Read Online Scandal at the Dower House by Sally James - Free Book Online

it became a low range of hills. It looked like the common, and already the hay was harvested and the animals turned out to graze.
    ‘The big fields are that way,’ Catarina explained, pointing, ‘and the marsh starts beyond them, and curves round following the river we saw by the old cottages. Walter was planning to drain the nearest part first, but — ‘ she swallowed, ‘he never began. He was coming back from looking at them when something happened and he was thrown from his horse. We don’t know what caused it, whether something startled the horse, or it stepped into a coney hole. It was a little lame when it returned to the stables, and then we began to search. It was some time before Walter was found, and by that time he was dead.’
    ‘I am truly sorry. You were fond of him, clearly.’
    ‘He was a good man. Now I think we should start back and go through the woods. The pigs won’t have been turned out there yet. But they grow fat on the acorns, and make a good meal for Christmas!’
    * * * *
    To Catarina’s relief Joanna behaved with all due decorum while they stayed with Mr and Mrs Sinclair in Bristol. The sea voyage was calm, and Joanna’s spirits revived.
    ‘I can see an end to this,’ she said on their first evening at sea. ‘I’m sorry I’ve been so obnoxious, but I felt nauseous and I was worried. Catarina, I’m so sorry to have caused you so much trouble.’
    Catarina hugged her. ‘You were foolish, but we’ll manage it together. And what would I have done alone at the Dower House? At least we can see something of Mama’s home. Papa always meant to bring us, but he said the war made it too dangerous.’
    One of their cousins, Antonio de Freitas, was waiting to greet them when the ship docked at Oporto, and drove them the few miles to the Quinta das Fontes. It was far larger than Catarina had expected, a long, low house painted white, with green shutters at every window, and wings extending back to enclose a delightful courtyard. This was ablaze with flowers, many of which were new to Catarina, set in stone urns. All the rooms, on the ground and upper storeys, opened out onto shaded terraces and balconies. Colourful tubs of flowers adorned the balconies and all the steps, and bougainvillea clambered up the walls. A fountain played in the centre of the courtyard, making a gentle tinkling sound as the water fell into an ornamental pool. The sun shone on the drops of water, creating rainbow colours which flashed for a moment and then died. Aunt Madalene, having greeted them enthusiastically and remarked how like they were to their dear mother, took them out to where a table was laid in the shade.
    ‘The fountain is from a natural spring,’ she explained as they drank tea and sampled delicious honey cakes, ‘and gave the name to the Quinta. There are other fountains in the garden, but we will show you those tomorrow. And the vineyards, and your Uncle Mario will explain how we make the wine. Oh, how delightful it is to have you here. I want to hear all about your lives in England. But I do wish you could make a longer visit.’
    ‘Now the wars are over, we will come back often,’ Catarina promised. ‘This time, I’m afraid, we have promised to pay visits in Lisbon and Faro.’
    ‘Do we know your friends? There are still many English officers in Lisbon, looking after things while the Court is in Brazil. Perhaps you will know some of them.’
    For a moment Catarina wondered whether they should avoid Lisbon. She had not known about the English still being there, then she decided that as they would of necessity remain secluded there was little chance of being seen or recognized. It was unlikely she would know any of them, she and Walter had not been much into Society, and since both she and Joanna were dark haired and did not have the pale complexions of English girls they would be taken as Portuguese.
    Catarina was realizing how difficult it was going to be to keep Joanna’s secret, their