Stormy Haven (13 page)

When he arrived at the hotel at three-thirty, Melanie was ready and quite composed. To his quick, imploring look she returned a set little smile. On the way to the, villa Elfrida conversed deftly, and when they came upon
Senor
Perez in his lounge, it was she who put the solicitous inquiries and expressed relief that his injury had not been more severe. The old man turned kindly to Melanie.

“
You are well, my dear? A headache, perhaps?
”

“
No,
senor
.
I am well, thank you.
”

“
She went shopping this morning,
”
submitted Elfrida easily.
“
The heat may have been too much.
”

“
Then we will be quiet and domestic,
”
said Senor Perez.
“
Ramon, set the fan working and call for tea.
”

Gently but decisively he eased the dramatic tension. Maybe he guessed that Ramon had been indiscreet enough to mention the delicate matter before it had been discussed between his father and Melanie
’
s guardian.

While tea was dispensed the conversation was light and pleasant. When the tray had been taken, Ramon rose and asked Melanie to walk with him in the garden.

The
senor
glanced at him wa
rn
ingly.
“
Not too far, my son, and not too fast. You understand?
”

Ramon must have understood very well, for his manner during that half-hour stroll was exemplary. Ingrained in him was a respect for the conventions as practiced in Spain. Melanie was his chosen, his fair bride-to-be, but not yet by her own consent. That would come, and meanwhile he would not be found deficient in courtesy and patience. There were many details to be settled before the more exciting plans could be made.

The afternoon ended as formally as it had begun. The
senor
was left in the lounge resting his knee, Ramon drove the two women back to the hotel, kissed a hand of each and gave Melanie
’
s a quick pressure. Impossible to doubt his sincerity, thought Melanie despairingly.

She parted from Elfrida in the corridor and slipped into her own room. But the walls pressed in, the smells from the back street were close and nauseating. She felt drained and nerveless, hopelessly and horribly frightened. She had not been alone more than ten minutes when Elfrida tapped and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her; she was carefully serene and as amicable as if she were in the habit of dropping in for a chat.

She went to the window.
“
What a revolting view! But the primitive never does disgust you, does it? Still, I daresay even you would rather live among lovely things than in the midst of squalor. Senor Perez thinks you have a remarkable appreciation of beauty.
”
She turned and glanced at Melanie
’
s still figure beside the bed.
“
We have to be friends in this, Melanie. The
senor
is more than willing to welcome you as a daughter
-
in-law. He confirmed all that Ramon told me about the marriage settlement; it looks like a colossal sum and will be yours unconditionally for the rest of your life. He was emphatic about there being no haste for your final reply. Ramon wants you, and that is enough for the old chap, but he has respect for your shyness and wishes Ramon to show a similar respect. Which I must say is considerate of him.
”

A faint nod was the only acknowledgment Melanie could yield.

“
It isn
’
t as if they were demanding an immediate marriage, or even an engagement,
”
Elfrida went on reasonably.
“
Fortunately, the
senor
is old-fashioned enough to think it best that you get used to the idea of Ramon becoming your husband—apparently that
’
s how it
’
s done in the best families in Spain. He proposes that we all stay on at Mindoa for a few weeks, after which the four of us will travel together to Cadiz. Once we get there, of course, things will happen swiftly.
”

Melanie spoke in a flat, husky voice.
“
It
’
s wrong, Elfrida. There must be some other way out. I can
’
t think of one just now, but I will.
”

“
You
’
re tired, my dear, and no wonder. Let me do the worrying.
”
Slowly, she paced back to the door, and hesitated with her fingers on the handle.
“
Forgive me for reminding
you again how much I
’
ve done for you in the past year, but I feel you owe me at least the promise that you won
’
t act against this marriage in any way without first talking it over with me.
”

“
All right,
”
Melanie whispered tonelessly.
“
I promise.
”

“
Good
.
”
Elfrida smiled.
“
In a day or two you won
’
t regret this step. You may not believe it now, but today has completely changed both our lives.
”

Melanie did believe it. A few hours ago she had been a girl with a problem or two; they had appeared difficult then. Now she was a woman with a load of anxiety and not a single friend to help her find a way out of it.

