Rachel Lindsay - Alien Corn

by Rachel Lindsay

  'I'm sure someone so rich and popular must be greatly sought after.' Lorna's expression was ironic, but Amalia missed the sarcasm.

  'He is,' she said seriously. 'And not only because he's rich, either. He's got a way of talking to you and looking at you as if you were the only woman in the world.'

  Too well Lorna knew the truth of this. 'I still wouldn't envy his wife. When I marry I'd like to feel sure of my husband.'

  'That's a matter of opinion. A husband you're too sure of can become boring, but then perhaps you're not looking for excitement in your married life!'

  'At the moment I'd settle for contentment.' Unable to quell her curiosity, Lorna drew the conversation back to the person nearest her thoughts. 'But why doesn't he marry Inez? What's stopping him?'

  'Your guess is as good as mine. If anyone's holding back it isn't her. I can't understand it. She's got everything he needs in a wife — breeding, background —' she hesitated, 'and nationality.'

  'Do you think the same nationality is so necessary?'

  'It helps. Marriage is difficult enough as it is.'

  'An old-fashioned philosophy,' Lorna said quietly. 'A lot of people could prove you wrong. Wouldn't you have been happy married to an Englishman?'

  'Yes, but then England was part of my life. For some one coming to a strange country it would be entirely different. Although Manoel and I quarrel we still share the same roots and believe in the. same things. But why are we talking like this? I could no more imagine you marrying a foreigner than pigs flying! What about a game of Canasta? It will pass the time.'

  "Right. Where are the cards?'

  'In a green leather box in the corner desk, I think. If not they're in the library. I'll set up the card table in my bedroom and we can play there. Don't forget to bring a pencil and pad.'

  But the desk in the corner of the drawing-room only held a stack of dominoes and a set of ivory carved chessmen, and Lorna had no choice but to go into the library. The very sight of the room reminded her of Rafael, and she moved to the desk, painfully aware of the personality of its owner. How she had hated him the first time she had seen him in this room. If only she could say the same thing now!

  She opened the top drawer and stared down at the neatly clipped files. Nothing there. Nothing in any of the drawers except notepaper, clippings relating to the estate and small box files. In the bottom drawer she found what she was looking for — the pile of score cards and underneath the green leather box. Casually she flicked it open and an enormous emerald, flanked by two rose-pink diamonds, winked up at her! With shaking fingers she took it out and read the tiny letters inscribed on the platinum circlet - Juan Diniz.

  This must be Rosalia's engagement ring - there could not be two emeralds like it in the world! But Rosalia had taken it away with her - or had she? Could it have been lying here unnoticed all this time? Impossible! If Rosalia had left it behind, it must have been discovered long ago, unless someone had deliberately hidden it in order to blacken her name. Yet who would have reason to do such a thing? Only one person had stood to gain - Rafael!

  With a little cry she replaced the emerald in its box, slammed home the drawer and fled from the room. But nothing could shut out the dreadful suspicion that was forming in her mind.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Obsessed with her discovery of the ring, Lorna forced herself to behave to Amalia as if nothing had happened. But she was filled with hidden fears, and like the hydra- headed monster of mythology as she conquered one doubt another would grow in its place. Nowhere could she find relief from the irrefutable fact that Rafael had stolen the ring. Had he not told her himself that he would never give up his house? Yet he had known his father intended leaving it to Rosalia : what more natural than for him to succumb to the temptation of making her seem a thief? No matter which way she argued she could reach no solution. Everything was indicative of his guilt, and only her heart refused to believe he was the sort of man who would implicate the family honour to further his own ends.

  What could she do? Tell the Senhora that her daughter was innocent and her son guilty or confront Rafael with the knowledge? Either course was anathema to her, yet to say nothing was even worse, and she was still torn with indecision when the family returned from Algarve.

  She was walking with Amalia along the drive when the cream Cadillac swerved to a stop at the front door. Rafael helped his mother out and Lorna waited until he had turned to see the luggage before she came forward. Manoel greeted her easily, then placed an affectionate arm across his wife's shoulders as they disappeared into the house.

