CHAPTER TEN

  CORINNE did think about it, and then wished she hadn't. She might be inexperienced, and not very bright when it came to the perplexities of love, but even she could not fail to see the implications behind those taunting last words of Juan's.

  It was even worse to have to acknowledge the truth. It had hurt, but she would never give him the satisfaction of knowing this for certain.

  Her eyes narrowed in thought as she put out her bedside light and settled down to sleep. He could have been referring to her pride, of course. He had enough of that ingredient to be able to recognise it in anyone else. It had been pride alone that had made him react so violently to Miguel's protective action.

  She gave a deep sigh before sleep overcame her. That had been the first lesson, and no doubt there would be others, but from now on she would do exactly what Juan told her to do. She hadn't particularly liked Miguel Blanco, and his instructions on this would cause her no hardship.

  The rest of that week was spent in more sightseeing, although it was plain to see that Joy would rather have been at the salon, and felt that there was plenty of time to take such trips in the future. These thoughts, however, soon dispersed once they were on the tours.

  There were many beauty spots on the island, and panoramic views to hold the attention. On one tour 166

  ISLAND FIESTA 167 to Tejeda they saw a vast crater of volcanic origin, but which was now a deep verdant valley that was farmed by the hardy hill farmers. As Corinne gazed down to the floor of the crater she wondered how, whatever produce was wrested from its depths, it was eventually brought to market, and presumed that it meant a stiff upward climb for the farmers. They would not only have to be fit, she mused, but very strong, and she was about to put this question to Juan when she found him studying her with that enigmatic look in his eye again, and she immediately forgot the question.

  It was not the first time that she had found herself under such scrutiny from him, and try as she might, it was not easy to counteract such individual and personal attention from a man of his stamp.

  Joy's presence considerably helped to lessen the tension she could feel building up inside her at this totally unfair gambit of his to discomfit her, for she could see no other reason why she had suddenly become the focal point of interest for him.

  The following day Juan took them to Agaete by way of a round tour, first visiting Arcus on the northern highway, and following a rather frightening steep incline around the surrounding valleys, they eventually came to a tourist hotel that offered panoramic views for miles around.

  As they stood looking out on to the valleys below, Juan pointed out plantations of bananas, for this was the centre of the banana growing industry of the island, and the industry that had been the main source of income for many years. The growing of tomatoes had soon become a secondary source of

  168 ISLAND FIESTA income, he told them, and now many other products were also exported.

  Their next stop was at a banana plantation at Guia, and Corinne and Joy stood gazing at the tightly packed clumps of greenish bananas, smaller than the ones normally seen at home, for there were many species of banana, Juan told them, but the Canarian variety had a distinct flavour of their own and held pride of place on the selling market.

  In the valley of Agaete they visited a garden of orange trees, with the ripening fruit hanging invitingly close to their hands, and Corinne, remembering that this was the island's winter period, marvelled at the sight. There were coffee beans growing beside avocado trees, whose fruit, the avocado pear, was of special interest to Corinne who always chose it for a starter if it was on the menu.

  That weekend Juan took them to watch the folk dancing in the Pueblo Canario, and as it was Sunday, Carmen joined them. It seemed ages since the girls had seen her, and her company was very welcome.

  The dancers were dressed in traditional costume, the girls wearing long skirts beautifully embroidered at the hems and covered by a brightly coloured type of apron, interwoven with lace. A simple white blouse was worn above the skirt, and each wore a small beret with a porn-porn matching the colour of their aprons.

  The men wore white pleated skirts that irresistibly reminded one of Grecian dress, with wide black cummerbunds around their waists, and white balloon-sleeved shirts. Their black sombreros were not worn, but held in place by a chin strap and slung over the back of their shoulders. Their brightly coloured

  ISLAND FIESTA I69 boleros vied to match the brightness of their partners' aprons.

  Around the dancing area were placed many tables and chairs, so many in fact that only a small square in the middle of the mosaic-tiled courtyard was left for the performers' use. Joy commented on this fact, but was assured by a smiling Carmen that there was ample room for the exhibition.

  The dancers had their own accompaniment of musicians, their instruments, which comprised different sized guitars, giving a melodious backing to the slow but utterly charming steps of the dances performed, and the two-hour entertainment passed incredibly swiftly for Corinne and Joy, who had not only enjoyed the dancing but the folk songs sung while the dancers took a well-earned rest during the intermission.

  After the dancing was finished they wandered through the small shops that displayed items of the island's crafts. Beautifully embroidered blouses and tablecloths were among the numerous goods on sale, and Carmen told them that embroidery was taught at special schools on the island, preserving a craft that had been carried on for centuries, and the young girls were trained to carry on this fine art.

  Carmen stayed with them for the rest of that day, and left after dinner that evening, arranging to pick Joy up the following morning for her first day at work.

  The thought of Joy's absence until just after four each day depressed Corinne, but she said nothing of this to Joy, not wanting to spoil her eager anticipation at actually earning her living doing the one job she had set her heart on.

