Corinne's cream sleeveless dress did not look at all out of place in such a gathering, but it did occur to her that the autocratic Juan Martel might not think the dress at all suitable for the occasion, and that perhaps she ought to change into the blue and white suit that she had brought with her. It would certainly be more in keeping with the proposed wedding arrangements, although she would personally have preferred to wear a dress that she felt more comfortable in.

  50 ISLAND FIESTA

  It was shortly before nine when she went back to her room to change into the suit. She slipped off the dress and put on the skirt of the suit, which was cut plain and straight, and then put on the white tie-neck blouse, wondering whether to make a bow of the tie or leave it folded over. After trying out the bow effect, she decided that she did not like it that way. It looked a little too frivolous for her liking, and she undid the bow and left it folded over. The jacket was the box style and fitted snugly to her slim figure. It had white piping on the edge of the sleeves and on the imitation pockets.

  Her high-heeled navy blue court shoes completed the ensemble, and she stood back to survey the finished result, then gave a swift nod of approval, and then a slight smile, for it was fitting that she should wear one of Clair's cast-offs for the occasion.

  The girls were the same size, and whenever Clair had become tired of a particular article of clothing she would pass it on to Corinne. As Corinne's taste was of a much simpler nature than Clair's, this was not always appreciated by Corinne, but she would endeavour to look suitably grateful and then thrust it away at the back of her wardrobe.

  This suit, however, had been an exception, it had been too plain for Clair, and she had passed it on to Corinne with the remark that she couldn't think what possessed her to buy it. It had been Clair who had suggested that she take the suit with her. She had kept a wary eye on Corinne's packing, aware of the fact that Corinne was her representative.

  A glance at her watch told her that she had only ten minutes to await the arrival of Juan Martel, and she decided to go down to the lounge to wait for him.

  ISLAND FIESTA 51 It was only as she was leaving her room that the thought occurred to her that she did not possess a hat, and she stood frowning in the middle of her room wondering whether it was permissible to remain bareheaded. With a sigh of exasperation she turned back to her suitcase and searched for a blue and white polka-dot scarf that she had brought with her, and hastily tied it round her hair, bandeau-style. It was the best she could do under the circumstances, she thought crossly. She had not expected to find herself standing in for a bride.

  It was clear from the swift appreciative look that she received from Juan Martel on his arrival that her appearance pleased him, although he made no comment.

  His own apparel was fully in keeping with the proceedings and Corinne noted the way several female heads were turned in his direction as he entered the hotel, for she had waited for him in the hotel lobby. His well-cut dark grey pinstripe suit sat snugly on his broad shoulders, and his silk shirt with the pearl grey tie would not have looked out of place at Ascot on Ladies' Day. All that was missing was the top hat worn by the sporting gentlemen on such an occasion, Corinne thought, as she watched him approach.

  As he escorted her to his car, drawn up as before around the corner from the hotel, Corinne found herself thinking how Clair would have hated missing out on this stage of the proceedings.

  When the car's engine purred into life, Corinne darted a swift look at the silent man beside her and asked, 'Any word from Clair ?' which was a stupid thing to ask, she thought afterwards, because if Clair had contacted him she would not be on the way to

  52 ISLAND FIESTA the registrar, and she was not surprised when he did not deign to answer but just lifted those expressive dark brows of his.

  The ceremony was conducted in Spanish, and after a few forceful prompts from Juan, Corinne gave the appropriate replies. It was all over in what seemed a matter of minutes, and Corinne felt better about the whole thing. She had never attended a register office wedding before, but she had heard of how quick the ceremony was, and how hard it had been for the participants to actually realise that they were indeed married.

  When she had placed her signature on the record, and received a hearty handshake from the small genial registrar, she breathed out a sigh of relief. She had done all that had been required of her and she was now free to go home, and hoped she would not have to wait too long for a flight.

  Her mind was concentrating on such mundane things as buying a small present for Joy, and she supposed she ought to get Clair something too, when Juan, escorting her out of the register office, suggested that they took an early lunch as they had a lot to get through that day.

  Corinne's surprised look rested on Juan, and she thought it was kind of him to want to take her to lunch, but surely he would want to get on and not be encumbered by her presence ? She voiced these thoughts as tactfully as possible, ending with, 'I can get a snack back at the hotel.'

  Juan gave her a small hard smile. 'We've a lot to talk about, and arrangements to make. I have asked Maria to have lunch waiting for us on our return.' Corinne frowned at this. He was taking a lot for

  ISLAND FIESTA 53 granted, she thought, as she allowed herself to be taken back to his car.

  On the way back to Gabriel's house, Corinne tried to work out what he had meant by their having a lot to talk about, and when the answer came she chided herself for her stupidity. He would want to explain the intricacies of the partnership to her so that she could report back to Clair also the amount which Clair would be inheriting. Clair would have been furious with her if she had not verified this most important aspect of the will for her.

  Clair ought to have made the effort to come over, she thought crossly, and then she remembered the funeral. 'I'm sure Clair will try to come for the funeral,' she said quickly, then added lamely, 'If she can get a flight, that is,' and stole a swift glance at the cold handsome profile of the man beside her, who appeared to be not the least interested in his new bride's future plans.