CHAPTER TEN

For a few days
Melanie was sustained
by
irrational hopes. She had promised Elfrida not to go to Stephen, but there remained the slender chance of his hearing the news from Senor Perez, and surely if he did he would at once dispel the dishonesty and get at the truth, save Melanie and tell her what to do. He was so strong and sane, so steadfast in the conduct of his own affairs.

One morning when Melanie was trying to read on the terrace, Stephen
’
s car nosed around the driveway. Relief was painful in her chest, made her knees tremble. She hurried to the path, met his Indian driver and almost snatched the note he held out.

“
Good morning, infant,
”
she read.
“
You said you
’
d like to visit the diggings. Slide into the car and Vasseljee will bring you.
”

From the tenor of the note she was certain that Stephen knew nothing. He was still being kind, still
“
furthering her education.
”
Much as she wanted to see him, there could be only frustration and danger
i
n spending hours with him at the diggings. Blindly she took a pencil from her bag and scribbled a reply on the back of the sheet,
“
Sorry, Stephen, but I
’
m tied up this morning.
”

Apparently there was to be no help from Stephen Brent, no help from anyone. She must steel herself to face the bald reality of being alone. After all, till she left Mindoa with the Perez father and son she was not actually committed to marrying Ramon. She shrank from wounding the old man; nor would she wish to hurt Ramon. But marriage was irrevocable, and no one in the world had the right to force such a bond on another.

Her relationship with Elfrida had changed. Though she occasionally went into the large bedroom she never stayed there to talk. Elfrida set her own hair and washed her own
stockings, and if she did not get around to tidying the room it was left in a muddle for the bedroom boy to sort out. They still ate together in the hotel dining room, but between meals, except when Ramon called, Melanie put as much space between them as she could.

Ramon was heartbreakingly gentle. When they were alone his eyes would leap, his polite hold of her arm tighten but somehow he quelched his passion. Thankful from the core of her being, Melanie yet could not understand that forced withdrawal, though she guessed the old
senor
was responsible for it.

The following Saturday, Se
n
or Perez gave a dinner
party. Melanie prepared for it with her usual care but she did not give the occasion much thought; part of her was still frozen and unbelieving.

She and Elfrida arrived first at the villa. The
senor
,
whom they had not seen since taking tea with him some days ago, bowed ceremoniously to them both and held Melanie
’
s hand.

“
Well, my dear, you make us very happy. You, too, are happy?
”

“
Of course,
senor
,
”
she said, almost inaudibly.

“
But somewhat nervous, yes? Marriage is a big thing to any young girl and for you there is the difference of race, of country.
”
He smiled with infinite kindness.
“
We will be tender with you, Melanie, and when you come to Cadiz my wife and daughter will have an equal affection for you. Come
...
a little drink.
”

His manner warmed her. Here, at last, was a friend—albeit one in the enemy camp.

The next guests to arrive were Colonel and Mrs. Davidson, and shortly afterward came a Monsieur Fournay and his dark, vivacious wife. And then, into the circle of drinking, chattering people, walked Stephen.

Melanie saw his tall figure come into the lounge as if he owned the place, the faintly cynical smile with which he bowed to the other guests, the ha
l
f-wink that he afforded her, reminding her of the evening they had passed in secret on the coral reef, perhaps even of the educational kiss. She went clammy with sudden anguish, swiftly turned to converse with Ramon.

Dinner was announced. Couples moved into the big dining room and were seated, the servants began their duties. The table was round. From between Ramon and the colonel, Melanie viewed Stephen as if from a great distance. The width of the table was between them, the silver and glass, the mass of scarlet and saffron blooms.

The meal progressed through its stages, till finger bowls were used and glasses filled up. The
senor
was on his feet, his aristocratic features benign.

“
Now, my friends, I have a duty to perform that touches me very closely. I have known most of you for many years. You, Stephen
... well, our friendship is not so old but I like to think it is firm. And, since you arrived at Mindoa in company with our little Melanie Paget and her cousin, you will have some interest in my announcement.
”

Expectant murmurs filled the pause. Melanie, her head down and a stone where her heart should be, felt Ramon seize upon her wrist under the table.

