Read Online Marianna by Nancy Buckingham - Free Book Online Page A

pocket he took something which he thrust clumsily into Marianna’s hand. It was a small wooden spoon that he had whittled from orange wood, the bowl smoothly shaped and the handle having an intricate design of vine
    ‘It’s beautiful!’ she exclaimed delightedly. ‘Thank you, Jacinto.’
    Still not looking up, he mumbled, ‘I said hurtful things before you left the quinta, and I wish now to show you that I am very sorry. I wish now to say many thank-yous for all your goodness, Marianna. You have always been most kind to me, most generous.’
    These were the tender, heartfelt words of gratitude that she had been hoping to hear at their parting. Suddenly, though, she could not bear to see him so humble before her.
    ‘I have enjoyed being your friend,’ she said. ‘Truly I have, Jacinto. It made me very sad the other day when we quarrelled. But now I am happy again.’
    ‘Happy?’ His head came up and his glance rested on her accusingly. ‘You are happy to be marrying that English senhor?
    ‘Of course I am!’ Marianna waited as a workman shuffled past them through the doorway, bearing on his shoulder a large copper jar of wine. When he was safely out of earshot, she demanded, ‘Why should I not be happy? Married to Mr Penfold, I shall have everything I could possibly wish for.’
    ‘Oh yes! A big fine house, I expect, and costly clothes and jewels, and all the other good things that much money can buy.’
    ‘Also,’ she added, ‘a husband whom I shall honour and esteem.’
    ‘You do not speak of loving this husband,’ he retorted swiftly.
    ‘That is hardly a subject I can discuss with you.’
    ‘You mean that I should remember I am just a peasant?’
    ‘No, not that…’
    They stood looking at one another, both very still and tense; then, hesitantly, Jacinto reached out and touched her on the hand. ‘Marianna ...’
    She jerked away from him, taking a quick step backwards, and anger flared in his face. ‘So! You think that a low creature like me is unfit even to touch the hand of Miss Marianna Dalby?’
    ‘You’re wrong, it isn’t that at all,’ she stammered. ‘Truly, I…I…’
    ‘Then let us say goodbye as friends, Marianna.’
    ‘Isn’t… isn’t that what we are doing?’
    Jacinto did not answer, but his glance held a challenge. Marianna recognized a burning need in him to kiss her. And there was the same need in herself, too, a longing to feel again the intimacy of his lips pressed to hers, a longing to be awakened once more to that strange, exciting awareness of her body. The very strength of her surging emotions was terrifying and she knew that she must fight — fight herself as well as Jacinto — with all the strength she possessed. As he drew her into his arms and she felt his lean warmth against her, Marianna had a dizzy sensation of floating, of falling. As if she were falling through soft clouds, gently and sweetly ...
    “No, you mustn’t!’ she cried, dredging up every grain of willpower to thrust herself back from him.
    Jacinto’s dark eyes flickered. ‘There is no danger. Nobody is here to see us.’
    ‘What difference does that make? I am betrothed to another man, and it would be wrong ... wickedly wrong.’
    ‘You have not said that you do not want me to kiss you,’ he pointed out with relentless logic.
    ‘I don’t need to say it. Naturally I do not want you to kiss me. It is a dreadful liberty — assuming that just because I have shown you friendship, you can ... you can give me kisses as if I were a common girl like Tereza.’
    The straining leash on Jacinto’s temper broke and his voice stabbed her. ‘So speaks the great and noble young mistress to a humble peasant. Well, this one is not so humble, as you will discover. One day, my fine lady, I shall show you!’
    ‘Please, Jacinto … please don’t spoil everything. I’m very fond of you, I always have been, you must know that. And now — I wish you all that is good in the future, truly I do, I hope