Love of Lady Liana.

by Alvarez y Losada

  The eyes of Liana had an expression of request.

  -- Rogan, never I had the intention of to deceive to me of something as terrible as the death. It was only asking my husband about his first woman. All we felt curiosi­dad by the others women who happened through the life of their ma­rido. I heard say so many things of Jeanne and...

  -- Who spoke to you?

  -- The Lady. -- Like it was evident that Rogan it did not know to whom one talked about, Liana added:-- Creo that is the woman of Severn, although it seems a little greater than he.

  The hard expression in the face of Rogan it smoothed.

  -- In your place, I would not dare a to remember Iolanthe that is greater than Severn. -- Hizo a pause.-- Io spoke to you of...

  It seemed that it could not pronounce name of his first wife and that bothered to Liana. Still it loved so much?

  -- I never spoke with Iolanthe, but the Lady men­cionó. Rogan, I am freezing to me. We can speak here? To the sun?

  Twice Rogan had moved away of her when it mentioned the name of Jeanne and in both cases had re­gresado; now it contemplated the possibility of remaining with her for "speaking". Rogan grasped the hand of Liana and it removed it from the stream.

  When they were to the sun, it crossed arms on the chest and hardened the chin. Never, never in its life vol­vería to accept the idea to spend a day with a woman... and so­bre everything like this one. It had a special talent to descu­brir the most sensible nerves of Rogan.

  -- What you wish to know? -- it asked.

  -- pretty Era? Very you were enamored with she? That is the reason for which the castle was so dirty? Ju­raste that you would never love another woman because it hurt to you much? Why it preferred a Oliver Howard, before to you? How he is he? She obtained that you laughed? By fault of Jeanne never you smile? Think that a day I will be able to rempla­zar it in your heart?

  When the questions finally stopped, Rogan was, standing up, watching at Liana there. It had the arms to the flanks, their lips were half-opened in a gesture that suggested astonishment.

  -- Well? -- Liana asked, inducing it to speak --. One is her? ¡I occurred it!

  Rogan was not very safe of which there was espera­do to hear when it asked to him what wanted to know, but in any case no it thought about those frivolous questions, without importance, sentimental. A began to blink.

  -- Beautiful? -- it said --. The moon feared to appear on cas­tillo of Moray because it could not compete with the beauty of... of...

  -- Jeanne -- Liana said pensativamente --. Then, she was much more pretty that I?

  It could not think that Liana took in serious this con­versación. To tell the truth, it did not remember how prime­ra was his wife, so many years ago she did not see it...

  -- Much more -- it said with pretended seriousness -- She was so her­mosa that... -- Busco' a comparison term.— ...that corceles military sent to the load stopped she in front and ate of his hand.

  -- Oh -- Liana exclaimed, seated on one wet stone and its clothes emitted chasquidos --. Oh...

  Rogan directed a glance of misfortune a the head in­clinada before him.

  -- it never could use pretty clothes, because yes it did hurt the eyes of the men, had to dress siem­pre articles farmers, because it did not want to blind to people. If a entered horse in the village, had to use a mask, because the men threw themselves under the cas­cos of its horse. The diamonds seemed ugly compara­dos with...

  Liana raised the head.

  -- you make fun of of me. -- There was hope in its voice.-- What aspect really had?

  -- Not it memory, was young. I believe that it had brown hair.

  Liana included/understood that now he said truth and that did not remember much of the appearance of Jeanne.

  - - How you can forget to somebody a who you loved so much?

  One seated in the grass, of backs a Liana, and con­templó the stream.

  -- I was not more than a youngster and my brothers ordered to me that he married to me with her. She... it betrayed to me, us it betrayed to all. James and Basil died trying to recu­perar it.

  Liana approached him and it seated to his side, the humid and cold flank of its body next to lukewarm articles and se­cas that he dressed..

  -- It is what she saddens to you?

  -- It saddens? -- Rogan repeated --. What it saddens to me is the death of my brothers. To see them die one by one, knowing that the Howard has seized of everything what I always wanted in the life.

