Redemption of a Fallen Woman Page 0,66

that. Elena knew full well that Harry could have used force that night in Seville. It was his right yet he had not done it. I won't hurt you. Those words were more than an idle promise; he had meant them. He had offered her a glimpse of something extraordinary and unexpected and she had turned back from that threshold because she hadn't trusted him. The knowledge did nothing to mitigate shame.

'This is such a mess and now I don't know what to do about it.'

'Do you care for him?' asked Concha.

'Yes.'

'Then you must show him that you do.'

'I don't know how.'

'Follow your instinct. It will guide you more surely than words ever could.'

Elena thought hard about that as they rode along. She had no skill in the art of flirtation; the past four years had been spent keeping men at bay and she had become good at it. If she tried such feminine wiles with Harry might he not take it as mere teasing? In the light of recent events he could hardly do other and it likely wouldn't go down well at this juncture. If she were to lead him on and lose her nerve again it would be disastrous. She had already hurt him and didn't ever want to do it again. Some feminine instinct would have been mighty useful, but hers seemed to be non-existent.

Over the next few days their relationship returned to a more level footing but he made no attempt to renew his attentions to her. When they spoke it was as friends and usually on practical matters. Sometimes she would catch him watching her but his expression was always unreadable. Was he regretting their marriage now? What would happen when they got to England? A man like Harry would never lack for female attention. The fear returned that if he did not get affection and warmth from his wife he would find it elsewhere. Plenty of marriages were matters of convenience only where the couple observed the outward forms while they conducted private affairs. The idea was chilling. Dolores and her husband did not live like that; they were happy together and proud of their young family. Elena had never considered having children before but now the idea was oddly appealing. Of course, that presupposed other things... Out of nowhere came the recollection of Harry's kisses, of his hands caressing her naked skin, and a pool of warmth formed in the centre of her pelvis.

'A penny for them.'

A familiar voice jerked her back to reality and she realised that he had brought his horse alongside unnoticed. A rosy flush dyed her cheeks. 'Oh, er, I...I was just thinking about my sister in England.'

He registered her heightened colour with quiet appreciation and wondered what had occasioned it. Aloud he said, 'You must be looking forward to seeing her again.'

'Yes, I am.'

'Well, there is no reason why we should not visit her in Hertfordshire. It's on the way to Castonbury.'

'I have yet to meet my nieces and nephew. Indeed, at one time, I did not think that I ever would.' She smiled reflectively. 'It is hard to live so far from the people one loves.'

'You will have much to tell each other.'

'Yes.' His words were an understatement if ever she had heard one. 'And with any luck you will have much to tell your family.'

'I am more hopeful than I was.'

'Perhaps this coming talk with Sanchez will provide a kind of closure.'

'I think it may. Ordinarily a funeral would do that, as with my younger brother, Edward.'

'A grave leaves no room for doubt, does it?'

'That's well put.'

'I saw the rioters shoot my father but it wasn't until I stood beside his grave that my heart knew he was really gone.'

He returned a wry smile. 'I know what you mean. It's the last point of reference, isn't it? We were able to mourn Edward. My father still does. Jamie has no grave - who knows where his remains may be? All we have of him are memories.'

'And his son.'

'Yes, his son.'

'Surely the family will love the child to honour the memory of his father.'

When he thought back to his former conversation with Ross, Harry felt a twinge of guilt. The best he could say was that the family were keeping an open mind, but love was not the foremost word he'd have used to describe their reaction to learning of the child's existence. Fortunately the boy was too young to notice such things, but as he