back to the present. 'What - oh - oh, yes, thank you, Teresa. Most successful.'
'That is good. And now that your business is over, perhaps you will be able to spend some time with us.'
The Duque shrugged his broad shoulders. Then he seemed to decide something, for he said: 'Tell me, Teresa, how well are you? Well enough to attend a small party this evening?'
Teresa's eyes darkened. 'Oh, I don't know, Felipe.'
Juliet finished her coffee, dabbed her mouth with her napkin and rose to her feet. If the Duque was about to begin making assignations with Teresa he could undo all the good Juliet had done.
'Will you excuse me, senhor ,' she murmured politely, seeking the shade of the verandah.
'Wait!' The Duque's tone was peremptory, and she turned.
'Yes?'
'I should like you to attend this party also, Senhorita Summers.'
Juliet hesitated, and then said: 'No, thank you, senhor . I - well, I should feel out of place with your friends. Thank you for inviting me, but I must decline.'
Teresa was staring at him now, her eyes brighter. 'Then I shall go, Felipe,' she said. 'Yes, as Senhorita Summers says, it is time I began breaking out of the cocoon I have built around myself. Soon - soon I shall be able to walk, and I want to meet your friends before then.'
The Duque looked moody now, his eyes surveying Juliet with something like anger in their depths.
'Very well, Teresa,' he said tautly, looking at his niece now. 'You shall accompany me. It is a pity your companion is so staid, but I suppose it would not do for us all to be alike.'
Juliet listened to no more. She hurried indoors, aware of suppressing the strongest desire she had ever experienced. That of going out to a party with the arrogant Duque de Castro.
The following day, Teresa developed a severe cold. Long spells even in the warm waters of the Caribbean, had taken their toll, for once into the water, she never wanted to come out.
Juliet visited her, commiserated with her, and then left her to the doting ministrations of Nurse Madison.
She encountered the Duque in the main hall. Dressed as usual in riding gear, he had been out early, riding about the estate. When he was at home he invariably rode in the early mornings, so Teresa had told her. His lazy eyes surveyed the attractive picture she made in a short white pleated skirt, and a halter-necked blouse of red silk.
'So, senhorita ,' he murmured, 'you have been visiting our patient.'
'Yes, senhor. I am afraid Teresa took too gladly to the roar of the waves.'
He inclined his head in silent agreement, and then said: 'And you, senhorita. What do you plan to do today?'
Juliet's legs felt a little weak. 'I - well, I suppose I will swim a little, or maybe play tennis with Miguel.'
'I see. In other words, you have nothing planned.'
'No, senhor.'
'No? That is good. I suggest we spend the day at Lauganca Bay. I will give you a few tentative lessons in skin-diving, sim?'
'Senhor! ' She stared at him in surprise.
'Well? Does not the idea appeal to you?'
'Yes, but - well - I mean - Teresa!'
'Nurse Madison is only too willing to take care of your charge. And I must confess I do not feel like working today after such a long period of absence. So? Is this all right?'
Juliet compressed her lips. 'Very well, senhor.'
'Good. Get your swimming things and I will meet you on the forecourt in half an hour.'
'Yes, senhor.'
In her room, her fingers trembled as she stripped off her skirt and blouse and put on the black, one-piece swimsuit. Then she put on her clothes again, thrusting her bra and panties into the bag with her towel and beach coat. Sliding dark glasses on to her nose, she descended the stairs in time to meet Nurse Madison at the bottom.
'Are you going out, Miss Summers?' asked Nurse Madison curiously.
Juliet sighed. 'Just - just to the beach,' she replied casually.
'There's a letter for you,' said Nurse Madison. 'I was about to bring it up to you. Here you are!'
Juliet took the letter, recognizing
'That is good. And now that your business is over, perhaps you will be able to spend some time with us.'
The Duque shrugged his broad shoulders. Then he seemed to decide something, for he said: 'Tell me, Teresa, how well are you? Well enough to attend a small party this evening?'
Teresa's eyes darkened. 'Oh, I don't know, Felipe.'
Juliet finished her coffee, dabbed her mouth with her napkin and rose to her feet. If the Duque was about to begin making assignations with Teresa he could undo all the good Juliet had done.
'Will you excuse me, senhor ,' she murmured politely, seeking the shade of the verandah.
'Wait!' The Duque's tone was peremptory, and she turned.
'Yes?'
'I should like you to attend this party also, Senhorita Summers.'
Juliet hesitated, and then said: 'No, thank you, senhor . I - well, I should feel out of place with your friends. Thank you for inviting me, but I must decline.'
Teresa was staring at him now, her eyes brighter. 'Then I shall go, Felipe,' she said. 'Yes, as Senhorita Summers says, it is time I began breaking out of the cocoon I have built around myself. Soon - soon I shall be able to walk, and I want to meet your friends before then.'
The Duque looked moody now, his eyes surveying Juliet with something like anger in their depths.
'Very well, Teresa,' he said tautly, looking at his niece now. 'You shall accompany me. It is a pity your companion is so staid, but I suppose it would not do for us all to be alike.'
Juliet listened to no more. She hurried indoors, aware of suppressing the strongest desire she had ever experienced. That of going out to a party with the arrogant Duque de Castro.
The following day, Teresa developed a severe cold. Long spells even in the warm waters of the Caribbean, had taken their toll, for once into the water, she never wanted to come out.
Juliet visited her, commiserated with her, and then left her to the doting ministrations of Nurse Madison.
She encountered the Duque in the main hall. Dressed as usual in riding gear, he had been out early, riding about the estate. When he was at home he invariably rode in the early mornings, so Teresa had told her. His lazy eyes surveyed the attractive picture she made in a short white pleated skirt, and a halter-necked blouse of red silk.
'So, senhorita ,' he murmured, 'you have been visiting our patient.'
'Yes, senhor. I am afraid Teresa took too gladly to the roar of the waves.'
He inclined his head in silent agreement, and then said: 'And you, senhorita. What do you plan to do today?'
Juliet's legs felt a little weak. 'I - well, I suppose I will swim a little, or maybe play tennis with Miguel.'
'I see. In other words, you have nothing planned.'
'No, senhor.'
'No? That is good. I suggest we spend the day at Lauganca Bay. I will give you a few tentative lessons in skin-diving, sim?'
'Senhor! ' She stared at him in surprise.
'Well? Does not the idea appeal to you?'
'Yes, but - well - I mean - Teresa!'
'Nurse Madison is only too willing to take care of your charge. And I must confess I do not feel like working today after such a long period of absence. So? Is this all right?'
Juliet compressed her lips. 'Very well, senhor.'
'Good. Get your swimming things and I will meet you on the forecourt in half an hour.'
'Yes, senhor.'
In her room, her fingers trembled as she stripped off her skirt and blouse and put on the black, one-piece swimsuit. Then she put on her clothes again, thrusting her bra and panties into the bag with her towel and beach coat. Sliding dark glasses on to her nose, she descended the stairs in time to meet Nurse Madison at the bottom.
'Are you going out, Miss Summers?' asked Nurse Madison curiously.
Juliet sighed. 'Just - just to the beach,' she replied casually.
'There's a letter for you,' said Nurse Madison. 'I was about to bring it up to you. Here you are!'
Juliet took the letter, recognizing
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