'I can see that,' replied Carmen with an animated look in her eye, then she clapped her hands together in a manner that suggested that she had had an idea that pleased her very much. 'Didn't Juan say that you had only six months' schooling to do ?' she asked Joy suddenly.

  Joy gave a puzzled nod at this and glanced at Corinne.

  'If we'd been in England,' Corinne replied, 'she would have gone to college when her schooling was over.' She hesitated here, not quite knowing how to

  ro8 ISLAND FIESTA put the bald fact that she doubted if the same facilities existed in the Canaries, and ended lamely with, 'We shall have to see about that, of course, later.'

  'Why not let her take up the work straight away ?' demanded Carmen. 'I see no reason why she should not.' She shrugged her broad shoulders. 'What is six months anyway ? It is only really time to prepare oneself for one's career.' She shrugged again. 'College is only necessary to gain the required certificates, and then the tramp round the fashion houses to gain employment.' She gave Joy a hard earnest look. 'Here, it is work that counts far more than certificates. Come and work for me, Joy. I have all the facilities that are required. You can design away to your heart's content. I shall pay you a salary, of course, I am not asking for your services for nothing. Well, what do you say ?' she demanded of the amazed Joy.

  Joy looked as if she had just been bequeathed her dearest wish, as indeed she had, and her eyes held a mixture of hope and pleading as she looked at Corinne. 'Can I ?' she asked her, in a hushed voice holding her breath for the answer.

  Corinne blinked hard. She felt as if she needed time to assimilate all that had happened in such a brief span of time. She was married to a man she did not know, and now her young sister was being offered a job and what a job ! doing the very work she had set her heart on, and Corinne had set her hopes on her obtaining at some future date.

  For a moment she found it hard to say anything, and that moment must have seemed like hours to the waiting Joy, not to mention the anxious-looking Carmen, who, unable to bear the suspense, said quickly, 'I can assure you the hours will not be too tedious no more really than if she were at college, and I

  ISLAND FIESTA io9 shall keep a strict eye on her for you.'

  In the end all Corinne could do was to give a swift nod of assent, and was then engulfed by a jubilant Joy hugging her and saying 'Thank you!'

  At this point Juan walked in on them, and Carmen explained the reason for the excitement. 'Meet Estillo's new designer,' she said happily. 'I have just engaged your sister-in-law's services.'

  Juan's expressive eyebrows shot up at this, and he looked at the flushed and sparkling Joy. `So is that what you want ?' he asked her, to Corinne's annoyance, who felt that it was none of his business, but Joy did not see it that way. 'Oh, yes !' she breathed ecstatically.

  Juan's eyes left Joy and rested on Corinne. 'And it pleases you ?' he asked her haughtily.

  Corinne was able to answer that. 'Very much,' she replied with a certain amount of reserve in her voice; she had not forgotten his insistence on calling her Clair. 'All we want now is a job for me,' she went on steadily, as it had suddenly occurred to her that with Joy away all day she would be entirely alone and the prospect looked grim. 'I suppose you don't , happen to require a bookkeeper, do you ?' she asked the now apprehensive-looking Carmen, whose eyes were on Juan.

  'I'm afraid there is no possibility whatsoever of your filling such a vacancy, should one occur,' Juan said harshly before Carmen could reply.

  The indignant answer Corinne was about to give Juan on this dictatorial statement of his was forestalled by Carmen hastily asking Joy when she would like to start work. The question was meant to distract Corinne from embarking upon another disagreement with Juan, and although Corinne recognised it

  I ID ISLAND FIESTA as such, there was nothing she could do about it, though her furious eyes spoke volumes as she stared back at him.

  Joy's equally hasty answer of, 'As soon as you like,' made Corinne wonder whose side she was on !

  'I think you ought to allow them a few weeks in which to get settled in first, Carmen,' Juan replied firmly, determined, it seemed to the seething Corinne, to stamp his authority on everything. 'As yet they have seen nothing of their new home. I intend to show them around,' he added haughtily.

