The Mountains of Spring (19 page)

‘
I wasn
’
t expecting an apology.
’

‘
No, obviously. However, will you believe me if I say that I am conscious of having treated both you and your brother rather badly
?’
She didn
’
t answer, and he went on:
‘
I wish to atone in some way—to make amends, as you say in England. In the case of your brother it is easily done
...
even if he refuses to return to me, it is in my power to make it extremely easy for him to find fresh employment. With you it is different, but—
’
He hesitated.
‘
Would it please you to stay in Mexico?
’

She looked bewildered. She hadn
’
t been prepared for this new mood of his and she didn
’
t understand it. Was he really just trying to be nice, or was there something behind it? All she knew was that all at once she wanted desperately to believe he was really
being kind.

‘
I don
’
t know what I want to do,
’
she said.
‘
It depends on Peter. But—
’

‘
Peter, I think, will be happy to stay here.
’
He spoke as if he knew a great deal about Peter.
‘
And why should you wish to go back to England? You have no relatives there now—your brother has told me.
’

‘
I have friends in England,
’
she said stiffly. There was no need to let him know how much she did want to stay in Mexico.

‘
Friends?
’
he repeated sharply. He had been leaning a little towards her, but now he straightened himself and stood up.
‘
Ah! There is, no doubt, one particular f
ri
end?
’
His voice was harsh and cold again, and as he spoke she almost winced.

‘
No, I didn
’
t mean that,
’
she said quietly.
‘
I
’
m not engaged, or anything like that. There
’
s no
...
real reason for me to go back to England. But—
’

‘
But, on the other hand, you feel that there is no real reason for you to stay in Mexico.
’
His whole manner had softened again, and in his strange, inexplicable eagerness to convince her he dropped down on to one knee beside her chair.
‘
I could suggest to you many reasons,
’
he told her.

‘
C-could you?
’
she asked. His nearness was having a peculiar effect on her. Her heart seemed to be beating so fast and so loudly that she was uncomfortably sure he must be able to hear it, and she was conscious of the fact that her fingers were trembling.

‘
Many reasons,
’
he repeated. For a long moment he seemed to hesitate about something. And then he stood up, and when he spoke again his voice was
a little more businesslike.

‘
One reason however, will perhaps be enough.
’
He began to move restlessly about the room, lifting books and ornaments and setting them down again. A small Aztec relic in a glass case held his attention for quite a number of seconds, and it was not until he had finished inspecting it with apparent care that he turned back to face her.
‘
Would the fact that somebody needed you—needed your companionship and your guidance—would that induce you to stay
?’

She looked up at him.
‘
How could anyone here
... possibly need me?
’
she asked. Her voice was low and husky, partly from tiredness, and partly for another reason.

There was a short silence, while black eyes and blue ones met and held. Then he looked away from her.

‘
Surely you realize
...
Isabel needs you,
’
he told her.
‘
You could be an invaluable aid in handling her. It would be a great relief to me if you would stay ... for Isabel
’
s sake!
’

CHAPTER IX

Later that evening, as she dined alone with Senora Dominguez in a room overlooking the lamplit street, Caroline repeatedly wondered whether she were in some kind of a dream, and whether, if she were, she ought possibly to be awakened.

The only thing of which she was reasonably certain was the fact that she had agreed to remain in Mexico for a period of some months, and during that time to act as a kind of companion to Isabel Dominguez. Whether or not she had been wise to agree to such a thing she couldn
’
t begin to say— there were moments when the whole situation alarmed her considerably—but the fact remained that she had agreed, and for the time being that seemed to be that. Diego had decided that she could be of use to Isabel, and she had meekly
fallen
in with his plans. She still felt a little bewildered by the apparent change in his attitude to herself and to Peter—especially his attitude to Peter—but she thought she was beginning to understand it. He had, she decided, great confidence in his power to control Isabel, such confidence that once he had had time to think the matter over there didn
’
t seem any necessity to fear the influence of Peter. Isabel, he clearly believed, would always come round in the end—when it came to the point it would always be him she would obey. The only thing necessary, therefore, was not to make too much of a martyr of Peter. He and his sister must be treated cordially—he could even be offered the chance to return to his old job, although somehow Caroline felt Diego would be happier if Peter didn
’
t agree to that. And, in the meantime, Isabel could be worked upon until she saw the error of her ways. It seemed rather peculiar psychology, but perhaps that was because it was Mexican psychology.

And she, Caroline, had humbly accepted the crumb thrown to her. She had let
Diego arrange a job for her, and she had fallen in with every suggestion he made—just as if she herself had been Isabel Dominguez.

It was still intensely warm, and the long-drawn-out dinner was served with a rather wearisome formality. Her hostess didn
’
t talk very much, and it wasn
’
t until after the coffee had been brought in that she made any attempt to discuss arrangements. And when she did make the attempt she gave Caroline the impression that she would very much rather have left the whole thing to Diego.

