38 ISLAND FIESTA

  She gave him a quick nervous glance, and noting the way the shadows around him seemed to highlight his harsh features, she swallowed before saying, 'You're not going to like this.'

  She saw him stiffen and noted the quick flash of fury in his cold eyes. 'I gave my word,' he said haughtily, 'and my word's my bond. The marriage will be annulled at the earliest possible time. Your grandfather was well aware of this possibility,' he gave a thin smile. 'As I believe I mentioned earlier, he was under the mistaken impression that in spite of my dedicated stand against matrimony, we should find that we had a lot in common. Happily for both of us he was so sure of this conviction that he made no stipulation other than that we should marry. Your man can rest assured that as soon as I have your signature on the marriage document you will be free to return home. No other obligation is required of you.'

  'It's not that,' Corinne replied quickly, wanting to get the confession over with before she was exposed to another cold directive as to her failure to come up to the beauty standard likely to attract his fastidious palate in the romantic stakes. 'I'm not Clair Suter at least, I am, but not the Clair Suter you were expecting,' she got out on a rush of words, hardly pausing for breath, and experienced a vast wave of relief as if a load had suddenly been removed from her slim shoulders.

  Hardly daring to look at him, she darted a quick glance up at him to watch his reaction, and it was much as expected. His hooded eyes were fixed on her and if he had appeared cold before, he was positively icy now. 'Would you mind being a little more ex

  ISLAND FIESTA 39 plicit ?' he queried, in a silky voice that made Corinne quake inside.

  'I'm Clair's cousin,' she said, trying to ignore the warning glints in his eyes. 'She broke her ankle, you see, and couldn't come, and rather than disappoint ' she ended the sentence too lamely, and she knew it, but couldn't do anything about it. It was bad enough making the confession without belabouring the point as to why such a deception had been necessary.

  'Rather than lose out on her inheritance, you mean, don't you ?' he queried harshly. 'There's no need to wrap it up, I've got the picture.' His disdainful look swept over Corinne and she felt a flush stain her cheeks; she could guess his thoughts only too well. 'And what do you have to gain by being her accomplice ?' he asked. 'A share in the proceeds ? That would be it, of course. As for you being another Clair Suter, you might give me credit for some intelligence,' he added harshly. 'Were you willing to perjure yourself on that too ?' He gave her a speculating look. 'You could have gone ahead with the marriage on that premise, couldn't you ? What happened? Did your courage fail you at the last moment ?' He stared down at his hands now clenched on the table and Corinne had a feeling he was finding it hard keeping them off her.

  'On second thoughts, no,' he went on, reverting back to the silky tone. 'You had to get further instructions, didn't you ? What a shock you must have given her ! ' He sat back and folded his hands across his chest. 'Well ?' he queried, almost conversationally. 'What instructions did you receive ? I can't quite see her giving up at this stage. She went to a lot of

  40 ISLAND FIESTA trouble to cash in on Gabriel's demise. Will she contest the will, I wonder ? I can quite understand why she baulked at your signing the marriage certificate, particularly if you do happen to bear the same name. She couldn't afford to trust you that far, could she ? So, however improbable it sounds, you could be right about that. However, you must forgive me for not taking your word on this. I presume you have some form of identification on you ?'

  Corinne gave a stiff nod and searched in her handbag for her passport, and finding it, she handed it to him, saying, 'I told you the truth.' She could have added a lot more to this as she was beginning to feel that she had reached the limit of what she was prepared to take from this hateful character. What right had he to condemn Clair ? He was just as interested in Gabriel Mowbray's money as Clair was.

  He took his time in examining the passport, then handed it back to her in cold silence, and refolded his arms across his chest in an action that said more than words, reminding Corinne that there was another question that he had asked regarding Clair's answer to her telephone call, and was still waiting for her reply.

