Indiscretion (9 page)

‘Talk to me about your novels. My son tells me you are busy writing a third, set in our beautiful Spain. A very good choice, my dear. Our country is so rich in colour and passion.'

‘Yes, Grandmother, I have always thought so.' Alexandra found herself answering the dowager nervously. After all, this was the woman whom she had resented for so long and perhaps even feared slightly. There had been so many things she had wanted to say; questions she wanted answering. Now she was tongue-tied and reticent.

The
Duquesa
smiled, her face transforming from her customary dignified mask into something softer. ‘You have thought much about Spain while you were growing up in England, I imagine …'

‘Of course, I had much to think about … I believe knowing one's roots is important.'

‘Indeed, my child, and I'm certain that Spain has always been in you. One can tell by the way you write. Your passion is your strength.
Está en su sangre
, it's in your blood and that's what brought you here at last.'

Alexandra was startled at such a direct and unexpected comment. She felt as if the
Duquesa
had read her like a book.

‘So you're familiar with my work?'

‘
Por supuesto
, of course, my child.I made it my business to get to know something of you through your writing, even if I couldn't know you in person.'

Unlike my father
… The bitter thought flashed across Alexandra's mind unbidden.
He clearly couldn't be bothered to read my books, to get to know me better even that way.
Venturing to look more closely at her grandmother now, feeling a new spark of curiosity, she saw a tinge of regret behind her eyes. ‘And what did you discover about me?' The bold question came out before she had time to think.

The
Duquesa
laughed throatily. ‘You're no shrinking violet, for one. It is the truth of things that pulls you, and one's roots are one's own truth. Yours are here, as you have always realized, I'm sure.' Doña
María Dolores fixed her with a knowing look. ‘Even if you were not ready to see it …'

They talked for some time and Alexandra found herself more comfortable in the
Duquesa
's company than she had anticipated. She was amazed to discover her grandmother had not only read her novels but she appeared to recollect everything about them, down to the smallest detail.

They touched on many topics. The
Duquesa
was interesting, thoughtful and even witty. She talked and argued, but surprisingly also knew how to listen. The condescending tone she adopted with most members of her family was now scarcely noticeable and Alexandra, who'd been on her guard, began to relax and even warm to her grandmother.

‘Wait here,' said the old woman, standing up unexpectedly, ‘I'll be back in a moment.'

She disappeared into the house and returned, carrying a small wooden box inlaid with mother-of-pearl. ‘The contents of this box,' she explained, ‘are of Moorish origin. They belonged to Gulinar, an Eastern princess in the sixteenth century. They were given to my great-grandmother by the wife of an emir in gratitude for her hospitality when they came to El Pavón to buy horses.'

Doña María Dolores opened the box, uncovering the most superb parure, set in white gold. It consisted of a tiara, a matching necklace, a bracelet and a pair of earrings, intricately and delicately carved, embedded with tiny precious stones and pearls.

‘I want you to wear these at our masked ball,' she said as she handed the box over to Alexandra.

Overwhelmed by a host of conflicting emotions, Alexandra hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether to accept the magnificent present. The Alexandra she had left behind in London would have scowled at this gesture, even suspected it as a piece of bribery for her affections.

The
Duquesa
studied her granddaughter's face and smiled. ‘So many wild things are going on in your mind, my dear child.' She
laughed and her face looked almost young. ‘Your eyes betray your thoughts. I must teach you the art of hiding your feelings if you want to survive in this household.'

‘
Gracias
,' Alexandra whispered as she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She kissed her grandmother and spontaneously leaned forward to give her a hug.

‘It is my pleasure.' The
Duquesa
looked momentarily taken aback by this obvious demonstration of affection, then patted her granddaughter's hand. ‘Now that we have settled that business, tell me what costume you have in mind for our ball.'

‘You've taken me by surprise. I haven't had time yet to think about it.'

