Far From Home (20 page)

‘I won’t. I promise.’ He pleaded with her. ‘Please, Sofia. You are so lovely.’ Gently he propelled her towards the bed. ‘I won’t leave. I want to be with you.’

She lay down on the bed and let him take off her shoes, lifting one small foot and then the other. ‘If I could be sure,’ she whispered. ‘If you were going to be part of our family – then I would say to you, make love to me, Ed-ward.’

He knelt beside the bed. ‘Would you?’ he said hoarsely. ‘If I married Elena, could I come to you? Could we be lovers?’

She put her arms around him and drew him towards her so that his face was close to hers. ‘Yes. We could come ’ere when Sancho was in New Orleans. You would be living up on the hill with Elena. It would be very easy.’

He traced her mouth with his fingers and groaned softly. ‘Elena mustn’t find out.’

She gave a hint of a smile. ‘She would not care. She would ’ave Zac. But Sancho must not know. He must never know. He would kill you if ’e found out.’

He breathed in. I’m not the bravest of men, but how would he find out? He couldn’t. Sofia wouldn’t tell him, nor Elena. ‘I want you so much, Sofia,’ he groaned. ‘I would risk anything, even Sancho’s anger.’

‘Then you will ask ’er? You will ask Elena to marry you? You may ask her first if you wish, as Sancho is not ’ere. I will tell ’im that you asked me also.’ She took his hand and laid it on her breast. ‘Shall you do this for me?’

‘Yes. Yes,’ he said urgently. ‘I will.’

She let him stroke and caress her, fondling her breasts, stroking her feet and calves and softly kissing her face and throat, but she stopped him short of doing more. ‘We must wait.’ Her words were breathless. ‘I must be sure. I am desirous of you, Ed-ward. But I must be careful. Sancho is cold. He is –
remoto
, yes? He would know if I come to ’is bed full of fire like I used to be.’

‘But, Sofia! He’s not here!’ He could have wept with frustration. ‘How can he possibly know? Please. I beg you!’

‘He would know.’

She would not surrender and he needed all his will power not to take her forcibly. Goddamn it! He sat on the bed with his head in his hands whilst she put on her shoes. If this had been Ruby! She wouldn’t have refused me. Never once did she turn me away! He thought despairingly of his young mistress in England.

‘Ed-ward!’ Sofia said coaxingly and stroked his hair. ‘It will be better for waiting.’

He nodded, then stood up. ‘Perhaps we should get back. Could I borrow a horse? I’ll go out for an hour.’

‘You are angry wiz me?’ she said plaintively.

‘No. Not angry. Just disappointed.’

He felt like a small boy deprived of a treat. He opened the door and the sunlight streamed in. He looked down the orchard towards the arbour. Sofia came and stood beside him and put her hand on his arm. ‘It is lovely, yes? It will be our secret place, Ed-ward. Do not be impatient. There will be other days when we will get to know each other better. And,’ she said, ‘you could build your own little ’ouse where I could come to you. Not a doll’s ’ouse.’ She laughed. ‘What would it be? A fort, like soldiers have? A hideaway?’

‘A den!’ he said. ‘I had one when I was a boy. Nobody knew about it. It was hidden in the shrubbery at the bottom of the garden. I’d forgotten about that,’ he said pensively. ‘Quite forgotten.’

‘Then you must build another when you are married and have your own ’ouse and land. Sancho will give you land.’ She patted his arm. ‘I will make sure that ’e does. But be quick, ’e is an impatient man, we don’t want him to change his mind about you.’ She reached up to kiss his cheek. ‘We have much to look forward to.’

Elena returned in the afternoon, cantering up the drive, jumping down and throwing the reins to a boy. There was no sign of Zac, but another servant rode up a few minutes later. Sofia excused herself to Edward and said she must speak to her daughter. ‘I will tell ’er that she is found out! She must not use my little ’ouse again,’ she said. She turned at the door. ‘Will I tell ’er that you wish to speak wiz her?’

‘Yes.’ Edward had been mollified by Sofia’s attention after he had returned from his ride. She had been charming and provocative and at lunch she had fed him, placing pieces of fruit into his mouth, letting her fingers linger on his lips, tasting her wine and then kissing him so that he could taste it too. ‘You are a she-devil,’ he had groaned and grabbed her fiercely, then hastily pulled away as a servant knocked on the door and brought in more delicacies for them to eat.

