times she had done exactly this. She poked the stem of the rose behind her ear and carried on, stopping at one of the fountains to watch the birds splashing and ruffling their feathers in the water.
The sound of a horse whinnying turned her head. In the distance Emelia could see a youth leading a magnificent looking stallion to what appeared to be a riding arena near the stables a little way from the villa. She walked back through the garden and made her way to where the youth was now lunging the horse on a lead rope. He was a powerful-looking animal with a proud head and flaring nostrils, his tail arched in defiance as his hooves pounded through the sand of the arena.
Emelia stood on the second rail of the fence so she could see over, watching as the stallion went through his paces. Without thinking, she spoke in Spanish to the youth. âHeâs very temperamental, isnât he?â
âSÃ, señora,â the youth answered. âYour mare is much better mannered.â
Emelia looked at him blankly. âI have a horse of my own?â
The youth looked at her as if she was loca but then he must have recalled what he had been told about her accident. âSÃ, señora,â he said with a white toothed smile. âShe is in the stable. I exercised her earlier this morning.â
âCould I ride her, please?â Emelia asked.
He gave her a surprised look. âYou want to ride her?â
She nodded. âOf course I do.â
âBut you have never wanted to ride her before,â he said with a puzzled frown. âYou refused to even look at her.â
Emelia laughed off the suggestion. âThatâs crazy. I love to ride. I had my own horse when my mother was alive. I used to spend every weekend and holidays at Pony Club or on riding camps.â
Pedro shrugged his shoulders as if he wasnât sure what to make of her as he made his way to the stables.
Emelia jumped down from the railing and followed him. âIâm sorry but Iâve forgotten your name,â she said.
âPedro,â he said. âI look after the horses for Señor Mélendez. I have been working for him for two years now. The same time you have been married, sà ?â
Emelia gave him a small smile, not sure how much he knew of her situation. The stallion snorted and pawed the ground and she stepped up to him and stroked his proud forehead. âYou are being a great big show-off, do you know that?â she crooned softly.
The stallion snorted again but then began to rub his head against her chest, almost pushing her over.
Pedroâs look was still quizzical. âHe likes you, Señora Mélendez. But you used to be frightened ofhim. He is big and proud and has a mind of his own. He isâ¦how you sayâ¦a softie inside.â
Emelia wondered if Pedro was talking about the horse or her husband. Probably both, she imagined. She breathed in the sweet smell of horse and hay and felt a flicker of something in her memory. She put a hand to her head, frowning as she tried to retrieve it before it disappeared.
âSeñora?â Pedroâs voice was concerned as he pulled the horse back from her. âAre you all right? Did Gitano hurt you?â
âNo, of course not,â Emelia said. âI was just trying to remember something but itâs gone now.â
Pedro led the stallion back to his stall and a short time later led out a pretty little mare. She had the same proud bearing as Gitano but her temperament was clearly very different. She whinnied when she caught sight of Emelia and her big soft round eyes shone with delight.
Emelia put her arms around the horseâs neck, breathing in her sweet scent, closing her eyes as she searched her memory. A scene filtered through the fog in her head. It was a similar day to today, sunny with a light breeze. She was being led blindfolded down to the stables; she could even feel the nerves she had felt buzzing in the