The Japanese Screen by Anne Mather

Author:Anne Mather [Mather, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4603-4839-0
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1974-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

SUSANNAH had arrived in Madrid in the heat of the day when even the airport officials showed a distinct lack of enthusiasm for their duties, and had flown on to Seville while Spain drowsed in the siesta hours. After the magnificence of the Pyrenees which even now were still clothed in the snows of winter it was a dramatic contrast to land on tarmac made soft by the heat of the sun. But it was a contrast wholly to her liking. Even so, the air-conditioning of the aircraft had not prepared her for the onslaught of heat which hit her as she left the plane, or for the dazzling effect of white-painted buildings on the naked eye. However, by the time she had negotiated the formalities at Seville the cooler draught of evening was freshening the air and lengthening the shadows, and only the discomfiting warmth of the cream slack suit she had worn to travel in reminded her of the striking change of temperature.

Emerging into the reception area she looked about her expectantly. She marshalled her two suitcases and breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she was here it hardly seemed possible that it was only hours since she had left the Frenches’ house in Kennington. The past two months had been so hectic, and she was glad that they were over at last. She had had so many things to contend with—not least her own conscience.

Of course, once she knew Susannah was leaving, Lucie Castana had made things as unpleasant for her as possible, and not till her husband had found a satisfactory replacement did she refrain from criticizing the girl at every opportunity. Naturally, Monica d’Alvarez had had to return to Spain, but she had kept in touch with Susannah and made the eventual arrangements for her journey. Susannah could have done with the American woman’s support at this time. She had liked her, even though she had found her conversation a little coarse at times, but Lucie had lost no time in telling her that Monica was notorious for her unconventionality, and that she had had dozens of affairs. This man in London, Max Rosenberg, was only one of many lovers she had had, and if Susannah imagined she would have an easier time with the Alvarez family she was very much mistaken.

Susannah had tried to ignore what she had been told. Señora d’Alvarez’s personal involvements did not concern her. It was true that she and Max Rosenberg had seen a lot of one another while she was in London, and that on the rare occasions when Susannah had seen them together their attitude towards one another had been disturbingly intimate, but that was nothing to do with her. Besides, she had enough problems of her own with Margaret.

Her friend had made it plain that she considered her behaviour in accepting this post as reckless in the extreme, and in the few days that Susannah had spent with the Frenches, prior to leaving for

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