Free The Mountains of Spring by Rosemary Pollock Page A

pouring into the city, and when they came to a halt again twenty minutes later, it was outside a tall, brown Colonial-style house which was evidently the home of the Dominguez family. It was situated in a quiet street, and there was a brooding feeling of old Mexico about it. It intrigued Caroline, and as she stepped out on to the pavement and stood looking up at it she felt that she would have liked to have seen inside. But although the Senora invited both her and Diego to go in and accept a glass of sherry the suggestion was obviously little more than a formality, and in any case it didn ’ t seem, for some reason, to appeal to Diego.
    He drove her to his grandmother ’ s house largely in silence, and when they arrived she got the impression that he was rather relieved to find the old lady very much at home—in fact, sitting in the patio. Her delight at seeing Caroline was transparently obvious, and the girl felt both touched and uncomfortable. Did the Senora, she wondered, know about her grandson ’ s treatment of Peter? And if she did know, what did she really think about it?
    With the utmost possible brevity, Diego explained the reasons for Caroline ’ s return to Mexico City, and once or twice, as she listened, Senora Rivel glanced at the English girl rather keenly, as if wondering what she was thinking and feeling. But when the explanations were over she merely smiled, and remarked that Caroline had better not attempt to return to her hotel that night.
    ‘ You must spend the night here, ’ she insisted. ‘ You must stay here for as long as you like. We will telephone your hotel. ’
    Caroline felt uncomfortable. Charming as the old lady was, she had no wish to become too deeply indebted to any connection of Diego Rivel, and in any case there was no particular reason for her to make a prolonged stay in Mexico City. But she was grateful for the invitation to spend this particular night under the Senora ’ s roof and she said so.
    ‘ It ’ s terribly good of you. But I mustn ’ t put you to too much trouble ... ’
    ‘ My dear child, it will be a great happiness to have you here—and in that I am being quite honest. ’ At this point Diego, who had been hovering in the background with an air of slight impatience, made his grandmother a small bow, and remarked that he had better be going.
    ‘ I shall return at half past seven, ’ he told Caroline. ‘ You will be ready by then? ’
    ‘ Of course she will, ’ the Senora tranquilly assured him on Caroline ’ s behalf. ‘ Go away and leave us. When you come back, Miss Ashley will be waiting for you. ’
    He bowed again, and turned away, but just as he was about to get back into his car Caroline plucked up the courage to say something for herself.
    ‘ Where are we meeting Peter? ’ she asked. And rather nervously she added: ‘ He doesn ’ t know I ’ m here yet, does he? ’
    ‘ No, senorita. Naturally not. ’ His tone was rather dry. ‘ And I don ’ t yet know where we shall be meeting him. I do not know what arrangements he may have made with the gentleman who is purchasing my horse. That is an important transaction, and must not be interfered with. ’
    And before she could say another word he had climbed back into the driving-seat, let in the clutch, and driven smoothly out of the courtyard. The Senora placed a hand beneath Caroline ’ s elbow, and drew her into the house.
    ‘ Don ’ t be angry, ’ she advised, the suspicion of a smile at the back of her dark eyes. ‘ Diego intends you to meet your brother to-night. He wishes to be kind. But he is also a little ashamed of being kind ... Do you understand me? ’
    In the shadowy coolness of the circular entrance hall, Caroline stood still. ‘ Senora, I am angry. You are being good to me, so I think I ought to tell you that. ’
    ‘ I know. ’ The old lady shrugged slightly.
    ‘ Diego let you go to that dreadful, depressing house, and you found that your brother had gone. And then you