‘Please excuse me, I would like to clean up,’ he said, resting his eyes on Susan once again. She smiled up at him, but her smile was remote as if she had forgotten their intimacy on the Fortuna.
‘Have a swim, George,’ Agatha suggested. ‘Then come and join us for tea.’
George closed the door to his bedroom and stood leaning against the wall, breathing through his nostrils like a furious bull. Once again she had treated him like a little boy. He was maddened by her and frustrated. If his aunt hadn’t been there he would have confronted her. What was she doing at Las Dos Vizcachas? If she hadn’t come for him, why had she come? He didn’t believe for one moment that it was a coincidence. She knew he was there and had been expecting him, for her reaction was flawless. As cool and impenetrable as she had been the first time they met on the deck of the ship.
He scrambled out of his trousers and shirt, leaving them on the tiled floor in a pile of dust for Agustina to pick up. He wrapped a towel around his waist, grabbed his packet of cigarettes and strode back up the corridor and out of the back door to the pool. He was so angry he didn’t notice the light clamour of birds, the lucid sunspots that danced about on the grass at his feet, or the intoxicating scent of gardenia. At the edge of the pool he shed his towel and stood a moment contemplating the limpid water. The afternoon sun bathed his skin, now brown like the gauchos’, and caught on the newly formed muscles that swelled beneath his flesh. He’d show her how much of a man he was.
He dived naked into the water, which was deliciously refreshing against his warm skin. It seemed to wash away all his fury. He swam energetically up and down, kicking with his feet, splashing the water into the air. After a while he draped himself over the edge, gazing across the park. He was reluctant to return to the veranda. If his aunt were there he wouldn’t be able to talk to Susan. The idea of pretending they had never met now seemed tiresome. He decided to spend the evening in the pool, that way he would avoid tea altogether. Perhaps he would have a chance to talk to her alone before dinner.
He pushed himself off the edge and began to swim lengths again. He did backstroke, front crawl, breaststroke and one or two entirely underwater. He was a beautiful swimmer and recalled for a moment those summer evenings in the sea at Frognal Point. Finally, exhausted, he paused at one end and raised his eyes. To his surprise Susan was sitting patiently on the bench watching him. She smiled when he looked at her. This time her smile was warm and full of affection. He swam slowly to the other end and rested his arms on the tiles in front of her.
‘How long have you been here?’ he asked.
‘For some time,’ she replied, amused. ‘I knew you were a fine swimmer. I was right not to tell you my secrets.’
‘What have you done with Aunt Agatha?’
‘Dolores was calling for her. I thought I would take a walk. I could hear your splashing from the other side of the park.’
‘Good.’ He grinned up at her. His crooked grin that had haunted her dreams ever since she had left him on the Fortuna. ‘Will you throw me my towel?’
She stood up and held it out to him, unable to tear her eyes away as he climbed naked up the steps. His body was honey-brown and perfectly proportioned and toned as she had imagined it would be. He took the towel and wrapped it around his waist, pushing his curly hair off his forehead with his hand.
They sat on the bench and George lit a cigarette. He offered her one but she declined.
‘I think I have some explaining to do,’ she ventured.
‘Yes, you do,’ he replied. She tilted her head and frowned.
‘I’m sorry I was so cold. I was nervous.’ George had thought her incapable of feeling nervous. She was always so composed and in control. ‘I met your aunt at a dinner party. She spoke about you. I’m afraid I engineered the whole thing.’ She turned and looked at him with the same sad eyes that had gazed out across the ocean and said in a quiet voice, ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about you since we parted.’ George’s spirits lifted. He felt his whole body tremble, but this time with joy.
‘I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, either,’ he replied. ‘I didn’t think I would ever see you again.’ She chuckled, and touched his arm with nervous fingers.
‘Neither did I. But fate interceded.’ He put his hand on hers and squeezed it.
‘I’m so glad you’re here, Susan.’ She visibly relaxed as if she had needed confirmation that he still wanted her.
‘I think your aunt took pity on me when she saw my face. It has its advantages, you know.’