  Corinne looked away and studied the teeming traffic around them. Well, of course he couldn't be expected to be, she thought soberly. He had said that he had no interest in her apart from wanting her cooperation in fulfilling the terms of Gabriel Mowbray's will.

  'The journey did not take long, and soon they were drawing up outside the double doors of the garage.

  While Juan garaged the car Corinne waited outside the garage. It did occur to her that he could have left the car outside the house as she did not anticipate staying long after the proposed lunch, during which she presumed he would outline the main points of the will to her. They were admitted by the same dour-looking

  54 ISLAND FIESTA woman whose expression lightened considerably on sight of Juan Martel, and she answered the questions he asked of her with an almost eager attempt to please.

  Corinne could not understand what had been said, and even if she had had a spattering of Spanish she would not have been able to follow the conversation, they had spoken so rapidly.

  Juan then led her to a cool, spacious dining-room, and Corinne saw that the table was laid ready for lunch with an assortment of food temptingly laid out on the white damask cloth. Great care had been taken to provide the meal, and Corinne felt very embarrassed as her gaze took in the plates of delicious-looking pastries, a dish of huge prawns, and several other dishes to tempt the appetite. If Maria, as Juan had called the housekeeper, had known of the impromptu wedding, she could not have provided better fare for the wedding breakfast, she thought confusedly, and wondered how much Maria did know.

  As soon as they were seated, Maria bustled in carrying a large silver tray with matching coffee jug and delicately engraved cups and saucers, which she placed on a large ornamental sideboard that gleamed with countless polishings. Then she turned and nodded to Corinne in a way that suggested that she was pleased to be of service to her, and left the dining room.

  Now that she was completely alone with the man who had just married Clair, Corinne's embarrassment was heightened, and this annoyed her. She reminded herself that she had no need to feel embarrassed. As distasteful as the whole thing was, it was a business

  ISLAND FIESTA 55 arrangement, and she was only a go-between being treated to lunch at the management's expense. Therefore she ought to at least enjoy it, she argued silently with herself. She felt much better after this, and when Juan offered her the dish of prawns she realised that she was hungry 'after all, and began to enjoy the lunch.

  When no mention of business had been made by the time they reached the coffee stage, Corinne wondered when Juan would broach the subject, and presumed that he was waiting until lunch was over.

  As she accepted the coffee that he had just poured out for her, she felt a pang of regret that this pleasant interlude would soon be over. Under Juan's skilful handling she had lost all trace of embarrassment. He had kept her well entertained during lunch on the various aspects of running a luxury hotel. There was no such thing as an off-season, and the hotel was fully booked all the year round owing to the pleasant Canarian climate, and Corinne was reminded of the earlier names given to the islands by the seafarers of old, such as 'the Fortunate Islands' or 'the Blessed Islands'.

  Until that morning Corinne had only seen one side of Juan Martel; now she was seeing another, a charming and exceedingly attractive side of the man who had been Gabriel Mowbray's partner. It was perhaps as well for Corinne that she was fully aware of the danger of losing her heart to this undeniably handsome man, whose very knowing grey eyes could hold either a challenge or a chilling rebuke without a word being spoken.

  It was also as well that she was aware of the determination that lay behind that lazy smile of his to get

  56 ISLAND FIESTA what he wanted out of life, and she pitied any woman unlucky enough to get embroiled with him. Her first thought that he and Clair were well matched had undergone a slight reversal. As experienced as Clair was in the game of flirtation, successfully managing to keep at least three suitors on her bow, Corinne knew with certainty that this man Juan Martel would have no such dealings with her, and Clair would be heading for trouble if she attempted to encroach on their relationship.

  Her brooding dark blue eyes rested on the cool tiles of the dining room floor on this thought. Clair had shied at marriage, as Juan had. There simply hadn't been a good enough offer for her to contemplate giving up her very full social life, but she had never met a man like Juan Martel, she thought ironically. Now that he owned the business that he had once been a partner in, he must surely be a very wealthy man. Her brooding eyes left the flooring and rested on the man opposite her, who appeared to be engrossed with his own thoughts as he stared down into the coffee cup he held in his lean strong fingers.

  There was no doubt in Corinne's mind that once Clair had met Juan Martel she would think she had won the jackpot ! Had the man been any other man than the sophisticated, experienced Juan Martel, Corinne would have found it in her heart to feel very sorry for him, for Clair would have gone in with guns blazing and an arsenal of feminine wiles to back her. She still would, Corinne thought dryly, only this time it would be Clair who had all Corinne's sympathy. It would be a battle that she would lose hands down. 6

  ISLAND FIESTA 57

  Corinne pulled herself up at this thought. Now why should she be so certain of that ? Clair had the looks, and goodness knows, all the tactics to ensure victory. Her glance rested on Juan Martel's strong jaw. He was human, wasn't he ? Then why should she think that he would not accept the loaded bait Clair would be sure to throw his way ?

