mean if - I let you help me, will you promise not to be in league with Estelle against me?'
'In league with Estelle!' echoed Juliet. 'Of course I'm not in league with Estelle. She isn't exactly my cup of tea.'
'What does that mean? You don't like her?'
'I wouldn't go so far as to say that!' amended Juliet hastily. 'It's just - well, she is a lot older than you and me, isn't she?'
And for the first time Juliet saw Teresa smile, properly, not the sneering grins she had been used to seeing. It brought a strange lump to her throat, and she sank down on the sand beside her, taking her hand.
'So - Teresa,' she murmured softly. 'Are we going to be friends?'
Teresa gave her a tremulous look. 'Oh, I - I suppose so. Just don't try to stop me loving Felipe, that's all!'
Juliet did not answer this. This was a problem which would have to be solved at some future date.
In the days that followed Juliet grew to know the real Teresa, not the spoilt, unhappy individual the had been when confined solely with Nurse Madison for company.
Nurse Madison did not like her patient's sudden change of allegiance, but as Teresa had not confided its origin to her, she could do nothing. Instead, she spent her time following them around, except when they went out in the car, and she was not invited.
Juliet discovered that Teresa had quite a bright intelligence, and Teresa discovered that Juliet's sense of humour made their days bright and companionable. Francisco accompanied them often, stating quite clearly that he considered it was his influence which had broken the ice.
Sixteen days after his departure, the Duque returned.
Juliet did not know he was back until he joined them for breakfast, the morning after his arrival.
'Well, pequena ?' he said to Teresa. 'How are you today?'
'Tio Felipe!' Teresa's face was alight with pleasure. 'When did you get back?'
'Late yesterday evening, pequena . And you, senhorita. Are you well?'
Juliet's colour deepened as usual. 'Thank you, senhor , I am fine.'
Teresa caught his hand, drawing him close to her side. 'Senhorita Summers and I are good friends now, Felipe. We have - how do you say it - ironed out our differences.'
The Duque seemed astounded. 'Is this so? Then I am very pleased. Senhorita Summers, I am very grateful to you.'
Juliet managed a slight smile, concentrating on the rolls on her plate. She wondered why he was so pleased - because of his affection for Teresa and his desire to see her well, or his desire to marry Estelle Vinceiro.
Teresa tugged at his hand, attracting his attention. 'I have also been in the water, Felipe. I cannot swim, but the Senhorita and Francisco, they help me!'
The Duque frowned. 'Francisco? Francisco Valmos?'
'That's right, senhor ,' said Juliet, looking up. 'He is a friend of yours, is he not?'
'A friend of Estelle's perhaps,' remarked the Duque dourly. 'Tell me, senhorita , have you seen much of this young man?'
'We have spent much time with him,' interposed Teresa. 'He is an entertaining companion.'
The Duque snapped his fingers impatiently. 'Nevertheless, I would prefer it if in future you consult with me before making arrangements to go out with him, senhorita ,' he said to Juliet, his eyes dark and enigmatic.
It was the first encounter Juliet had really had with him since the day on the beach at Lauganca Bay, and she felt the faint stirrings of torment which she was growing used to associating with him.
'Naturally as Senor Valmos was a guest in your house before you went away I assumed he was a friend of yours,' replied Juliet stiffly.
'It does not do to assume anything,' remarked the Duque bleakly. 'Well, Teresa, I am glad to see you looking so much better. It is to be hoped the improvement will continue.'
'I - I'm sure it will,' said Teresa, showing a trace of disappointment in her uncle's terse manner. 'Felipe, was the trip successful?'
The Duque had been staring across the patio broodingly, and seemed to find it difficult to draw his mind
'In league with Estelle!' echoed Juliet. 'Of course I'm not in league with Estelle. She isn't exactly my cup of tea.'
'What does that mean? You don't like her?'
'I wouldn't go so far as to say that!' amended Juliet hastily. 'It's just - well, she is a lot older than you and me, isn't she?'
And for the first time Juliet saw Teresa smile, properly, not the sneering grins she had been used to seeing. It brought a strange lump to her throat, and she sank down on the sand beside her, taking her hand.
'So - Teresa,' she murmured softly. 'Are we going to be friends?'
Teresa gave her a tremulous look. 'Oh, I - I suppose so. Just don't try to stop me loving Felipe, that's all!'
Juliet did not answer this. This was a problem which would have to be solved at some future date.
In the days that followed Juliet grew to know the real Teresa, not the spoilt, unhappy individual the had been when confined solely with Nurse Madison for company.
Nurse Madison did not like her patient's sudden change of allegiance, but as Teresa had not confided its origin to her, she could do nothing. Instead, she spent her time following them around, except when they went out in the car, and she was not invited.
Juliet discovered that Teresa had quite a bright intelligence, and Teresa discovered that Juliet's sense of humour made their days bright and companionable. Francisco accompanied them often, stating quite clearly that he considered it was his influence which had broken the ice.
Sixteen days after his departure, the Duque returned.
Juliet did not know he was back until he joined them for breakfast, the morning after his arrival.
'Well, pequena ?' he said to Teresa. 'How are you today?'
'Tio Felipe!' Teresa's face was alight with pleasure. 'When did you get back?'
'Late yesterday evening, pequena . And you, senhorita. Are you well?'
Juliet's colour deepened as usual. 'Thank you, senhor , I am fine.'
Teresa caught his hand, drawing him close to her side. 'Senhorita Summers and I are good friends now, Felipe. We have - how do you say it - ironed out our differences.'
The Duque seemed astounded. 'Is this so? Then I am very pleased. Senhorita Summers, I am very grateful to you.'
Juliet managed a slight smile, concentrating on the rolls on her plate. She wondered why he was so pleased - because of his affection for Teresa and his desire to see her well, or his desire to marry Estelle Vinceiro.
Teresa tugged at his hand, attracting his attention. 'I have also been in the water, Felipe. I cannot swim, but the Senhorita and Francisco, they help me!'
The Duque frowned. 'Francisco? Francisco Valmos?'
'That's right, senhor ,' said Juliet, looking up. 'He is a friend of yours, is he not?'
'A friend of Estelle's perhaps,' remarked the Duque dourly. 'Tell me, senhorita , have you seen much of this young man?'
'We have spent much time with him,' interposed Teresa. 'He is an entertaining companion.'
The Duque snapped his fingers impatiently. 'Nevertheless, I would prefer it if in future you consult with me before making arrangements to go out with him, senhorita ,' he said to Juliet, his eyes dark and enigmatic.
It was the first encounter Juliet had really had with him since the day on the beach at Lauganca Bay, and she felt the faint stirrings of torment which she was growing used to associating with him.
'Naturally as Senor Valmos was a guest in your house before you went away I assumed he was a friend of yours,' replied Juliet stiffly.
'It does not do to assume anything,' remarked the Duque bleakly. 'Well, Teresa, I am glad to see you looking so much better. It is to be hoped the improvement will continue.'
'I - I'm sure it will,' said Teresa, showing a trace of disappointment in her uncle's terse manner. 'Felipe, was the trip successful?'
The Duque had been staring across the patio broodingly, and seemed to find it difficult to draw his mind
Similar Books