  The 'few weeks' remark made Joy cast Carmen an anxious look, and Corinne knew that she was afraid that she would withdraw her offer of employment in the face of Juan's reluctance on the matter.

  Carmen, however, soon dispelled this fear by giving Juan a rueful look. 'Of course, Juan,' she replied soothingly. 'I was so eager to engage Joy's help that I forgot everything else.' She looked at Joy. 'When Juan takes you to the Catalina market, do look at the caftans there. Some are of pure silk, and it will give you an idea of the kind of materials we have to work with.'

  The sparkle of anticipation was back in Joy's eyes as she nodded happily at this direction.

  This ought to have put Corinne into a better mood, but she was still seething over Juan's autocratic ruling as far as she was concerned, and she wished Carmen would whisk Joy off with her there and then, and give her the chance of a word in private with this autocratic, overbearing male whom it had been her misfortune to not only meet, but inadvertently marry !

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  THE silent wish of Corinne's to have a word with Juan was not realised until much later that day, after Carmen had gone, and Joy had gone to bed a little earlier than her normal time, exhausted with the journey and the excitement of the day's happenings.

  Carmen had departed shortly after they had had tea, and she had promised to visit them again a day or so later, but this time making it an evening visit, to be certain of finding them in.

  During dinner that evening, taken in the dining room of Juan's private suite, most of the conversation had been carried on by Joy and Juan. Joy traitorously showed an almost pathetic wish to please Juan, making Corinne wish that her foot was a little nearer to hers so that she could stem her enthusiasm for the proposed sightseeing tours with a nudge of her shoe.

  As nine o'clock approached Joy, who had been trying unsuccessfully to keep her eyes fully open, finally gave up the struggle and with an apologetic smile at Juan asked if he minded if she went to bed. Having gained his amused reply that if she didn't, they would have to wake her to go to bed, she then glanced at Corinne, uncertain whether to go on ahead or to wait for Corinne to join her, but in his usual autocratic way, Juan had told her that Corinne would join her later.

  In spite of the fact that Corinne had wanted a private word with him, she resented his high-handed II I

  I12 ISLAND FIESTA manner towards her, as if she had no will of her own, and her resentment heightened at the casual way Joy had accepted his stipulation and just gave Corinne a crooked grin as she left the room not caring one whit, Corinne thought crossly, about leaving her one and only sister in the clutches of this detestable man. She could gain little comfort from the fact that whatever she had previously read in the romantic line, it had obviously not influenced her; if it had, it might just have occurred to her that her sister might be spending the rest of the evening fighting for her honour !

  When Corinne came out of these hypothetical musings, she found Juan's eyes upon her, and to her vast annoyance she felt herself flushing under his hard gaze. 'I think it as well if we had a little talk,' he said slowly with an underlying hint of steel in his voice. 'Naturally, you do not know a great deal about Spanish customs or how a Spaniard expects his wife to behave. I realise it is different in England, and for that reason only shall I grant you a little leeway in your behaviour. However, I will and do demand absolute obedience to my wishes, no matter whether it concerns your social or personal pursuits. Our future association will be a much smoother one if you abide by these rules, but if you continue to oppose me, you will make life extremely uncomfortable not only for yourself, but for Joy as well. I could, for instance, ask Carmen to look elsewhere for help.'

  Corinne, who up until now had stared back at him with a mutinous light in her eyes, now opened them wide in disbelief. 'Surely you wouldn't ' she began. 'Oh, but I would !' he replied softly, before she

  ISLAND FIESTA I 13 could finish the sentence. `So you see it is entirely up to you. I shall not,' he went on grimly, 'expect to have to cover up another lapse such as the one that occurred this afternoon with Carmen. You are now Señora Martel, and in the eyes of the world you are my wife, and will be introduced as such. It will be necessary on certain occasions for you to play the role I have assigned you with a little more feeling than you have so far shown where the affections are concerned. I shall not expect any outward demonstrations, of course, but I shall expect absolute obedience from you. I will not tolerate any further exhibitions of outrage from you either, particularly when in company is that understood ?' he shot out at her harshly.

