Fascination (11 page)

Carlos pointedly ignored her question. ‘You’ve been with Gasper all day?’ he asked in a voice that chilled her to the bone.

‘Not all day,’ she answered, automatically glancing at the French marble clock on the mantelshelf. ‘Were you home for lunch?’

‘I was’—briefly and with the intention of disconcerting her still more.

‘I’m sorry.’ Her face broke into a difficult smile as instinctively she attempted to assuage his anger. ‘When you went out this morning, you said you wouldn’t be back for lunch.’

Carlos regarded her darkly from his superior height. ‘The arrangement with Gasper was made last night obviously?’

‘Yes; he offered to take me to see his home.’ The colour was swiftly leaving her face. ‘You’re not pleased that I went with him?’

‘You are fully aware that I’m not pleased.’ The wrathful intensity of his stare sent tremors of apprehension running along her spine, and she half-turned, an involuntary movement born of the natural instinct to escape. ‘You know my opinion of him; I’ve mentioned that he’s a flirt, a philanderer.’

‘Yes, but he would never say anything out of place to me, Carlos,’ she said, nervous tension sharpening her tone. ‘After all, he’s my cousin-in-law, so surely you don’t mind our being friends?’

His eyes remained dark and wrathful, and there was no relaxing of the tight uncompromising line of his mouth while she was speaking to him in a pleading voice.

‘You went off with him without even mentioning to me that you’d made this date—’

‘It wasn’t a date,’ she broke in swiftly. ‘It—’

‘What was it, then? Are we to begin splitting hairs?’

‘It… it was merely an invitation which he extended from a sense of duty.’

A sneer curled her husband’s mouth. ‘I do not approve of Gasper—or his peculiar sense of “duty,” as you so delicately describe it.’ He paused as if affording her the opportunity to respond, but the little lump that had risen in her throat prevented speech. She was desolate at the change in Carlos after the intimacy of last night. She had not supposed that their new relationship would produce any swift and dramatic change in him, but neither had she envisaged his being like this—standing there in judgement, tall and forbidding and adopting a magisterial attitude, as if she were nothing more than the nanny she had first expected to be.

‘I like Gasper,’ she just had to say, because it was true, and even if he was a flirt and a philanderer, she could not see how this would ever affect her. ‘He’s jolly, and amiable—’

‘Too jolly and amiable,’ interposed Carlos grittingly. ‘There’s already a good deal of talk going on regarding our marriage, and I don’t intend to encourage additional gossip by allowing you to run around with a man whose moral character is well-known to all the family.’

‘Talk?’ she repeated, bypassing all the rest, and staring at him questioningly. ‘What kind of talk?’

‘Doreen was stupid enough to tell my sister the circumstances leading up to our marriage—’

‘And Isobella repeated them to you?’

‘Not to me, but to every other member of the family.’ He stopped, his mouth compressing angrily. ‘She’s said something to you, no doubt?’

‘I’d rather not talk about it,’ returned Hydee in a taut voice that was bound to rivet his attention.

‘So she
has
been talking to you.’ Anger seemed to have left him, but his brow was darkened by a frown. ‘I’d like to know what she said.’ Implacable the tone, demanding and masterful. Hydee’s hesitation was only temporary, for she knew that obedience to his wishes must override her reluctance to disclose what Isobella had said to her.

‘She was disappointed that you didn’t marry Arminda.’

The dark, foreign eyes narrowed to mere slits. ‘She actually told you that?’ There was incredulity in his tone, but Hydee knew he believed her when she said yes, Isobella had in fact told her that.

‘I can understand her disappointment but not her deliberate vindictiveness,’ Hydee added on a bitter note.

‘What else did she say?’ demanded Carlos, ignoring what Hydee had just said.

‘She knows it’s a marriage of convenience.’

‘She does?’ with an arrogant lift of his brows. ‘Well, she’ll know differently if, in the not-too-distant future, you have a child.’

A child…. Yes, it was natural that he should expect a child to come eventually.

‘You would like us to have a child?’ A wave of pure happiness swept over her at the idea of having Carlos’s child.

‘Of course. Wouldn’t you?’ His eyes were actually smiling now, and her happiness increased.

‘Yes, Carlos, I would like that very much.’

