asked casually.
John looked questioningly at her. 'Why should Dominique see Santos?' he asked.
Marion shrugged her thin shoulders. 'Well, he called here, soon after she had left. I believe he wanted to assure himself that Salvador had delivered her safely.' She smiled rather mockingly.
John looked at Dominique. 'Well?' he said. 'Did you see him?' "
Dominique stiffened her shoulders. 'Yes, I saw him.'
'And?'
'And what? What's all the fuss about?' Dominique hid her nervousness in defiance.
'What did he say to you? I presume he did stop and speak to you.' John sounded furious.
'Yes, he stopped. He didn't say much at all. I expect as Marion said he wanted to assure himself that I had arrived safely.'
'Some chance!' muttered John angrily. 'Honestly, Dominique, I'll be the laughing stock of the plant if this leaks out!'
Dominique put her hands on her hips. 'If what leaks out?' she exclaimed, trembling inwardly, but outwardly appearing calm.
'Santos - coming here - looking for you! For God's sake, Dominique, why did you have to go walking today of all days? If you'd been here when he arrived it wouldn't have sounded so bad!'
Harry Rawlings interposed, 'Leave the girl alone, John! She hasn't done anything. It's not her fault that she's so damned attractive!'
Dominique felt her colour rising, and moved to the door of the house. 'Can I go and get changed, now?' she asked, with assumed nonchalance.
John shrugged. 'I suppose so. But keep away from him in future, Dominique.'
Dominique was about to protest that she had not sought Vincente Santos's company, and then decided not to bother. Already her conscience was troubling her, and she couldn't argue with John about something that still terrified her by its enormity.
However, when she emerged from the shower, she had managed to put all thoughts of Santos to the back of her mind, deliberately listening carefully to every remark John made, trying to fill her mind to the exclusion of everything else. John soon recovered his good spirits and there was,, only Marion's speculative glances to contend with. Harry Rawlings seemed to think nothing of it, although Dominique suspected this was because he himself was no innocent and he supported a policy of live and let live.
During the next few days Dominique devoted herself to her work at the apartment. She had redecorated the lounge, painting the walls a stark white and adding some hand- painted plaques she had brought with her from England and which looked wonderful against such a background.
She had explored the town quite fully now, and liked what she had seen, except for the slum areas which seemed to spring up wherever there were towns. The centre of the town was laid out with spacious avenues and parks marching side by side, and trees had been planted beside the fountains and lakes. The shops were not as comprehensive as they could have been and she did most of her shopping at a huge supermarket that supplied everything from reels of cotton to motor cars. There were few dress shops and what there were, were very expensive. Their styles were not particularly modern either, and Dominique was glad she could use a sewing machine. Once she and John were married she intended to buy one and make her own clothes as she had sometimes done when she lived with her father.
It was an easy walk from the apartment to the centre of the town and as John used the car to get out to the refinery Dominique grew used to walking everywhere. In consequence her tan deepened and in her short swinging skirts which showed a delicious length of slender leg she attracted quite a lot of attention. She had got into the habit of plaiting her hair and winding it round her head. That way it kept tidy as-well as keeping her cool.
At the end of her second week in Bela Vista John came home one evening looking rather pensive.
Immediately Dominique felt apprehensive. She had not yet got over her encounter with Vincente Santos and she sensed that something had
John looked questioningly at her. 'Why should Dominique see Santos?' he asked.
Marion shrugged her thin shoulders. 'Well, he called here, soon after she had left. I believe he wanted to assure himself that Salvador had delivered her safely.' She smiled rather mockingly.
John looked at Dominique. 'Well?' he said. 'Did you see him?' "
Dominique stiffened her shoulders. 'Yes, I saw him.'
'And?'
'And what? What's all the fuss about?' Dominique hid her nervousness in defiance.
'What did he say to you? I presume he did stop and speak to you.' John sounded furious.
'Yes, he stopped. He didn't say much at all. I expect as Marion said he wanted to assure himself that I had arrived safely.'
'Some chance!' muttered John angrily. 'Honestly, Dominique, I'll be the laughing stock of the plant if this leaks out!'
Dominique put her hands on her hips. 'If what leaks out?' she exclaimed, trembling inwardly, but outwardly appearing calm.
'Santos - coming here - looking for you! For God's sake, Dominique, why did you have to go walking today of all days? If you'd been here when he arrived it wouldn't have sounded so bad!'
Harry Rawlings interposed, 'Leave the girl alone, John! She hasn't done anything. It's not her fault that she's so damned attractive!'
Dominique felt her colour rising, and moved to the door of the house. 'Can I go and get changed, now?' she asked, with assumed nonchalance.
John shrugged. 'I suppose so. But keep away from him in future, Dominique.'
Dominique was about to protest that she had not sought Vincente Santos's company, and then decided not to bother. Already her conscience was troubling her, and she couldn't argue with John about something that still terrified her by its enormity.
However, when she emerged from the shower, she had managed to put all thoughts of Santos to the back of her mind, deliberately listening carefully to every remark John made, trying to fill her mind to the exclusion of everything else. John soon recovered his good spirits and there was,, only Marion's speculative glances to contend with. Harry Rawlings seemed to think nothing of it, although Dominique suspected this was because he himself was no innocent and he supported a policy of live and let live.
During the next few days Dominique devoted herself to her work at the apartment. She had redecorated the lounge, painting the walls a stark white and adding some hand- painted plaques she had brought with her from England and which looked wonderful against such a background.
She had explored the town quite fully now, and liked what she had seen, except for the slum areas which seemed to spring up wherever there were towns. The centre of the town was laid out with spacious avenues and parks marching side by side, and trees had been planted beside the fountains and lakes. The shops were not as comprehensive as they could have been and she did most of her shopping at a huge supermarket that supplied everything from reels of cotton to motor cars. There were few dress shops and what there were, were very expensive. Their styles were not particularly modern either, and Dominique was glad she could use a sewing machine. Once she and John were married she intended to buy one and make her own clothes as she had sometimes done when she lived with her father.
It was an easy walk from the apartment to the centre of the town and as John used the car to get out to the refinery Dominique grew used to walking everywhere. In consequence her tan deepened and in her short swinging skirts which showed a delicious length of slender leg she attracted quite a lot of attention. She had got into the habit of plaiting her hair and winding it round her head. That way it kept tidy as-well as keeping her cool.
At the end of her second week in Bela Vista John came home one evening looking rather pensive.
Immediately Dominique felt apprehensive. She had not yet got over her encounter with Vincente Santos and she sensed that something had
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