  Corinne forced herself not to lose her temper. She knew she deserved the treatment she was receiving, and would willingly have accepted the medicine had not the man in question been so infuriatingly sure of himself. With anyone else, she might have apologised for her part in the deception, but not to this man, who would only have seen such an apology as a ploy to gain his sympathy, for goodness knows what, she thought crossly. 'Clair said something about marriage by proxy,' she said stiffly. 'She

  ISLAND FIESTA 41 seemed to think it was possible, and that all that was required was a signed letter giving me the authority to act for her

  Juan Martel did not give her time to complete the sentence in which she was about to add her sentiments on the matter, and that she was sure that such an arrangement was a forlorn hope, but that she had tried. 'Did you tell her of the time factor ?' he demanded.

  Corinne gave him a cold look. Like Clair, he was prepared to snatch at any opportunity that offered itself in order to claim his proceeds from the will, even such an unlikely opportunity as marriage by proxy. 'Of course,' she replied, with as much hauteur as she could manage, 'but under the circumstances, I hardly think '

  Again she was interrupted by the forceful Juan who was obviously not interested in her observations. 'What a resourceful woman,' he remarked thoughtfully, 'Gabriel would have been proud of her.'

  Corinne stared at him. He was acting as if such a thing was possible, but it couldn't be ! she thought wildly, she didn't want it to be possible. She wanted this man to lose out, Clair too; neither deserved to win. So she would have to find another home for herself and Joy, but by now she had become quite used to the idea. She was good at housekeeping, and there were always people advertising for such help. She stole a look at the man opposite her and found him studying her as if she were an interesting specimen he had chanced upon. He didn't look as if he had lost out, in fact, he looked immensely pleased with himself, and felt a pang of unease. 'You mean, it is pos

  42 ISLAND FIESTA sible ?' she asked, almost holding her breath for the answer.

  'Oh, yes,' he replied blandly. 'I have no doubt at all that she will do all that has to be done. I could, of course, refuse to accept such an arrangement, but as it happens, it suits me perfectly.' His cold eyes travelled slowly over Corinne as he said this, and she felt a warning flash somewhere at the back of her brain, but immediately dismissed it. She knew she was very strung-up and it was no small wonder after what she had been through that evening. Her apprehension could be attributed entirely to an emotional backlash.

  Clair would make sure that the necessary documents arrived in time, and if they didn't well she had nothing to worry about. She would book the earliest possible flight home. The shores of old England would look like the Taj Mahal in moonlight to the weary Corinne at that moment in time.

  A waiter then hovered beside their table and enquired whether they wanted any refreshment, and Juan looked at Corinne, who was about to refuse, but at his, 'I rather think we have cause to celebrate, don't you ?' was forced to change her mind and asked for a mint julep, although a double brandy would have been more in keeping with events !

  It was amazing, she thought ironically, how relaxed and charming Juan Martel had become now that his hopes had been realised. He must have been really counting on inheriting his partner's share in the business, and she wondered caustically if he were in debt too. Her assessing eyes swept over his immaculate dark suit that fitted him so perfectly, and on to his white silk shirt. He represented a picture

  ISLAND FIESTA 43 of a successful man, but looks could be misleading, she thought sourly, and in this case surely were.

  When the drinks had been served Juan held his glass of brandy up towards her in a salutory action and said, 'Here's to the wedding.' Corinne's hand stayed on her glass and she did not echo his sentiments, but gave what she hoped was an understanding smile only it did not reach her eyes.

  Her refusal to enter into the spirit of celebration obviously piqued the autocratic Juan, who began to ask her a few questions that she would rather not have to reply to. She could not be absolutely sure, but she suspected that this was his way of punishing her for her lack of response to his toast.

  The first was not too hard to deal with. He was curious about the name coincidence of the cousins, and she told him that it was no coincidence, and gave him a short r sum of the family history.

  The next question was the one that she had been dreading. What sort of a job did she have ? and had she given it up on presumption of the reward she would receive for services given ?

  By this time Corinne was convinced that he was punishing her, and her answers were short and very much to the point. She did not embroider on the fact that she had only a part-time job, he could think what he liked about that. As for the reward he thought she was hoping to collect, she told him that it would be adequate for her needs, thank you, and sat back in cold silence waiting for the next question.