‘Well, there's not much time. It's at the end of the week, but I'm sure it will not be too difficult to sort out. Perhaps Ramón could take you into town later today,' Doña María Dolores suggested. ‘You should be able to find all you need at
Mascaradas
. Were Salvador here, he would have taken you himself. He's a friend of old Jaime, the owner.' She paused, and then added, as an afterthought, ‘I'm sorry Salvador has had to go away for a few days. He'll be back for the ball, though. I'm quite certain you'll like each other.'

For some reason, and to her slight embarrassment, Alexandra felt a blush creep on to her cheeks. There was something there in her grandmother's tone, underlying her words.

If the
Duquesa
had noticed, she didn't show it but continued, ‘The poor man has been very ill. He was thrown from his horse, which almost left him a cripple, you know. He bravely endured two years of pain and luckily now he's able to resume a normal life.' Sadness clouded her eyes. ‘Life has not been kind to him. First his parents, then …' she added in a faint voice, as though talking to herself.

Someone had walked on to the terrace and her sentence remained unfinished. It was Ramón, come to offer his services.

‘For once you're here when you're needed, young man,' noted his grandmother dryly. ‘Alexandra requires a costume for Saturday's ball. Could you take her into town.' She didn't frame it as a question. ‘I have no doubt old Jaime will find her a disguise that matches her beauty.'

With his usual good humour, Ramón ignored his grandmother's barbed salutation. ‘I shall be delighted to accompany my charming cousin into town.' He beamed at Alexandra.

‘If you leave immediately after lunch, you should be back in time for dinner. Take the new car, that way you'll have no excuse to be late.' She arched an eyebrow, pulling her shawl around her shoulders.

Ramón nodded obediently and, bidding his grandmother goodbye, he took Alexandra's arm. They left Doña María Dolores on the patio, her jet-black eyes following her newly found granddaughter thoughtfully. At the door, Alexandra turned and smiled at her. She had not forgotten her grandmother's reputation, and wondered what lay behind the raised brow, but she realized now that something had shifted in her opinion of the old lady.

At that moment, a proud-looking Spanish woman in a maid's outfit appeared from the other side of the patio with a glass of water and a pill for Doña María Dolores. ‘Ah, thank you, Agustina, I always forget,' said the dowager.

Once in the corridor, Ramón turned to his cousin and wagged a threatening finger at her, his eyes twinkling mischievously. ‘I see you're in the old dragon's good books. Try to remain there,
mi parita
, and do watch your step.'

Alexandra had great difficulty in keeping a straight face. ‘Our grandmother is an admirable woman, Ramón,' she replied reprovingly. ‘You're wrong to treat her with such disrespect.' He gave her a sidelong glance and they both laughed.

‘She's a great schemer, that's what she is. Don't be fooled.'

* * *

It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they drove into the bright town of Jerez, with its palm trees,
bodegas
and beautiful old churches. The cobbled café-lined backstreets led on to wider boulevards and plazas populated by statues and fountains.

‘Will you be all right if I leave you on your own for a while? I've some errands to run,' Ramón announced, turning the elegant Fiat sedan into a large plaza dominated by a dramatic statue of a sweeping matador and his bull.‘I suggest I drop you off in the main square here, outside
Mascaradas
. You may want to browse around the other shops before choosing your costume. I'll join you in an hour at old Jaime's. Or, if you'd prefer, you can brighten the dullness of my chores with your sparkling company,' he glanced sideways, with a courteous, flourishing wave, ‘and then we can choose your costume together.'

‘Tempting though the offer is, I think I'll shop alone, thanks, Ramón. That way, if I choose my own costume, I can remain incognito at the ball,' Alexandra proposed cheerfully.

Ramón grinned. ‘Dear Cousin, I would recognize you under any disguise.' He reached over and gave her an affectionate pinch on the cheek.

He dropped her off outside
Mascaradas
. ‘I'll see you here in an hour.' He winked. ‘Have fun.'

‘Thank you. Good luck with your errands.'

The sun was shining; Alexandra felt light-hearted and jolly. It was good to be away from El Pavón and to breathe again. She strolled around the square, lined with magnificent rows of jacaranda trees, and bought a few Spanish knick-knacks to take back to England. The vibrant shopfronts and pretty awnings were an open invitation to browse the various objects in the windows, from the mouth-watering offerings of the
pastisseria
,
bomboneria
and
xocolateria
to shops selling clothes, hats, guitars, scent and fans.

