Читать книгу Rafael's Convenient Proposal - Rebecca Winters - Страница 7

“INES?”

Rafael walked in the family’s private entrance at the north end of the palacio. He headed for the kitchen, grim-faced.

“I’m here. How is Maria tonight?” she called back to him as he pushed open the double doors.

“She’s deteriorating fast.”

Ines’ eyes watered. “Apolonia is missing her already.”

“Where is she?”

“She and Violente went into the other part of the palacio to look for some postcards while they waited for Violente’s father to pick her up in reception. I told Apolonia she had to be back in a half hour.”

He took a steadying breath. “Now that school is out, I don’t like the idea of adding to your burdens by asking you to take full-time care of her.” Ines was in her early seventies and slowing down. “Which one of the maids do you trust to watch her for a few hours each day to help you out?”

“Either Nina or Brianca.”

Rafael rubbed his jaw and felt the rasp. “Isn’t Brianca a little young?”

“She’s eighteen, but she’s very responsible and she likes Apolonia. It would be good for your daughter to have someone who will play with her.”

Ines was right about that.

“Will you talk to Brianca then?”

“First thing in the morning.”

“Good. Tell her I’ll make it worth her while financially until Lianor is prepared to take over.”

“She has agreed?” his housekeeper cried out with joy, putting her palms together beneath her chin.

“Not in so many words yet, but she will,” he vowed with such ferocity, Ines blinked. “Don’t say anything about Maria or Lianor yet. I don’t want her to know what’s happening until I’m forced to tell her Maria won’t be coming home again.”

“Claro,” the older woman said before turning away, sniffing.

He checked his watch. Lianor ought to be arriving with her guest anytime now. “I need to make some phone calls, then I’ll go find Apolonia. Thanks for all your help, Ines. Boa noite.”

“Boa noite, Rafael.”

The Palacio D’Afonso proved to be a masterpiece of baroque and Moorish architecture mixed together. Mallory heard Lianor call to her, but she was too busy drinking in everything to talk.

Checkered marble paved the floor and ornate staircase of the enormous entrance hall. She lifted her head to take in the beauty of its lofty dome exquisitely painted with flowers and birds. Between the rich decorative art and paintings on the walls, she stood there spellbound.

“Wander around to your heart’s content,” Lianor said. “Your suitcase has been taken upstairs. Give me a minute to make certain your room is ready. I’ll be right back.”

“This palace is so magnificent, I’m speechless,” Mallory murmured. “You don’t have to hurry on my account,” she added with a smile. “I might just stay here indefinitely.”

“Wait till you see where you’re going to sleep tonight.” Lianor left her with that provocative thought before she started up the staircase where several elegantly dressed hotel guests were just descending.

The couple disappeared through one of four sets of tall double doors to the left of them. Mallory caught a glimpse of a sumptuous-looking dining room and sucked in her breath.

What a fantastic place to be raised! And paradise to have the Atlantic at your feet too?

Still mesmerized by such splendor, she didn’t realize anyone else had entered the massive foyer until she heard a girl’s voice cry, “Tia Lianor!”

Mallory turned around to discover two dark-haired girls around ten or eleven who’d come through double doors on the opposite side of the great hall. Behind them she saw a room with a counter and several people working. For a front desk, it had been cleverly hidden.

The girl who was staring at Mallory with brown eyes identical to Lianor’s made a funny sound and put a hand to her mouth. The other girl holding something in her hand started to giggle.

“Are you Apolonia?”

The girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Do you speak English?” Mallory asked, drawing closer to them.

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard lovely things about you from your Tia Lianor.”

That brought a smile to the girl’s face.

“She’ll be down in a minute. My name is Mallory Ellis.” She extended her hand.

“How do you do,” Apolonia said in very proper English and shook it. Some flicker of recognition caused her features to become even more expressive. “You are her friend from California in America.”

Friend. That was nice to hear.

“Yes. I’ve come to visit her for a couple of days. When you saw me from the back, you thought I was your aunt, didn’t you?” Both Mallory and Lianor happened to be wearing black pantsuits.