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  How she would cope on her own, Corinne had no idea. It did occur to her that she might wander down to the salon herself, now that she knew where it was not too often, but it would be somewhere to go. However, on further thought of this possibility, she decided to let well alone. Juan had made a specific point of dissuading her from any such interest, and she would only make trouble for Carmen if she disregarded his wishes. There were the museums, of course, and she supposed she could always fill in some time there, and the cathedral; she had wanted to see the cathedral. She frowned. After these avenues of interest had been exhausted, what other interests could she find to occupy her day ?

  The following day she waved Joy off, smiling at. the excited flurry she had been in to get breakfast over with and not keep Carmen waiting. She did not go down to Reception with Joy, but elected to wave goodbye from the lounge window that looked directly out on to the front of the hotel, and as the car drove off she knew a sense of utter isolation and despondency for the future.

  `And what have you in mind for today ?' Juan's deep voice asked, cutting across her miserable musings as she watched Carmen's car vanish round the bend of the drive.

  Corinne turned to look at him, her wide eyes registering her surprise, for he had never returned this early from the hotel section before, and normally only appeared in time to take lunch with them. 'I hadn't got as far as planning anything,' she replied warily, wondering if he would suggest that she visited one of the museums. `Good ! ' he replied brusquely. `In that case I shall

  ISLAND FIESTA 171 take you to Maspalomas. It's about time I put in a visit. Are you ready ?' he asked, as Corinne just stood there trying to work out why he should take her to Maspalomas. 'You should fetch a head-scarf,' he continued smoothly, 'it can be both windy and hot there.'

  As she went to fetch her head-scarf, Corinne wondered what he would have done if she had made any plans for the day. Disregarded them, she thought ironically, for she had a feeling that he had made up his mind to take her with him, and that would be that.

  Maspalomas had been one of the places that the girls had not visited, but Juan had said dryly that as it was so near, a visit could be made any weekend, and there were frequent buses laid on for the tourists' use. The resort was on the island's southern shore, and its sandy dunes reminded one of the Sahara, but could be extremely uncomfortable in high winds with the fine golden sand lashing all within its path.

  On calmer days the beach was made for sunbathers, and only a few hours of the hot sunshine was needed to produce the evidence of a holiday in the tropics, Juan told Corinne, as he turned off the main highway and took a road leading to a large hotel complex.

  Even though they still had a short distance to go before they reached the complex, Corinne could see that it was a private establishment, for the road led only to the hotel and soon they came to an arched entrance over which was hung a signboard that bore the names, 'Mowbray & Martel,' in gold and black lettering.

  `They're flats, actually,' commented Juan, as they swept through the arched entrance and he casually

  172 ISLAND FIESTA acknowledged the swift salute given him by the uniformed man at the entrance.

  Corinne, looking ahead of her, noticed that the complex was built on a hill overlooking the sea, and further down she saw a swimming pool, not a large one, but one that obviously belonged to one of the flats, and looking a little further to her right, she saw other pools of various designs and patios on which sunbathers were sprawled. This was surely the height of luxury, she thought; not only had the guests private accommodation, but a pool as well, and very probably their own stretch of beach.

  The cost of such accommodation would surely be prohibitive, she mused, and she could now understand why Juan had been anxious to gain full ownership over such a lucrative property.

  She darted a quick glance at Juan as they drew up beside a large building that was the reception area, and she wondered why he had chosen to bring her there, particularly when she recalled his blunt reply to an earlier conversation, that his other business dealings were no concern of hers.

  When Juan stood beside her outside the door of the building, a sudden thought struck her that he might have relented over the question of a job for her, and her spirits lightened at even the glimpse of a hope in this direction.

  They arrived in the plush reception lounge just as a man in a bright red checked shirt and shorts was complaining to the girl behind the desk. His accent proclaimed him to be an American. When I said I wanted my bill, I meant today, not tomorrow. I've a connection to make in an hour's time. If you haven't

  ISLAND FIESTA 173 got it ready in fifteen minutes, you'll have to send it on to me,' he declared testily.

  Juan's brow darkened as he walked forward towards the desk and the receptionist gave him a visible look of relief. 'Mr Reid's account has been held up,' she said to Juan, and the American turned to face Juan. 'Are you the owner ?' he demanded.

  Juan gave him a slow nod of confirmation, and before the man could air his grievance he turned back to the pretty blonde receptionist. 'Have you Mr Reid's booking dates ?' he asked. At the girl's nod, he turned to the guest who was showing definite signs of increasing impatience. apologise for the inconvenience,' he said quietly. We shall charge you only for the accommodation. Make a bill out for Mr Reid, Barbara,' he ordered. Mr Reid blinked in astonishment, then gave a grin.

  'That's mighty handsome of you, sir,' he said genially. must say I've no other complaints, everything was first class !' he added appreciatively.

  Juan accepted the man's thanks with a brusque nod and looked back at Corinne who had hovered in the background during this discussion, and with a slight incline of his dark head indicated that she was to follow him.

  They proceeded through Reception and through a door marked 'Staff. Private' and Corinne found herself in an office full of busy typists and an air of frantic activity.

