The Ghost Lights of Marfa (6 page)

Ramon sat beside Ana and cut her slices of roebuck, stewed veal, and mutton. Constantly, he called to a servant boy to make sure her goblet stayed full of red wine. A servant brought forth a platter of almond paste cookies and red sugared apples for desert.

Ana peered at Ramon hoping he wouldn’t catch her staring as she cradled a cup of vino. She rolled her tongue upward, licking a drop of the sweet liquid from her lips.

Ramon wound his arm around her shoulders and bent his head down to her ear. “I have something to show you.”

Ana shivered against him. His bronze body, powerful thighs, sinewy shoulders, and brawn chest exuded the virility of a lion. Her senses magnified his woodsy, leathery scent and the velvety tone of his voice. Her pulse raced just as it had when they were young and so in love or so she had thought. She rose and he took her arm in his. It was so easy to think of love when she walked at his side, but he would never consider serous thoughts of marriage to her.

They strolled into the garden where crimson roses splashed against vibrant green shrubs bordering the winding path. Yellow and white blossoms spruced up dark, well-trimmed bushes and ivy clung to and climbed white marble pillars. She breathed in the exotic musky, sweet, and spicy scents of the well pruned garden as wrens chirped.

Ramon ran his warm palm down the line of her cheekbone and cupped her chin. As she met his gaze, he leaned his head closer and rubbed his lips against hers. Ana moaned. Her senses reeled from the burning sensation of his touch and the salty taste of his lips. Her pulse pounded as he kissed her. He prodded his tongue against her lips parting them. A jolt of heat shot through her with the thrust of his coarse, pliable tongue, invading her, stroking her mouth.

He withdrew his tongue and lips and hoarsely whispered, “You are such a beautiful woman. The only one for me, mi amor.”

She fought the quivering heat within and dredged up the question she had to ask. “Ramon do you wish to wed me?” She wrung her hands.

“I love you, Ana.” His dark eyes pleaded for her to understand.

”When my mother told me you left to work at another villa, I went mad with worry.”

Her hands slipped from his grasp and she stepped back. “Left? What an odd way to describe being thrown out of the only home I’ve ever known. There was no other villa to work for. Your mother made sure of that.”

He flung out his arms. “What are you speaking about?”

She let out a huff of breath. “Your mother lied to you. She threw me off the estate to keep us from each other.” She blinked then swallowed. “It matters not for we cannot be together, you would never wed a peasant.”

“In truth, as a noble I cannot marry out of my class. Why does it matter that you will be my mistress rather than my wife? We belong together, you and I.” The corners of his mouth curled into a confident smile. “I shall give you all the time you need.” He lifted her hand and brushed his lips against her soft fingers. “Later mi amor.”

He turned, strolled to the courtyard and climbed back into De Nunez’s carriage. She watched as he rode off with the Governor to purchase war-dogs for the expedition.

* * * * *

With slow ponderous steps, Ana walked to the guest chamber. She slumped down into the roomy leather chair and stared at the white washed wall. Why did he feel she still needed to give him an answer? She gave him his answer, ‘no’. As his mistress she would be little more than his servant. If he couldn’t marry her, he couldn’t have her. When his mother took her life as a milk maid away from her, she found a way to go to the newly discovered planet, to make a new life and that is what she would do.

Her ears pricked at a rap on the door. “Come in.” She rose from the chair. A girl entered with an elaborate black dress adorned with gold brocade draped across her arm. She curtsied. “Signora Ana, I am the sewing maid, Maria. Don Ramon gives this gown to you. It belonged to Signora De Gradi.” She smiled. “I will alter it for you.”

Ana bit her lip as she gazed upon the heavy brocaded dress. Such finery must have cost Ramon a good bit of silver, but Ana was not for sale. She nodded at the sewing maid. “Grazie Maria, but you must return the dress to Don Ramon. He is too kind. I cannot accept the gown. As a widow of wealth and means, I possess more than enough silver to purchase my own gowns.”

After shutting the door, she sunk into the chair. Ramon should have realized if she found a way to planet X for a new life, she certainly could acquire a new dress on her own, if she needed or wanted one. Ana rubbed her aching head and overcome with exhaustion, she fell asleep.

Chapter Three

A knock at the door woke Ana. She yawned and stretched her arms. How long had she slept? “Enter.”

Maria peered in. “Signora Ana, Signor Suarez, and Governor De Nunez have returned. I told Signor Suarez you would not take the dress. He said to tell you, the gown has been purchased and at his request will be fitted for you.”

“Blow that!” Ana swirled out of her chamber, rushed to Ramon’s and banged on the door until her knuckles stung. He couldn’t demand she wear this dress or become his mistress. No longer a milk maid on his estate, she didn’t live her life based on his whims. Ana had transformed into a woman of means, with the dream, so close to reality, she almost believed it.

He did not answer. She searched every corner of the manor home in a huff, but found no clue of Ramon’s whereabouts. Then a thought hit her, he will be where the food is. She stomped to the dining room in a huff.

“Santa Maria!” She found him sitting at a table laid with a repast of cold meat from the noon meal, an anchovy salad, and separate bowls of pears, grapes, and olives.

The daughter of a noble neighbor, with braided blonde hair pulled back and held in a snood of metal threads, sat at Ramon’s side. As she did not wear a veil, Ana noticed her gleaming teal eyes and the milky complexion of her oval face. She listened as the young woman fondling the single string of glossy pearls adorning her slender neck told Ramon she and her brother were joining De Nunez’s expedition.

Ana lowered into a chair across from Ramon and watched him the way birds hovering over the airship eyed bits of food before they snatched it. The signorina at Ramon’s side giggled coyly at something he said. Ana recognized the disturbing sensation raking her insides as jealousy. Her heart had laid claim to Ramon though her mind forced her to deny his attentions. He had not been at the estate to help her when she was thrown out because he was courting some woman his mother wanted him to marry. A lady, like this one he sat by now.

The signorina wrapped her long sinuous fingers around a green pear and held it to Ramon’s lips. Ana grabbed a goblet of vino and took a long gulp. Ramon took a bite of the pear the signorina held to his mouth. Juice dribbled upon his lip. His tongue slipped down and wiped a bead of pear juice off his lower lip. Ana shot up from the chair, staring at Ramon and the temptress.

All eyes turned upon her, waiting. Blood pounded in her temples. Deflated like a sail with no wind, she dropped to her seat, cast her eyes at her goblet, and willed everyone to go away. Her gaze darted back to Ramon as he tossed his napkin in his plate and rose from his chair. Putting embarrassment aside, Ana stood and ran toward him, but before she could catch him, he entered his chamber and bolted the door.

“Ramon, come get your dress. Give it to the signorina. I don’t want it.” She banged on the wooden door with both hands, but there was no answer. Ana slumped against the closed door.