Stars of Spring Read online

  Glee stood there for a moment, examining them in turn, and then she sat down on the top step of the verandah.

  ‘It doesn’t run as quickly as ours at home—’ She looked up at Joanne, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ‘Do you think it’s full of flies?’ The spider was crawling up her arm and a shudder passed through Rosa’s slender body.

  ‘Put that down, Glee dear,’ said Joanne on noticing the movement. ‘It doesn’t like being played with by such a giant as you.’ As she spoke Joanne became conscious of Dom Manoel’s eyes regarding her intently and she turned to meet his gaze. ‘Glee should have been a boy,’ she remarked, by way of explaining her niece’s extraordinary behaviour.

  Dom Manoel’s dark eyes remained on her face for a moment and then travelled to that of the child sitting on the step. She was now holding her hand aloft, and the spider was suspended on its silver thread.

  ‘With those eyes and that face and hair? That would be a waste indeed.’

  The comment, so totally unexpected, brought Rosa’s head up with a jerk. She looked at Glee as if seeing her for the first time, and then as she glanced at Joanne a strange and almost hostile light entered her beautiful brown eyes.

  ‘My gran used to say I ought to be a boy.’ Carefully Glee allowed the spider to settle on the support again. ‘Have your little girls got a gran?’ she inquired of Dom Manoel, adding, before he could speak, ‘My gran’s dead—she’s gone to heaven.’

  ‘Glee darling,’ put in Joanne gently, ‘just be quiet for a few minutes. Dom Manoel has something important to say to me.’ A faint curve of his lips at that and Joanne added with the merest hint of defiance, ‘I presume you’ve come to ask me, once again, to sell my farm?’

  His dark eyes glinted and there was a swift return of his arrogance as he said, very softly,

  ‘The time might come, Mrs. Barrie, when I shall lose interest in your property.’

  A threat? She glanced quickly at him, her heart fluttering. Despite her firm intention of thwarting him, she now realized, not without a sense of shock, that at the back of her mind there had dwelt the sure conviction that, should she encounter difficulty in disposing of the farm to someone else, she could always sell out to Dom Manoel. To her dismay he seemed aware of her sudden fear, and in an effort to disillusion him she tossed her head and said lightly,

  ‘As I am doing very well, Dom Manoel, your interest is of no importance to me.’

  His black brows lifted a fraction.

  ‘Your grapes failed, I believe?’

  So he knew. And somehow Joanne was convinced he had known all along that they would fail, that he could have advised her about the spraying.

  ‘Lack of experience on my part,’ she admitted, contriving to retain her light and rather careless tone. ‘I shall be more careful in future; I’m sure I shall have an excellent crop next year.’

  ‘Will you, Mrs. Barrie—?’

  ‘But you said we might not be here next year,’ interrupted Glee, her wide brow puckering as she brought her gaze from the contemplation of the spider to her aunt’s flushed face. ‘You said we might go home to England.’

  Although she fumbled for words that would bring about a quick recovery Joanne failed to find any, and the colour deepened in her cheeks. As if sensing she were the cause of her aunt’s confusion Glee rose from the step and came to stand by her chair. Her arm went round Joanne’s neck and she put her face on her shoulder. Rosa watched them intently, but Dom Manoel’s attention was suddenly arrested by the man walking slowly across the field. Luis had come from the henhouse and he appeared to have something under his coat.

  Dom Manoel’s eyes narrowed.

  ‘How long have you had that man working for you?’ he demanded sharply, waving a hand in Luis’s direction.

  ‘Three months.’

  ‘Three months, eh?’ Without any explanation he rose and, taking long and easy strides, followed Luis, swiftly overtaking him.

  ‘What’s he doing?’ Glee took hold of her aunt’s hand, but she turned her head to watch Dom Manoel with childish interest. Absently she curled her fingers round Joanne’s, then all at once she turned again, looking down at Joanne’s hand in some puzzlement. ‘Have you got a new ring, Mummy? You never used to wear it before. Where did you get it?’

  Joanne drew her hand away, conscious of Rosa’s searching scrutiny.