I’d better get it over and done with, he thought. I can’t back out now. And who’s to know? I shan’t be going back to England. Only Allen knows my circumstances, of my marriage to May. The thought of Allen gave him some reason for disquiet and he wondered whether he should pay him off. I could tell him that I don’t need him any more. Give him extra so that he doesn’t feel let down. Then no-one will know anything about me. I’ll have a new life. Rodriguez will know of someone reliable that I could employ as a valet. A paid servant of course. I won’t have a slave. Definitely not. That really goes against the grain.

‘He is ready,’ Sofia said to Elena, and sat on a couch in her daughter’s room whilst she took off her riding outfit. ‘Wear something pretty,’ she suggested. ‘And take him into the garden for a walk. Only not the orchard, and,’ she said sharply, ‘not near my little ’ouse. I am cross with you. You know I won’t have anyone in there.’

Elena shrugged and held up a plain linen dress. ‘I don’t suit pretty clothes,’ she murmured. ‘Anyway there was nowhere else. I needed to see Zac.’ She glanced at her mother. ‘To tell him something.’

‘What? Oh my God! What?’

‘I’m not absolutely sure.’ Elena pulled the dress over her head. ‘But if Newmarch will marry me he had better be quick.’

‘Ah!
Dios
! You are so hot-headed, Elena! Why did you not wait?’

Elena smiled. ‘I am like you were,
Momia
. Did you not get caught too, wiz me?’

‘Yes,’ Sofia said thoughtfully. ‘And I must be careful not to get caught again. Sancho would not tolerate an English bastard.’

Elena grunted. ‘Any more than he tolerates a black one.’

‘You are not black,’ her mother objected. ‘You are quadroon!’

‘It’s the same thing to Sancho.’ Elena brushed her unruly hair and Sofia came to pin it up for her. ‘If I had been pretty like you, then he might have accepted me. But I’m not. I suppose I am like my father?’

‘Yes,’ Sofia sighed. ‘You are just like ’im.’

‘Meester Newmarch, would you like to take a walk?’ Elena met Edward in the hallway and smiled in her most beguiling manner, and Edward inwardly cringed. Thank heavens she has said she doesn’t want me to share her bed.

‘You ’ave agreed to marry me, yes?’ she said without any preamble as they walked down the steps to the lawn. ‘You remember that I said you cannot sleep wiz me?’

‘Yes, I remember. It’s a business arrangement only.’

‘And if I ’ave children, you must swear they are yours even if they are not white!’

Edward stared at her. ‘But—’

‘Sometimes black children are born to parents who ’ave white and Negro blood,’ she said. ‘It is a – throwback. My father’s mother was black.’ She stared back defiantly. ‘That is all right by me. I am not ashamed, nor will I be!’

‘Of course not.’ He felt sorry that she had even to say it, that throughout her life Rodriguez had defined her as inferior. ‘Why do you want to be married to someone other than Zac?’ he asked, as he had asked once before. ‘I know that you have said that Sancho won’t allow you to marry Zac, but why can’t you wait until you are of age and then marry him?’

‘We would ’ave no money. No ’ouse, nothing.’ Her eyes gleamed. ‘Besides, one day Sancho will guess that I have tricked him and I will laugh in ’is face. Ah! Do not be troubled, Meester Newmarch. ’E will not find out about you. ’E will think that you ’ave been tricked too.’

The games we play, Edward mused. Elena will think she is married to me, whereas I already have a wife in England. Rodriguez will pay me for marrying Elena, yet Zac will be sleeping in her bed. And I will become Sofia’s lover. What a tangled web! A small doubt gnawed away at his insides. It’s like a Shakespearean play. There will be a comeuppance before the final curtain falls.

A messenger was sent to Rodriguez to tell of Elena and Edward’s betrothal. He responded immediately, offering congratulations and stating that he would put everything in hand for the marriage to take place in New Orleans.

I must do something about Allen, Edward deliberated, else he might betray me. ‘I need to return to New Orleans,’ he told Sofia. ‘I have things to arrange, the bank – er, a suit of clothes, you know. It will be a quiet wedding, won’t it?’ he added anxiously. ‘In view of my – er, late wife.’

She gave a peal of laughter. ‘Oh, Ed-ward. You don’t know Sancho. ’E doesn’t do anything quietly. ’E must be seen to be generous to Elena. And do not worry about your suit of clothes. Sancho will take you to his tailor. There will be no expense spared. We will come wiz you to the city. We must order Elena’s gown and somesing beautiful for me also.’

‘You need nothing to make you more beautiful,’ he declared fervently. ‘You are quite perfect.’

They travelled back the following day, the three women and Edward, and some of the servants on top of the carriage with the driver. I haven’t had a chance to be alone with Sofia since the announcement, Edward pondered. Rodriguez’ mother had always been there, or else Elena, or one of the servants. There had been a hustle and bustle around the house and even the servants and slaves were always in attendance on him, following him wherever he went and assuring him of their attention and service.

