Far From Home by Valerie Wood

ethereal and sylph-like, but on Elena’s robust figure reminded him of a ship in full sail. Her unruly black hair was dressed with white flowers which she pulled at constantly, as if they were irritating her.
    She turned to him. ‘You do realize why you are here, Meester Newmarch?’ she said in a tight whispered voice. ‘You do understand that you ’ave been chosen?’
    He stared at her and shook his head. Nothing would have induced him to marry her, even if he had been single. ‘Your father invited me,’ he said in a low voice. ‘He is most hospitable.’
    ‘He is not ’ospitable and ’e is
not
my father,’ she grated and looked across at Rodriguez with such hatred that Edward was filled with anxious foreboding. ‘We do not like each other, señor, and he wants rid of me.’
    She waited whilst they were served with chicken soup and then said with her mouth turned down, ‘He wants me to marry you.’
    ‘But – but, I can’t!’ Edward grew hot then cold. ‘I’m married! At least I was married – my wife—’
    ‘I know.’ She broke bread into her soup and ate noisily. ‘But that doesn’t matter. ’E says if we are betrothed we can wait until after your mourning period.’ She glanced up at Edward. There was no pleasure on her face as she continued, ‘I said that I would, but I must tell you, señor, that I will make conditions.’
    He gazed at her. Words failed him. His soup went cold, his appetite completely gone. He opened his mouth to protest but nothing came out.
    ‘He ’as worn me down, you see. I ’ave refused everyone else that he ’as brought.’ She shrugged her shoulders almost to her ears. ‘But now – ’e gives me only two options.’
    ‘What are they?’ Edward whispered.
    ‘I can marry you if you will ask of me—’
    ‘But – You don’t know me,’ he interrupted. ‘We have only just met. You know nothing of me – I could be a criminal or anybody!’
    She laughed cynically at that. ‘I don’t think so, señor: ’e will ’ave asked questions and found out. Rodriguez knows all the criminals.’ She glanced towards where her mother was sitting next to the elderly gentleman whose head and whiskers were bent over his soup. ‘Or else I must marry that old billy goat who is sitting next to my mother.’
    Surely not. Rodriguez couldn’t be so cruel! The man was old enough to be her grandfather! He began to feel some sympathy for the girl, though not enough to give her any encouragement.
    His bowl was taken away, the soup untouched, and the next course of lobster served with side dishes of sliced eggs, prawns and anchovies brought in. ‘Do you not wish to ’ear my conditions, Meester Newmarch?’ she asked. ‘It is as well that you do.’
    He tried to gather his senses and speak in a friendly way without giving offence. ‘I regret that I cannot—’ he began.
    ‘I would wish to ’ave my own ’ouse. Not here in New Orleans but elsewhere.’ She spoke into his ear, and, repulsed, he eased his head away from hers. ‘I would not wish to live wiz you and neither must you expect to sleep wiz me.’
    He gazed in shock. For a young woman to speak so bluntly!
    ‘I will sleep wiz someone else, you see.’ She looked at him frankly and defiantly. ‘You would ’ave plenty of money. You can choose some other woman, or women, if you wish.’
    ‘Is there someone else you want to marry?’ he asked.
    She glanced again at Rodriguez. ‘Yes, but Rodriguez won’t let me. The man is quadroon like me and just a servant. He isn’t good enough for a man like Rodriguez. ’E says I must have someone with breeding.’
    Edward picked at his lobster, then said in a low voice, ‘I’m sorry, señorita. But it can’t happen. I can’t possibly marry you.’
    She looked at him in dismay. ‘But it ’as been decided. I ’ave agreed.’ She pointed with her finger at the old man and her mother glanced across at her, a questioning look on her face. ‘You can’t let me marry ’im. ’E