An Apple in Eden Read online

  'You are very welcome, nina,' she said formally. 'You are well rested after your journey?'

  Eve replied in the affirmative, accepted the chair indicated and added, 'It's very good of you to invite me here, senora.'

  'It is our pleasure,' with a smile. 'Naturally we wish to know Lynn's family. Juan, a drink for our guest.'

  Her son moved to a side table set out with de-

  , canters and glasses. He poured two small sherries

  and brought them over on another tray, offering

  Eve first choice. When his mother had accepted hers, he replaced the tray on the table, smiled at them both, and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

  'He is aware that we have things to discuss,' remarked Senora Perestrello with an unexpected twinkle as she put her own glass down. 'Juan is a good son, and he will make your sister a good husband once he realises that a woman must have respect for a man to be happy with him. Do not mistake me; I am very fond of Lynn. But she has been, I think, somewhat over-indulged in her short life. She is already leading Juan what my husband would have called "quite a dance".'

  Eve had to smile. She was going to like the Señora, which made the position she was in even more difficult.

  'I think you may be right,' she said. 'Although Lynn can't be blamed for it. She was only very young when our parents were killed.'

  'Yes, that was tragic indeed.' The words were genuinely sympathetic. 'You cannot have had a very easy time bringing up a young girl when you were so young yourself at the time. It is to your credit that she has turnd out as well as she has.' She looked with directness at Eve. 'You have already met my other son, of course. Tell me what you think of him.'

  Confusedly, Eve said, 'I think he's ... very attractive.'

  'Yes, he is all of that. Juan, too, is attractive, yet ...' She shook her head. 'There is a word you

  have for it, this quality which Ramon possesses more of than his brother?'

  'Magnetism?' supplied Eve, and thought wryly that the word had come too readily to her lips not to have been in the back of her mind before this moment.

  'Yes, just so.' A smile hovered briefly. 'He is like his father was—and equally difficult to manage. I think sometimes that their grandmother has much to answer for in disrupting the old traditions as she did. Were it not for her both of my sons would already be husbands and fathers, with wives chosen from among the families of our acquaintance.'

  'But had it not been for her,' said Eve daringly, 'you would never have met your own husband.'

  'No, that is true.' The fine eyes twinkled again. 'And that is an experience I would not have missed. Will you not tell me more of yourself while you drink your sherry?'

  Eve did so willingly, dwelling lightly on her work in the bank and describing the flat she shared —or had shared—with Lynn, but glossing over her own loneliness since her sister had left. Señora Perestrello listened with interest, interrupting only occasionally to put a question, her fingers busy with silks and needles.

  'And you have no other relatives at all?' she queried when Eve could find no more to tell her. 'No uncles, or even distant cousins?'

  'None that I know of. Both of my parents were only children in their respective families.'

  `So there is something to be said for our own in-

  stincts in favouring the large family,' commented the other. 'In Spain one would never be left entirely alone as you and your sister were.' She snipped off a thread, went on calmly, 'Now that you are here a date must be set for the wedding. It is a great pity that you cannot stay with us until then, but arrangements can be made for your return at the time. I think myself that it should take place soon after the feast of St Bartholomew—which would bring us to the end of August. Would that be suitable?'

  The end of August. Six weeks away yet, but still too close. Hardly knowing what to answer, Eve murmured something about consulting Juan and Lynn first, and received a surprised glance.

  `Consult them if you will, of course, but it is the custom for the day and time to be arranged by the families of the bridal couple. Had Lynn only told us earlier of ...' She paused as a gong sounded from the hall, smiled and laid down her work. 'But there, we will continue our conversation at some other time. Now we must go to dinner.'

  Juan met them in the hall and escorted them both to the white-walled comedor. They were all seated before Lynn put in an appearance, closely followed by Ramon. Seeing her sister's smile, Eve strongly suspected that the two had already met before entering the room, which made their reason for splitting up extremely suspicious. Throughout several courses, however, Ramon paid no more than a normal attention to the young woman sitting opposite him at the long table, but talked instead

  of the festival to be held down in the town the following week.