  ‘I sometimes take it off, Glee—when I’m working hard—and I forgot to put it on again.’ Glee’s eyes widened in surprise and disbelief, but before she could say anything that could have embarrassed Joanne further, Rosa interposed in softly purring tones,

  ‘You must have quite a lot of hard work to do, Mrs. Barrie, for this is the first time I’ve seen you wearing your wedding ring.’

  ‘But then this is only the third time you’ve seen me, isn’t it?’ came the prompt rejoinder. Rosa’s head tilted haughtily, but before she had time to retaliate Dom Manoel had returned, carrying a small basket in his hand.

  ‘Eggs?’ Joanne could only stare. ‘Where did you get them?’

  ‘Luis was the cleverest thief I’ve ever had the misfortune to employ,’ he said, in tones of cold contempt. ‘You’ll do well to follow my example and dismiss him from your service.’

  ‘That’s impossible, for I can’t get anyone else.’ The admission came out before Joanne realized what she was saying, and she would have done anything to take it back, especially as Dom Manoel’s quick intake of breath betrayed in no uncertain manner his total lack of patience with her.

  ‘He stole them?’ asked Glee awfully, putting out a finger to touch one of the eggs. Joanne relieved him of the basket, placing it on the table at the end of the verandah.

  ‘I give him eggs every week, and vegetables.’ She shook her head bewilderedly. ‘He wouldn’t steal from me—oh, I’m sure he wouldn’t!’

  ‘I’ve just taken the basket from him; he had it under his coat.’ A slight pause, and then, ‘He says he’s going home because he’s not well?’

  ‘That’s right. It’s his back.’

  ‘It was his chest when he worked for me. You’ll stop him his wages, of course?’

  Joanne shook her head, her eyes flickering to Rosa, who was watching Dom Manoel through faintly narrowed eyes.

  ‘I haven’t up till now. Is it permissible for me to do so?’

  ‘Most certainly you must stop his money, otherwise he’ll be evading his work all the time!’ He stared down at her, and she saw the anger and impatience in his eyes. ‘Be sensible,’ he snapped, ‘and accept my offer. I’ll compensate you for what you’ve expended on the house—’

  ‘But, Manoel, why should you do that?’ interposed Rosa silkily. ‘I’m sure Mrs. Barrie would not wish you to—well, to make her a present of the money, as it were.’

  Dom Manoel’s arrogant mouth tightened. It was plain that, even from his fiancée, he would not tolerate interference; Rosa flushed under his stare, and glanced away.

  ‘Do you mean what Mummy paid for the builders?’ inquired Glee innocently, adding with enchanting naiveté, ‘It took nearly all her money, and I’ll be glad if you pay it back to her because then she won’t look so sad and worried—’

  ‘Glee!’ Crimson with embarrassment, Joanne looked sternly at her niece. ‘It’s very rude of you to interrupt our conversation. Now just be quiet!’

  Glee’s lips quivered; she lowered her head, turning away. Joanne frowned, remorse sweeping over her. Was the child crying?

  ‘It seems to me,’ commented Dom Manoel in a slightly softer tone, ‘that you are in far greater difficulties than I realized—or than you would have me believe,’ he added with a hint of censure. ‘Now, I did offer you the post of instructress to my nieces, and if you care to take advantage of that offer, the vacancy still exists.’

  How starched and formal, thought Joanne, still feeling acutely embarrassed by Glee’s impulsive revelation. Did he ever unbend? Imagine being married to such a man! She tried to picture him in a gentle, tender mood ... and eve
n in her despondency she could have laughed. The cold, punctiliously correct Dom Manoel Alvares would not even know the meaning of the word tenderness. Joanne’s eyes strayed to Rosa’s hand. No engagement ring there, but Luis was most emphatic in his assertion that they were to be married in the spring. Rosa lived at the Solar de Alvares—had done so since the death of her husband. She ran the house for him, and most efficient she was, according to Luis. But she hadn’t taken at all to the idea of having Dom Manoel’s nieces in the house. ‘The master, though, he soon put her in her place,’ Luis had added, a gleam of malice in his eyes and a note of satisfaction in his voice. ‘She seems to like them now, but underneath, she would be glad to see them go.’

  ‘I’m sure Mrs. Barrie would much prefer to return to her own country.’ Rosa’s soft and purring tones cut into Joanne’s thoughts. She glanced towards her and Rosa added, surprisingly managing a smile, ‘Aren’t I right?’