When he arrived back at his hotel, Allen wasn’t there. He enquired at the desk and the clerk said he had seen him go out that morning. Edward was annoyed, for he had been rehearsing what he would say to Allen regarding his dismissal. He waited around for a while then hailed a cab to take him to the bank, and on to Rodriguez’ house as arranged, for Sofia insisted that he should stay with them whilst plans were being made for the wedding.

Elena was very excited at the prospect of marriage, and her animation made her look quite attractive. It is probably true, as Carlos de Lassus said, mused Edward, observing her, that Elena will change when away from Rodriguez’ influence.

‘We must hold ’ands sometimes,’ she whispered to him. ‘So that people will see. Only not when Zac is around for ’e will be very jealous.’

I’m between the devil and the deep blue sea, Edward pondered. I seem to be getting deeper and deeper into deception and intrigue, and I fear I am losing my wit and my reason. He sighed. And all for Sofia. I want her. I must have her. And, if I am honest, which I am not always, I want the riches that Rodriguez is offering. I am greedy for them. So damn the consequences.

He went back to the hotel the following day and found Allen in his room. Edward asked him where he had been the previous afternoon, and he explained that he had been to see the doctor. ‘I’m sorry I missed you, sir, but I felt ill. I would have gone to visit him before except that I was expecting you back.’

‘Yes – well, I was asked to stay on,’ Edward said vaguely. ‘So what’s wrong with you?’

‘It’s the malaria again. The doctor said it’s bound to flare up from time to time.’

‘But it’s winter!’ Edward protested. ‘There can’t be so many mosquitoes around now.’

‘It’s because I had a bad dose of it. I haven’t properly recovered. He says to go and see him again in another month.’

‘Look here, Allen,’ Edward began. ‘I’m going to be away for a few weeks. I, er, I’ve been invited to a wedding.’

‘You’ll want extra clothes packing then, Mr Newmarch,’ Allen said. ‘I’ll make sure they’re all pressed and ready. You could do with some more shoes, lighter-weight ones, sir. Yours are too heavy for this climate. Cravats, lawn shirts, stockings.’ Allen ticked off on his fingers what he thought Edward would require. ‘I’ll get them for you on approval.’

Edward was shamed into silence. Damn it, I do need him for a while longer. I’ll give him notice later.

‘You must come to see our ship,’ Rodriguez said one evening as they were dining. ‘She is moored along the levee.’ He made an expressive gesture with his fingers and mouth. ‘She is
magnifico
! Made in your country. In Bristol. All iron with six masts. We shall change her name to
Sofia
in honour of my wife.’

‘Wonderful,’ Edward exclaimed. ‘I shall look forward to seeing her. Cargo weight?’ he enquired.

‘Eight hundred tons. And cabins for three hundred passengers!’ Rodriguez allowed himself a smile of satisfaction.

Edward was impressed. To be part owner of so fine a vessel! It must surely be worth a little disquiet and uneasy conscience for such a venture?

‘We must go back to the country soon,’ Elena said. ‘I want to show Ed-ward where we build my— his ’ouse.’

‘Yes. Yes,’ Rodriguez said tetchily. ‘But your mother has to arrange the ceremony, see the priest, send out invitations and a hundred other things. There is much to do here.’

The priest! Edward drew in a breath of alarm. That means vows. Declarations! His wedding to May had been fairly quiet and decorous with only family and close friends attending. But this ceremony is apparently going to be a very grand affair. What will I do if Allen should hear of it and announces that I am still married?

‘Are you not well, Meester Newmarch?’ Sofia asked. ‘You have gone quite pale.’

‘No! Yes! I am quite all right. A touch of malaria, that’s all,’ he lied. ‘I got a dose of it on the ship.’

‘You must always sleep beneath a net,’ she tutted, then gave him a little smile. ‘At all times.’

The thought of sleeping beneath a net with Sofia made him grow hot so that his face flushed.

‘You see, Sancho,’ Elena said, observing Edward’s discomfort. ‘The climate in New Orleans does not suit Ed-ward. We must go back to the country. The air is much better there.’

‘Would it not be simpler to be married in the country?’ Edward ventured. ‘A quiet wedding ceremony?’

There was a sudden stillness and they all stared at him. Then Rodriguez broke the silence. ‘I have my position to think of, Mr Newmarch. Business associates will expect to be invited. And all of my family.’ His voice was cold. ‘And although Elena is not my natural daughter she will be accorded the same honour as if she were.’