  'It's lucky that you'll still be here then,' he said to Eve. 'It's one of the most colourful of our local fiestas. We must all make a day of it—including Madre,' with a smile in her direction.

  Senora Perestrello smiled back, but shook her head. 'You must all of you see the fiesta, yes, but not in my company. I am past enjoying such a day as it should be enjoyed.' To Eve she added, 'There is a Battle of the Flowers in which the spectators join. One needs to be young and agile to withstand the press of the crowds.' She rose from the table. 'Come, we will leave our menfolk to their wine and their talk of matters which are not our concern.'

  Back in the salon she poured coffee for all three of them, and they sat and talked for a while about inconsequential matters—that is, two of them conversed while the third sat casting frequent and impatient glances at her watch. Only when the door opened to admit the two men did Lynn's face finally relax.

  Dinner had taken a long time, and by half past ten Eve could barely keep her eyes open any longer. She was grateful when Señora Perestrello suggested tactfully that she should have an early night after her journey. In her room she could not resist opening the shutters of her window to the night air for a few minutes, turning out the light so that it would not attract the moths, and stepping out on to the arched balcony which at this point overlooked the gardens to the rear of the house, and the steep fall

  of the forest down to the valley far below. From where she stood the stars seemed almost within reach, and brighter than she had ever seen them before. Away on her left there was a glow in the sky which at first had her puzzled until she realised that it must be from the combined lighting of both La Laguna and Santa Cruz which lay so close together.

  She had been standing there for a matter of minutes when she became aware of the smell of tobacco smoke rising on the warm air. Curiously she leaned forward to see where it was coming from, and saw a shape detach itself from the pillar immediately below.

  'I felt the need of air myself,' said the lazy voice. 'And to stretch my legs, as you would say. Your tiredness has passed off?'

  'No,' she answered swiftly, 'it hasn't. I only wanted to see what it looked like out here at night.'

  'A pity.' He sounded regretful. 'There is a place close by from which it is possible to see the whole stretch of coastline.'

  'Even in darkness?' she queried dryly, and he laughed softly.

  'The darkness enhances all, chica. The twinkling lights of the coastline villages have a beauty which would gladden your heart. However ...' with a shrug more sensed than seen in the darkness ... 'Lynn tells me that you rise early.'

  'I ... Well, yes, I suppose I do.'

  'Then in the morning I'll take you to the mirador. When the sun is up you'll feel safer with me, I think.'

  'I don't ...' Eve began, and paused. She wanted to see him alone, didn't she? And what better opportunity? 'All right,' she agreed with some trepidation. 'In the morning.'

  'Excellent. I'll meet you on the terrace above the pool.' His hand came up and sketched a taunting salute. 'Buenas noches, Eve. Sleep well.'

  The sound of her name on Ramon's lips lingered in her ears until she was back indoors with the shutters firmly clos
ed against intruders, then was swamped by the swift return of the problems which beset her. Whilever this situation existed she and Lynn were both here under false pretences. One way or another she had to be sure of Ramon's intentions towards her sister.

  Eve woke to a world of soft clear light in which every tree, every ridge, every mountain peak stood out in detail against the backcloth of azure sky. The air was still, the only sound the calling of birds. She dressed quickly in linen slacks and a cotton sweater and made her way down to the terraces. Ramon was already there, sitting on a wall, his lean frame clad equally casually. His face broke into a smile when he saw her coming, and he came to his feet.

  'It's a lovely morning,' said Eve a little breathlessly as she reached him, and she saw the dark eyes spark with amusement.

  'Only the English find the weather of such vital importance.'

  'Perhaps because we get so much of the other kind,' she returned promptly, careful to keep a

  good eighteen inches of space between them as they moved along the terrace towards a high stone wall. 'Anyway, it's just a form of greeting like your Buenas dias. How far is this place?'