  As if her thoughts had reached through to Juan, he looked up at her suddenly and for a moment in time her questing dark blue eyes met his enigmatic grey ones, and she looked swiftly away. She had the answer; this man's heart would never rule his head. There would be no dalliance where he was concerned. She recalled his look of hauteur when reminding her that the marriage would be a business arrangement only. She knew with certainty that he had his own rules of conduct, and that Clair had fallen far short of his strict code.

  Corinne took another sip of her coffee, and watched Juan finish his. Any moment now he would explain the terms of the will to her, she thought, as she shook her head in answer to his enquiry of whether she wanted a refill, and her eyes followed his tall figure as he walked over to the sideboard to replenish his cup.

  He would play with Clair, she thought, reverting to her earlier musings, as a cat plays with a mouse, but that was as far as it would go. He would enjoy leading her on. She gave an involuntary shiver. He could be cruel, she was sure of that too. He had made no secret of the fact that he despised Clair for her mercenary attitude towards her grandfather, and the way she had not shown an interest in him until his

  58 ISLAND FIESTA imminent demise, so he would have no compassion where she was concerned.

  At this point Corinne found herself hoping Clair would not get a flight out in time for the funeral. It was all very well to say that Clair deserved such treatment, she had hurt many men in much the same way, but Corinne did feel a certain responsibility towards her. When she got back, she decided, she would turn the charming and almost irresistible Juan Martel into a thoroughly disagreeable character slightly balding, and stout to boot, thus quelling any interest Clair might show towards her unknown husband!

  The sharp shrill sound of a bell broke off Corinne's musings, and she glanced towards Juan. 'The doorbell,' he explained dryly. 'Maria will see to it.'

  A moment later Maria entered the dining room holding a cablegram in her hand which she gave to Corinne, and Corinne, wondering what Clair wanted to know now, because it must have come from Clair no one else would contact her in Las Palmas asked to be excused as she opened the envelope and read the contents.

  After she had read the message, she blinked and reread it again as if her eyes had deceived her, then with a hand that slightly shook she passed the cablegram over to Juan, receiving another shock by the way he barely glanced at it, as if he knew precisely what the message said.

  It seemed to Corinne that time had stood still while she grappled with the bald fact that Clair had failed to get the necessary documents over to her in time. Her desperate-sounding 'Try and see if my verbal agreement is good enough for Mr Martel,' had

  ISLAND FIESTA 59 come a little late, she thought bleakly. She then saw that Maria was still in the room, obviously waiting to see if there was an answer to the cablegram, and she shook her head at her. 'No reply,' she said, through stiff lips, and as soon as Maria had left she turned towards Juan Martel, bracing herself for the fury that she was sure would be released upon her now that they were alone.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  WHILE Corinne waited for the storm to break over her, she glanced at Juan Martel out of the corner of her eye, and saw that he did not look a bit put out. In fact, he had a bland look about him that made her wonder if he was suffering from the effects of shock and had temporarily lost his vocabulary.

  She swallowed. It would be nice if he stayed that way until she was en route for home and safety, but she doubted if she was going to have that much luck.

  As the silence around them lengthened Corinne, thinking someone ought to say something, began with, 'Apparently there's been a ghastly mistake made. I thought you had Clair's written authority, and you obviously thought that I had it,' she ended lamely, and swallowed again.

  Juan did not reply, but continued to study her in that calm but watchful way of his, like a volcano about to erupt, she thought shakily. 'I suppose neither of you will inherit now,' she went on despondently, realising a little too late that she was hardly helping

  6o ISLAND FIESTA matters by bringing that up now.

  `The terms of the will have been adequately fulfilled,' he replied quietly, breaking his silence at last, but his eyes were still watchful as they met Corinne's surprised ones.

  `You mean it's all right ?' Corinne exclaimed, feeling a surge of relief flow over her.

  'I married a Clair Suter,' he replied carefully, 'that was all that was required of me.' He gave an odd cynical smile before adding softly, 'Gabriel would have heartily endorsed my action.'

  Corinne thought that this was an extremely odd remark to make, but she was too relieved to work out the significance of it. Clair was going to inherit her grandfather's estate after all, and she and Joy would be able to stay on at the cottage.

  `How long will it take you to see to things your end ?' he shot out at her suddenly.

  Corinne came out of her happy musings with a puzzled frown, not quite getting the question; to report back to Clair, he meant, she thought, when she had put her mind to the question. 'As soon as I can get a flight,' she replied quickly. 'I suppose you'll want to see Clair eventually, won't you ?' she asked happily.

  'I ought to have said how long will you need to make the arrangements to bring your child back with you ?' he said quietly, but very distinctly.

  For the second time that morning, Corinne's world rocked under her feet and she stared at Juan. 'I beg your pardon ?' she said in a faint voice. As she had earlier doubted the evidence of her eyes, she now doubted the evidence of her ears. Juan gave her a small tight smile, and with studied

  ISLAND FIESTA 6i deliberation produced a form out of his inner jacket pocket and tapped an elegant forefinger on the form. 'This is the marriage certificate. You are now my wife. I see nothing unusual in requesting your presence at my home forthwith. I do understand that you will need time to make certain necessary arrangements before you can join me, and I'm hoping that there will be no hold-ups in the procedure,' he added, in what sounded like a warning note to the stunned Corinne.