Free The Flesh and the Devil by Teresa Denys Page B

rely on you, Felipe, to find a man who will bed
the little Arrelanos on her husband's behalf. A lusty one, who will break that
peremptory spirit of hers.'
             
             
             
              After a moment the green eyes lifted, sudden and startling.
'She may denounce you to her family, senor,' Tristán said evenly.
             
             
             
              'How? She is safe here for as long as we choose to keep her
— she was at odds with her father before she came, and aught she writes is
easily lost or burned. Besides, after the first onset she will be docile
enough, I swear, and will not dare tell anyone here for very shame.'
             
             
             
              'No doubt you are right, senor.'
             
             
             
              Tristán rose to his feet, a very faint smile on his lips;
his face was set, and the skin round the scar on his cheek had paled as if the
blemish were a cord cutting into his flesh.
             
             
             
              De Castaneda put out a hand to grip his arm. 'Remember,
there will be gold to spur the fellow on if the little vixen scolds too
shrewdly. But I have no need to tell you, mmn? You will contrive it easily
enough. 'His falsely jocular tone grew hard. ' You will contrive it?'
             
             
             
              The red head inclined very slightly. 'I am vowed to your
service.'
             
             
             
              The elder man's predatory look dissolved into a grin, and
laughter shook his thick body. 'I dare say you will have no easier task in this
life!' He tapped the mercenary's chest familiarly. 'The girl herself is payment
enough even without the money, mmn? But I shall see that you have the best
means to the work, throw you into her company, prefer you to her in some sort
that she cannot refuse.' He chewed his lower lip meditatively. 'We mint think
how to rid ourselves of the aunt, eh, lest she carry tales?'
             
             
             
              Tristán's expression was as unmoved as if he had received
orders for some trivial household task as ha bowed. 'With your leave, I shall
arrange to see the physician sped.'
             
             
             
              'Good. Good. I knew you would understand the way of it.' De
Castaneda was chuckling now as he threw a purse to the younger man in a
deliberately awkward toss that was caught with infuriating ease. 'There is his
fee — you can dispose of that as you see fit.'
             
             
             
              ‗Senor.‘
             
             
             
              As the door closed behind the mercenary de Castaneda was
chuckling softly, his fingers kneading at the crumpled letter. There was no
need to point out to Felipe, he thought, that his plan required the death of
the child's father after its begetting; he would learn that soon enough.
             
             
             
             
              CHAPTER 3
                       
             
              Juana's choice of attire on the morning she was to meet her
future husband was a last, futile show of defiance. Her gown — of plain black
taffeta, unadorned but for a narrow band of jet beads round the neckline and
hem — was one she had worn in mourning after her mother's death and now had
almost outgrown; Michaela had only packed it because she knew her mistress
cherished it for the memories it evoked. Wearing it and with a black lace shawl
over her smoothlypiled hair, Juana considered that she looked drab enough to
cool any man's interest at first