  'A few minutes, no more.' He opened a tall iron gate and ushered her through on to a well trodden path leading directly in among the trees, pausing to close it behind him again. 'The mirador is open to the public, who sometimes find their way along this path and into the grounds—although I doubt that anyone will be there at this hour.' He slanted a glance. 'You're not afraid to be alone with me in daylight?'

  'Should I be?' she asked lightly.

  'It depends,' he answered, 'on what you might be afraid of. It's natural for a man to want to kiss a pretty girl at any hour of the day.'

  Eve's heart beat a little faster. 'Even if she doesn't want him to?'

  He shook his head, smile mocking. 'But you do want me to, although you won't admit it to yourself. It's there in your eyes, the curiosity, the wondering what it would be like to be kissed by a Latin. This Gavin Lynn spoke of, you allow him as much?'

  'If I do it's between the two of us,' she retorted, determined not to let him rattle her.

  'Lynn gave me to understand that he'll soon be your novio,' he went on imperturbably. 'True?' 'Perhaps.'

  'Then you don't love him.' It was a statement, not a question. 'If you did you wouldn't be taking

  so long to make up your mind.'

  Eve said coolly, 'Lynn seems to have told you a great deal.'

  'We've talked together at times.'

  'Is that all?' It was out at last. Not quite the way she would perhaps have put it had she had time to consider, but how many ways were there of asking a question like that?

  If she had been hoping to disconcert Ramon she was to be disappointed. 'If by that you mean have I made love to your sister, then the answer is no,' he said calmly. 'Had she been free that might have been a different matter. She's a very attractive young woman.'

  And if she were free?' insisted Eve softly.

  There was a brief pause before he answered. 'Would I wish to marry her myself, is that what you're asking?' His glance was shrewd. 'Did Lynn ask you to question me on that matter?'

  'You admit then that she could have reason to wonder?'

  His shoulders lifted. 'I'm aware that she finds herself attracted to me. She makes little effort to conceal it. But she has no reason to believe that I might consider competing with my brother. No reason at all.'

  So it was as she had suspected. Eve stuck her hands in her pockets. 'I wouldn't agree. You came all the way back for her yesterday.'

  'I came back for some papers I had forgotten, and Lynn begged me to take her with me.'

  'You didn't have to agree.'

  'No,' equably, 'I didn't. It just so happens that I saw no cause to turn down the request.'

  'Even knowing the way she feels about you.'

  He made a sudden impatient movement. 'Lynn's feelings for me are no more than a passing fancy. Juan is more the man for her, only he still has to prove himself to her.' He waited a moment, then added in an altered tone, 'If you're so worried about the effect I have on her there's one very good way of overcoming it.'

  She looked at him suspiciously. 'What?'

  'By concentrating my full attention on yourself.' His smile was disarming. 'It would be far from difficult.'

  The telltale colour rose in her face. 'I hardly think that's necessary.'

  'Oh, but from what you tell me it is. Sooner or later Lynn must make up her mind, and it's far more likely to be sooner if she thinks my interests lie elsewhere.'

  'You mean pretend that you ... that we ...' Her voice tailed off.

  'No, I didn't mean pretend. Why are you so afraid of emotion?'

  'I'm not,' she denied quickly. 'I just don't like casual ... affairs, that's all.'

  His laugh mocked her. 'An affair between the two of us would be far from casual, amada. I feel it in my bones! '

  'Rheumatism probably,' she retorted. 'It must be the damp in here. I thought you said it was only a few minutes to this place.'

  'It is. In fact we are there now,' as they rounded a° bend in the track.

  A moment later they emerged on to a tiny plateau jutting out from the mountain side for some twenty feet or so before falling again. Two large pointed rocks guarded the far edge like a pair of sentries at a gate. Eve walked on ahead of Ramon to the spot immediately between the rocks, and stopped abruptly. At this point the mountainside dropped sheer into the valley thousands of feet below, giving a bird's eye view of several miles of the eastern coastline. Before her sky and sea stretched to infinity. Eve felt her heart begin hammering, and her vision blurred suddenly. There was a clatter of loose stones from a great distance, then an arm came hard about her waist, dragging her back.