‘
When would you wish to begin,
’
she asked anxiously.
‘
Diego did not say when he thought—but of course,
’
with a touch of embarrassment,
‘
it is for you to say.
’

‘
I don
’
t mind when I begin,
’
Caroline assured her.

‘
Then perhaps to-morrow
...
? Isa would be so pleased.
’

‘
Yes, of course. To-morrow.
’

But the following morning, when Caroline left her room at the Casa Rivel, it was to discover that Diego had rather surprisingly made plans for them all which left little time for any formal moving into the Dominguez household on that day. On the previous evening, when she returned to the house, she had seen Senora Rivel for a few minutes, and had told her everything. The old lady had seemed delighted, and this morning, to Caroline
’
s amazement, she was already up and sitting in the hall when her English guest came down the stairs.

‘
Ah,
chiquita
!
’
She eyed Caroline appreciatively.
‘
That shade of blue could not be better. Many colours suit you well, but that—it is enchanting.
’
She put her head on one side.
‘
And it is good that you are looking so quite exceptionally pretty, for today we are going on a grand expedition!
’

‘
A grand expedition?
’
Caroline stopped on the bottom stair.

‘
Yes, my child. Diego has arranged it. We are going to visit Teotihuacan.
’
She looked bright and alert and extraordinarily pleased with herself
.
‘
It will be a great thing for you. You will see a city of the Aztecs.
’

‘
W-will I?
’

‘
But yes. It is one of the most beautiful places in Mexico, and very interesting. You will enjoy it. And so will I.
’

‘
You
’
re going too ?
’

‘
Certainly I am going too. And the troublesome little Isabel, she also is going. But not her mother.
’
A mischievous smile.
‘
That is good, I think. I should not say it, for she is not at all a bad woman, but often I say what I should not. You are ready to go out,
chiquita
? Diego will collect us in half an hour.
’

Caroline, who had been standing like a statue, came to life and stepped down off the bottom stair.
‘
Senora
,’
she asked rather quickly,
‘
would you mind very much if I didn
’
t go?
’

‘
Yes, I would mind very much indeed, and so would your friend Isabel. And so would Diego.
’

She coloured painfully.
‘
I don
’
t think so.
’

‘
And I do not know what you think, my dear child, but you have to believe that the
...
disagreement between you and my grandson is at an end. It is quite finished.
’
She paused for a moment.
‘
He is now much in your debt, and he knows it. So,
’
s
m
iling
lightly,
‘
instead of behaving like a little girl you will be grown-up and sensible, and you will come with us to Teotihuacan.
’

At the mild reproof contained in the last few words Caroline coloured again, and after hesitating only a moment longer said that of course she would love to visit the Aztec city.

‘
I
’
m sorry if I seemed—well, ungracious,
’
she said rather huskily.
‘
It
’
s just that—
’

‘
Yes, yes, I know exactly what it is,
’
the older woman assured her soothingly.
‘
But now we will forget all about it, and concentrate simply upon being gay!
’

Diego arrived punctually at half past ten. He was driving his white sports car, and beside him, comfortably established in the passenger seat, was Isabel Dominguez. She was wearing a wide scarlet band in her hair, and she looked very young, and unusually light-hearted. Any feelings of resentment that she might possibly have been expected to harbour against Diego seemed to have vanished with the wind, and as they drew to a halt she was laughing. Her escort had not forgotten that on this occasion it was incumbent upon him to provide transport suitable for his grandmother, and no sooner had the
sports car
’
s engines died into silence than it was followed under the arch by the huge silver-grey bulk of his chauffeur-driven Mercedes. The Mercedes drew up alongside, and as the old lady was carefully helped into it Caroline was temporarily overlooked. It was several minutes before Diego and the chauffeur seemed absolutely satisfied as to the comfort and security of the tiny, fragile figure whom they had placed with such elaborate care in the comfortable rear of the car, and when they had finished Caroline, who hadn
’
t had a chance to help, hung back, looking uncertain. She had no real need to feel nervous or unsure of herself, for nothing, as the Senora had told her, could have suited her better than the cornflower blue of her linen dress, and there was a kind of bandbox freshness about her that on a hot Mexican morning made her quite an enchanting sight. But she did, nevertheless, feel very nervous, and when Diego finally recollected her existence and turned to look for her nothing in his eyes did anything to restore her morale. The warmth which she had sensed in him the night before had vanished as if it had never been, and in its place there was a touch of impatience. He seemed to look through her, as if his thoughts were on something totally different, and she felt as
i
f a cloud passed across her, spoiling her pleasure in the brightness of the morning.

