Rosemary's handwriting at once. 'Thanks,' she said awkwardly, expecting the nurse to turn and go, but she didn't, and Juliet thrust the letter into the bag, said Cheerio in a light tone, and walked out through the main doors on to the forecourt where a dark blue sports car was parked, with the Duque leaning against the bonnet, smoking a cheroot. Nurse Madison's eyes widened spitefully, and Juliet heaved a heavy sigh as she approached the car.
The Duque frowned. 'Is something wrong?'
'Nurse Madison will be hotfoot to tell Teresa that we are going out together,' she said exasperatedly.
The Duque grinned lazily, and opened the car door for her. 'Do you mind?'
Juliet gave him an old-fashioned look. 'Of course. Teresa is beginning to believe in me. I don't want her trust shattered.'
The Duque shrugged, as he climbed in beside her. 'Well, it is too late to worry now.' He switched on the ignition, put the car into gear, and they drove away fast. 'What do you think she will tell Teresa?'
'Oh, just the truth, I suppose. With certain additives.'
'Like what?'
'Like we might be . ..' Her voice trailed away.
'Like we might be what? Having an affair?' The Duque's tone was mocking.
'Something like that.'
'And that troubles you.'
Juliet gasped. 'You know perfectly well that Teresa is jealous of everyone who looks at you!'
He frowned. 'You exaggerate.'
'Not much, believe me. That's why she and Senhora Vinceiro could never be friends.'
'Why Senhora Vinceiro? Because she is my cousin? Because she is beautiful?'
'You are being deliberately obtuse,' said Juliet, forgetting for a moment to whom she was speaking.
The Duque raised his dark eyebrows. 'Indeed?'
'Yes, indeed. Oh, senhor , you know I'm right.'
'I know that I am growing tired of you calling me senhor ,' he murmured, his eyes on her for a moment.
Juliet flushed. 'Would you have me call you Your Grace?'
'No.' His tone was taut now. 'I would have you call me Felipe.'
Her stomach plunged sickeningly, righted itself, and then plunged again. She pressed a hand to her middle, and forbore to answer his remark.
Lauganca Bay looked even more beautiful than it had done before. Maybe that was because they were alone, she acceded to herself. The Duque was a stimulating companion, stimulating and disturbing!
They carried rugs, airbeds, and a hamper down to the beach, and Juliet busied herself arranging everything. The Duque had parked the car nearer the headland where the boathouse was situated, and it was only a stone's throw away from where they were picnicking.
Tell me, ' said Juliet, watching him with fascinated eyes as he unbuttoned his shirt, 'do not the conventions practised by your countrymen apply here?'
He frowned, pulling his shirt out of his pants lazily. 'In what way - er - what is your name?'
'Rosemary, but call me Juliet. I like it better.'
'So do I. Now - what conventions?'
'Well, I always understood that a Portuguese girl of good family would never spend time alone with a man unless they were married, or engaged, at least.'
He took off his shirt. ' Sim , this is so.'
Juliet looked exasperated. 'Then what are we doing here?'
'You are not Portuguese, senhorita . You are English. '
'So that gives you the right to spend time alone with me?'
'You accepted my invitation - er - Juliet, did you not?'
Juliet hunched her shoulders, kicking the sand with her bare feet. 'I - I suppose so.' She moved restlessly. 'But I don't like the idea of being treated like - like a peasant!'
The Duque shook his head, and walked across to the boathouse, emerging a few moments later with a black rubber suit. He took off his trousers, revealing a pair of swimming trunks, much to Juliet's amused relief, and then proceeded to pull on the suit.
Within a few minutes he was ready, and said: 'Don't go away. I'll be right back,' and walked away into the water, disappearing after a few minutes into the depths.
Juliet sighed again, sat down on the sand, drew up her knees, and wrapping
The Duque frowned. 'Is something wrong?'
'Nurse Madison will be hotfoot to tell Teresa that we are going out together,' she said exasperatedly.
The Duque grinned lazily, and opened the car door for her. 'Do you mind?'
Juliet gave him an old-fashioned look. 'Of course. Teresa is beginning to believe in me. I don't want her trust shattered.'
The Duque shrugged, as he climbed in beside her. 'Well, it is too late to worry now.' He switched on the ignition, put the car into gear, and they drove away fast. 'What do you think she will tell Teresa?'
'Oh, just the truth, I suppose. With certain additives.'
'Like what?'
'Like we might be . ..' Her voice trailed away.
'Like we might be what? Having an affair?' The Duque's tone was mocking.
'Something like that.'
'And that troubles you.'
Juliet gasped. 'You know perfectly well that Teresa is jealous of everyone who looks at you!'
He frowned. 'You exaggerate.'
'Not much, believe me. That's why she and Senhora Vinceiro could never be friends.'
'Why Senhora Vinceiro? Because she is my cousin? Because she is beautiful?'
'You are being deliberately obtuse,' said Juliet, forgetting for a moment to whom she was speaking.
The Duque raised his dark eyebrows. 'Indeed?'
'Yes, indeed. Oh, senhor , you know I'm right.'
'I know that I am growing tired of you calling me senhor ,' he murmured, his eyes on her for a moment.
Juliet flushed. 'Would you have me call you Your Grace?'
'No.' His tone was taut now. 'I would have you call me Felipe.'
Her stomach plunged sickeningly, righted itself, and then plunged again. She pressed a hand to her middle, and forbore to answer his remark.
Lauganca Bay looked even more beautiful than it had done before. Maybe that was because they were alone, she acceded to herself. The Duque was a stimulating companion, stimulating and disturbing!
They carried rugs, airbeds, and a hamper down to the beach, and Juliet busied herself arranging everything. The Duque had parked the car nearer the headland where the boathouse was situated, and it was only a stone's throw away from where they were picnicking.
Tell me, ' said Juliet, watching him with fascinated eyes as he unbuttoned his shirt, 'do not the conventions practised by your countrymen apply here?'
He frowned, pulling his shirt out of his pants lazily. 'In what way - er - what is your name?'
'Rosemary, but call me Juliet. I like it better.'
'So do I. Now - what conventions?'
'Well, I always understood that a Portuguese girl of good family would never spend time alone with a man unless they were married, or engaged, at least.'
He took off his shirt. ' Sim , this is so.'
Juliet looked exasperated. 'Then what are we doing here?'
'You are not Portuguese, senhorita . You are English. '
'So that gives you the right to spend time alone with me?'
'You accepted my invitation - er - Juliet, did you not?'
Juliet hunched her shoulders, kicking the sand with her bare feet. 'I - I suppose so.' She moved restlessly. 'But I don't like the idea of being treated like - like a peasant!'
The Duque shook his head, and walked across to the boathouse, emerging a few moments later with a black rubber suit. He took off his trousers, revealing a pair of swimming trunks, much to Juliet's amused relief, and then proceeded to pull on the suit.
Within a few minutes he was ready, and said: 'Don't go away. I'll be right back,' and walked away into the water, disappearing after a few minutes into the depths.
Juliet sighed again, sat down on the sand, drew up her knees, and wrapping
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