Redemption of a Fallen Woman Page 0,68

In the centre of the room was a long trestle table with benches on either side. The wooden floor was covered with a layer of straw. Two small windows looked out on to a fenced yard where chickens scratched. A pig pen stood in one corner and, a few yards distant, a privy.

The other occupants of the dining room glanced up as the newcomers entered, eyed them curiously for a moment and then turned their attention back to their food. The four took their places at the end of the table. A manservant appeared with horn cups and wooden spoons. Presently the soup arrived in a large tureen, and was accompanied by a loaf and a jug of rough red wine. In fact, the soup was good and, with the bread as well, surprisingly filling. They ate hungrily. Outside it began to rain.

Once the food was finished they lingered over the wine and talked quietly. Harry contributed little to the conversation; his thoughts turned inward. Although he was glad that they had at least found shelter for the night, the primitive surroundings made him feel even more determined that, after this trip, he was going to remove Elena to her rightful sphere. When he reflected on the conditions she had endured in the course of their short married life he was ashamed. Elena never complained and said she didn't mind it, but he did. As time went on he found that he minded more and more. He glanced round the room with distaste. Bringing her to such a place was like throwing a diamond into mud. If his family could see this they'd take him to task and no mistake. Furthermore, they'd be right.

He glanced at the woman beside him. In spite of the surroundings, Elena looked quite relaxed, chatting easily with Jack and Concha. Her profile was towards him, its sculpted lines and soft hollows framed by stray curls of dark hair. His imagination stripped away the rough, travel-stained garments and replaced them with the silk jacquard gown. It was a beguiling mental image and resurrected a host of other sensations.

It seemed he wasn't alone in thinking his wife an agreeable sight. He intercepted several covert glances her way. One, bolder than the rest, stared at her in open admiration. Harry's jaw tightened. Shifting position a little he casually pushed aside the front edge of his coat and let his hand come to rest on the butt of his pistol. Then he fixed the admirer with a steely gaze. The other man looked quickly away.

In spite of the surroundings Elena felt relaxed and content. She had shelter, food and the company she would most have sought. Just then she wouldn't have exchanged her lot for anything. She glanced at Harry and saw him smile. He hadn't said much this evening but, now that they were so close to Cadiz, perhaps his mind was on other things.

Eventually, as the hour advanced, the other occupants of the room began to leave. One or two went out the back way, the others heading for the dormitory.

'We may as well follow suit,' said Harry then. 'We've another long day ahead of us tomorrow.'

Jack nodded. 'True enough, my lord.'

Concha caught Elena's eye and then glanced in the general direction of the privy. Elena nodded and the two women rose.

Elena looked at Harry. 'Would you excuse us?'

She and Concha headed for the door. A glance outside revealed that it was still raining. Elena looked at her companion.

'Go on. I'll wait.'

'Thank you.'

Concha sprinted across the yard and entered the privy. Elena watched the rain and felt glad that they weren't going to be sleeping out of doors that night. Even a communal dormitory was better than that. Of course Harry might well disagree. Recalling his reaction she smiled to herself. For a little while back there the tolerant easygoing Englishman had sounded very like a jealous husband. Nevertheless, it was not displeasing.

She was drawn abruptly out of thought by the sound of Concha's voice.

'Get out of my way, clod.'

Roused from her reverie Elena looked across the yard in surprise. Then she frowned to see Concha confronting a stranger. The man had his back to her but his intention was clear enough since, each time Concha tried to step past him, he blocked the way.

'Come now, don't be like that. We could have some fun together.'

The reply was a ringing slap. The man clutched his cheek.

'You'll pay for that, you little slut.'

Seizing the front of Concha's jacket