‘
Que vendo las tartas, los bollos rellenos de vainilla a tres pesetas, y las merengues
! Come, pretty
señorita
, I sell cakes, buns filled with vanilla for three pesetas, and meringues!' The
ducero
at his pavement stall waved Alexandra over, winking.

‘
No Gracias, señor, parecen muy apetitosos pero arruinan mi figura
, no thank you,
señor
, they look delicious but you'll spoil my figure,' she laughed, and the man raised his arms in playful mock-disbelief as she walked on.

She was relaxed and felt part of the scenery, almost like a native enjoying the afternoon. Alexandra's father had spoken Spanish to her when he was at home and she was pleased she'd continued with her Spanish lessons. Being fluent in the language was making it so much easier for her to understand the culture in this country, which she now saw she had a right to by birth.

Fascinated by the many crafts practised on the pavement, she stopped occasionally to watch men repairing carpets, old crones making lace and cobblers with their round spectacles, reminding her of fairy-tale characters from her childhood. But the chimes of the clock in the square jogged her back to reality. Once more she had forgotten the time; she realized that she didn't have long before Ramón would return and so she hurried towards
Mascaradas
.

She arrived out of breath.
Mascaradas
was an old-looking shop with a once elegant antique green front, panelled wood and glass façade, and faded gold signage. She pushed the red wooden door; it opened with a creak, loud enough to announce her arrival. Her eyes took a few seconds to get used to the dimness inside and then she made out tall mahogany cabinets with open drawers that coughed out ribbon and lace, illuminated shelves of mannequin heads adorned with feathery hats and masks, shimmering garments hanging from walls, draped over chairs and spilling out of trunks. A fusty odour of damp clung to the place and Alexandra felt like she had walked into some kind of dusty, exotic cavern. Emerging from the depths of the shop, a scraggy man with a shiny bald head, hooked nose and ragged goatee came to stand behind the counter, peering at her beadily through round spectacles. This was undoubtedly old Jaime.
Another fairy-tale character
, thought Alexandra.

‘
Señorita
, can I help you?'

Alexandra smiled engagingly. ‘I've been invited to a masked ball and I'm looking for a costume. Do you have any suggestions?'

‘The masked ball at El Pavón presumably?' asked the man.

‘Yes, that's right.'

‘You're rather late,
señorita
. I have very little left. You can take a look in there,' he said, pointing at two large, faded-leather trunks, resembling pirate chests from the last century, tucked beneath an ornately carved hatstand. She glanced at them apprehensively.

‘I haven't much time, I'm afraid. My cousin is coming back for me shortly and I don't want to make him wait.'

‘Are you
la Señorita
Alexandra de Falla?'

‘Yes, I am,' she said, surprised that he should know her name.

‘
Señor
Ramón came by earlier to inform you that his errands have taken longer than he thought and he'll be late.'

Alexandra heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Oh, good. I'll be able to take more time to make my choice in that case.'

Old Jaime scurried round the side of the counter and pushed open one of the trunk's lids. ‘Here, I'll help you look. I haven't been through these for a while and I'm not sure there'll be anything of use but
la diligencia es la madre de la buena ventura
, diligence is the mother of good fortune, as they say.'

Together they went through the contents of the two chests, untangling and sorting a mass of trimmings of all types and colours. When they had finished, Alexandra was still without a costume.

Disappointed, she wearily turned to the shopkeeper. ‘Haven't you anything else to show me,
señor
?'

The man reflected for a few seconds, scratching his scraggly beard. ‘I do have something … it's a genuine Moorish costume, which belonged to an Arabian princess … A real museum piece …
magnifico
, entirely embroidered in silver thread and set with tiny pearls and precious stones.' He hesitated and looked at the young woman over the rim of his spectacles. ‘Unfortunately, this costume is not for hire, only for sale. The price might seem somewhat extravagant for a garment you'd wear for just one evening, though.'