So much for his tale of being on the point of ringing up hospitals! Verity gave Ramón a sideways glance, but he had not heard the remark. He was busy greeting Isabel and her parents.
She forced herself not to care. 'Car trouble, I'm afraid. Sorry if you were upset, Dad.'
'It can't be helped. Now, let me see about a drink for the birthday girl.' Mark Williams turned to find a waiter and Verity moved forward to greet everyone.
She was touched to find that most people had brought her presents—nothing wildly extravagant, but all chosen with affection and thought. Verity forced herself to think charitably even about the hideously expensive leather manicure case that Isabel pressed upon her and which she hated on sight. It was the thought that counted, she told herself firmly. It was good of the other girl to have bought her anything at all.
She looked around her with some curiosity. El Caballo Blanco was a new restaurant, which had only been going for a couple of months. Not that that made any difference to her. There were any number of eating places that were a lot older established that she had never had the opportunity to sample. At Vista Hermosa there had been neither the time nor the money for leading a giddy social life, and her convent school had offered even fewer chances.
They were taking their pre-dinner drinks in a covered courtyard which led on to the swimming pool. Apparently the place was used as a sort of country club during the day. It was possible to arrive in the morning and spend a lazy time by the pool, where waiters would serve drinks, snacks or a full lunch at tables topped by brightly covered canopies. That would be fun. Verity didn't suppose she would ever get the chance though. It didn't look like her father's sort of place, even if he took the day off, and she hardly supposed Ramón would waste time taking her out, although it was more his style.
'I'm so glad we came here,' Isabel gushed at her side. 'I've been here before, of course, but always during the day. It's quite a change to see it all lit up. The soft lighting does so much, doesn't it?'
'I suppose it does.' Verity tried to sound pleasant. After all, the other girl couldn't help what she was. After her own fashion she was probably trying to be sociable.
'You won't have been here before, of course.'
Verity's good resolutions began to fade. 'No, of course not,' she said tartly. 'We're too busy working.'
'Yes, I suppose you would be.' Isabel did not sound as if she thought much about the matter. Work was something that other people did. Her father had a ranch manager for that sort of thing and could always take time off when it suited him. 'And the subscription's quite high too.'
'I expect they don't want to lower the tone by letting the deserving poor in,' Verity said through gritted teeth. So help her, if Isabel didn't shut up pretty soon she would be finding out what it was like to sample the swimming pool fully clothed!
'You're probably right.' Isabel was bored with the topic. Once she had made her point she liked to pass on to other matters. 'Where did you get your dress?'
Other people had said it suited her, had complimented her on her choice; Isabel sounded as if she was wondering how she'd managed to afford it. 'Casa Rosada in Córdoba,' Verity said briefly, wondering how she could get away from the girl.
'Yes, I thought it looked like one of theirs. I—'
Isabel broke off suddenly to slant a radiant smile over Verity's shoulder. 'Ramón!' she breathed. 'You've come to find me.'
She made his name sound like a caress. Verity flinched at the note of possession in her voice. But at least it meant that she could get away. 'Excuse me,' she said, and moved quickly away, not looking in his direction. She thought she heard him say something, but didn't look back to find out if he was talking to her. How could he be with Isabel to claim his attention? Verity chatted brightly to a young couple that she knew and convinced herself that she was having a wonderful time.
The head waiter summoned them a few minutes later with the news that their table was ready if they cared to follow him. The dining area was very attractive with its red-tiled floor and dark furniture. The theme of the entire place was that of the gaucho and his lifestyle, and the trappings of horsemanship were everywhere. Silver spurs, intricately designed, hung from pillars in the centre of the room, alongside leather harnesses and the boleadoras, leather thongs attached to heavy weights and used with incredible accuracy to fell the gaucho's prey from a distance. A mural on one wall depicted a gaucho in traditional dress, seated on a prancing white stallion, presumably the caballo bianco which the restaurant used as its name. On another was painted in flowing characters the famous lines celebrating the gaucho.
'And this is my pride, to live as free as the bird that cleaves the sky,' Verity translated under her breath. That was Ramón, she thought. It summed him up exactly. Perhaps she should be glad that Isabel and hot herself would have the task of trying to tie him down. She did not think it would be an easy one unless he chose to co-operate. And he was not the sort of man to try to compromise.
There was a lot of noise and laughter as they all seated themselves. They had a long table and Verity headed it with her father at the other end. Ramón, she noticed, carefully placed himself with the Delgados. Her attention was distracted by the waiter putting a menu in front of her, and she concentrated on making her choice, although she did not feel hungry. She ought to be enjoying this, she told herself, but she knew she wasn't. She would cry herself to sleep tonight. And the man who made her weep would never know about it.
Verity turned to Juan Nunez, seated next to her and making every effort to engage her attention. She did not know him very well. He was a veterinary graduate, recently qualified and learning his trade by assisting old Seňor Leiva in the area. He had visited Vista Hermosa many times and talked to her father.