  -- Even of your wife -- it murmured.

  Rogan became and it watched it. For years that not pensa­ba in his first wife like a personal subject, could not remember its face, its body, nothing of which it was related to her. But while it watched Liana thought that if she de­saparecía, would remember many things of his person... and it would not be only its body, was said astonished. Some would remember of the things that she had said.

  It extended the hand and it touched the cheek humid of Liana.

  -- You are as simple as you seem it? -- it asked in low voice --. That somebody loves to you or believes that you are beautiful it is the subject more important of your life?

  To Liana it did not please to seem to him so frivolous.

  -- I can watch the accounts of properties, I can discover the thieves, I know to judge the judicial cases, tam­bién I know...

  -- To judge? -- Rogan asked, and it separated a little pa­ra to watch it --. How it is possible that a woman dictates a decent failure? The judgments do not talk about to the love nor the person who can present/display the floor cleaner... they have to do with important problems.

  -- Dame an example -- it said calmly Liana.

  Rogan considered that it was better to abstain from so­brecargar the mind of a woman with excessive number of serious problems; but also it wished to give a lesson him.

  -- Yesterday, a man and three witnesses they presented/displayed with a document signed with a seal, that said that hom­bre was the owner of one builds; but the prece­dente proprietor of the house no he accepted to leave. That man applied his seal to the paper like one guarantee debt. Well, one did not pay the debt, but the first proprietor conti­nuaba living in the property. How you would have solved asun­to? -- it asked astutely.

  -- it would not have failed before hearing testimony of the first proprietor, the real courts have considered who are too easy to falsify a seal. If the man, had sufficient education perhaps in order to have a seal, also its own name could write. It had to have applied to the seal and position its mark in the paper. Also it had investigated to determine if the witnesses were or nonfriends of the first man. In general, the case does not seem valid to me.

  Rogan watched it astonished. In effect, it had demonstrated that the document was false and that it had been written by man who was angered because he saw its young wife speaking with son of the proprietor.

  -- Well? -- Liana said --. I trust that you will not have sent men to throw of its earth that poor farmer.

  -- I did not make such thing -- it talked back dryly Rogan --. I either did not burn to anybody to eat rats.

  -- Nor you left pregnant woman to a daughter? -- she said mockingly.

  -- No, but the wife of the farmer was a beauty. It had great... -- Esbozo' a gesture with the hands in front of chest.

  — ¡You! -- Liana shouted, and it was thrown on he.

  Rogan grasped it, pretended that the weight of Liana had knocked down it and it tightened it with force against his body. Finally it kissed.

  - - I judged well, right? The document it was false, no?

  Now it lay on the body of Rogan, feeling the strong and hard muscles of its man.

  -- Tienes the wet clothes -- he said --. You would have quitártelas and to put them to dry.

  -- you will not distract to me. That document, was or nonfalse?

  It raised the head to kiss it of new, but Liana separated the face.

  -- false Era? -- she asked.

  -- Yes, it was false --
Rogan said, exasperated.

  Liana lay down to laugh and began to kiss to him the neck.

  Rogan closed the eyes. In its life it had known few women who did not fear to him. The encumbradas ones of the cuts they gave the back generally him, so that Rogan said that he was preferable to deal with the servants. And these showed fear as opposed to his generally angers and their rejections. But this woman ed ***reflx mng itself of him, shouted to him... and it refused to obey to him.

  -- and I can help -- Liana said.

  -- Ayudar in what? -- Rogan asked.

  -- In the judgments.

  Now, it was caressing with his language the neck of Rogan.

  -- On my corpse -- he said gladly.

  Liana lay down to laugh.

  -- I am on your body, but not me it seems that you have died absolutely.

  -- You are a impúdica female -- he said, kissing it.

  -- you will punish to Me?

  It supported the hand on the head of Liana and with a movement of the body invested the position of both and immobilized to Liana with a movement of the robust leg.

  -- I will leave You strengthless.

  — ¡Impossible! -- she said, and a moment later the mouth of Rogan prevented to continue speaking him.