She nodded.

“Other people have said the same thing. Who’s your friend?”

“Oh—” she cried, as if suddenly remembering her manners. “This is my best friend, Violente Camoes. We’re waiting for her father.”

Mallory grasped the other girl’s hand that wasn’t full of postcards. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Violente. I love your name.”

“She does not like it,” Apolonia confided. “Her brother says she was named after Queen Maria the First of Portugal. The servants called her Violente because she was insano.”

“Insane?”

“Yes.”

Trying to smother her laughter, Mallory said, “What’s your brother’s name, Violente?”

“Tomas.”

“Ah—that explains it!”

“What do you mean?” Apolonia asked while both girls stared at her wide-eyed.

“Her brother is just jealous because he wasn’t named after a king.”

Apolonia turned to her friend and translated in Portuguese. Her friend’s mouth broke into a wide smile. She whispered something back in Portuguese to Apolonia.

Mallory couldn’t help but marvel at her grasp of English. Not only had she benefited from the English-speaking tourists who stayed here, according to Lianor her niece went to the same private school she’d once attended. It was run by the nuns. No wonder their family was so well educated.

“Violente thinks you’re very nice. I do too.”

“Well thank you. I feel the same way about both of you.”

“My father said you are notarus.”

Mallory blinked. “Do you mean notorious?”

“Yes. I don’t know that word.”

She choked down more laughter. Wait till she told Lianor. “I think he got it mixed up with the word industrious. It means I like to work and use my brain.” She tapped the side of her head so the girls would understand.

“But he frowned like this when he said it,” she informed her before doing a great imitation of one.

“Violente?”

At the sound of a male voice, all three of them turned in time to see a well-dressed man around forty enter the foyer. He signaled for his daughter to come. She waved goodbye to them, then ran toward him.

No sooner had they left the foyer than Lianor appeared on the stairs. Apolonia rushed toward her aunt and started talking in rapid Portuguese.

“Why don’t you speak English in front of our guest. It will be good practice for you.”

“She already has. Very beautifully I might add,” Mallory said after catching up with them. “In fact I found out something quite interesting.”

Quickly she related her exchange with Apolonia. Lianor fought not to laugh in front of her niece. “Your father’s English is excellent, Apolonia, but sometimes even he makes mistakes.”

Mallory’s gaze rested on the girl. “I can’t imagine being able to speak fluent Portuguese when I was your age. You have superior intelligence just like your aunt.”

Her sweet face lit up. “Thank you.”

“Come with us,” Lianor urged. “We’ll show you to your room.”

Mallory followed them to the second floor. The staircase curved around, giving out on a corridor that ran the length of the palace. In between paintings and tapestries, she glimpsed double doors to the various rooms.

They passed another exquisitely shaped marble staircase before reaching a pair of double doors facing them at the south end. They looked massive and impregnable.

Behind them was another set of doors. Above those she saw an inscription set in the colorful azulejo tiles for which Portugal was famous.

“What does it say?”

“Our lips easily meet high across the narrow street. It’s a saying of the poet Frederico de Brito who wrote about the Alfama district of Lisbon where the streets between the houses are only four feet wide. The people on opposite sides can reach out of their homes and touch each other.”

Lianor rolled her eyes. “Someone in the D’Afonso family who had romantic notions put it there. Most likely it was a man who wanted to remind his wife of her marital duty,” she muttered sotto voce.

“No doubt,” Mallory concurred with a grin. She looked down at Apolonia who couldn’t quite follow their whole conversation. Wanting to include her she said, “Why are there two sets of double doors?”

“This is where the king stayed. He kept soldiers by both doors.”

“If we’re talking about Pedro II, I can see why,” Mallory murmured. “The man must have had some serious enemies.”

Lianor’s eyes met hers and they both chuckled. But Mallory’s laughter ceased the moment she stepped inside the suite and got her first look at the royal apartment which was really a small palace within a palace.