  Now that she knew that he was out to rile her, she was able to keep a tight rein on her temper and not give him the satisfaction of piercing through her defences, but his next question threw her out of her

  44 ISLAND FIESTA complacency. 'Why did you agree to do as she asked ?' he queried softly, his narrowed gaze searching her dark blue eyes now opened wide in surprise, and then taking in the bright pink flush that stained her flawless complexion.

  The question stunned her for a second, then she made a swift recovery and gave a casual shrug much as Clair would have done when faced with a problem that she did not feel warranted her attention. 'It seemed a good idea,' she replied, as nonchalantly as she was able. 'Are you in debt ?' he asked suddenly.

  Corinne shook her head emphatically, and her eyes showed her indignation at the question. 'Of course not !' she replied, as if the very idea was unthinkable.

  Her reply seemed to substantiate his thoughts on the matter, and he gave her a piercing look. 'What hold does she have on you then ?' he queried harshly.

  No hold at all ! ' Corinne spat out at him. 'And even if she had, I wouldn't tell you. You've no right to ask such questions !'

  `So it was a kind of blackmail,' he mused thoughtfully.

  `It was not blackmail either,' she got out, hating the way he had cornered her with just a few pointed questions. 'I wanted to help her,' she went on in a low voice, refusing to meet his searching eyes. Then suddenly she was sick of the whole business. She could see his reasoning; he knew quite a lot about Claire, obviously from her grandfather. It was also obvious that he had not been enamoured by her exploits. That he thought her capable of using blackmail to gain Corinne's co-operation came as a slight shock to Corinne. Yet in a way he had not been all that far

  ISLAND FIESTA 45 off the mark; it had been a subtle kind of blackmail that had been used.

  'I she's been very good to me and Joy,' she went on slowly, wanting to get it all over with so that she could be left in peace. 'She provided us with a home. She has a cottage in the country ' She broke off suddenly, as she realised that if she went on Juan would soon know the reason why she had agreed to take her place in Las Palmas.

  'That she threatened to sell,' Juan finished for her, with an accuracy that took Corinne's breath away, and she wondered why she had bothered to try and hide the truth from him.

  The conversation was beginning to get a little out of hand, and Corinne was very tired. She stood up with a determined air. 'If you don't mind, I'm very tired,' she said coldly. 'It's been a long day for me.'

  Juan's expressive brows rose at this, but he stood up immediately. 'My apologies,' he said quietly. Will ten o'clock tomorrow suit you ?'

  Corinne stared at him, then blinked swiftly. He was referring to the marriage, of course. 'But Clair won't have got her authorisation over here as early as that,' she protested. 'Wouldn't it be better to put it off until later ?' she suggested, with a hint of panic in her voice at the very thought of standing next to this forceful man and exchanging the marriage vows even though she was only standing in for Clair.

  Juan Martel gave her a long hard look before he said firmly, 'The registrar is a very busy man, and I have already made the arrangements. I do not envisage any hold-up. I shall collect you at nine-thirty. Please be ready. I have a lot of arrangements to make afterwards.'

  46 ISLAND FIESTA

  The last remark was uttered as a cold directive, and Corinne was again reminded of his forcefulness. She knew there was no point in arguing, it would be like coming up against a stone wall. It would serve him right, she thought furiously, if Clair was unable to get the documentation through in time ! However, she said nothing, but gave a small swift nod in reply before she wished him a stiff-sounding 'Goodnight,' and left the lounge to collect her keys from the hotel desk.

  When she reached her room, she found that her hand was trembling as she fumbled with the key to let herself in, and as soon as she was in the room she locked the door after her.

  On legs that felt like rubber she walked over to the single divan and threw her handbag down on it, then slowly sat down on the bed. Her thoughts were chaotic, but above all was the intense desire to sleep, and she prepared herself for bed.