“
With the greatest pleasure I inform you that Melanie has consented to become Ramon
’
s wife.
”
A raised hand stilled the exclamations.
“
They are not officially betrothed, you understand. That must take place in Cadiz in the midst of my family. But I desire my friends in Port Fernando to share in my joy and to wish them all happiness for the future.
”

The only thing of which Melanie was conscious during the next five minutes was Elfrida
’
s cool, triumphant smile and her whispered,
“
Well done, Melanie. I trust you.
”

The ladies went to one of the bedrooms, and when again they joined the men the stereo was playing Scarlatti. Melanie sat down beside Mrs. Davidson, woodenly answered eager questions. She looked up, caught a cold, contemptuous glance from Stephen, who was smoking in the doorway to the terrace, and had an impulse to jump up and run away, to run and run till she dropped unconscious from exhaustion.

Presently she was drawn outside by Ramon. They moved along the garden paths in the dark, with his shoulder behind hers, his mouth murmuring his happiness into her ear. Beneath a cypress he stopped and grasped her hands.

“
We must be correct, Melanita
—
but it is still correct for me to say how much I adore you, how impatient I am to make you my wife. I comprehend that it is not yet discreet for you to confess you love me, but your consent to marry me has made me the most fortunate man in the world.
”

Thinly, she said,
“
Women change their minds, you know, Ramon. I may let you down.
”

“
Not my Melanie! I would trust you with my life.
I
am
trusting you with my life.
”

“
I
trust you,
”
from Elfrida, and now the same sentiment from Ramon. How could one be faithful to both! And what about the old injunction, To thine own self be true
’
? What were the demands of her own heart?

“
Ramon, may I borrow your car tomorrow morning?
”
she asked shakily.
“
I
’
d like to go for a drive, without Elfrida.
”

“
Then you must also mean that you wish to go without me.
”
For, naturally, they could not be quite alone together.

“
Do you mind?
”

“
I
mind nothing that you do. I realize that you are English and accustomed to go unchaperoned. I will instruct the chauffeur to present himself at the hotel at ten o
’
clock.
Bueno
?”

“
Bueno
,” she
agreed wearily.

A branch rustled, a white dinner jacket made a blur in the darkness, and became clear-cut. Stephen stopped beside them, spoke in cool accents.

“
Your father needs your assistance over some matter, Ramon. I
’
ll escort Melanie to the house.
”

“
Very well.
”
Ramon clicked his heels and vanished into the trees.

Stiffly, mechanically, Melanie turned as if to follow him. Stephen
’
s fingers detained her, hard fingers that could contract inflexibly about an arm or twitch cruelly at a necklace.

“
No haste, is there?
”
he said.
“
I
’
m your countryman, after all. I have a right to congratulate you on a game excellently played, both by you and Elfrida.
”

“
Elfrida?
”
she echoed, staring up at him.

“
You didn
’
t do it alone, my child. You
’
re not cold-blooded enough to wade in and grab a man for his money.
”

His icy distaste stung her.
“
You forget that Ramon is in love with me.
”

“
There are ways of dealing with a young hothead who fancies himself in love. That little fire might have died if Elfrida hadn
’
t kept it ventilated. What if he does love you?
”
he stated grimly.
“
You
’
re not in love with him, only with the glamor of his riches, his foreignness!
”

Not even with those, she could have told him bleakly. It wouldn
’
t bruise her heart if she never saw Ramon again.

“
You
’re
not very complimentary,
”
she said.
“
I hoped of rather better from you.
”

“
Why should you? I
’
ve given you no reason to believe I
’
d condone your marrying Ramon Perez. I suppose you do understand what
’
s happening?
”
he said roughly.
“
You
’
re tying yourself to the Perez family, to Spain, for all time. Ramon is by no means the man his father is, and if he doesn
’
t tire of you, you
’
ll certainly have had enough of him in a short while. What then?
”

Recklessly, full of pain at his obtuseness, she said,
“
I shall leave him! Is that plain? I shall leave him and live on
the marriage settlement. Oh, yes, there
’
s a wonderfu
l
settlement.
”

“
Shut up,
”
said Stephen curtly.
“
You
’
re overwrought and frightened. You think the money will buy you independence of Elfrida, but it won
’
t. While you
’
re well-off she
’
ll be near, have no doubt of that. You
’
ve put your head straight into the trap she set for you, you damned little idiot. And all for money!
”

Her pulses were knocking.
“
There
’
s no trap, Stephen. Elfrida has been candid with me. I can
’
t divulge her affairs, but she
’
ll tell you, if you ask her.
”