  The old lady watched them go and shrugged. 'How easily young people forget their differences when they've been parted a few days.'

  Leaning heavily on Lorna's arm, she mounted the steps and paused in the hall to gaze around.

  'Ah, it is good to be home again. I always feel the pleasure of coming back far exceeds the pleasure of going.'

  'Because your home is so lovely,' Lorna murmured.

  'I am glad you think so, although that surely was not the reason you decided to leave the Castros so precipitately? They were most offended.'

  'I'm sorry, Senhor. I left because of Amalia.'

  'You should have told us.'

  'I was afraid you'd try and stop me, and I felt it my duty to be with her.'

  'And what about your duty as a guest?' Rafael had come up silently behind her. 'Your behaviour was insulting, to say the least.'

  'I didn't mean it to be,' she said quietly. 'I've written and explained to Senhor Castro.'

  'Of what use is a letter? Nothing can condone bad manners.'

  'Or selfishness,' she flashed back. 'You once told me to mind my tongue, but you can't stop me thinking!'

  'Obviously - even if what you think is wrong!'

  'Children!' the Senhora admonished. 'Kindly do not shout, and if you must quarrel, please do so where the servants cannot hear.'

  Rafael turned away disdainfully. 'I have no quarrel with Miss Fairfax. She behaves like a spoilt child and should learn some self-control.'

  Lorna bit her lip; if only he knew how much control she was exerting! But she Said nothing and helped the Senhora up the stairs to her room.

  Lorna avoided Rafael's presence as much as possible for the rest of the week, delaying her appearance at the. breakfast-table until he had left for Lisbon, and retiring early on the rare occasions when he was home for dinner. The very sight of his proud face and dark penetrating eyes unnerved her and she was afraid he would read her thoughts and question her.

  It was not until the Sunday after their return from Algarve that she came face to face with him as she was crossing the drawing-room. Manoel and Amalia had gone for a drive and Lorna had decided to take her book into the garden. Now the man barred her way.

  'Good afternoon, Lorna.'

  'Good afternoon, senhor.'

  'It used to be Rafael.'

  She looked at a point beyond his shoulder. 'Rafael, if you prefer it. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going into the garden.'

  'Why the hurry? It's much cooler here.'

  'It's equally cool under the trees.'

  'I'm sure it is if you say so, but for the moment I'd like you to stay with me.' His lips curved in a smile. 'Please sit down, Lorna, I want to talk to you.'

  Reluctantly she obeyed and he moved back to the mantelpiece.

  'I owe you an apology,' he began without preamble.

  'For what?'

  'Surely you know without my telling you.'

  'I'm afraid I don't I'm not a mind-reader.'

  His eyes glinted. 'I see you're determined to get your pound of flesh 1 All right, you shall have it.' He put his foot on the fender. 'I apologize for being rude to you that afternoon at the Castros'. I knew the minute I had spoken that you resented it, but' I was afraid your tongue would run away with you, and strictly speaking it was none of your business.'

  'Of course it's my business!' Lorna burst out 'Amalia's my friend.'

  That sti
ll does not give you the right to interfere between man and wife. Come, Lorna, you forget I am the head of the family and if any interfering must be done it is my place to do it.'

  'But you condone his behaviour.'

  'For the time being. If he goes too far —-' his shoulders lifted expressively, 'that is another matter. But we are not discussing Manoel and Amalia now. At the moment I am more interested in you.' his eyes darkened and he moved a step towards her. 'Well, Lorna, what is your answer? Will you forgive me?'

  'Of course I forgive you, senhor. Such a beautifully worded apology deserves nothing less.'

  'Good. Then we are friends again.'

  'I don't think we can ever be friends. Your ways and mine are too different for that.'

  'Comos diabos! Now what's the matter?' the breath hissed sharply between his teeth. 'Ever since I returned from Algarve you've been acting strangely. What's the reason for it?'

  'Nothing! Nothing!' She began to tremble, afraid of his power over her, afraid too that she would blurt out the truth. 'I - just don't like being spoken to as if I were a servant. You - you treat women differently here - I'm not used to it.'