  It was not until she was under the shower in the bathroom that she remembered what Clair had said about contacting her if her plan was not going to work. Corinne's small teeth clamped on to her lower lip as she toyed with the idea of ringing Clair again, this time from the hotel, as the message would not be quite such a personal one, and giving her the hotel number to ring if things went wrong.

  By the time she had emerged from the shower, however, she had changed her mind. The chances were that Clair was already burning up the wires from Kent to wherever the legal man she had mentioned lived, and would not take kindly to another call from Corinne. It was not as if her message to Las Palmas would be wasted. Juan Martel would be

  ISLAND FIESTA 47 sure to receive any message of that importance, for Corinne was certain he would be staying at Clair's grandfather's house to complete the arrangements that he had spoken of, the funeral arrangements being the first and foremost.

  When Corinne climbed thankfully into the bed, she wondered if Clair would put herself out to attend the funeral, and thought that perhaps she would. She would have to meet her grandfather's partner some time, who would by that time be her husband, even though it was only a business arrangement. There would be a lot they would have to discuss, she thought tiredly as she slipped in between the cool sheets. She wondered too what Clair would make of her newly acquired husband, and gave an ironical smile. Somehow she could not see her being in too much of a hurry to return to England or looking forward to the annulment ! Old Gabriel Mowbray had sized up the situation with a well practised eye. Corinne knew Clair, and now she knew Juan Martel, and they might have been made for each other !

  Corinne did not remember much after her head had touched the pillow, and she slept right through until the morning, when the rays of the sun pierced through a chink in the curtains of the french windows that led out on to a small balcony facing the sea.

  After she had first opened her eyes, it took her a moment or two to get her bearings, and when she had them she sat up in bed with a jerk and reached for her wristwatch on the bedside table with a nasty feeling that she had overslept, and that at any moment she would hear pounding on the bedroom

  48 ISLAND FIESTA door and a furious Juan Martel demanding to know what was keeping her.

  The hands of the watch pointed to eight o'clock, and Corinne sank back in bed with a sigh of relief. She had a full hour and a half before the arrival of the indomitable Juan Martel.

  Corinne got down to breakfast just before eight-thirty, and found herself joining a straggling queue lined up beside a long buffet table that ran the length of the dining room. There was not a waiter in sight, but the loaded table provided an adequate breakfast on continental lines.

  There were soft sweet rolls, or crisp plain rolls beside small dishes that held wrapped butter portions, and small pots of marmalade or various other jams according to taste. A little further up the table were large plates of sliced ham, and wafer-thin processed cheese slices, and what looked like some kind of seasoned sausage slices. Of the traditional eggs and bacon there was no sign, but such fare could have been had, Corinne found, as she progressed down the line and saw someone ring a bell for attention from the kitchen staff and give an order. Corinne, however, was well satisfied with a crisp roll and a pot of marmalade, and pouring herself a cup of coffee from one of the two urns at the end of the line, she carried her tray over to a table near the window that looked out on to the promenade.

  While she ate her breakfast, she watched the other guests come and go. As it was early, there was not a rush for the tables with the best view, and she was left in peace to finish her meal without the necessity of making small conversation. The gay chatter and expectancy of the day ahead

  ISLAND FIESTA 49 proclaimed the other guests to be tourists, and Corinne surmised that she was the only person there on a business trip. The various modes of dress verified this, although she did feel it was going a little too far to appear in one's dressing gown, as an elderly lady wrapped in a long towelled arrangement joined the queue.

  Although the sea had a misty look about it, all the signs promised a warm day, and Corinne, recalling that it was early March and there had been a bitter wind at home, in spite of the small green shoots of the early flowering bulbs cautiously poking out of the hard ground, gave a small sigh. How wonderful it would have been if she had been there on holiday with Joy.

  These thoughts depressed her, and she turned her attention to the other guests again. From what she could hear of the conversations around her, most of them were English, with a smattering of Continentals, for she heard what she thought was German from a couple at the next table to hers, the man very correctly dressed in a blue short-sleeved shirt and tailored shorts, the woman with a pink blouse with a gypsy styled top and wide floral skirt.