The melange of Muslim, Arabic, Visigoth and Moorish accoutrements filling the huge rooms defied description.

Both D’Afonsos took her on the grand tour which included a living room with a priceless Moorish tile floor put down in bands of blue and white that undulated like the rolling waves across an ocean. Dark crisscrossed beams defined the painted ceiling of flowers and angels.

There was a library worth a king’s ransom, a delightful airy music room with an antique piano, a sitting room, another bedroom, a kitchen and dining room which faced west and opened on to a private balcony that overlooked the ocean.

Lianor had to drag Mallory away from the view in order to show her the superb bedroom with its giant canopied bed and private balcony. It gave out on an unparalleled vista of the beach and ocean to the southwest. The constant crash of waves upon the sand far below set the rhythm of her heart. She felt enchanted.

Throwing back her head, she stood there breathing in the sea air while her long hair swished around her in the night breeze.

“Do you like it?” Apolonia asked.

Almost too enthralled to speak, she finally answered the girl’s question.

“I love it so much, I think I shall sleep out here tonight in that lounger next to the table and dream.”

“What will you dream about?

“Portuguese navigators who bravely set sail across the ocean to explore new worlds.”

Apolonia looked delighted with that answer. “I love the ocean too.”

“Living here, how could you not?”

“Do you like to swim?”

“It’s my favorite sport.”

“Mine too. My father taught me.”

“Speaking of your father,” Lianor broke in, “I bet he’s looking for you.”

She shook her head. “He went to see Maria in the hospital. I hope he says she can come home tomorrow.”

A signal of distress passed from Lianor to Mallory.

“I’m sure he’s back by now so you can ask him. It’s getting late and I think everyone’s tired, especially Mallory. She’s flown all the way from New York.”

She put her arm around her niece’s shoulders. “Let’s go to bed, shall we?”

The three of them walked to the first set of doors. Lianor turned to Mallory. “What time do you want breakfast served in here?”

Knowing it wouldn’t do any good to tell her not to go to the trouble she said, “How about ten o’clock after my morning swim? But only if you and Apolonia join me.”

“We’ll be here.”

Apolonia looked up at her. “Do you like salsicha?”

“It’s Portuguese sausage,” Lianor supplied.

“Is that your favorite?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll definitely try it. Good night, Apolonia.” They hugged again. What a wonderful girl she was. If Mallory had a daughter, she’d want her to be exactly like Lianor’s niece.

“Good night.”

“See you tomorrow,” Lianor whispered.

Mallory nodded. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

She closed the doors after them. When she turned around, she felt like she’d been magically transported back in time. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Moors had occupied this land. It was from these shores Vasco de Gama had set out on his voyage. Shivers of excitement raced through her body.

After she’d prepared for bed and left a voice message on her parents’ phone to let them know she’d arrived safely, she walked out on the balcony with a pillow and blanket.

Mallory hadn’t intended to sleep out there all night. But when she heard the sound of gulls and opened her eyes, light filled the sky and was burning off the morning mist. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day.

She went inside and made hot chocolate, then took the colorful ceramic mug and walked back to the balcony where she watched the ocean for at least an hour. Every now and again she saw a ship in the far distance.

From her vantage point, the swells looked mild this morning. There were two curls of waves that broke some distance from the shore.

A few guests were already swimming, but they stayed close in. Several palace employees were arranging loungers, towels and umbrellas. The sandy beach was starting to show signs of life as more guests appeared. Mallory could hardly wait to get out there herself. She had time. Breakfast wouldn’t be for another forty-five minutes.

Before leaving her condo in Los Angeles, she’d packed her ancient one-piece yellow and orange suit she always wore for surfing. She’d also brought a pair of sandals she wore on the beach. Once she was ready, she hurried out of the room and used the closest staircase to reach the ground floor.

“Bom Dia.” A male palace employee opened the doors for her so she could go outside.

“Bom Dia,” she answered. “Thank you.”

The ocean was calling to her. After negotiating more steps down to the pristine beach, she stopped by the nearest lounger, deposited her sandals and ran into the water.