  'You're lying!' He caught her roughly by the shoulders. 'I demand the truth. Never have I apologized to a woman before - never! Do you hear me? And I would not do so now if it weren't because I wanted you, because I—'

  'No, no!' Lorna broke in: 'Don't go on Rafael — I don't want to hear!'

  'But you shall,' he continued remorselessly. 'I'm tired of all this petty behaviour. It is time we stopped —'

  A discreet knock interrupted them and his hands dropped to his side as a maid entered. Silently he listened to the flood of Portuguese and when he turned round again his face was set.

  'Marie says a friend of yours is outside. A man called Simmons.'

  For a moment Lorna was taken aback. Since her arrival in Portugal she had kept up a desultory correspondence with Derek, but his last letter had made no mention of a visit to Portugal. What was he doing here now? Perhaps there was bad news concerning her aunt? Regardless of Rafael's sardonic glance, she ran across the room and wrenched open the door.

  'Derek! What on earth are you doing here?' With an eagerness she had never displayed to him before she caught him by the arm. 'Is anything the matter - when did you arrive?'

  'Early this morning, and nothing's the matter. I just thought I'd take a holiday.' He placed an affectionate arm across her shoulder. 'I hope you don't mind me barging in like this.'

  'Of course not! It's like a breath of home to see you again. For a moment I was afraid something had happened to Aunt Marion.' She led him into the drawing-room and his eyes flickered from her to .the man standing by the fireplace.

  With a murmur of apology Lorna introduced him. 'Derek, Senhor Rodriguez - my host. Senhor, a friend of mine from England.'

  The two men shook hands.

  'Are you Amalia's husband?' Derek asked.

  'No, you are thinking of my cousin.' The Portuguese indicated a chair. 'Do sit down. How about a drink?'

  'Thanks. Something long and cool.'

  Calm and apparently unruffled, Rafael turned to the cocktail cabinet, and Lorna watched him helplessly, wondering if he were ever caught off guard. Passionately disturbed a moment ago, he was now dispensing drinks with the cool efficiency of a bartender.

  She sighed and. turned to Derek. 'Have you seen Aunt Marion lately?'

  'We had dinner together the night before last. She sends her love and told me to tell you she's never written so many successful articles in her life, so you needn't hurry back!'

  That makes me miss her all the more! It seems a lifetime since I saw her!'

  'Because you're a lady of leisure.' Derek grinned at Rafael. 'I hope you're not letting Lorna become lazy.'

  'There's no chance of that. She is too busy interfering in other people's affairs to become lazy.'

  There was an awkward pause and Lorna hurriedly turned to Derek. 'Are you staying long?"

  'A couple of weeks.'

  'Why didn't you write and tell me you were coming?'

  'And spoil the surprise? Not likely! I took a chance that you'd be glad to see me.'

  'I'm delighted. You've stopped me feeling homesick!' She smiled appraisingly at him, warming to the candour and generosity in his rugged, freckled face. Not good- looking by any stretch of the imagination, he had a homeliness about him that was immensely likable. Tall, loose-limbed, with a thatch of rough, red hair, he was the sort of man she would have liked as a brother.

  "Are you staying at the Palace?'

  His blue eyes crinkled. 'On my allowance? Have a heart, darling! I sorted out a small pension not far from here. There are only about five bedrooms, but it's clean and has all the mod. cons.!'

  'We are not barbarians, Mr. Simmons,' Rafael put in. 'We have even civilized the weather!'

  Thank goodness for that! It's been freezing in London all the week.'

  Lorna stood up, unable to tolerate this hollow exchange of platitudes.

  'If you came here for the sun then you'd better come into the garden. Senhor Rodriguez was just going out and we mustn't detain him.'

  'Right.' Derek finished his drink at a gulp; with a nod to Rafael followed Lorna down the terrace steps to the lawn.

  'Phew!' he said when they were out of earshot. 'So that's the head of the family! No wonder you wanted to escape. How do you get on with him?'

  'All right,' Lorna said guardedly. 'He's out most of the time.'

  'Good.' He caught her hand. 'The less you see of him the better I'll be pleased. Damn it, Lorna, London isn't the same without you. How much longer are you going to stay here?'