The smile reached his lips. ‘Luisa and Ramos would like it, too. I rather think that Luisa would completely lose interest in her dolls.’ All his ill-humour had evaporated, and there seemed to be a hint of tenderness in the glance he gave her before saying, ‘Don’t go out with Gasper again, Hydee. It would displease and anger me, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want that.’

She looked up into his stern, set face, aware of the change in the atmosphere as she hesitated before answering him. ‘I don’t want to displease you, Carlos, but Gasper has become important in my life—’

‘Important?’ he snapped, eyes kindling.

‘As a friend. Oh, Carlos, I did tell you I needed him, and it’s true! Please don’t forbid me his company. You must know you can trust me!’

‘I don’t trust Gasper,’ was his quietly spoken rejoinder, ‘and, therefore, I am asking you not to go out with him again.’

She bit her lip, aware of her husband’s mastery, aware that it would be far more comfortable to obey him without argument or pleading, yet she found herself saying, ‘There’s no harm in our friendship, Carlos.’

‘Except that gossip is bound to result, and as I have just said, I will not tolerate it.’ His voice was implacable, edged with finality, and so it was no surprise to Hydee when he turned on his heel and left her there alone, her misted eyes fixed on the closed door for a long moment after he had gone.

Chapter Ten

Night had fallen softly to clothe the drowsy landscape with a deep purple sheen, increased in its intensity by the vibrance of the sky. On the whispering eddies of the breeze there floated the tang of herbs, while high above, in the star-misted dome of the heavens, clouds in moonglow appeared like lace, spun in silver by some fairy hand.

Hydee’s mouth curved in a contented smile as she stood by the fountain, her dreamy eyes scanning the exotic scene around her. She and Carlos had dined and had been about to go to the green-and-gold salon for their coffee when he had been called to the telephone, and as he had come back to warn her that the call would take some time, she had said she would wander out to the garden and wait for him there.

Strolling over to a rustic seat she sat down, her mind filled with the new relationship that had come to her and Carlos. Even now, after almost a week, it seemed a miracle that he wanted her in that way. Yet he did; she had no doubts whatsoever as to the pleasure he derived from her body, just as she derived pleasure from his. But she was always aware that he did not love her, and now and then a ruthless stab of jealousy would inflict its pain because of Arminda and Carlos’s feelings for her. Twice Hydee had been urged by some force beyond her control to mention the girl, to put a casual question. On both occasions he had answered curtly and she was unhappily conscious of being snubbed. Gasper had phoned twice, the second time to try to pin her down to a definite date. Hydee had deftly managed to avoid being pressed to make a decision, but although for the present she was obeying her husband’s order, it was with a feeling of indignation at not being able to have a little freedom to do what she wanted to do. After all, Carlos was out for most of the day, or in his study, and being left to her own devices, Hydee would very much have liked to be able to enjoy Gasper’s company without any fear of stirring her husband’s anger.

However, for the present Hydee was content to let things sail along as they were, her early mornings and afternoons taken up with the children and her evenings and nights spent most pleasantly with her husband. And, to add to her happiness, she had received a letter from Ellie saying that she and Ray were getting married two days before Christmas and asking tentatively if it would be all right for them to come over for their honeymoon. Hydee had shown her husband the letter, watching his handsome face anxiously, relieved when, on handing it back to her, he had produced a smile.

‘A honeymoon couple joining us for Christmas. That will be something new. Yes, Hydee, let them come, by all means. We have a houseful, so two more won’t upset either the menu or the accommodation arrangements.’

Hydee had warmed to Carlos even more then, happy to know he did not intend to despise her friends. What the rest of the family would have to say was something else altogether, she mused with a grimace, but as she cared not one jot for their opinion, she managed without difficulty to thrust the matter from her mind.

Suddenly her heart caught, and sheer joy spread through her being as she saw the tall silhouette of her husband’s figure swinging along the path as if he walked on air.

