either of the larger islands. Money was no 'problem. Even in the Car-ibbean, the name of Robert Lindsay carried plenty of weight. Once back in London, she could write at length to Teresa, explaining her actions, and possibly asking her to visit her there. After all, she had grown quite fond of Teresa, and through her she would at least hear a little about the Duque, even if such news would be bitter-sweet.

But the island steamer only visited the island twice weekly, and tomorrow was one of those days. That gave her little time to plan any kind of subterfuge. She sighed. Was it really only five or six weeks ago that she had been planning her escape from London, only now to find herself planning an almost identical journey home? Rosemary would think she was completely crazy, and her father - well, her father would feel very pleased that he had won, even if only indirectly.

When the time for evening dinner came round, she sent a message with one of the maids, excusing herself on the pretext that she had a headache. The ache in her head was real enough, but actually she needed time to think, and to pack, and she had no desire to meet the Duque again before her departure. Those piercing dark eyes might penetrate her inmost thoughts and discover the guilty plans she was making.

It would be impossible, of course, to take all her luggage. An overnight change of clothes thrust into her basket-bag would have to suffice. When she left the
quinta
the following afternoon she wanted no one to suspect that she was bent on anything but a shopping expedition. Such a pastime was not unknown to her, and Miguel would get a car for her as he always did, without any reason for suspecting her destination.

As though to aid her plans, the next morning, the Duque did not appear at breakfast. Teresa explained that during the night there had been a fire in the cajie fields, and although the fire had been extinguished, the Duque would be out all day inspecting the damage.

She studied Juliet's pale cheeks with some anxiety, seeing the dark rings that sleeplessness had circled round her eyes.

'What's wrong?' she asked, frowning. 'Are you anxious about what happened yesterday? I'm sure you have no reason to be.'

Juliet wondered on what she based the essence of that remark. 'It's nothing,' she denied, attempting a light tone. 'I admit I slept badly, but that's all. I - well, I haven't felt too well this morning. I thought perhaps we might spend a lazy day. I think I'll adopt the habit of siesta in the afternoons, too.' She managed a short laugh.

Teresa was not convinced, but forbore to say any more, respecting Juliet's silence. Juliet was glad. She couldn't have borne a long argument about her health. It would improve, once she had got the Duque de Castro out of her system.

Only the certain knowledge that she would never get the Duque de Castro out of her system mocked her tremulous thoughts.

After lunch, she pretended to be going to take the siesta as she had told Teresa, but after the young girl was settled in her room, Juliet came back downstairs, carrying her basket-bag and handbag, dressed casually enough in slim-fitting dark blue pants and a loose white overblouse. The jacket that matched the pants was over her arm. It might be considerably cooler when she landed in London.

Miguel brought out the shooting brake for her, smiling at her in his usual admiring way. He looked up at the sun, and said:

'It's a very hot day,
senhorita.
Do not stay out in the sun too long.'

Juliet smiled politely, and nodded. 'Thanhs, Miguel. I won't,' and then she drove away, her legs quaking in fear of being stopped at the last moment.

But why should any one stop her? No one knew her plans except herself. Certainly she had done nothing unusual in taking out the car. Her greatest difficulty would be boarding the island steamer without attracting attention to herself.

The quay at Venterra was crowded, the steamer already loaded and only awaiting its final departure forms. Juliet hurried up the gangplank, meeting the dark-skinned Captain at its top.

'Senhorita
,' he murmured politely, recognizing her as the new companion to the ward of the Duque by the colour of her auburn hair. 'Can I be of assistance?'

His old-world politeness almost overwhelmed Juliet.

'Oh, yes, please,' she said glancing round nervously. 'Could - could we go somewhere and speak privately?'

The Captain frowned, then nodded, and summoned his second in command to take over. 'Come,' he said. 'We will go to my cabin.'

In the Captain's cabin Juliet said, as briefly as possible, that she wished for transportation to St. Lucia.

The Captain frowned. 'But why are you not using the Duque's hydroplane?' he questioned, obviously puzzled and disturbed.

Juliet sighed. 'The Duque and I have had a disagreement,' she said, at last. 'I want to leave, but I do not wish to use any transport owned by the Duque.'

The Captain half-smiled. 'The Duque owns most of this vessel,' he remarked dryly.

Juliet pressed her hands together, and stared at him pleadingly. 'Will you take me with you?' she asked imploringly.

The Captain frowned. If the Duque had had an argument with the girl, why was she not being removed from the island as swiftly as possible in the hydroplane? And where was her luggage? He had no desire to fall foul of his employer, and he was very much afraid this young woman was in more trouble than she cared to admit.

Yet for all that he felt sorry for her. She was such a slender creature, so fair and helpless. How could he ignore the plea in those beseeching eyes? Ignoring the dictates of his brain, he said:

'All right, all right, I will take you,
senhorita.'

She could have hugged him, she was so pleased. 'Thank you, thank you,' she exclaimed effusively, and the Captain's dark skin darkened even more with em-! barrassment.

Even as they spoke, Juliet heard the throb of the engines being started, and the Captain excused himself to negotiate their departure. Juliet remained in the cabin, peering through the porthole with eyes suddenly misty with tears. She had never realized she was such an emotional creature, but apart from the beauty of Venterra, she was leaving behind the only man she could ever love.

The journey to St. Lucia was accomplished by nightfall. Juliet, after the ship had cleared the harbour, had gone up on deck, welcoming the cooling breeze, and the gentle swell of the water. No one troubled her. The other passenger, all dark-skinned islanders, eyed her with some trepidation, and even the Captain kept his distance. In truth, Juliet thought perhaps he was already regretting his impulsive acceptance of herself as a passenger.

