Lord Of Zaracus. Anne Mather

and precocious child.

       CHAPTER THREE

      OUTSIDE the two girls walked along the veranda until shallow steps led down to the grassy expanse that in turn gave on to a flight of steps leading down to the lakeside. Elena eyed her companion with some admiration, and said:

      ‘You are not afraid of my brother, Señorita?’

      Carolyn was annoyed to find her cheeks burned suddenly. ‘No. Should I be?’

      Elena shrugged. ‘I am not afraid of him, but it is usual that he intimidates strangers. He is not an easy person to know.’

      Carolyn smiled. She thought Elena’s mode of talking was far in advance of her years, and she said: ‘How old are you, Elena?’

      ‘I am fourteen years of age,’ replied Elena, precisely. ‘And you?’

      Carolyn shrugged. ‘Well, actually, I’m twenty-two, but in your brother’s eyes about sixteen, I imagine.’ She hunched her shoulders, thrusting her hands into the pockets of her pants. ‘Let’s forget about that for the time being. Tell me about your life here. Who is this Señorita Alfonso? Your governess?’

      ‘Yes. But she is so old!’ Elena grimaced. ‘She was Carlos’s nanny when he was a child, and that is many many years ago.’

      Carolyn laughed. ‘Oh, not so many, surely.’

      ‘At least thirty-seven,’ replied Elena, her eyes wide.

      ‘You see, Papa married twice, and my mother was not Carlos’s mother; his mother was wholly Spanish. My father met her in Estoril when he was only eighteen. They were very much in love, but unfortunately she died when Carlos was born. Our father married again, I think to give Carlos the security of a complete home. Poor Carmelita, that was Carlos’s mother’s name. She could not stand the climate here, and in those days the valley was not so prosperous as it is today. Carlos has a helicopter, and he even owns a small aeroplane. It is as necessary here as a motor-car in your country. Much of this area is completely closed to traffic.’

      Carolyn nodded. ‘I see. And your parents?’

      ‘Oh, both Papa and Mama died in an airliner when it crashed on its way to Mexico City. These mountains are treacherous. No one could survive such a disaster. That was eight years ago now. Since then Carlos and Rosa have taken over the estate. Rosa is my older sister. She is almost as old as Ramon. He is my brother. There are four of us, you see.’

      ‘I see.’ Carolyn nodded again, thinking that possibly this was one of the reasons Don Carlos had not wanted her to spend any time with Elena. She was a chatter-box and cared little for conventions.

      They reached the foot of the steps and now Carolyn could see a boathouse and a landing stage, and further round, a diving platform. The lake looked cool and inviting, and as the sun rose higher and the day grew hotter she thought how delightful it would be to swim in its depths.

      She looked down. It looked deep, even at the rim. ‘Do you swim?’ she asked Elena.

      Elena shook her head. ‘Not in the lake. I am not allowed to do so since my illness. But I swim in the pool. It is always warm. The lake is icy.’

      Carolyn smiled. ‘It sounds gorgeous! It gets so hot here. Does—does your brother swim in the lake?’

      She asked the question compulsively. Despite her averred dislike of Don Carlos Fernandez Monterra d’Alvarez she found she was curious about him. Maybe because in other circumstances she could have found him a challenge. It would be a satisfying feeling to have him attracted to her, desiring her, and being able to subdue that arrogance scornfully.