Free Who Rides the Tiger by Anne Mather

bathroom, began to wash her hair with lethargic movements. There was still over two weeks to go to her wedding. However were she and Marion to get along together until then?
    In the afternoon, Dominique dried her hair thoroughly, and then combed it out ready to plait for the evening. She was in the process of doing her hair when she heard John arrive. She called: 'Hang on a minute, I'm nearly ready,' and hastily plaited the last bit and pinned it up. She had already done her make-up, and taking off her bathrobe she pulled on the black dress.
    Then she studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked tall and slim and rather sophisticated, she thought, which was a change from her usual casual appearance. Pearl studs glinted in her ears, but she had left her throat bare. The dress had quite a high neckline and required no ornamentation.
    John was wearing a dinner jacket for the first time since her arrival in Brazil, and looked big and broad and attractive. She thought his beard added distinction to his otherwise boyish features, and prayed she would be able to remain as cool as she felt at present.
    'You look marvellous!' muttered John enthusiastically, when she appeared. 'Don't you think so, Harry?'
    Harry Rawlings whistled. 'I'll say. Wish I was going myself. I wonder who else will be there?'
    John shrugged. 'Well, Rivas and his wife for certain. I don't know who else.'
    Harry nodded. 'Hmm, well, enjoy yourself, children. What So you say, Marion?'
    Marion moved her shoulders indifferently. 'I wouldn't want to eat with that man,' she replied coldly. 'I'm particular who I associate with.'
    'Chance would be a fine thing,' remarked Harry dryly, chuckling.
    They drove away from the Rawlings' house in the direction of the town, and Dominique frowned. 'Where are we going?'
    'To Minha Terra!' said John in surprise.
    'Isn't it up there?' She pointed back up the darkened road where she had walked several days ago.
    What? Santos's house? It's not among the rank and file! No, you'll see. Just wait! It's a pity it's dark, that's all.'
    They left the bright lights of the town on a road Dominique had not travelled before, curving up into the mountains where only the trees seemed to prevent the car from tipping off the hairpin track altogether. Even in the dark the view was quite spectacular as the lights grew smaller below them, but Dominique was too busy clinging to her seat to pay much attention to anything else.
    Eventually they emerged on to a plateau, and Dominique gave a gasp of pleasure. There was the house, floodlit tonight, looking like a small white-painted fortress, with turrets and grilled windows, standing among a mass of trees and shrubs. There was quite a high wall all around the property, but the tall grilled gates stood wide and Dominique could see that there were already several cars parked on the forecourt.
    John gave her a didn't-I-tell-you look, then drove between the gates into the courtyard. This area was bright with flowers and shrubs, looking strange and exotic in the artificial lights. There were plants in tubs, and trailing over trellises, while a stone cherub stood in the centre of a paved surround, continually spouting water from its mouth.
    Dominique slid out of the car without waiting for John, and crossed to a low wall at the side of the courtyard that invited inspection. Then she stared in amazement, a thrill of pure excitement assailing her. Below her, the ground fell away sharply in a steep precipice, to the valley below, where the lights of Bela Vista winked and glittered like fairy lights. John came to join her and voiced his own appreciation.
    'Some place, isn't it?' he muttered, in a low voice. This is all private land, you know, the road, everything! Santos doesn't believe in anybody getting too familiar, unless he wants it that way, of course,' he added.
    Dominique turned, and said: 'Do we go in?'
    Her question was left unanswered, however, as Salvador appeared at that moment, dressed this evening in