  Corinne's wide eyes stared back at him. She was still reeling from his threat to ruin Joy's chances of an early start to her career, and found it hard to believe that he would go as far as that simply because Joy's elder sister had a mind of her own. What about Carmen ? Would she agree to drop Joy at her autocratic stepson's instigation ? Corinne's soft lips clamped together. She was sure that Carmen too had a mind of her own, and was not likely to change it; she had been too pleased with her success on recruiting Joy. 'Understood, but certainly not agreed upon,' she replied stiffly, finding it difficult to control her voice, she was so angry. 'As far as Joy's concerned, I doubt if Carmen will oblige you. She did not strike me as the kind of person who would back out of a proposition. Where I'm concerned,' she went on steadily, 'as I said before, you've chosen the wrong woman. You should have married my cousin. She would have loved being ordered around as if she was

  III. ISLAND FIESTA a slave it would have been a new experience for her. It's always been the other way around, you see,' she added dryly. 'I'm the opposite. Normally, I'm a placid person. I hate scenes, or displays of emotion of any kind. So far I have complied with your orders, and providing what you ask of me is what I consider reasonable, I shall continue to comply, but I see no reason why I shouldn't seek some form of suitable employment like Joy.'

  She took a deep breath as she noted the warning signals in his eyes, but continued steadily, 'I've seen that you're a busy man, and surely you wouldn't want me to sit around all day doing nothing. You did say we ought to find out what our likes and dislikes were, didn't you ?' she asked in what she hoped was a reasonable voice. 'Well, I should dislike that very much !' she ended firmly.

  'Now I shall tell you my dislikes !' Juan replied harshly. 'I abhor career women, and most certainly do not intend to allow my wife to become one, so you can put that out of your mind for a start. As for sitting around all day, there are calls you will be expected to make when the news of my marriage is circulated around the island.' He gave her a haughty look. 'Surely there is some pleasurable pursuit you would like to take up?' He gave a nonchalant shrug. `Something in the art line, perhaps ? or tennis ? You will have entree to a number of clubs that cater for such pursuits. Your daytime activities I shall not interfere with, providing you act with decorum and never forget that in the eyes of the world you are my wife. Before very long you will know that you have married a Spaniard, and will adapt yourself to the Spanish way of life.'

  ISLAND FIESTA I I 5

  He surveyed her flushed cheeks and fuming eyes. 'If you had understood this from the beginning, you would have known that Carmen would not go against my wishes. In her eyes I am the head of the family, a family that you now belong to, for better or for worse. The sooner you realise this, the smoother our relationship will be. I shall not,' he continued haughtily, 'make many demands upon you, apart from what I have already outlined.' He then glanced at his watch. 'I suggest now that you go to bed. It has been a long day for you, and you must be tired.'

  Corinne had no intention of being dismissed as if she was a servant. She would go when she had settled this issue once and for all. 'I don't see much chance of a smooth relationship under those conditions,' she got out furiously. 'What about my wishes ?' she demanded. 'I wasn't brought up to be a drone, and that's what you're asking me to become, isn't it ? What right have you to make such demands on me ?' she asked bitterly.

  'The right of a husband,' he replied harshly. 'And you seem to forget that there are other rights I could insist upon if I were so inclined.' He gave her a slow appraisal, and Corinne's cheeks took on a deeper hue as she caught his meaning.

  'I wouldn't advise you to try,' she ground out, hating him for playing with her, for that was what he was doing. If she had been a younger person, no doubt this threat would have worked, and would have sent her scuttling for safety. As it was, she knew very well that he was not in the least interested in her feminine charms in spite of that mocking look in his eye that pretended otherwise. 'That is another of my dislikes,' he said softly.

  I16 ISLAND FIESTA 'Women who throw out challenges and who have no idea of what may be the consequences if accepted. It's an old gambit that I would normally simply ignore, but this is different, isn't it You are challenging my authority, and that I will have to do something about.'

