When the meal was over, he excused himself abruptly and left the room, and after a moment Dona Isabella rose too, followed by Pilar, leaving Nicola sitting alone at the big rectangular table.
She bit her lip as the door closed behind them, but reminded herself that she could have expected little else. She was unwelcome here, an interloper, and if it was any consolation Teresita would probably have fared little better,
Eventually Carlos had found her loitering rather uncertainly in the hall, and had installed her with a certain amount of ceremony on the shaded terrace which encircled the courtyard.
But I can't sit here for ever, she thought. There must be something I can do.
She looked across to the archway. The stables were through there somewhere, and she supposed there would be no real objection to her visiting them, exploring a little on her own account. She rose, and moved slowly and languidly along the terrace to the archway. It was as she had thought. She could see other buildings, rather less impressive than the hacienda itself, and in the distance she could hear a vague hum of voices, and an occasional shrill laugh. She thought she could also hear the faint strum of a guitar, but perhaps that was her imagination.
She pushed open the gate and walked through, half expecting to be intercepted and sent back where she belonged, but if anyone had observed her arrival they gave no sign, and she wandered on without interference.
The kitchens seemed to be a separate wing altogether, she thought, her nose wrinkling appreciatively at the appetising aromas drifting towards her. Everyone would be far too busy preparing the massive midday meal to worry about her.
She crossed another courtyard and turned a corner, her eyes widening as she came upon what seemed to be a small village street lined with single-storey cabins. Washing dried in the sun, and a group of small children played in the dust-some complicated and absorbing game with flat stones she noted as she passed.
She smiled, and said, 'Buenos dias,' but they gaped at her in silence, clearly disconcerted by her appearance among them.
Nicola walked on slowly. Two separate communities, she thought, occupying the same limited space, and totally interdependent. Don Luis appeared to look after his workers well, she admitted grudgingly. The cabins were well built and properly maintained and there was a feeling of tranquillity pervading the entire street.
When she reached the end, she paused, uncertain which way to take next. A dog, lying in the shadow of a wall, lifted its head and barked with the air of an animal prepared to go through the motions, and no more.
Nicola grinned to herself. 'Love and peace, man,' she said half under her breath. She paused and looked around her, shading her eyes with her hand. Over to the right, she could see cultivated land, streaked with irrigation channels, and men working there, so she turned left instead, and found herself in yet another courtyard surrounded by stable buildings. Ramon was there, talking to a small squat man in a broad-brimmed hat. He broke off as he caught sight of her and came across immediately.
'Señorita-Nicola. What are you doing here? Is Luis not with you?'
'I decided to take a look round,' she said, evading the question. 'Isn't it permitted.'
He smiled. 'Of course-this is your home. Perhaps if we can persuade you to like it, then Luis would spend more time here.'
She said drily, 'Please don't overestimate my influence with your cousin.'
Ramon laughed. 'How could I?' He paused, sobering a little. 'Perhaps I should explain. Luis loves La Mariposa and always has done, but in recent years he has spent less and less time here-and not altogether because of his business commitments.' He hesitated. 'It is difficult for me to say this, but Madrecita-my mother and Luis have not always--agreed as I would wish. He is good to her, of course. For years she has been the mistress here, but now that he is to marry all that will change.' He grimaced slightly. 'If--if there was anything-lacking in her welcome, perhaps you can understand. And also she had certain plans of her own . ..'
'She wanted Luis to marry Pilar,' Nicola translated, and he looked embarrassed.
'She did. It was nonsense, of course. Luis had never given any indication-and Pilar herself would never have thought-except . . .'
He paused again, and Nicola prompted, 'Except?'
Ramon sighed. 'Why should you not know? My sister is young and impressionable. A year ago she formed- an attachment for a man, but it was unsuitable, and she was told to think no more of him. At the same time, my mother began to suggest . . .' He shrugged- 'I am sure I need say no more.'
Nicola said ruefully, 'I see.' Poor Pilar, she thought. A double loser. No wonder she had sensed that white-hot resentment!
'Do you think she was-in love with Luis?' she asked.
'I doubt it,' he said. 'He never gave her the least encouragement. I think she was-prepared to be in love with love, for the sake of being mistress of-all this.' He spread his arms wide. 'Not that this is all of it, by any means, as you must know.'
'I know very little,' Nicola confessed. 'Only what Teresita told me.'
'Ah yes. From what Luis told me, I understand you shared an apartment with her.' He smiled reminiscently. 'A sweet child.'
'She spoke well of you too.'
'She did?' He seemed pleased. 'And yet she can have little reason to remember this place or any of us with much pleasure. Her visit was a disaster. She was frightened of horses, and Luis, thinking to please her, took her up on his saddle. Ay de mi!' He gave a groan. 'First she cried and screamed, then she was sick.'
'How clever of her/ Nicola said acidly. 'I wish I'd tried the same thing myself.'
Ramon gave her a puzzled look. 'You too are afraid of horses? That is sad-Luis is an expert horseman.'
'I've ridden since childhood.'
He beamed at her. 'Then that will please him greatly.'
Nicola bit her lip. 'Pleasing your cousin is not the sole object of my life.'
His smile vanished altogether. 'But as his wife . . .'
'We're not married yet,' Nicola said tautly.
'But you will be. Luis is a man of his word.'
'And that's all that matters? Don't my wishes come into this?'
'I had assumed that in this your wishes would coincide with his.' Ramon looked embarrassed. 'You must consider, Nicola, the circumstances of your meeting-all that has happened since.' He paused. 'When Luis telephoned me to say that you had taken Teresita's place, it was clear he had-certain intentions towards you.'
She felt slow colour rising in her face. She strove to make her voice casual. 'But not marriage?'
'No-not then. But something clearly has happened to change his mind and ...'
'Nothing has happened,' she interrupted. 'For heaven's sake, it isn't a question of honour-his, mine or anyone else's. You must believe me.'
'It is not my affair,' he said flatly. 'I should not have spoken at all. Forgive me. You came to see the horses. Will you permit me to show them to you? There is, alas, only one suitable for a woman to ride and that belongs to my sister Pilar.' He added without any real conviction, 'I am sure she would be happy to lend her to you if you wished.'
Nicola took pity on him. 'If I want to go riding, then I'll ask her. What I'd really like is to have a look around the hacienda. It's so old that I'm sure it must have a fascinating history.'
'Oh, it has.' Ramon cheered up perceptibly. 'I would be happy to escort you-perhaps later, after luncheon?'
She smiled and nodded before turning away. For a moment it had occurred to her that it might be possible to enlist Ramon's support in getting away from here, but she had already thought better of that idea. Ramon was his cousin's man to the last degree. It had been apparent in every word, every inflection in his voice. There was no help for her there- or anywhere else, for that matter.
Ramon obviously thought she was a very fortunate lady, she told herself wryly as she made her way slowly back to the house. He thought Luis had seduced her either on the way here or the previous night, and was making honourable amends. She remembered Dona Isabella's gimlet stare and grimaced.
Maria was hovering on the terrace when she returned. 'The Señor Don Luis has instructed me to make alterations in some of your dresses, señorita. If you would come upstairs and show me those you wish me to begin on.'
The girl sounded a little subdued, and Nicola wondered with a pang whether she had been told off for not taking better care of her new mistress. She could hardly explain that she just wasn't used to having a maid. But it was a fact that she could use Maria's services. She was no hand with a needle, and never had been, and it was no fun walking round in clothes which patently didn't fit her even as a gesture of defiance.