They docked at Castries in the early evening. The town twinkled with lights, while Juliet could vaguely distinguish the steep plateau of Morne Fortune rising like a bastion above the harbour. She had never been alone in such a strange, alien place at night before, and she experienced no small misgivings when it was time to disembark.

The Captain seemed concerned about her, too, for he said:-'Do you have anywhere to go,
senhorita?'

Juliet linked her hands. 'Not - not exactly,' she murmured. 'But I can manage.'

The Captain frowned. 'Are you leaving the island tomorrow?' he asked with some perspicacity.

Juliet nodded. 'I hope to get a charter flight.'

'I see. Well,
senhorita
, I shall be remaining on board tonight, but my cabin is at your disposal if you would care to use it.'

Juliet stared at him. 'You - you would let me do that? Stay here?'

'Of course. Why not? I have children of my own,
senhorita
, and the quayside of Castries is not a suitable place for a young girl alone at night.'

Juliet grasped his hand. 'I'm - I'm very grateful to you. You'll never know how grateful,
senhor.'

The Captain was embarrassed again, and she said no more. But as she lay later in the evening, watching the winking stars in the sky above, just like some jewelled sapphire velvet, she wondered how she would ever be able to repay him. He had taken no money for her passage, and without his assistance she might have found herself in a very difficult situation: Alone, and without luggage, she was a target for every kind of awkward situation.

Although she had not expected to sleep, the lazy wash of the ship, and her own exhaustion of the night before, overwhelmed her, and to her surprise when she opened her eyes again and glanced at her watch, it was already seven-thirty.

She had not undressed completely, merely removing her pants and blouse, and now she washed in the Captain's little hand basin, cleaned her teeth, and combed her hair. Then she went on deck.

The Captain was sitting at a table, eating rolls and fruit, and he invited her to join him. The coffee was delicious, and although she drank two cups together with a cigarette, she refused his offers of food.

'You can take a taxi to the airport,' said the Captain, obviously determined to assure her safely on her way. 'I myself will get one for you.'

'You've been more than kind,' said Juliet unsteadily. 'I can't thank you enough.'

The Captain shook his head. 'I only hope you know what you are doing,' he murmured, almost inaudibly, but Juliet appreciated his concern.

The airport which served St. Lucia was not large, but Juliet was in luck. She was able to arrange a flight later the same morning. In the meantime she took herself into the small reception lounge to wait.

She smoked several cigarettes, ordered coffee, and waited impatiently, wondering uneasily whether she had been reported as a missing person. If she had, there was really only Teresa to care, one way or the other. How pleased Estelle would be that she had got rid of her so simply! How she and the Duque would laugh about her fugitive departure.

She heard the sound of a powerful car, sweeping up the road to the reception lounge. The tyres screamed in indignation at their rough treatment, as they brought the car to an abrupt halt at the doors to the airport buildings.

Juliet glanced round casually, wondering who could be causing such a disturbance, and saw the two men enter the building together almost as someone in a dream, seeing unreal characters acting out an unreal drama.'

Then she rose to her feet, glancing about her desperately, feeling trapped and frightened and exhilarated all in one compelling emotion. Incredibly it was Felipe, and her father!

The Duque strode ahead of the older man, reaching Juliet first, staring at her with tortured eyes, and then suddenly grasping her hand, and turning it palm uppermost, put his mouth to its centre, closing her fingers over the kiss.

'Deus!
' he muttered heavily. 'If this is what you did to your father, it is no wonder he was anxious about you! If you ever do it to me again -I will kill you!'

And Juliet knew he meant it!

Then Robert Lindsay reached them, looking at Juliet with eyes that were strangely tender, and half amused.

'So,' he said, 'at last we've caught up with you. You're a devil for running away, Juliet. When are you going to stop and realize that you can't run away from life?'

Juliet shook her head, feeling suddenly giddy with fatigue and sheer nervous exhaustion.

'I wasn't running away from life,' she murmured weakly. 'Oh, Dad!' and ignominiously she burst into tears, burying her face on her father's shoulder, as she had done as a child.

Robert Lindsay looked at the Duque over his daughter's shoulder. 'It seems you were right, Felipe,' he said enigmatically.

Juliet gathered herself together, feeling relieved that at least the lounge was deserted. Drying her eyes, she said: 'I don't understand any of this. What's going on? Why are you together? And why have you—' she looked at the Duque '- why have you come after me?'

The Duque glanced at her father, and Robert Lindsay nodded. 'All right, all right,
^'
he said resignedly, Til wait outside.'

He smiled encouragingly at them both, and then walked away, leaving them alone.

Juliet twisted her hands together, avoiding Felipe's eyes. There was some catch to this, there had to be. Why had Felipe come? What had her father told him? What had he told her father?

The Duque gave an angry exclamation, and said: 'Juliet, I know all about your deception. I know you are Lindsay's daughter. It makes not the slightest difference to me.'

Juliet looked up. 'How - I mean - when did you meet my father?'

'Yesterday. After you had left on the steamer. He arrived in a hydroplane, and came straight to see me. We had a very comprehensive conversation, and I think we understand one another completely. It was not until later that you were discovered to be missing!' His pallor could be seen despite the dark tan of his skin.
'Deus!
You cannot imagine how I felt!'

Juliet turned away. His words meant little to her. All right, her father had cleared up the mystery of her relationship to him, and he and the Duque obviously spoke the same language. But that really made no difference to her.

'The - the plane leaves in half an hour,' she said unsteadily. 'For goodness' sake, if you have a point, make it!'

There was a stifled ejaculation from the Duque, and then she felt him twist her violently round to face him, almost throwing her off balance. 'Damn you, Juliet,' he muttered unevenly, 'do you want me to crawl to you? Because if that is necessary, I will!'

Juliet stared at him tremulously. 'I don't understand,' she exclaimed. 'What do you want me to say?'