Innocent Invader

“Thank you,” she said, and accepted one from the box he held out to her.

He lit hers and one for himself from a gold table lighter and with some trepidation Sarah drew on the cigarette. It did not make her cough as she had been half afraid it would, but instead the room swam round dizzily. Pressing a startled hand to her throat, she sat up straight, and prayed for the feeling to pass. She had heard from other girls that a first cigarette sometimes caused this kind of reaction, but she had not believed them.

Jason looked at her strangely. “Are you all right?”

The room steadied, and Sarah managed a half-smile. “Of course. What suggestions have you regarding the children's lessons, señor?”

Jason seated himself behind his desk, leaning back in his chair looking at her, and with great daring, she thought, she drew again on the cigarette.

“You were not surprised to learn that Serena was not wholly Spanish, then,” Jason was saying, as the room swam even more giddily, and Sarah gripped the arm of her chair painfully, feeling the colour receding from her face. Leaning forward, she managed to hit the ashtray on the desk with the cigarette, and then she lay back weakly, fighting for composure. She was aware that Jason had risen from his seat and crossed to the tray of drinks on the side table. He returned with a glass full of amber liquid, and putting it in to her hand, he said quietly: “Drink this and you'll feel better”

Gratefully, Sarah did as he asked, and immediately she felt the room begin to steady and her head stopped spinning.

“Now,” he said, on his haunches beside her, “what's wrong?”

His nearness disconcerted her There was in his eyes the kind of understanding that was quite overwhelming, and she had the feeling that he was again the man she had met on the quay the previous day. At close quarters the scar was an ugly sight, and as though conscious of her scrutiny, he ran his finger lightly along its length. He rose to his feet, and said: “I'm sorry if this upsets you. I suggest you try to ignore it.” His voice was cool again.

Sarah rose too. Even as tall as she was, he was much taller, but she felt at less of a disadvantage standing. “It doesn't upset me,” he said, looking at him candidly. “It fascinates me!” Then she flushed as she realised what her impulsive tongue had said now, but was relieved when he did not appear to consider her remark personal.

“So,” he said, looking down at her. “You will now tell me what was wrong with you.”

Sarah sighed. “I'm not used to smoking. I'm afraid it was the cigarette; it made me dizzy.”

Jason smiled. “Was that all?” he asked, amused.

“Yes, why? Did you think you had an ailing governess on your hands?” Sarah laughed, albeit a little nervously.

Jason shook his head. “You look very well to me,” he remarked, his eyes surveying her thoroughly, making her acutely conscious of the shortness of her skirt.

Sarah subsided again, clasping her hands together. “Sh – shall we discuss the timetable as we were going to do before I acted so foolishly?”

Jason shrugged, and moved back round the desk. “You tell me what you suggest,” he said slowly, “and I'll tell you what I think.”

For several minutes they discussed the children. Jason told Sarah that he had had a room cleared on the first floor and three desks installed for the children and one for herself. He had also provided exercise books and textbooks and plenty of paper and pencils.

“If there's anything else you require, you just have to ask,” he continued. “At what time of the day do you intend to work? Mornings, I think, would be the most convenient. The afternoons could then be your own until tea time, and of course after the children are in bed in the evenings, you're free to do as you wish.”

“Thank you.” Sarah bit her lip. “Señor! Would it be all right if the children and I rode sometimes?”

Jason frowned. “You ride?” he asked.

“Yes. And I spoke to Jacob yesterday and he told me that the ponies were for the children's use and that there was another horse which I could use. Not yours, of course.”

Jason half-smiled. “Why? Do you think you couldn't handle Apollo?”

Sarah shrugged. “I think I could,” she retorted impulsively.

“Indeed? Then you must be a very good horsewoman. Apollo is a spirited devil at best. At worst he can act like a creature possessed. I shouldn't care to think of you riding him alone. But perhaps one day I'll find the time to ride with you, and the children, of course, and I may put you to the test.”

“Then we may use the horses when we like?”

“You may. Providing you ride on the beach. You can come to little harm there.”

Sarah looked taken aback, but she did not demur. Jason studied her in his intensive way for a moment, and then he said: “Before you contracted the vapours, I asked you whether you were not surprised to learn of Serena's nationality,” he said slowly.

Sarah flushed. “I was surprised, naturally,” she said, making a helpless gesture. “But it doesn't make any difference to me, if that's what you mean.'

Jason leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “Yes, that's exactly what I meant.” He relaxed again and lay back in his chair. “Is there anything else you want to know?”

Sarah bent her head self-consciously. “There is something,” she said quietly. “Ricardo tells me the children are not allowed to use the pool – is that right?”

Jason's expression darkened. “That's correct. Why?”

Sarah looked up. “I was going to ask you that question.”

“Were you indeed?” He rose to his feet, and moved round the desk restlessly. “Did Ricardo give you any reason?”

“Yes. He said it was because they could be seen from Señora de Cordova's windows.”

Jason's expression was unreadable. Sarah was only aware that he was annoyed about something, and she could only assume it was because of her question. “And if I tell you that this is so, what then?” he asked, from behind her chair.

Sarah felt a tingle running up her spine. She wanted to turn round to rid herself of the feeling that he was studying her intensely. But she could not do that. She was forced to sit upright in her chair, and pray for him to return to his side of the desk.

“W… well,” she said awkwardly, “all I can say is that it seems a waste of a beautiful pool. In my experience, beaches are for playing on, and the sea, for children at any rate, is for paddling in. The young children of my acquaintance swim in the swimming baths. At home there are public baths in most towns. Few children have the luxury of a pool in their back garden.” She swallowed hard. “These children, your nephew and nieces, seem to have neither. They tell me they may not swim in the sea without being supervised. I can understand this, but they could have such fun in the pool if you would let them …” She halted, and bent her head. “Of course, that's only my opinion.”

“You've made your point,” he conceded, moving across to the open windows. This side of the house faced the beach and the sea, and Sarah followed his gaze out to the waving palms and coral sands beyond the gentle cliffs.

She looked at him as he stared out to sea for a brief moment, wondering what he was thinking. She was sure he must consider her an interfering busybody. After all, that pool must have been there for years, and she really had no right to question its deployment.

But he turned back to face her, leaning against the frame of the window. He looked a little amused now, she thought, and she rose swiftly to her feet. “Is that all, then?” she asked.

Jason shrugged his shoulders. “What about the pool? Do you want to use it? The children as well, of course.”

Sarah stared at him, her eyes bright and dancing. “Are you serious? May we?”

“I think you might. After all, what's the use of having a governess if she can't be allowed the facilities provided for every English child?” His tone was a little sardonic, but Sarah could have hugged him. She was so pleased and excited. How delighted the youngsters would be!

“Thank you,” she exclaimed, her voice revealing her inner vivacity. She turned to the door, but moving towards it she remembered her interview with Irena the previous day, and a shiver ran down her spine at the thought. There was something utterly menacing about her presence and when she found out about the swimming pool she would not be pleased.

Turning back, she said: “Señor, may I ask you something else?”

Jason straightened up. “By all means. What is it?”

Sarah frowned. “Am I allowed to use the beach – I mean, am I allowed to swim in the sea?”

Jason's fingers sought the jagged disfiguration on his cheek. “Why do you ask?” he questioned her softly. “Surely that requires no answer. You may use the beach whenever you wish, naturally.”

“I may?” Sarah pressed a hand to her throat. “Thank you, señor.”