Rachel Trevellyan by Anne Mather

Author:Anne Mather [Mather, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472097293
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

OVER dinner that evening, Rachel had great difficulty in keeping her knowledge of the Marquesa’s whereabouts to herself. It was not her nature to be secretive about anything, but as Malcolm had still been sleeping when she returned to the quinta that afternoon, she had taken the easiest course and refrained from making any mention of her abortive trip to the village.

It was not until lunch time the following day that Malcolm missed his hostess. He had expected her to visit him, but as the morning passed into afternoon he became suspicious.

‘Do you know where Joanna is?’ he demanded of Rachel, who was in the process of getting him a drink of water from the jug beside his bed. He had decided to stay in bed earlier, but now he was becoming restless.

‘How could I?’ Rachel moved her shoulders nervously.

Malcolm frowned. ‘She was out all day yesterday. The least she could do was to come and see how I am today.’

Rachel handed him the glass of water. ‘I doubt whether the Marquesa cares very much one way or the other after your behaviour a couple of days ago,’ she commented carefully.

Malcolm caught her wrist as she would have moved away. ‘What do you mean by that?’

‘You know what I mean. You must know perfectly well that when the Marquesa invited you here she did not expect you to become a permanent fixture.’

Malcolm’s grip tightened cruelly and she winced. ‘You’re hurting me!’ she gasped.

‘I’ll do more than that if I hear any more of that kind of clever talk from you,’ he snapped. ‘Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?’

Rachel wrenched her wrist out of his grasp, rubbing the reddened flesh painfully. ‘I’m only telling you the truth.’

‘Are you? Are you? And so what do you think the Marquesa is going to do about it? Throw me out?’ His smile was not pleasant. ‘Or will she get that arrogant son of hers to do it for her?’

‘Malcolm!’

He hunched his shoulders. ‘Ring the bell for that girl—what’s her name? Rosa? Yes, send for Rosa. She’ll know where the old girl is.’

Rachel rang the bell reluctantly. If any of the servants had witnessed her return with Luis the previous afternoon, they must surely expect her to know why the Marquesa was not with them. What if Rosa mentioned that?

But Rosa didn’t. Not that she didn’t seem surprised at Malcolm’s question. She gave them both an encompassing glance, and then replied: ‘Did not the Senhor Marquês tell you? The Senhora Marquesa was not well yesterday when she visited with the Alejentos.’

‘Not well?’ Malcolm leant forward. ‘What do you mean?’

‘She has been—how do you say it?—overdoing it, sim? The wedding, you understand. There is much to arrange.’

‘So?’ Malcom could scarcely conceal his impatience.

‘So the Senhora Marquesa is to spend a few days with her friend Senhora Alejento, senhor. You did not know this?’

‘No, I didn’t know.’ Malcolm clenched and unclenched his fists. ‘How about her son?’

‘The Senhor Marquês is here, senhor.

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