'But I hadn't realised what a gorgeous daughter he had.' His dark eyes looked at her admiringly. 'Where's he been hiding you all this time?'
Verity laughed and responded. He was fun to talk to and he had a host of interesting stories to tell. Soon they were fast friends and he was promising to take her out with him on his trips round the countryside. 'You would like it, Verity, I'm sure. You would find it really interesting.'
'Maybe,' she responded. 'But I tend to think that every Aberdeen Angus looks pretty well the same. Are you telling me that they all have different personalities?'
'But of course they do!' He launched into the argument with enthusiasm, drawing in the people on either side, and the noise and general merriment at their end of the table became noticeable. Verity caught her father's eye and saw him grin. He was glad she was having a good time.
And she was, after a fashion, she supposed. She glanced at her watch and was quite surprised to see how the time was slipping by. The food was delicious and she managed to eat more of it than she had expected. The flattering way that the men were eyeing her was a boost to her damaged ego. Ramón Vance might not appreciate her charms, but other men did, she consoled herself.
She looked up the table to see if he had noticed the amount of attention that she. was getting—and then wished that she hadn't. He was staring straight at her and his expression was grim. What was the matter with him? Couldn't she enjoy her birthday dinner without him glowering at her? What had she done now to offend him? Or was he just recalling the events of earlier in the evening and remembering that her lateness could have deprived him of precious time in Isabel's company? She was sure that was why he had been so cross with her when she had finally got home. Ramón Vance was not accustomed to waiting around for one woman when he wanted to be with another. Verity wondered why he had sent her father on ahead instead of coming to greet their guests himself.
She could not make him out. He had looked at her just now as if he could kill her, but the next second she saw his sleek dark head bent in Isabel's direction, saying something that the other girl obviously found amusing, for she was smiling up at him in a high good humour.
Juan was saying something to her, but suddenly Verity didn't want to liste
n any more. Why should she try and fool herself that boys like him could ever mean anything to her? Juan had made it very clear that he was interested in her. If she cared to encourage him, he was good husband material. And, even if it did not go as far as that, he would be an entertaining escort until the time came for her to leave Vista Hermosa.
But she could not use people like that. It would be what Isabel would do in her situation, she was sure. The other girl would not be averse to playing one man off against another, bettering her own position all the time. She must have been born with the ability to handle men, Verity thought. It was something you either had or you did without. You couldn't learn it, however hard you tried.
Her head ached and she longed to get away for a few minutes. No one would miss her if she slipped out for a breath of air. They would assume she had gone to the cloakroom. Verity muttered a quick word of excuse and left the table.
Outside the night air was cool against her face and she breathed deeply, savouring the relief it brought her. She had come through the courtyard where they had been earlier and stood by the edge of the pool. The water slapped against the tiled sides with a small swirling sound that was very restful after the uproar that she had just left. She bent down and dabbled her hand in the water, revelling in the coolness. She wished she did not have to go back to the party.
She did not hear a step behind her and started violently when a voice asked, 'Planning a dip? I wouldn't advise it in that dress.'
Why did it have to be him of all people? Why had he chosen to follow her out? Verity did not reply. Perhaps he would get the message and leave her alone.
But it seemed that Ramón, usually so aware of her thoughts, failed to read them with his customary accuracy. Either that or he was ignoring the signals that she was putting out. 'I wanted to be alone,' she said pointedly.
'Waiting for young Nunez to join you for a romantic assignation? There doesn't seem to be any moonlight, but I don't imagine you'll miss it.' His voice sounded harsh and critical.
'And if I was?' she asked him.
'You'd be a fool. He's not for you, for all your determined flirting with him over the dinner table.'
So he had been watching her. She did not know what to make of that. She shrugged. 'A girl can't behave like a nun all the time.'
'I don't think there's any danger of that,' he told her.
She was silent, thinking of the ample proof that she had given him of exactly how wanton she could be. Did he think she was like that with every man she met, that she responded as uninhibitedly as she had done with him? She never knew what he thought. That was half her trouble.
'I see you're wearing my present,' he said. Verity's hand went up to clutch the small silver thistle that lay at her breast. She had picked it up from the table and had taken it to her room before she had set out for Córdoba that morning. She had weakened and tried it on and had then been reluctant to take it off. She had worn it because she loved it and because Ramón had given it to her. And, because her pink dress had a high neck that hid the pendant from view, she had gone out wearing it, secure in the knowledge that if she bumped into him on the way to the car he would not be able to tell that she had it on.
Tonight, when she had changed, she had forgotten about it until the last minute and then it had been too late to take it off. And she had not wanted to. She had not thought he would notice. He had been too angry with her to bother about details like that.
'This dress has a low neck. It needed something, and I don't have any other jewellery,' she made rapid excuses. She played nervously with it, wishing he would drop the subject.
'Don't fiddle with it, you'll break it.' There was an edge to his voice.
'You make me nervous,' she muttered.
'Do I, Verity?'
'You always have.'
He was close enough to touch her now, but he didn't. She knew she wanted him to, and she was ashamed of the tide of feeling that swept over her as she caught the remembered scent of his cologne.
