Free The Arrogant Duke by Anne Mather Page B

undercurrents of disaster.
    Juliet sighed and then turned back to the car, rubbing her elbows with the palms of her hands. The Duque and Teresa were still sitting in the car, and Juliet was suddenly conscious of the slim-fitting slacks and sleeveless overblouse. Her hair had blown in strands from the braids, and she felt sure she must look an absolute sight.
    At her approach the Duque slid out of the car, standing tall and powerful in front of her.
    'So, senhorita ,' he murmured, 'what do you think?'
    Juliet flushed. 'It's very beautiful,' she replied swiftly. 'Can - can we go down?'
    'I don't see why not. I can bring Teresa.'
    'Yes.' Juliet brushed past him and lifted her basket bag out of the rear of the car, aware of that awful twisted feeling in her stomach again. Get a hold of yourself, she told herself angrily. You only met him two days ago. What are you thinking of?
    They descended to the beach by way of a sloping path that ran down the steep incline. The sand was soft at the rim, damp nearer the water, showing how the tide could cover the ground.
    The Duque put Teresa down on a rug he had brought from the car, and then said: 'See - the motor boat we use for our expeditions - it is housed in the boathouse there.'
    Juliet saw a wooden building at the far end of the beach, near the rocky headland. She nodded, wishing she knew more about skin-diving. Discussing the kind of dives she had made with the Duque would not arouse any interest on his part. Merely a surfeit of questions as to how she had any knowledge at all.
    Teresa heaved a sigh. 'Must we stay here long, Tio Felipe?' she asked impatiently. 'The sun is hot, and I am thirsty.'
    The Duque smiled down at her. 'Are you being a little awkward, pequena?' he countered. 'Perhaps Senhorita Summers would like to swim.'
    Juliet shook her head. The idea of appearing before the Duque in a bathing suit was a daunting one which she had not really considered before. 'Thank you, but no,' she replied, sitting down on the sand beside Teresa.
    The Duque nodded to her basket. 'I had thought you brought swimming equipment,' he remarked. 'It is early yet. I have some coffee in a flask in the car. There is no reason why we should not stay here for a while.'
    Juliet didn't know whether he was baiting her now or not. She only knew she couldn't do it.
    'Will you be swimming, senhor ?' she asked, studying her nails.
    Teresa stared at her, and then at her uncle, but the Duque was not disturbed. 'No, senhorita. Unlike you, I am not prepared. However, if Teresa will sit here for a while, and have some coffee, I will take you to the boathouse and show you some of our equipment.'
    Juliet felt Teresa stiffen with anger. 'Tio Felipe, I cannot stay here on the sand alone!'
    'Why not?' The Duque left them, mounting the cliff path with ease, to get the flask of coffee from the car.
    Teresa gave Juliet an angry stare. 'So, senhorita , you think you have won.'
    Juliet sighed. 'It's not a battle, Teresa. For heaven's sake, why can't you just accept my company? I'm not trying to hurt you. I want to help you!'
    'I don't need any help!'
    'Well, I think you do.' Juliet rose to her feet. 'Don't you want to walk again?'
    'Of course I do,' Teresa exclaimed.
    'Well then, try and see that by using your limbs you will regain the power over them!'
    'How?'
    'Swimming!'
    'No, thanks.' Teresa glanced round and saw the Duque descending the path again. 'You're just like Laura Weston, do you know that?'
    'The other companion?'
    'Yes. I'll bet my uncle did not tell you why she was dismissed.'
    'He said you didn't like her. '
    'No, I didn't.' Teresa sneered. 'But that wasn't why she was dismissed.' She put the tips of her fingers together. 'She made a fool of herself over Felipe, that's why she was dismissed!'
    Juliet felt the colour wash over her body. 'Well,' she said, speaking quickly before the Duque arrived, 'you need have no anxiety in that direction, so far as I am concerned.'
    'No?'
    'No.'
    The Duque reached them.