  'Until the baby comes.' Gently Lorna drew her hand away. Tell me all the news first. I seem to have been out of touch so long.'

  'Everyone and everything is fine, but I refuse to talk about them at the moment. It's you I'm interested in.' He looked down at her and his voice trailed off.' Damn it, Lorna! I knew there was something different about you. You've cut your hair.'

  'Do you like it?' She turned her head from side to side, and he pursed his lips dubiously.

  'I don't know. It suits you, of course, but it makes you look different. Too glamorous.'

  'Nonsense - you didn't notice it until it was right under you nose.'

  'Is that so?' His arms stole round her waist and he tried to kiss her.

  'Derek, don't! Someone might see.'

  'Who cares? I don't mind if the whole world knows I love you.'

  'Well, I do. Now behave yourself or I'll be sorry you came.'

  'I'll wear down your resistance one day,' he threatened, 'and you'll have to give in. I only hope I won't die of shock when you finally say "I will".'

  She burst out laughing. 'It'll be your own fault, then. You shouldn't be so persistent. Now come and see the pavilion - it's my favourite spot in the whole garden.'

  As a pebble thrown into a pool, Derek's sudden appearance in Estoril cast ripples across the surface of the whole Rodriguez family. The Senhora treated Lorna with a cordiality amounting almost to affection and the two

  Portuguese girls alternately teased and questioned her. Only Rafael behaved as if she had no physical existence at all, and apart from the conventional greetings barely addressed a single word to her. As the days passed Lorna found she could think more coherently about her discovery of the ring and decided to wait until she was able to leave Portugal before saying anything about it. Once the story was out it would be impossible to remain in the house, and as long as Amalia needed her she would keep silent.

  Although her decision was made she still longed to shield Rafael and her mind was constantly occupied with ways and means of doing it

  One sultry night, unable to sleep, she decided to escape from her room and sit for a while in the cool of the pavilion. The soft, panther resonance of her footfalls on the grass only served to accentuate the silence around her, and like a row of eyes the windows watched her as she crossed the lawn.
r />   She mounted the pavilion steps, pushed open the door and felt cautiously around for the switch. Light flooded the little room and she drew back with a stifled gasp. Lying on a wicker chair was the body of a girl, her thin legs bent awkwardly beneath her, the face gaunt and bloodless. Controlling herself with an effort, Lorna took a tentative step forward, letting out a sigh of relief as she saw the fingers of one hand uncurl. She bent and shook her gently by the shoulder.

  Slowly the pale eyelids lifted and dolorous eyes gazed uncomprehendingly into Lorna's.

  'Qem e a Senhora? O que quer?'

  'Thank God you're alive!' Lorna was too upset to care whether she was being understood or not.

  'Did I frighten you?' The girl spoke English with ease and assurance. 'I'm sorry. For a moment I didn't - I couldn't make out where I was.'

  Lorna's fear changed to anger. 'You've no business to be here at all! This is private land. It belongs to the Rodriguez family and—'

  'You needn't go on,' the girl said wearily. 'I know all about it. It's just that this was always my favourite spot.'

  'What do you mean ? Who are you ?'

  'Rosalia. Perhaps you've heard of me.'

  'Rosalia!' Lorna sank down on the chair. 'Rafael's sister!'

  'Yes. But who are you - his wife ?'

  Lorna blushed. 'No, I'm a friend of Amalia's.'

  'So she married Manoel after all. I wondered if she would. What is she doing here?'

  'She's come home to have a baby. They live in Brazil now, you know.'

  'I didn't, but never mind. The only news I've heard was of Papa's death.' Her voice grew tremulous. 'But how is my mother? Is she well? I've longed to see her and speak to her.'

  'Gome up to the house, then. It's quite simple.'

  'I wish it were. But you can't turn back the clock no matter how much you want to.' The girl stood up- and pulled her shabby coat about her. 'I never thought my family would be too proud to see me because I married Frank instead of Juan.'

  'Perhaps it was more than that. I mean - I mean,' Lorna felt her way carefully, 'they might haye forgiven you if you'd told them in. the first place. Perhaps if you'd spoken to your father…'