kind of social whirl. I'd be satisfied with that alone.
As it was, Vasco must be praying that a few moments of casual self-indulgence on his part wasn't going to result in a life
sentence of marriage to a woman he didn't want.
And what am I praying for? she wondered painfully. I don't think I even know any more. If I have to stay here with him, I'm going
to be wretched, but if I leave, how can I live knowing I'll never see him again?
Vasco said, 'If you write a note of acceptance to Luisa, I'll see it is delivered.' He glanced down. 'How is your foot?'
It was nothing compared to the deeper ache within her. She said, 'I think it's better, thank you. I'll be getting back.'
'No,' he said, 'you will ride back in the jeep. I have sent Agnello to fetch it. I mean what I say, Abigail. You do not stroll in the plantation without wearing adequate protection.'
'It was your men I needed protection from,' she said huskily. 'They were all carrying those hideous knives.'
His mouth curled. 'Not one of them would harm a hair of your head. They carry knives because we began harvesting the mid-
year crop today.'
'Oh.' Abby glanced around her. 'It doesn't look as if there's going to be much of a harvest.'
'These are still young trees,' he said patiently. 'One does not expect too much in the first years of maturity. In the section where we are working, it is very different. It is a good crop, and the main harvest will be even better.'
'No wonder you like it here,' she remarked. 'It's a very peaceful life, isn't it?'
'Do you think so?' His tone was dry. 'Do not be deceived, querida . The cocoa bean is one of the most vulnerable crops in the world. Whole books have been written on the pests which attack it, the diseases which destroy it. Raising the bushes to harvest
is a gamble always. I have had my fair share of disasters since I came to Riocho Negro.'
She thought, And this marriage—you and I—is just another one for you to bear. Almost inaudibly, she said, 'I'm sorry.'
He frowned, as if he had guessed the tenor of her thoughts. He said, 'Abigail…' then broke off, as the noise of the approaching
jeep filled the air. He swore softly, then said, 'At the end of this avenue there is a track which we use to get back to the fazenda .
Can you walk that far, or do you wish me to help you?'
'I can manage.' Her ankle wasn't hurting nearly as much, but she would have crawled to the jeep on her knees over broken
glass rather than experience the bitter paradise of having his arm around her, or having to rely on his assistance in any way.
She said sedately, 'I'm sorry to have interrupted your work, and caused such an uproar. It won't happen again.'
His smile was brief and wintry. 'Not in the same way at least, faz favor' He paused. 'But if you wish to learn about the plantation, then…'
Abby shook her head. 'I don't think so. It's hardly worth it when I shall be here such a short time.'
She began to walk away in the direction he had indicated to where Agnello waited with the jeep. As she went, she found herself
wondering whether Vasco was still there, watching her.
Don't look round, she told herself. Don't look round. But in the end, as she reached the track, she couldn't resist a swift glance over her shoulder.
But the avenue was deserted. Only the silence remained.
Abby looked at the dress, and the dress looked back at her.
The trouble was, it was just so lovely. The loveliest thing she had ever had to wear—or not wear, she amended hastily. Because
she still totally disagreed with the principle of Vasco buying her clothes, and the fact that she had nothing in her own part of the wardrobe even remotely suitable for Luisa's party should not make the slightest difference.
But it does, she wailed inwardly. Oh God, it does. Who wanted to turn up in a chain store cotton, when there was mist-green silk
chiffon, shot with silver threads, crying out to be worn, and wispy silver sandals too which would add inches to her height,
As it was, Vasco must be praying that a few moments of casual self-indulgence on his part wasn't going to result in a life
sentence of marriage to a woman he didn't want.
And what am I praying for? she wondered painfully. I don't think I even know any more. If I have to stay here with him, I'm going
to be wretched, but if I leave, how can I live knowing I'll never see him again?
Vasco said, 'If you write a note of acceptance to Luisa, I'll see it is delivered.' He glanced down. 'How is your foot?'
It was nothing compared to the deeper ache within her. She said, 'I think it's better, thank you. I'll be getting back.'
'No,' he said, 'you will ride back in the jeep. I have sent Agnello to fetch it. I mean what I say, Abigail. You do not stroll in the plantation without wearing adequate protection.'
'It was your men I needed protection from,' she said huskily. 'They were all carrying those hideous knives.'
His mouth curled. 'Not one of them would harm a hair of your head. They carry knives because we began harvesting the mid-
year crop today.'
'Oh.' Abby glanced around her. 'It doesn't look as if there's going to be much of a harvest.'
'These are still young trees,' he said patiently. 'One does not expect too much in the first years of maturity. In the section where we are working, it is very different. It is a good crop, and the main harvest will be even better.'
'No wonder you like it here,' she remarked. 'It's a very peaceful life, isn't it?'
'Do you think so?' His tone was dry. 'Do not be deceived, querida . The cocoa bean is one of the most vulnerable crops in the world. Whole books have been written on the pests which attack it, the diseases which destroy it. Raising the bushes to harvest
is a gamble always. I have had my fair share of disasters since I came to Riocho Negro.'
She thought, And this marriage—you and I—is just another one for you to bear. Almost inaudibly, she said, 'I'm sorry.'
He frowned, as if he had guessed the tenor of her thoughts. He said, 'Abigail…' then broke off, as the noise of the approaching
jeep filled the air. He swore softly, then said, 'At the end of this avenue there is a track which we use to get back to the fazenda .
Can you walk that far, or do you wish me to help you?'
'I can manage.' Her ankle wasn't hurting nearly as much, but she would have crawled to the jeep on her knees over broken
glass rather than experience the bitter paradise of having his arm around her, or having to rely on his assistance in any way.
She said sedately, 'I'm sorry to have interrupted your work, and caused such an uproar. It won't happen again.'
His smile was brief and wintry. 'Not in the same way at least, faz favor' He paused. 'But if you wish to learn about the plantation, then…'
Abby shook her head. 'I don't think so. It's hardly worth it when I shall be here such a short time.'
She began to walk away in the direction he had indicated to where Agnello waited with the jeep. As she went, she found herself
wondering whether Vasco was still there, watching her.
Don't look round, she told herself. Don't look round. But in the end, as she reached the track, she couldn't resist a swift glance over her shoulder.
But the avenue was deserted. Only the silence remained.
Abby looked at the dress, and the dress looked back at her.
The trouble was, it was just so lovely. The loveliest thing she had ever had to wear—or not wear, she amended hastily. Because
she still totally disagreed with the principle of Vasco buying her clothes, and the fact that she had nothing in her own part of the wardrobe even remotely suitable for Luisa's party should not make the slightest difference.
But it does, she wailed inwardly. Oh God, it does. Who wanted to turn up in a chain store cotton, when there was mist-green silk
chiffon, shot with silver threads, crying out to be worn, and wispy silver sandals too which would add inches to her height,
Similar Books