'I wonder why that should be?' he asked her.
'I don't know,' she spoke in a tight little voice that didn't seem to belong to her. She must sound impossibly naive. She moved agitatedly to one side in an effort to get away from him, but caught her heel in her dress and stumbled. She would have fallen in the water if he had not moved to catch her. 'I'm sorry.' She missed a breath as his arms came round her. 'I'm stupid.'
'You're impossible.' He pulled her up against him. 'What am I going to do with you, Verity?'
She raised her face in mute invitation. She could not help herself. For a long moment Ramón studied her, and then he kissed her, hungrily, as if he could not hold back any longer.
When he raised his head from hers she muttered a protest and he claimed her lips again. 'Oh God, but I want you, Verity,' he groaned.
'I want you too,' she whispered.
'And that's all it is between us, do you think?' he asked her. 'There's nothing more?'
There was everything more. From her side, at least. Was that he wanted, the satisfaction of knowing he had captured the best prize of all? Did he want to hear her say that she loved him? Verity was past evasions now, past all caring. He wanted her and he would take her. And for a while it would be bliss. And that happy time would make up for the misery that followed. That was inevitable.
'I love you,' she said. Just the simple truth.
'Verity?' He sounded amazed.
'I know that it's Isabel that you want to marry. But you want me, don't you?'
'Ever since the first day I met you.' His voice sounded ragged. 'But about Isabel—'
'I mind—I'd be a fool if I didn't. But I'll accept it. I'll be your mistress until you marry her. Afterwards— I'll go away somewhere. I couldn't bear it, if—'
'Little fool,' he said, but he was suddenly tender. 'Verity, my poor love, you don't have to bear anything ever again. I'll be around to look after you in the future—or at least to try.' He smiled down at her. 'That prickly independence of yours will take a bit of a knock, I'm afraid.'
'But you're going to marry Isabel.'
'I'm going to marry you. If you'll have me.'
'But you've been going around with her for weeks now. And you told me you were getting married,' she accused him.
'I don't remember telling you the lady's name. You just jumped to conclusions the way you usually do, my love. And I admit I fully intended you to.'
'You're playing games with me, Ramón!'
'Yes,' he admitted. 'I deliberately set out to make you jealous. You told me so vehemently that I meant nothing to you, yet every time I laid a finger on you, you responded in a very satisfactory way. I told you I didn't play fair, Verity. When it's a question of getting what I want I go all out for it.'
'But you were so angry with me tonight when I got home. I thought you were cross because I'd kept you away from Isabel—'
'I was half out of my mind with worry about you,' he said, frowning at the memory. 'When you were a little late I told myself that you were just trying to show who was boss, but when time went on and you still hadn't appeared I changed my tune. I was thinking of road accidents and the lot. I've never been so scared in my life.'
'Scared? You?' Verity asked incredulously. 'I can't imagine it.'
'And you can't believe I could love you either, can you? Have I treated you so badly?'
'Yes,' she said baldly. 'And I'm going to take a bit of convincing.'
'I'll do my best to tell you, darling.' And his mouth covered hers again.
Long moments later Verity asked, 'Won't Isabel be very disappointed that you're not going to marry her?'
'Probably. But since I never asked her she can't really complain. She had her hopes, I suppose. But she'll get over it in time,' Ramón said carelessly.
From indoors came the sound of cheers and clapping.
'They're drinking toasts,' he said. 'They missed you. Young Nunez was coming out to find you, but I sent him back and came myself.'
'Jealous?' she asked, amazed.
'Very. And don't tell me I had no need to be—I saw you flirting with him all through dinner.' He looked down at her. 'If we went in now we could give them something else to drink to,' he said persuasively.
'I haven't said that I'll marry you yet.' Verity paused, thinking aloud. 'You realise that it'll wreak havoc with my education? I was going to England to study.'
'You could get your degree here in Argentina. We'll travel to England, I promise you. I'll take you anywhere you want to see. But I'm not letting you disappear for three years just when I've found you.'
'We'll talk about it later. It's all too sudden at the moment. Two hours ago I didn't even like you,' she said.
'And now?'
She studied his dark features. 'Now I'm not sure.'
'You'll have a lifetime to find out.'
'Will that be long enough?' she teased him.
'I might just tame you by the time you're an old lady with your grandchildren at your knee. Perhaps. But I'm looking forward to the challenge. Can't you do likewise?'
'We'll fight,' she warned him.
'Like cat and dog,' he agreed. 'Scared, Verity?'
She shook her head.
'I'll make you happy, I promise you that. You won't regret it in the end.'
'You're always so sure of yourself, aren't you?' she sighed ruefully.
'In this case I think I can afford to be. Can't I?' he asked her, pulling her closer to him.
'Probably,' she agreed. Ramón would have his own way. He always did. But the prospect didn't worry her. In this case at least she had a feeling that he was right. She smiled up at him, 'Let's go and break the news,' she said softly.
And they went in together.
The Overlord Page 16