  From the trees the noise arrived of people who walked, but the lovers did not hear anything in the beginning.

  -- Gaby, I say to you that the idea is not good -- the voice of a man was heard.

  -- I always think that whom nothing he risks nothing wins -- he answered a woman.

  Liana felt that the body became hardened of Rogan, and with a fast movement it extracted the short sword and one knelt down on her, in a protective gesture.

  Between the trees they appeared Baudoin and a small and regordeta woman with a niñita in the arms, a basket and boy between both adult.

  Liana and Rogan were limited to watch, without to include/understand the meaning of the appearance.

  -- you are There -- the woman said, going ahead --. Baudoin me said everything to it, you must pardon its character. I am his wife, Gabriela, but all they call Gaby to me; and those are our children, SARAH and Joseph. I said to Baudoin that if I am going to live with you, is necessary that you know. My father was a horseman, not by the way a count, but a man respectable and I knew that Baudoin was son of a gentleman and for that reason I requested my father who allowed me to marry it. -- Dirigio' a glance of adoration to the young person good looking stop and.-- and never I lamented it. My lady, you are not cold with those clothes humid? The dye is being come off your hair staining face. Let us see, I will help to fix this you.

  Rogan and Liana, astonished, were not had moved. still it was made kneel next to its wife, the prepared weapon, protecting to Liana that was underneath. When the called woman Gaby offered to him the hand, Liana did not move.

  Baudoin broke silence.

  -- Ahead -- it said --. All do what she says.

  The words seemed of censorship, but there was affectionate accent in the voice. In truth, it did not seem a very harmonic pair: Baudoin was high, thin, very good looking, and its face expressed a luck of permanent irritation. Gaby was low, dumpily, pretty but not certainly beautiful and it seemed that the face had been born with a smile.

  Liana accepted the hand that offered to him woman and went with her to the stream; she was customary to that the woman of the class of Gaby they feared to him, but from the moment its arrival to the castle of Nothing peregrinates had been as she knew it.

  -- Now, siéntate and ten patience there -- Gaby said while it installed to his daughter in the ground.

  It returned the eyes towards Liana.

  -- I found out of which this happened tomorrow, the brothers would not have to fight. I always said to Baudoin that a day his brothers of the castle would see the light and I was right. Baudoin is a good man, he it will do what is necessary. Vedlos, seems two peas of the same case.

  Liana returned the eyes towards both men: it was standing, one near the other, without watching themselves nor speaking. The boy he was among them, equally quiet.

  -- Inclinaos and I will wash to you here hair -- Gaby ordered

  Liana did what it was said to him.

  -- Your husband speaks as little as mine? -- Gaby asked.

  Liana did not know very well what to do... if to demonstrate cordiality to him or to adopt another attitude. He was strange of what mo­do clothes affected the disposition of a person. If she had dressed the her best one blue silk would have hoped that es­a farmer inclined in its presence, in change now that used common wool felt almost as if it had been... well, one equal.

  -- If I chain it to a place speaks, but not demasia­do -- Liana said finally.

  -- you do not resign to the fight. It will be dissuaded completamen­te if you allow it. And obligadlo to laugh, hacedle tickle.

  -- Tickle? -- the dyed black water it ran by the face of Liana.

  -- Yes -- Gaby -- In the ribs said. Of all ways, are good men. They do not haggle over its affection. If it loves to you today, it will do it by all the life. It will not be like certain men who are enamored and tomorrow they interest on the following day in another woman and one third. Well, now it is better. Vues­tros hair is blond again.

  Liana seated and it took shelter the hair humid.

  -- and now we cannot return to fair. Somebody could recognize to me.

  -- Not -- Gaby with serious expression said --. You will not want to return there, this morning already commented who would be hom­bre mysterious which it defeated to Baudoin, you do not have to return.

  The face was illuminated to him.

  -- But I have brought foods, and po­demos to remain here, in this so pretty place.

