Free Masquerade by Hannah Fielding

a tremor in her voice that did not escape Luz.
    Uneasily conscious of her mother’s eyes searching her face, Luz shrugged. ‘Nothing really, nothing of great interest.’ She tried to take on a bored expression as she pulled a small bunch of grapes from its stem. ‘Did she ever tell your fortune?’ she went on, keeping her tone light.
    Salvador did not reply immediately. Absently, he drew a cigarette from the packet in his pocket and lit it. After inhaling a few puffs he went to sit next to his wife on the sofa.
    ‘ Niña , you must understand that these people get good money to tell the future,’ he explained at length. ‘It’s a very ancient game and their old grandmothers taught them the words to say – it’s always the same thing. They don’t see any harm in feigning clairvoyance, they regard it as a respectable job. If gajos , as they call us, are naïve enough to believe their stories, more fool them.
    ‘Anyhow, I’d prefer it if you didn’t have any more to do with these nomads,’ he added, a sudden gravity in his voice. ‘They’re always up to tricks and can become unpleasant. Better to keep away.’
    Luz laughed: ‘Don’t worry about me, Papá , I can look after myself. I’m very sensible, you know that. Besides I always manage to fall on my feet.’
    She was about to ask whether he’d experienced this unpleasantness himself but then glanced sideways at her mother. Luz was struck by how tense she looked, her cheeks flushed pink. She had never seenher look quite so agitated at the mention of gypsies. Even though Luz felt she was edging closer to something with her mention of Paquita, she sensed this was the wrong moment. Anyhow, if it also came out that the old woman had predicted Luz’s fate as one aligned with that of the gypsy, Leandro … Well, that was not a conversation she was ready to have. Reluctantly, she decided to change the subject, at least for now.
    She smiled brightly and went to sit on the opposite sofa, tucking her bare feet under her. ‘In two days’ time I will have had my first interview for the Salazar job. Apparently, at this stage I’ll have to face a written examination followed, if I’m successful, by a panel of examiners at a later date before the final meeting with Andrés de Calderón, Eduardo de Salazar’s heir. I can’t wait! Have you met him, Papá ?’
    ‘No, I haven’t, but I’ve heard much about him. His father, Santiago, spoke of him often. He’s energetic, travels a good deal and is certainly highly respected in society circles. He chairs Caldezar Corporación, SA, a family-owned business that started out producing olive oil. I’ve known people who’ve had dealings with the firm. Their holdings consist of olive groves and factories extending all over the Province of Cádiz. I’ve heard they’ve lately broken into the international market.’
    ‘Mmm … what a great success story Señor de Calderón is,’ Luz grinned playfully at her father. ‘He sounds like the sort of man even you would approve of, Papá .’
    Salvador ignored his daughter’s ribbing. ‘What’s impressive is that under his own name he has also acquired some sort of testing laboratory that tries out new products and technologies before they are allowed to be released to the public, a kind of agent for new manufacturers around Europe. Just the sort of innovator the economy needs at the moment. Yes, a very enterprising young man, by all accounts.’
    By now Alexandra looked a little more composed as she reached over for the jug of water on the coffee table and poured herself a glass. ‘I’ve heard that he’s quite eccentric in his testing of each product.’
    ‘Eccentric?’ Luz asked, popping another grape into her mouth. Suddenly this sounded more interesting.
    ‘Well, I’m not entirely sure,’ her mother conceded, ‘but apparently he likes to try out all the products himself, which is a little unusual for a man in his position, wouldn’t you say? His office is full