  Again Dom Manoel’s mouth tightened, but it was not only that which caught Joanne’s attention, for he was looking most oddly at Rosa, his eyes widening with a sudden perception that caused him to turn and examine Joanne’s face as if seeing it for the first time. Flushing under his searching scrutiny, Joanne endeavoured to regain her composure by stating, in tones meant to be firm and final, that she had no intention either of accepting the post offered, or of returning to England. To her surprise Dom Manoel ignored this and said sharply,

  ‘Mrs. Barrie will make her own decision, Rosa. She requires no prompting from you.’

  ‘I wasn’t prompting, Manoel,’ protested Rosa. ‘But surely you must see that Mrs. Barrie would feel very strange in a household like ours, and—’ She stopped, biting her lip as Dom Manoel raised his brows. ‘In a household like yours,’ she amended, throwing Joanne a glance of intense dislike, as if considering her to be responsible for the discomfiture she was experiencing.

  Joanne’s chin lifted and her grey eyes sparkled.

  ‘As there isn’t the remotest possibility of my entering your household,’ she said in quivering tones, ‘your anxiety on my account is quite misplaced!’ Furious, she waited defensively for Dom Manoel’s retaliation. Just let him open that arrogant mouth of his and she would instantly respond in kind! To her utter astonishment he appeared to understand, and to make allowances for her anger.

  ‘You mustn’t misinterpret Dona Rosa’s words, Mrs. Barrie,’ he said quietly, and a smile actually hovered fleeting on his lips. ‘Presumably she was warning you that our way of life, and our customs, differ from those to which you have been used.’

  ‘Dona Rosa was speaking to you, not to me,’ she sharply reminded him. ‘However, as I’ve said—’ She broke off and looked up at him with a wide and half imploring gaze, her anger dissolving in response to the dropping of his own arrogant demeanour. ‘As I’ve said so many times, Dom Manoel, I’m determined to keep my farm—’

  ‘But you’re not making it pay!’ he cut in, once more exasperated. ‘You can’t live like this?’ He flung out a hand, embracing the whole scene of neglect around him. ‘This obstinacy is downright foolish!’

  To her own surprise, Joanne received this with equanimity, taking not the least exception to his forthright statement. Perhaps, she thought, it was because what Dom Manoel said were true—she was obstinate, and she was foolish. A most puzzling sensation swept over her as she continued to meet his gaze ... for he actually appeared to be anxious about her!

  This could not be so, she decided quickly. No, her own unhappy state was a matter of indifference to him—how could it be otherwise, seeing that they were practically strangers? His interest rested solely with her property—which he was quite determined to procure.

  As she had so emphatically declared, she would never enter his household, so the idea of working for him was dismissed ... but should she accept his offer for the farm?

  Surprising herself by the question, Joanne nevertheless realized she was now in a mood to consider it seriously. Defeat had never been acceptable to her; over any difficulty she had risen—triumphant. But in the present case circumstances were different. She must admit defeat, and were she to accept Dom Manoel’s offer it would certainly save her a great deal of trouble, for the finding of a suitable purchaser might be a lengthy business. As she wavered, her common sense battling against that stubborn streak in her nature, something occurred which instantly swept away all her hesitancy and made her more determined than ever not to let Dom Manoel have the farm.

  Glee had been quietly hopping about on one leg; suddenly she overbalanced and instinctively clutched at Rosa’s sleeve for support. Instead of giving her assistance, Rosa raised her hand and brought it down sharply on Glee’s bare arm.

  ‘You clumsy child!’ The contact with Glee appeared to be what angered Rosa, and not the fact that Glee might have creased the sleeve of her dress. ‘Don’t you ever sit still?’ Dom Manoel turned his head, puzzled. Glee’s action had escaped him, as also had Rosa’s, for the girl had been wise enough to bring her hand down sideways, and so no loud slap was heard.

  ‘What happened?’ He glanced swiftly from Glee’s bewildered face to that of Rosa. It was flushed with anger and she was looking at her sleeve as if it had been in contact with something unclean.

