Redemption of a Fallen Woman Page 0,45

to bring her here.

'Are you all right, Elena?'

'Perfectly.'

'Only you seemed a little uneasy.'

'This is the first time in years that I have voluntarily entered a church,' she replied. 'I have not done so since Badajoz.'

'I'm sorry. I didn't think.'

'It's all right. I'm glad to have the chance to see this. Besides, faith is not a prerequisite for the appreciation of architecture.'

'True.'

Again she wondered if she had shocked him with such an impious remark. However, she did not see disapproval in his face and nor had he rebuked her. Her former betrothed most certainly would have done. He had observed all the outward forms of Christianity but never translated his faith to the earthly plane. The tolerance she saw in Harry had been entirely lacking in Jose.

They strolled on, pausing occasionally to admire the marvellously carved tombs and to look into the small side chapels.

'There seem to be lots of these, don't there?' said Harry after a while.

'About eighty, according to my father.'

'What!' The exclamation drew disapproving glances from those nearest. He lowered his voice. 'How many sins is it possible to commit?'

'It depends whom one asks. My aunts are authorities on the subject of other people's sins.'

'Your aunts are confounded bores. It grieves me to speak harshly of your relations, but in their case I'm willing to make an exception.'

Elena grinned. 'I won't take offence.'

'Indeed I hope not.'

'I feel sure that your family is not boring.'

'Boredom is not a word I associate with the name of Montague. In fact, there's rarely a dull moment.' Harry sighed. 'I dream of dull moments sometimes.'

Elena laughed. 'Be careful what you wish for.'

'Do you fear that the wish may come true, then?'

'I doubt whether I will ever be bored in your company, my lord.'

'I'm flattered - I think.'

Elena gave him a sidelong glance in which mischief and amusement were mingled in equal measure. It was also unwittingly beguiling and, ordinarily, would have met with a fitting response. As it was, he had to remind himself that they were in a church.

It was another hour before they stepped out into the sunshine again. The light seemed dazzling after the relative gloom inside the cathedral. Harry paused and turned to Elena.

'Where to now?' he asked.

She looked around, taking in the various possibilities. Then she pointed to the Giralda. 'Up there.'

A former minaret from the mosque that had once stood on the site of the cathedral, the bell tower took its name from the weathervane on the top.

'I'm game if you are,' he replied. Then, catching the look in her eye, added ruefully, 'All right. That was a stupid comment. I should know better by now.'

Elena grinned and slipped her arm through his. Then they strolled across to the tower. It had no stairs; instead a series of carefully inclined ramps led to the top. At the halfway point they paused for breath.

'Apparently the muezzin used to ride up here,' she said.

'I don't blame him when he had to do this five times a day.'

'Well, I suppose the horse was fit anyway.'

He laughed. 'Yes, I imagine it was. This tower is higher than the one in Babel.'

She reached out and took his hand. 'Come on, not far now.'

Harry groaned in mock despair but allowed himself to be led nevertheless. Her spontaneous gesture had not gone unnoticed; it was the first time that she had made such an overture towards him and it created a strange sensation in his breast. Moreover, her hand felt right in his, as though it belonged there.

They climbed on up the final ramps. By the time they reached the viewing gallery at the top they were breathing hard. However, the views repaid the effort and, since they were alone, they had leisure to admire them undisturbed. Elena leaned on the edge of the parapet, looking out towards the Alcazar.

'I expected Seville to be fine but it is far better than I expected,' she said. 'Does England have sights as fine as this?'

'When we go to London, I'll take you to see Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. They're both impressive in their different ways.'

'I'll look forward to that.'

'Shall you not be sad to leave Spain?'

She turned to face him. 'In some ways, but it is also tied to things I'd like to forget.'

'It was never my intention to return,' he admitted. 'Had it not been for Jamie's demise I might never have done so.'

'You could hardly be blamed for your reluctance when the memories were so painful.'

'Not all of them were painful. I