Read Online Far From Home by Valerie Wood - Free Book Online Page A

from what I had,’ Edward agreed. ‘I need to stretch my horizon.’
    ‘Quite so.’ Rodriguez smiled. ‘You are still a young man, and ambitious, yes?’
    At Edward’s nod Rodriguez softened his voice. ‘And I understand from Captain Voularis that you are recently widowed?’
    Edward cleared his throat and murmured that he was.
    ‘So no commitments? No children? You can do as you please? Good. Come,’ he said. ‘You must meet my wife Sofia and our family, and then we shall have luncheon.’
    He led the way to a door at the other side of the room which seemed to open by itself, until, glancing over his shoulder as he entered another room, Edward noticed the little mulatto girl standing behind it. She repositioned herself at the other side of the door and closed it behind them.
    Edward refrained from gasping as he saw the magnificent dining room. A long room, yet it was dominated by the highly polished table set in the centre with at least twenty chairs around it. There were heavy silver candelabra upon it and crystal bowls filled with exoic fruits, melon, oranges, bananas and pineapple. Edward cast his eye over the table setting and saw that six places were laid with gleaming silver cutlery and crisp white table napkins with pale pink blossom laid upon them.
    Another door opened and Edward caught a glimpse of the young girl again, but he took a deep breath as a woman came in. She was, he thought, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He guessed that she would be in her early thirties.
    She had thick black hair to her shoulders, swept back and secured with a flower and diamond pin. Her complexion was creamy and her large eyes were of the deepest brown, and when she smiled, as she did now to greet him, her mouth was soft and full.
    ‘I am honoured, señora.’ He gave a deep bow. ‘Thank you for inviting me to your lovely home.’
    ‘You are more than welcome, Meester Newmarch.’ Her voice was low and husky with an attractive accent. ‘You must feel a little lonely so far from your own country?’
    ‘Just a little,’ he agreed. ‘New Orleans is very different from where I come from.’
    ‘And you are a widower, yes?’ Her forehead creased in sympathy.
    I wish they wouldn’t go on about it, Edward thought. I wonder why Captain Voularis chose to tell them?
    ‘It ees not easy, I know,’ she said. ‘I too was widowed when I was very young.’ Then she flashed a brilliant smile at her husband, who was watching her. ‘But then I met my Sancho, so it was ordained!’
    The door opened once more and an elderly woman, dressed in a black gown with a black lace cap on her white hair, was ushered in by the girl, who held her by the elbow until she reached them. She leaned heavily on an ebony walking stick.
    ‘May I introduce you to my mother?’ Rodriguez said. ‘She does not speak English although she understands a little, in spite of her deafness.’
    Edward bowed again and Señora Rodriguez peered narrowly at him and then inclined her head in a little nod.
    ‘Now we just need our daughters and we may be seated.’ Sofia looked towards the door and, as if on cue, two young girls entered. ‘This is Sibella.’ A girl of about fourteen rushed towards him, dimpled a smile and curtsied. Like her mother she had a creamy skin, fine features and large dark eyes which shone with merriment. How lovely she is, Edward thought as he gave her a bow. She must already have many admirers.
    ‘And this is Elena, my eldest daughter.’ Sofia Rodriguez’ voice was bright and brittle. Edward turned to bow to the young woman who stood sullenly before him, and he wondered how it was possible for such a plain creature to be born into this handsome family. She was about seventeen years of age, tall and of heavy build with dark corkscrew-curly hair. Her skin, unlike her mother’s and sister’s, was swarthy with coarse broad features. The only likeness was in her eyes, which were dark like theirs with long sweeping lashes, and