It was warmer than the ocean at Huntington Beach this time of day. Lianor had referred to this area as the Sun Coast where you could swim year-round.

This was heaven!

Mallory used the momentum from the fairly strong rip current to reach the curls quickly. In the late afternoon she would ask for a surfboard and come out again when the waves were bigger. Right now they were perfect for body surfing.

Once she got way out, she had so much fun she lost track of time. It wasn’t until she was waiting for one final wave before going back to the palacio that she heard people shouting. The sounds of terrified voices made her suddenly aware of her surroundings.

There were at least twenty people gathered near the water. Amid all the noise she heard someone crying out Apolonia’s name over and over again hysterically.

Oh no…

Mallory started swimming parallel to the shore, cleaving the water as fast as she could in the direction they were pointing. Several swimmers were making an attempt to get beyond the first curl, but they weren’t strong enough.

A little further now she could see Apolonia who’d somehow made it past both curls, but she must have grown tired.

Her head was back, mouth open. Those little arms were extended, making downward motions in the water. She was drowning!

Please God. Don’t let it happen.

In a few more strokes Mallory executed a deep dive under Apolonia, then came up behind her and put her hand under her chin.

“I’m here, darling. Lie still and let me do the work. Your father wouldn’t want to go on living without you. I’ll get you back to him,” she promised.

Using the rescue side stroke, Mallory headed for shore with her precious cargo, praying all the way.

The crowd gathered round as she pulled the girl’s limp body onto the beach and turned her on her side to get any water out of her lungs.

Though she felt a pulse, waves of fear washed over Mallory to realize Apolonia wasn’t breathing. In an instant she put the girl on her back and immediately began mouth to mouth resuscitation.

Keep calm, Mallory. Pace yourself. Fifteen compressions, two ventilations. Fifteen compressions, two ventilations.

Time had no meaning as she settled down to perform this procedure for as long as it took. She’d only rescued one other person when she’d been out surfing. It was an adult who’d gotten in trouble, but after she’d reached the beach with him, he’d started breathing right away.

This was much different. Apolonia had been struggling too long. She had to live. There’d been enough tragedy in their household. She was exceptional. Her family needed her.

Let her live.

When Mallory had all but lost hope, she heard sputtering and quickly rolled Apolonia on her side to get rid of more water.

“Papa,” the girl half moaned her father’s name.

Mallory’s heart rejoiced.

“I’m right here, querida,” came a deep masculine voice so full of love and emotion, Mallory’s eyes flooded with tears.

“We’ll take over now,” another voice sounded.

With exquisite relief, Mallory sat back on her heels to let the paramedics deal with Apolonia. Over the shoulders of one of them, her eyes met another pair of eyes. Intensely black and moist. They stared at her incredulously before the man got to his feet.

It had only been a fleeting moment of contact, yet she felt a trembling in her soul even after he’d followed the stretcher into the ambulance and it had driven off.

Lianor knelt down and wrapped her arms around Mallory, sobbing quietly as she poured out her gratitude. They stayed in that position until Mallory stopped trembling.

When they both finally got to their feet, an older woman standing nearby made the sign of the cross and kept murmuring something Mallory didn’t understand. Lianor introduced them.

“This is our housekeeper, Ines. She’s saying ‘Bless you.”’

Mallory swallowed hard. “Tell Ines that God helped me.”

After hearing the translation, the older woman’s eyes filled with tears. They spilled down her pale cheeks.

The dozen or so sober-faced staff hovering next to the housekeeper said the same words, ‘Bless you,’ before they dispersed and got back to their duties. Ines followed them inside the palace.

Before resuming their various pleasures, the guests who’d been out on the beach congregated around Mallory and praised her in several languages for her heroic rescue.

That left one young woman in a bikini who looked to be in her late teens. She stood there with her face in her hands, weeping. Lianor went over and put her arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

“This is Brianca, Mallory. Just this morning Ines asked her to keep an eye on Apolonia until we had breakfast. They came down to swim. When my niece saw you body surfing, she wanted to do it too and slipped away before Brianca could stop her.