  As Juan strode on ahead of Corinne, he would incline his head now and again as he received a welcoming smile from one of the staff, and Corinne felt exactly like an Indian squaw as she brought up the

  174 ISLAND FIESTA rear of what was turning out to be an almost regal visitation of the big chief.

  They had now arrived at a door marked 'Accounts', and Juan, followed by Corinne, entered the office.

  The office was remarkably quiet after the noisy clatter of the typists' room, and seemed almost deserted of staff compared with the other office. Almost as soon as the door had closed behind them, it was opened again to admit a slight, harassed-looking man who said in English, 'I've been trying to contact you. Placido should have been back last Wednesday, but he's got delayed by the air-controllers' strike. Even so,' he added apologetically, 'we could have managed, but it looks like being a long dispute, and several business men are cutting short their vacations just in case the disputes spread to other airports. I understand you dealt with one of them just now,' he tacked on with a wry grin, then sobered as he added, 'I'm afraid we shall have to take on some extra help to cover the crisis er I know you prefer to use our own staff, but Rosita is off with an eye infection, and she's the only one I could use, the others are only typists and useless at figure work.'

  Corinne held her breath and willed herself not to rush forward with an offer of help. To do so would only arouse Juan's fury and not help her cause one little bit. So she just stood by as her mind worked out ways and means of persuading Juan to let her help out. It was too good a chance to miss, and she felt that fate was surely on her side, why else should they have arrived at such an opportune moment ?

  Juan gave his reluctant permission for such help to be recruited, adding authoritatively that he would

  ISLAND FIESTA 175 personally interview each applicant. He then introduced Corinne to Mr Blake, adding dryly, that here was a compatriot of hers who hailed originally from Devon.

  Corinne had known that he was English, for although most of the Islanders that she had met spoke English, their intonations proved that it was not their native language. The thought that the accounts manager was an Englishman seemed to seal her assurance that she would be successful in her quest, and her smile was open and friendly as Juan, telling Mr Blake that he would be in his private suite if he needed to contact him for any other query, ushered Corinne to the door.

  As they left the reception building and walked towards a block of flats, Corinne was in a fever of impatience to get wherever they were going so that she could tackle Juan on the subject.

  She scarcely noticed the journey, her mind was too full of the opportunity that had been offered, unwittingly, of course, by the shortage of staff.

  Juan's suite was on the ground floor, and Corinne found herself standing in a cool tiled corridor beside a door for which Juan produced a key, and after unlocking it, he stood aside and indicated that she should precede him into the interior.

  Her first impression of the large luxurious lounge they entered was completely overshadowed by her urgent need to communicate her wish to Juan, and she hardly noticed the furnishings or the roomy proportions, and was about to speak to Juan when he forestalled her by walking across the room towards a small bureau on which stood a telephone, and calling room service, ordered lunch for two.

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  Food was the last thing on Corinne's mind, but she was forced to wait until he had made the call.

  It seemed an age before he replaced the receiver, and without waiting for any more interruptions she moved towards him quickly, not realising how much urgency she revealed in this small movement and making Juan's eyebrows rise slightly.

  'Let me help out in the accounts section, please, Juan,' she pleaded. 'It's the only work I can do.'

  Juan's jaw hardened as he looked down at her, and she knew he was going to refuse her request, but she refused to be beaten and laid a pleading hand on his arm. 'Please, Juan,' she whispered coaxingly.

  The hope in her eyes quickly faded as she saw his face suddenly close up, and he moved sharply away from her so that her touch was removed from his arm, as if the contact repelled him, she thought bewilderedly, and she moved quickly away in the opposite direction and stood gazing with unseeing eyes out of the window.

  A golden sun-drenched beach lay in front of her gaze with a brilliant blue sky above, under which the sun-worshippers lay stretched out in recumbent positions, but Corinne saw none of this. The heat of the tropical sun never reached the arctic regions to where her heart now resided. She could feel the tears gathering at the back of her eyes, but she willed them not to fall.

  'I am hoping your time may be better employed,' Juan said softly. 'Come, I will show you over the suite while we wait for luncheon.'

  Corinne swallowed. He had left her no room to manoeuvre, and no chance to argue out her case. She followed him out of the lounge with legs that had

  ISLAND FIESTA '77 lost their springiness. Better employed, she thought dully, going around museums and taking tea with his friends' wives. She caught her breath sharply; she would hate it ! If things looked bleak before, they looked even worse now. He would never change his mind, and to have been so near to the kind of work she could do and then to find she clenched her hands into small fists.

  'This is the dining room,' commented Juan, apparently unaware of the thoughts going through Corinne's unhappy mind as her bleak eyes swept around the room they were standing in. It was large enough to comfortably seat four persons, but Corinne would not have commented if it had been of banqueting size.

  The next room he led her into was a bedroom with a double bed, and this again barely received a glance from Corinne, who just wanted the tour over with and to get back to the hotel where she could work out what she was going to do about her future. A future that did not include living at a certain hotel and playing a role just to suit Juan Martel !

  There was another smaller room, that could have served as a dressing room or a second bedroom but apparently was used as a makeshift office, judging by the small desk and files stacked up beside it.