  He gave a grim nod at Corinne's wide and now apprehensive eyes. 'You have no cause to worry at the moment. I said that our association will be a business one and I shall not break my word. There are other ways to achieve your co-operation. Your sister's future, for example. With Carmen's help she will rise to the top of her profession, what Carmen calls a boutique is in fact a salon, and one that is patronised by the wealthy. The boutique side of the business is only a small diversion of hers and of no importance. Make no mistake, though, I shall not hesitate to advise Carmen to seek help elsewhere should you prove unco-operative. I am sure that after you have given this some thought you will see that there is no point in defying my orders.' He looked again at his watch and frowned in disapproval. 'It is time for my last rounds of the day,' he said curtly, `so if you will excuse me,' and he walked to the door.

  'Don't let me detain you,' Corinne got out through clenched teeth. 'I'd hate to spoil your routine !'

  Juan paused as he reached the door and turned back to face her. 'What a wifely observation that was,' he commented tauntingly, 'and don't worry, you won't !' then he left her.

  Corinne glared at the closed door, then abruptly turned and made her way to her bedroom. He had been right when he had said that she was tired, but that was the only thing he had been right about, she

  ISLAND FIESTA I 17 thought furiously as she prepared herself for bed.

  To her dismay, sleep did not come easily to her that night. She kept going over Juan's ultimatum in her mind, trying to find some way out of what looked like being a wretched future, for her anyway, if not for Joy. Juan had gambled on her putting Joy's happiness before her own, and in this he had been right, and Corinne knew it, but she wished desperately that there was some way that she could assert herself and live the way she wanted to live and not be beholden to such a man as Juan Martel.

  The following morning Juan took Corinne and Joy on their first sightseeing tour; Joy, in excited anticipation of a day's outing, and Corinne wondering balefully if he could spare the time !

  The first port of call was the Catalina Market that Carmen had mentioned, which was within walking distance of the hotel.

  With the morning sun warming their shoulders as they joined the throng of tourists wandering around the stalls seeking out bargains to take home as presents, Corinne found her mood lightening. The warmth of the sun and the brilliant blue sky above them gave her no choice but to thrust her troubles away from her, pushing them into the background for later perusal.

  The market area formed a large square that branched off from a line of shops that also catered for the tourists. These included several cafes that traded outside the premises on sectioned-off portions of space where the customers could enjoy whatever beverage they required while taking a breathing space from shopping. Gay parasols over white-painted tables and chairs

  118 ISLAND FIESTA gave the area a continental air that was delightfully unfamiliar to Corinne and Joy. Each cafe had its own individual colour scheme, and further along the row was one that had an open-ended glass-covered roof presumably to protect its patrons from the weather, although the rainfall, normally adequate for the island's needs, was scanty by English standards, Corinne had learned from her study of the island's history.

  The stalls, though numerous, were set apart from each other, and there was ample room to walk from one to the other, noting the various goods for sale and the different prices asked for the same article.

  It was the dress stalls that Joy made a beeline for, remembering Carmen's advice about the materials available, and she would ask Juan the cost of the various articles of clothing on sale and Juan patiently obliged by transforming pesetas into pounds. While these negotiations were going on, Corinne would stand a little away from them feeling embarrassed by Joy's intense concentration on the subject of price. Corinne knew her well enough to know that she was only seeking to establish the true cost of the finished article offered for sale from the dressmaker's angle, but to an outsider it could be interpreted as someone seeking a bargain and wondering if she could afford it.

  The caftans that Carmen had mentioned were well displayed on the next stall visited, and when Corinne heard Juan translate the cost into pounds, she visibly shuddered and wished they could move on quickly to the leather stall a few yards away. She had thought that some of the dresses on sale had been expensive by home standards, but the price of the caftans was

  ISLAND FIESTA 119 extremely high. Admittedly they were beautiful, some with gold thread worked in intricate designs around the high collars and on the full flowing sleeves. The sheen on the one Joy was now examining looked like silk, and very probably was, Corinne thought as she slipped away from the absorbed Joy and made her way to the leather stall, unable to bear the thought that by now Juan must have come to the conclusion that Joy was angling for a present, and might very well oblige, and that would not only embarrass Corinne but Joy as well, who had no such intention in mind.