‘
I think,
’
he told her,
‘
it will be best if you travel with my grandmother. She was anxious to come with us, but I am not happy about her health, and I feel she should not be alone.
’

‘
Of course,
senor,
’
Caroline agreed coolly.
‘
I
’
ll look after her.
’

‘
I
’
m sure you will.
’
His voice was formal and detached.
‘
I believe,
’
he went on,
‘
that Isabel wishes to speak to you. Before we set out.
’

‘
Oh
...
does she?
’
Normally, his arrogance would have provoked her to rather a sharp retort, but at the moment she seemed to have neither the spirit nor the energy. So she simply walked quietly over to the sports car, where Isabel greeted her with warmth and enthusiasm.

‘
I have heard,
’
she said,
‘
that my mother and Diego wish you to be a companion to me. That is very nice news. You agree, yes?
’

‘
Yes, I agree. I have told your mother so.
’

‘
It will be wonderful,
’
said Isabel with touching simplicity,
‘
to have someone to talk to.
’
And then she laughed, and spread her arms wide in an extravagant gesture.
‘
Today,
’
she announced,
‘
I am happy. Diego is no longer angry with me.
’

‘
I
’
m glad,
’
said Caroline, rat
h
er dryly. At the
sam
e
time she wondered precisely why Diego was no longer angry with her. Had they discussed Peter? , And if so, what had the outcome been? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but something stopped her. Instead she smiled, and remarked that she had better not keep Diego
’
s grandmother waiting.
‘
I
’
ll see you later,
’
she said.
‘
At Teotihuacan.
’

‘
Yes,
’
said Isabel dreamily,
‘
at Teotihuacan.
’
And she settled her slight person more comfortably against the scarlet upholstery.

The road
win
d
ing
northwards out of Mexico City was a fine
modern
highway, like the road to Toluca, and although they were in no particular hurry they made very good speed. Within half an hour they had left the city behind altogether, and in all directions
they could see a distant line of mauve-coloured mountains. It was an almost painfully beautiful morning, and the brilliance of the colours all around them made Caroline catch her breath in admiration. All at once Senora Rivel said quietly:

‘
You begin to like our country very much, do you not?
’

‘
Yes. Oh, yes, I do. It
’
s all so vivid, as if
...
well, as if it were encrusted with jewels.
’

The Senora smiled.
‘
Like the walls of our churches. We are a flamboyant people, and our country resembles us. Or perhaps we resemble our country!
’

‘
But you are really Spanish,
’
Caroline reminded her. She hesitated, and then asked the older woman something that interested her.
‘
Do you feel very Mexican,
senora
?’

‘
Very Mexican, my child. Oh, I was
born
in Spain, of good Spanish stock, and there I lived until I was twenty. But one day a Mexican gentleman named Ricardo Rivel was invited to dinner
...
’
She smiled, and her eyes took on a faraway expression.
‘
Happily my father approved of him, and six months later we were married in Madrid
.’
He brought me back to Mexico, and from that day to this I have never once gone home. Nor have I wanted to. My children and my grandchildren have visited Spain—Diego, like all the boys, was partly educated there—and the younger of my two daughters is married to a man whose home is near Granada, but for me it has become an alien land.
’
She shrugged.
‘
I would not know it now.
’

Caroline was silent. Life, she decided, could be rather frightening sometimes.

It was still only half past eleven when they came in sight of the ruins of Teotihuacan, and the sunlight was white and fierce. Everything seemed to waver slightly in the heat, and the English girl watching from a window of the Rivel Mercedes knew that if she were to live to be a hundred years old she would never forget the moment when she caught her first breathtaking glimpse of the pyramids and palaces that had been old when Cortez was
born
. The ruins of the city, she was told, covered dozens of square miles, and as they drew nearer, and the immensity of the place was revealed to her, she began to feel a sensation of overpowering awe. The two cars slowed, and when the white car, which was leading, came to a halt the Mercedes stopped also.

Just as he had done once before, Diego got out and came back to them, leaning in at the window, and addressing his grandmother first.

‘
You are comfortable, madame? The journey was not too fatiguing?
’

‘
No, no, of course it was not.
’
The old lady sounded mildly irritated.
‘
You make too much fuss of me, my child. With two attractive young ladies in the party you should have better things to think about!
’

He looked startled. Isabel, after all, had been in possession of his undivided attention ever since they left Mexico City, and Caroline decided that he was probably wondering who the second attractive young lady could be. It certainly wasn
’
t difficult to believe, for he really seemed to have forgotten her own existence, and it was only when the Senora suggested that her young companion might like to alight and walk around for a while that he paid his third
guest any attention at all. And then he looked rather doubtful.

‘
Just now the sun is very strong, and Miss Ashley reacts badly to heat.
’
That evidently lingered in his memory.

Not knowing quite why she did so, Caroline protested,
‘
The sun doesn
’
t really affect me,
senor.
Not seriously, anyway.
’