Free White Witch by Elizabeth Ashton Page A

turned to Laurel apologetically.
    ‘Please forgive his bad manners.’
    ‘You provoked him,’ she retorted. ‘He’s still young and sensitive, and you spoke to him as if he were a delinquent teenager.’
    ‘So you rush to defend him. How come you were here together anyway?’ His black eyes were smouldering.
    ‘Why shouldn’t we be? He offered me a drink and I was feeling lonely. Am I supposed to be in purdah?’
    ‘I would like to put you there,’ he said savagely. ‘It is where women like you should be kept. Has it not occurred to you that your precious sister caused enough disruption in our family without you following in her footsteps?’
    The arrival of the waiter with his drink checked the furious words that rose to her lips. When he had gone, she said icily:
    ‘I shall treat that remark with the contempt it deserves. Now I’m going to bed. Goodnight, senor. ’ She would have risen, but leaning forward, he shot out his hand and grasped her wrist with a grip of steel. ‘Stay where you are!’
    His touch sent fire coursing through her veins. She sank back murmuring, ‘You’re hurting me.’
    ‘Then do as you are told.’ He released her wrist, and took a swig of his drink. ‘Esteban is, as you say, young and also impressionable. I would be obliged if you do not try to corrupt him.’
    ‘That’s an insulting thing to say! I’ve no designs upon your brother whatever.’
    A smile flickered over his face. ‘But he may have on you.’
    ‘Then I’m afraid he’ll be disappointed.’
    Luis gave a long sigh, drained his glass and wiped his mouth with the paper serviette provided.
    ‘ Ay mi, Laurel, have you any idea what that pale beauty of yours does to the men of the South?’
    Laurel felt a little thrill of gratification. He really did think she was beautiful and the men of the South would include himself, but she answered sedately:
    ‘I can’t help my looks, and I don’t see that having a drink with Peter’s uncle constitutes such a heinous offence. Don’t you want us to be friends?’
    ‘I distrust friendship between men and women.’ He looked away across the crowded lounge with unseeing eyes. ‘I meant to visit the Ordonez tonight to make a formal offer for Cristina’s hand.’
    Laurel’s heart seemed to stop. ‘Why didn’t you?’ she asked quietly.
    ‘She had gone to Madrid.’ He turned his head and their eyes met. She saw a red gleam in the dark depths of his and her own fell to the table top.
    ‘But she’ll come back?’
    ‘ Si , I am afraid she will.’
    ‘Luis, you aren’t suffering from another bout of lunacy?’ she asked sweetly.
    ‘Provoking witch,’ he growled. ‘Oh, go to bed, Laurel, this conversation is unprofitable.’ His voice dropped to a whisper: ‘I only wish I could come with you.’
    Desire, hot and palpitating was there between them, desire that could not, must not be assuaged, Laurel got to her feet and found she was trembling. With an effort she controlled herself.
    ‘Do we still go to Ronda tomorrow?’ she asked, and was surprised her voice sounded so normal.
    ‘But of course.’ A flash of white teeth in his dark face. ‘Esteban and I will chaperon each other.’ He stood up. ‘Buenas noches , Laurel, sleep well.’
    For a long moment they stared at each other, blue eyes meeting black, then with a sigh, Laurel turned away.
    ‘Goodnight, Luis.’
    Quietly she went out of the lounge.
     

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    The way to Ronda from Mijas wound through magnificent country, with gaunt piles of mountains rising from the undulating ground. The two men sat in the front seats of the Silver Shadow, with Laurel and Peter in the back. She had been offered the passenger seat, but said she preferred to be with the child. Luis had given her a quizzical look, but made no comment, but Esteban had grinned and remarked:
    ‘The lady is very discreet.’
    ‘She needs to be, with you around,’ Luis retorted, which she took to be a veiled allusion to the night