‘Sorry to leave you all that time,’ he apologised gracefully as he stood there, towering above her so that she felt small and insignificant, and very much under his domination. But in her lovely eyes there was eagerness and excitement, and her whole body felt as if it floated on a warm silken carpet of pure magic. As if fully aware of her heightened emotions, Carlos reached down to take her hand in a firm and masterful grip that brought her to her feet and drew her close. His other hand spread its long lean fingers from her waist to the small of her back, lingering awhile to let her feel its strength and its warmth before travelling in a slow, sensuous motion to her bare shoulder, tracing a line along the tender curve of her throat to tease with experienced finesse the sensitive places behind her ear and along the nape of her neck. His caresses were gentle, sophisticated, yet calculated to arouse her desires, as were the kisses he rained on her temples, her eyes, her eager, moistly glowing lips.

Her tremors of rapture very soon made him realise that this was no place to be, and he silently led her back to the house, his arm about her waist, his fingers sensuously probing and kneading, enticing her readiness for him even before they reached their suite. Once there, he left her, to return ten minutes or so later when the pervasive scent of his newly applied after-shave apprised Hydee of the fact that, like her, he had showered. He wore a blue silk dressing gown loosely fastened by a cord; Hydee’s négligé covered a dainty see-through nightdress bought a couple of days ago and of a kind she had never worn before. She made no demur when her husband slid the négligé from her shoulders and threw it onto a chair, and even her reaction to his removal of the nightdress was no more than a little halfhearted protest which was immediately smothered by his kiss. But she coloured delicately and Carlos seemed amused that she could blush as easily as she had a week ago.

‘You’re very lovely when you blush like that.’ No smile, but an undertone of fondness in his voice which eradicated the impression of severity. ‘I’m your husband, so there’s no need for embarrassment, surely?’

‘It hasn’t been long yet, Carlos,’ she returned softly, her eyes watching his make their now familiar exploration of her body. It was a cool appraisal at first, but it warmed ardently as he assessed the potential delight of her curves. With an overpowering strength, he drew her into an embrace which brought her naked body to his. Her own need pulsated to life as his lips possessed hers, hard and demanding and insistent with primitive mastery.

The feel of his hand on her breast, fingers teasing the nipple to the hardness of desire, sent ecstasy quivering through her veins. All embarrassment dissolved by her desperate need of him, Hydee slid a finger into the loop of the cord and let his dressing gown come open. She strained against the rippling muscles of his nakedness, all her love outflowing, fused with the abandon of her primitive desire to give herself to him in tenderness and sweet surrender. And when at last she did surrender, her reward was the flow of a drenching rapture that swept her to the edge of paradise… and beyond.

***

The following two weeks passed happily for Hydee, who, on asking Carlos if she could learn to drive, was immediately provided with an instructor from the driving school in the nearest town. She remembered that Gasper had promised to teach her, but she naturally made no mention of this to Carlos.

Gasper rang again when Carlos was out and asked if he could call for her and give her a lunch at his home. She made an excuse, but still resented having to forfeit the harmless pleasure of his bright company. During the fortnight the children had a four-day break from school, and that, too, had been a happy interlude for Hydee. Apart from the time taken up by her driving lessons, she was with them throughout the entire day. They swam in the pool, played ball on the lawn and went for rambles into the surrounding countryside.

Then, right out of the blue, Carlos said he was going to London on business. Hydee would very much have liked to go with him, and for some time considered making a tentative suggestion, bearing in mind what Carlos had said about Caterina being competent to look after the children. However, she reluctantly concluded that if Carlos had wanted her with him he would have been the one to make the suggestion. He did not do so, and on Thursday morning very early he left, being driven to the airport by Geraldo, one of the chauffeurs.

‘When will you be back?’ Hydee asked, having risen early so as to have her breakfast with him.

‘I can’t say for sure, Hydee. My business might take a week or, on the other hand, it could be concluded in a few days. I’ll phone you from my hotel.’ His smile was amicable enough but lacked the near-tenderness to which Hydee had recently become used. His general attitude, too, seemed to be offhand, and a chill settled on her heart. It was absurd, she knew, to feel like this, because her husband’s manner in all probability resulted from his having to be off extra early to catch the plane, and perhaps from his concentration on the business which necessitated his travelling to London. She had made tentative and subtle inquiries about this business, but refrained after she had been almost snubbed. She could not understand why he was so reticent about it, especially in light of the new relationship which now existed between them. She had become a proper wife physically, so why not his confidante and friend as well?