“The lifeguard doesn’t come on duty until eleven o’clock, and Apolonia knows better than to go swimming without Rafael. As you can see, Brianca is devastated. I’ve tried to tell her it’s not her fault.”

No. The fault is mine.

Inhaling deeply, Mallory said, “Will you translate for me again, Lianor?”

“Of course.”

“Tell Brianca I’m the one to blame. Last night Apolonia found out I love to swim. I’m positive she thought I’d seen her, and that’s why she dared to venture past the curls. Ask Brianca if she was the one who called out Apolonia’s name to me.”

Lianor conveyed her wishes. Once Brianca understood what Mallory had been saying, she lifted her head and nodded.

“Remind her that she was the one who saved Apolonia’s life. I was so busy having a marvelous time out there, I would never have known what was happening if I hadn’t heard her screaming your niece’s name in a clear voice.”

More conversation ensued.

The teenager’s face brightened a little.

“Tell her we need to be thankful that everyone did their part. The ambulance came just in time and everything worked out. I know Apolonia’s going to be fine.”

Again Lianor translated, but the teen still didn’t seem totally convinced.

On impulse, Mallory hugged Brianca who hugged her back. They both shed a few more tears, then parted with smiles.

“Thank you,” Brianca said in English before darting back to the palace.

As she ran off, Lianor squeezed Mallory’s arm. “After receiving blame from everyone, especially from Ines who told my brother Brianca could be trusted, she needed your kindness. You’re a truly wonderful person, Mallory.”

“Please don’t give me any credit. The only thing of importance is that Apolonia’s alive. Where did the ambulance take her?”

“To the local hospital in Atalaia where Violente lives. It’s five kilometers from here.”

“I want to see her.”

“We’ll go after you’ve had breakfast and relaxed for a little while. I know you’re strong, but that was an emotional as well as physical ordeal you’ve just been through. I don’t want you passing out on me.”

They walked up the beach. Mallory picked up her sandals but didn’t bother to put them on. “There’s no chance of that happening; however I must admit I could use some tea.”

“Come on. Let’s go up to your room and take care of you.”

Side by side they hurried into the palace where Mallory took a shower and washed her hair. Since they were going to the hospital, she opted to wear a cotton blouse and matching wraparound skirt in a khaki tone.

When she entered the dining room and saw the amazing breakfast waiting for her, her appetite returned. Lianor was hungry too. They ate a little bit of everything including the sausage which had been cooked with green pepper, onion and a cheese sauce.

“Oh that’s good. No wonder it’s Apolonia’s favorite.”

Lianor’s eyes filmed over. “Thanks to you, she’ll be eating more of it, although she shouldn’t,” she added in a tremulous voice.

“What do you mean?”

“Apolonia has been putting on weight and looks like I did at her age, but Maria has never worried about things like that. Neither did my mother who fed us constantly. By the time I was seventeen, I was huge.”

“I was overweight in my early teens too, but then I shot up and that changed everything.”

“It didn’t happen that way for me.” As if she were embarrassed by the admission, she got up from the table. “How long do you think Apolonia will have to stay in the hospital?”

Lianor had changed the subject so fast, Mallory realised she’d just had a glimpse of the pain she hid from the world. Maybe one day she’d trust Mallory enough to tell her the rest.

“I have no idea. Every case is different. Maybe she’ll be home by tonight.”

“I hope so.”

Mallory eyed her with concern. “I’m ready to go whenever you are.” In truth she was anxious to see Apolonia for herself. There could be complications, but she hadn’t wanted to upset her friend further by discussing them.

“I’ll pack a bag for Apolonia and meet you at the car.”

Within fifteen minutes they’d reached the hospital in the peaceful little town surrounded by beaches. Though not big, the hospital was as modern and up to date as any in Los Angeles.

After learning that Apolonia had been transferred from the ER to a private room, they walked to the nursing station on the main floor where Lianor found out which room down the hall was her niece’s.