  'Are you mad?' demanded a suddenly paler Ramon, shaking her. To you realise how close to the edge you were just then? Another second and you would have gone over !

  'I know.' Eve was pale herself. 'I—I don't know what happened. It was as if something was drawing me.'

  'Vertigo,' he said. 'I shouldn't have allowed you to venture so close alone. A height like this when you're not used to it ...' He searched her features, his hands still at her waist. 'You are feeling better now?'

  'Yes.' His nearness was not helping her heart to regain its normal rate. 'Yes, I'm perfectly all right now, thanks. I'm sorry to have given you such a

  fright.' She moved away, half relieved, half sorry when his hands fell without protest. 'It's a good thing you were here.'

  'I do have my uses,' he rejoined on a dry note. 'And you'll certainly not come here alone at any time. I have your word on this?'

  'Of course,' she said without hesitation, and he smiled.

  'At least you'll accept my direction in some matters. Tell me, is it me or your own heart that you distrust?'

  'Oh,' she said, 'are we back to that again?'

  One hand came up and tapped her lightly on the chin. 'You'll learn that in Spain we are never very far from it. If your sister is to be convinced of our interest in each other then you'll have to try harder than this.'

  'I thought the idea was that you should be interested in me,' she murmured.

  'But all fires need feeding,' he returned, and a glint came into his eyes. 'You're afraid that I'll take advantage?'

  Eve was certain of it, but decided against saying so at this particular moment. 'I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt,' she said instead. 'So long as you realise that I'm doing this for Lynn's sake.'

  'Of course.' His smile was a taunt in itself. 'And I for Juan's. We'll return to the villa, shall we.'

  Juan was coming out of the pool when they went back along the lower terrace. He saw them, and raised a hand in greeting, then came up to meet

  them, tying the belt of a towelling robe about his muscular body.

  'You are up and about early,' he commented. 'You have been walking?'

  'I've been showing Eve the view from the mirador,' returned his brother
easily. 'She thinks it is a lovely morning.'

  Juan laughed, his glance flicking to Eve's face with something approaching relief in it. 'You appreciate our vantage point up here?'

  'I think it's magnificent,' she said. 'Although I almost took too close a look at it. Isn't Lynn up yet?'

  `Lynn,' said Ramon, 'is rarely up before Juan and I leave for Santa. Perhaps you can persuade her of the advantages of rising early.'

  'I never could at home,' Eve admitted wryly. 'I always had difficulty in getting her up in time to have a bite to eat before going out.'

  'What you English call a "bite" takes more time than most can spare,' was Ramon's dry response as they all moved towards the villa. 'I remember at school I used always to be overwhelmed by the amount of food that was expected to be tucked away after a night's sleep.' He grinned suddenly. 'How's my English slang after all this time?'

  `Schoolboyish,' Eve returned promptly, and he pinched the arm nearest to him.

  'For that I shall extract retribution at a more 'suitable moment.' His eyes danced wickedly at her '[hastily controlled change of expression. 'A surprise, chica. Pleasant or otherwise I have yet to decide.'

  He was going too far already, thought Eve fum-

  ingly, unable to conjure up any spur-of-the-moment retort. She should have known that he couldn't be trusted to keep his word. Well, Lynn or no Lynn, there was a limit to what she would accept from him.

  Señora Perestrello was already seated at the breakfast table laid out on a sunlit patio when Eve and Ramon got there, Juan having gone to put on some clothing. If she was surprised to see her son and her guest together she gave no sign of it.

  'Buenas dies,' she said to Eve. 'You slept well?'

  'Very well,' acknowledged the latter, accepting a hot roll from the dish held out to her. 'It's so very peaceful here.'

  'Yes,' serenely, 'it is. I would not like to live again in the town. Ramon must take you to Teide before you leave us. It has a peace and beauty all of its own up there.'