Read Online White Witch by Elizabeth Ashton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Ashton
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Sevilla, and we can go without him. He ... what do you say, cramps my style.’
Thank God for that, Laurel thought, for she had no wish to become involved with the young Spaniard, though he was nearer her own age than his brother. Although she knew Luis’ society was far from good for her, she was looking forward to the expedition ... in his company.
Their room was dim and cool, the chambermaid having drawn the curtains against the sun; not being sun-starved like the British, the natives knew the value of shade.
‘Well, darling, how did it go?’ Laurel asked cheerfully.
‘Oh, fine, Tia. I played with Pom-pom and she gave me lots of sweets. I had fish for my dinner and strawberries and cream.’
She took off his shoes, and he lay down on the bed.
‘Tia?’
‘Yes, darling?’ She sat down beside him on the bed.
‘All my toys and things have come, she showed me a little room where they are, and lots of new ones too, it’s to be my room and ... and I’m to sleep there soon.’
Laurel was angry. Peter had had too many upsets lately, he should be given time to adjust himself before making further changes. Dona Elvira was going too fast.
‘It will be nice to have your own room,’ she said carefully.
‘But ... but there wasn’t one for you.’ His voice rose to a wail. ‘Where will you be? I want to be with you!’
‘I expect your granny hasn’t got another spare room,’ Laurel said soothingly, stroking his hair, wondering if this were true. ‘I’ll be here, just across the yard. I can probably see your room from my window. You’re growing into a big boy, darling, and old enough to have your own room. You can’t always sleep in mine.’
‘That’s what Granny said, but you won’t ever go away?’
She repeated what she had said before, ‘Not while you need me,’ and wondered for how long that would be. One thing was certain, she could not leave yet, however much caution warned her; she should not stay near Luis.
‘That will be always,’ Peter said drowsily. He fell asleep holding her hand. Laurel sat watching his sleeping face. She had no place here in this foreign land, and eventually she would have to move on. Her employers had promised they would keep her place for her if she returned within a reasonable time, but it was monotonous work. She was rootless, homeless, with only this small scrap of humanity belonging to her, and him she must relinquish for his own good. Could she possibly find employment in Andalucia so they would not be completely sundered? Luis had wanted her to make her home there, but his offer of the villa must have been during one of his ‘bouts of lunacy’, of which he had spoken on the previous morning, and then withdrawn. He knew very well they were safer apart. There was no niche for her in the Aguilas hierarchy, and Peter would grow away from her as time passed. Better to make a clean break and make a new life for herself, however dreary the prospect.
As Luis had arranged, Peter was served an early supper, after which he played in the garden for a while, and was in bed and asleep when Laurel went to the restaurant for her own meal. A young couple at her table had seen her with Peter and not unnaturally thought he was her own child, and she didn’t think they believed her when she said he was her nephew, but she had no wish to explain her connection with the Aguilas and their rather strange arrangements. Afterwards, crossing the foyer, Esteban came breezing in and waylaid her.
‘Come and have a drink with me in the lounge.’
‘I was going to Peter... ’
‘Oh, Carmen will keep an ear open for him.’ He turned to the desk and spoke to one of the female clerks. She nodded and smiled coquettishly. ‘ Si, si, senor .’
He swept Laurel through the door into the bar-lounge. She raised no further objection; he would enliven a lonely evening. She asked for coffee, but he insisted she have a cognac with it. When they had been served, he leaned back in the
Thank God for that, Laurel thought, for she had no wish to become involved with the young Spaniard, though he was nearer her own age than his brother. Although she knew Luis’ society was far from good for her, she was looking forward to the expedition ... in his company.
Their room was dim and cool, the chambermaid having drawn the curtains against the sun; not being sun-starved like the British, the natives knew the value of shade.
‘Well, darling, how did it go?’ Laurel asked cheerfully.
‘Oh, fine, Tia. I played with Pom-pom and she gave me lots of sweets. I had fish for my dinner and strawberries and cream.’
She took off his shoes, and he lay down on the bed.
‘Tia?’
‘Yes, darling?’ She sat down beside him on the bed.
‘All my toys and things have come, she showed me a little room where they are, and lots of new ones too, it’s to be my room and ... and I’m to sleep there soon.’
Laurel was angry. Peter had had too many upsets lately, he should be given time to adjust himself before making further changes. Dona Elvira was going too fast.
‘It will be nice to have your own room,’ she said carefully.
‘But ... but there wasn’t one for you.’ His voice rose to a wail. ‘Where will you be? I want to be with you!’
‘I expect your granny hasn’t got another spare room,’ Laurel said soothingly, stroking his hair, wondering if this were true. ‘I’ll be here, just across the yard. I can probably see your room from my window. You’re growing into a big boy, darling, and old enough to have your own room. You can’t always sleep in mine.’
‘That’s what Granny said, but you won’t ever go away?’
She repeated what she had said before, ‘Not while you need me,’ and wondered for how long that would be. One thing was certain, she could not leave yet, however much caution warned her; she should not stay near Luis.
‘That will be always,’ Peter said drowsily. He fell asleep holding her hand. Laurel sat watching his sleeping face. She had no place here in this foreign land, and eventually she would have to move on. Her employers had promised they would keep her place for her if she returned within a reasonable time, but it was monotonous work. She was rootless, homeless, with only this small scrap of humanity belonging to her, and him she must relinquish for his own good. Could she possibly find employment in Andalucia so they would not be completely sundered? Luis had wanted her to make her home there, but his offer of the villa must have been during one of his ‘bouts of lunacy’, of which he had spoken on the previous morning, and then withdrawn. He knew very well they were safer apart. There was no niche for her in the Aguilas hierarchy, and Peter would grow away from her as time passed. Better to make a clean break and make a new life for herself, however dreary the prospect.
As Luis had arranged, Peter was served an early supper, after which he played in the garden for a while, and was in bed and asleep when Laurel went to the restaurant for her own meal. A young couple at her table had seen her with Peter and not unnaturally thought he was her own child, and she didn’t think they believed her when she said he was her nephew, but she had no wish to explain her connection with the Aguilas and their rather strange arrangements. Afterwards, crossing the foyer, Esteban came breezing in and waylaid her.
‘Come and have a drink with me in the lounge.’
‘I was going to Peter... ’
‘Oh, Carmen will keep an ear open for him.’ He turned to the desk and spoke to one of the female clerks. She nodded and smiled coquettishly. ‘ Si, si, senor .’
He swept Laurel through the door into the bar-lounge. She raised no further objection; he would enliven a lonely evening. She asked for coffee, but he insisted she have a cognac with it. When they had been served, he leaned back in the
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