  ‘That dreadful child! She deliberately pinched me—’

  ‘Oh, you great big fibber! I never did!’ Glee turned indignantly to Dom Manoel. ‘Don’t believe her; I only held her sleeve, so I wouldn’t fall. She’s a big—’

  ‘Glee, that’s quite enough.’ Joanne’s voice was firm, but not admonishing. ‘Go into the house; I’ll be with you directly.’ She turned disdainfully to Dom Manoel. ‘I’ll bid you good afternoon,’ she said in the stiff and formal tones so characteristic of his own manner of speaking. ‘My time’s valuable, and I’ve wasted far too much of it already.’

  For one stunned moment he could only stare, and in spite of her ill-humour Joanne had an almost irrepressible desire to laugh. It was not difficult to read his thoughts. Never in his life had the lordly Dom Manoel Alvares been subjected to discourtesy such as this! It would perhaps rob him of a little of his conceit, mused Joanne with satisfaction, although she surmised from his changing expression that she would never be forgiven for showing such lack of respect, especially before an audience.

  Rosa’s dark face glowed with satisfaction as, rising, she moved towards the steps of the verandah.

  ‘Your manners leave much to be desired, Mrs. Barrie,’ she remarked smoothly, casting her a supercilious glance from under her thick silken lashes. ‘Or is this incivility characteristic of the English?’

  It was on the tip of Joanne’s tongue to ask Rosa if her arrogance, and her deliberate unkindness to Glee, were characteristic of the Portuguese, but she refrained, her patience being quite beyond further discussion with proud, insufferable people.

  Dom Manoel had moved to Rosa’s side, but his eyes never left Joanne’s face as he said, very softly,

  ‘You will come to regret your insulting behaviour, Mrs. Barrie.’ And with that cryptic warning he bowed stiffly, stepped down from the verandah, and, with Rosa hurrying to keep pace with him, he strode away towards the great house standing on the rise.

  For some reason, as she watched the departing figures, Joanne was overcome by a sense of foreboding. That warning ... was it really a threat? But what could he do? He would not deliberately damage her stock or her few crops ... but what else could he do to harm her? Perhaps she was allowing her imagination to run riot. Perhaps Dom Manoel, humiliated as he must have been, had said the first thing that entered his head. Not that Joanne could imagine his ever doing a thing like that. She felt he would always carefully consider his words, and never say what he did not mean. As this conclusion brought her right back to the beginning, Joanne impatiently dismissed Dom Manoel from her thoughts and went inside to Glee. But Glee was not there; Joanne called and, receiving no answer, she went through the house and into the orchard. Again she called, but Glee was nowhere about. Frownin
g, Joanne returned to the house. Where could she be? Just as she was becoming uneasy, and trying to decide what to do, Glee came running across the field.

  ‘They had a big row,’ she submitted cheerfully, flopping down in a chair. ‘She did hurt my arm—just look at that bruise!’

  ‘Where have you been? I told you to come in here.’

  ‘I went to get a herb to put on my arm—you can cure yourself with herbs. Did you know that?’

  Joanne had to smile.

  ‘A bruise, Glee, takes time to disappear, no matter what sort of herbal cure you give it.’

  ‘I wish Dom Manoel had seen my bruise—then he’d have told her off more.’

  Joanne’s eyes flickered interestedly.

  ‘How do you know Dom Manoel told her off?’

  ‘I heard him. I was behind the hedge, finding my herb—it’s got a wide leaf and a funny smell. Ana Maria at school said you rub it on if you have a pain—oh, yes, and then I heard Dom Manoel ask Dona Rosa what had happened—and do you know what she said? She told him again that I’d pinched her!’

  ‘What did Dom Manoel say to that?’

  ‘He said it might have been an accident, because I didn’t seem like a naughty child.’

  Joanne looked amazed.

  ‘Did he indeed?’ Had she misjudged him, then?

  Glee nodded vigorously.

  ‘Yes—well, Dona Rosa said you were rude, and Dom Manoel said she was rude to you first, and he seemed very angry and said it was her fault that you wouldn’t sell our farm. He said you were nearly selling it to him, but she upset everything by shouting at me.’

  So she hadn’t misjudged him. His concern was not with his fiancée’s rudeness, but merely with the way that rudeness had affected his own plans.

  ‘What did Dona Rosa say then?’