Mallory touched her arm. “You go in first. You and your brother need some time alone with her. I’ll wait in the lounge we passed.”

“Thanks. I won’t be long.”

Once she was on her own, Mallory walked the short distance to the waiting room where she saw a mother nursing her baby in one corner, an old couple sitting in another holding hands. Mallory smiled at everyone and sat down.

Tension kept her body from relaxing. Until she knew how Apolonia was faring, she wouldn’t have any peace. Not able to sit still, she got up and decided to take a walk outside. On the way to the exit she told the nurse at the desk she’d be right back.

The beautiful sunny day mocked the turmoil going on inside of her. Though she looked out on a calm ocean, all she saw was a pair of fathomless black eyes staring at her with a mixture of agony to think it might have claimed his daughter…and shock to think the woman he’d disliked without ever having met her, had plucked his Apolonia from its watery grasp in time to save her.

“Ms. Ellis?”

Mallory had heard that low, gravelly male voice earlier today. With heart pounding, she turned around.

She’d only noticed his eyes before.

Now she saw the whole man dressed in black swimming trunks and a blue T-shirt. He must have been planning to join his daughter in the surf when he’d heard she was in trouble.

Physically she saw nothing that nature could improve upon. His Mediterranean heritage gave him his olive skin. The arrangement of striking male features beneath vibrant black hair and brows created someone fascinating as well as unbelievingly appealing.

He had height and breadth in perfect proportion to his long powerful legs. Such an unforgettable face and strong, cut body could well inspire any artist to immortalize him on canvas.

To say he was an incredible-looking man would be an understatement.

“How’s your daughter?” she asked tremulously.

She heard the ragged breath he took. “Right now they’re giving Apolonia warmed fluids intravenously. So far she’s holding her own. The doctor says if she doesn’t develop additional symptoms in the next five hours, she’ll be able to go home.”

“That’s wonderful news!” she cried. Mallory couldn’t have been more thrilled if Apolonia were her own flesh and blood.

Those black eyes, eloquent with emotion, bore into hers. “You saved my daughter from drowning,” his voice shook. “How does one person thank another for the gift of life?”

Mallory could hardly breathe. “You just did,” she said in a quiet tone. “Would it help if I told you a lifeguard once saved my life when I was about Apolonia’s age and thought the ocean was my friend?”

His eyelids closed tightly for a moment. Perhaps he was thinking Mallory’s thoughts. That if she’d died, she wouldn’t have been here to save his daughter.

But Mallory knew that if she hadn’t come to Portugal, Apolonia wouldn’t have gotten into trouble in the first place.

“A big part of our thanks needs to go to Brianca. She screamed your daughter’s name loud enough for me to hear, and she kept screaming until she got my attention. That enabled me to return the favor the lifeguard did for me and my family by reaching Apolonia in time.”

His features hardened. “Another few seconds in that water and she would have drowned,” he whispered, still reliving the agony.

“But she didn’t,” Mallory said gently. “Seeing you like this, I now know what terror my parents must have experienced when the CPR didn’t seem to be working on me. I was their only child too.”

“Por Deus.” His dark head reared back in more anguish. “I told her I would swim with her this morning. But she left my room before I did because I received a call from one of my hotel managers in Cabo Espichel I had to take.

“I was still talking to him in my bedroom upstairs when one of the maids burst in and told me to come quick. By the time I reached the beach, you were already giving her CPR.” He paused. “I’ve only known pain like that once before…”

Mallory knew he was talking about his wife. If she could steer his mind away from the worst—

After a slight pause, “I met your daughter last night. She’s very precious.”

A visible tremor passed through his body. He cleared his throat. “She hasn’t stopped talking about you. When Lianor walked in the hospital room alone a few minutes ago, Apolonia begged me to come and find you.”

Mallory bowed her head. “Will the doctor allow her to have visitors yet?”

“Only if it’s the woman who restored my daughter to me. He feels it will aid in her recovery. So do I,” he said in a husky tone.