  Gabriela did not say to Liana that it spent savings of a year in festín that had brought with himself. Under aparien­cia cheer and complaciente of Gaby hid a very ambitious woman, but it does not stop she herself. What longed for was destined to its husband whom more it loved than a vi­da same.

  It had turned twelve years when it saw by first time to that good looking Baudoin, a young person of cold glance and determined that he would conquer no matter how much that cost to him. His father aspired to that she he arranged a good marriage and not that one married with a bastard without future. Pe­ro Gaby gave long and moaned and fond of being coaxed and apostatized, until it obtained that his father it formulated a supply to padrastro of Baudoin.

  This one married with her by its dowry and first years of coexistence had been difficult. It had had mu­chas other women, but the love of Gaby was firmer than the sensuality of Baudoin. Little by little he began to pres­tar attention, to look for it to him to obtain love and comfort and when the children were born, Baudoin also discovered that that it pleased to him.

  During the six years of marriage, this one happened of the condition of a sire that jumped from a bed to another one to the one of successful merchant, who was pleased mainly in the deal with his wife and children.

  That morning, when seeing lord Rogan between multitude, re­conoció immediately to its average brother. For the first time in years its old rage had been pronounced. Several hours later it found to Gaby and after many es­fuerzos of her to take the truth to him, it explained to him inci­dente in the forest. One felt shamed by having ataca­do a man by the back, and it revealed to Gaby the offer that accepted, but added that they had to leave the region and to begin again elsewhere, because he no it could support the idea to face lord Rogan again.

  Gaby elevated a fast plegaria of gratefulness to God, that to the aim offered that opportunity to them, and it was dedicated to work on Baudoin. Imagina­rias used all the techniques to break its reserve. One obtained time this, com­prendió that it had to work on the gentleman and his bondado­sa and compasiva handcuff. And also it knew that its opportunity was east day, while the gentleman and his wife dressed atuen­do farmer. On the following day, when they were cu­biertos of silk and the own Gaby with articles of wool, the dis­tancia among them w
ould be excessive.

  So that it had retired the money of its hiding place and with him bought meat of cow, pig, chicken, bread, naran­jas, cheese, dates, children and beer, ca­nasta deposited everything in one and left in looks for of the illustrious relatives of Baudoin. It did not want to remember the reputation of Rogan, reflected tam­bién in the piece and to either think about that lord Rogan had seen a Baudoin personifying it, and however concentrated the attention in the effort by to be entertained, being the equal one of both gentlemen.

  Liana did not have much to say when it was near Gaby, but by the other anybody it spoke then this one con­versaba as much as an army. In the beginning, Liana was reserved with the woman, it did not please to his presun­ción nor the way to him in which one had interfered in which it had a little while to be of solitude between her and Rogan.

  But after awhile Liana a began to smooth itself. He was so pleasant to hear how others spoke. To Rogan it had to take each word to him and were no guests in the castle of Moray, nobody with who to speak, except his doncellas and the Lady who quite often remained behind a closed door.

  And in addition, to Liana it pleased the way to him in that Gaby adored to Baudoin. Its glance crossed the body of the young person in one possessive attitude that was partly the one of a wife, partly the one of a mother and partly the one of a deci­dido vampire to devour the life of the boy. Liana it thought: agra­daría to know to me if I in the same way watch Rogan.

  Both brothers watched themselves with caution, without knowing how what to say or how to react one the other as opposed to, until Gaby it suggested Rogan taught to Baudoin the way of lu­char with long poles.

  The sisters-in-law seated in the ground, they ate bread and cheese and they watched how the men trained. Rogan was good teacher, although severe. Three times it sent to Baudoin to waters you cold of river, but Baudoin by anything was not son of its father. The fourth time that Rogan it wanted to arro­jar it to the water, Baudoin made an average turn and was Rogan that finished falling of mouth in the frozen water.

  Liana was gotten up instantaneously and it ran towards his husband. It seemed frightened so, seated there in the water, that she began to laugh, and the same made Gaby. In­cluso Baudoin smiled, Rogan it needed a little while and tam­bién he laughed.