Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page B

eyes from his head!’ vowed Maria, and made for the door.
    ‘Silly wench! Fond fool! Stay still!’ Dominica commanded.
    ‘You shall not again stir forth without me to be your duenna, señorita,’ promised Maria.
    Dominica stamped her foot. ‘Oh, blind! I wanted him to kiss me!’
    Maria's jaw dropped. ‘Señorita!’
    Dominica gave a tiny laugh. ‘He swears he will come into Spain to seek me. If he but dared!’
    ‘Not even an Englishman would be fool enough, señorita.’
    ‘Alack, no!’ Dominica sighed. ‘But if he did – oh, I become infected with his madness!’ She lifted the tiny mirror that hung at her girdle, and frowned at her own reflection. A pat here and a twist there, and she had her curls demure again under the net. She let fall the mirror, blushed to see Maria still wondering at her, and was off to visit her father.
    She found Joshua Dimmock in the cabin, vociferous in defence of his gallow's chips, which he believed, privately, might serve at least to stave off Don Manuel's death until he was set safe ashore.
    Don Manuel looked wearily at his daughter. ‘Is there none to rid me of this fool?’ he said.
    Joshua tried the effect of coaxing. ‘See, señor, I have them safe tied in a sachet. I bought them of a very holy man, versed in these matters. If you would but wear them about your neck I might vouch for a certain cure.’
    ‘Bartolomeo, set wide that door,’ commanded Don Manuel. ‘Now, fellow, depart from me!’
    ‘Most gracious señor –’
    Bartolomeo fell back from the open doorway, bowing. A voice that to Dominica's fancy seemed to hold all the sunshine and the salt wind of fine days at sea smote her ears. ‘What's this?’
    Sir Nicholas stood on the threshold.
    Don Manuel raised himself on his elbow. ‘Señor, in good time! Rid me of your knave there, and his damnable chips from a gallows!’
    Beauvallet came quickly in, saw Joshua standing aggrieved by the side of the bunk, and caught him by the nape of the neck, and with no more ado hurled him forth. He kicked the door to behind him, and stood looking down at Don Manuel. ‘Is there aught else I may do for you, señor? You have but to name it.’
    Don Manuel lay back against the pillows and smiled wrily. ‘You are short in your dealings, señor.’
    ‘But to the point, you’ll allow. I am come to see how you do this morning. The fever still hath you in its hold?’
    ‘A little.’ Don Manuel frowned a warning. Beauvallet turned his head to observe the reason of this. Dominica was standing stiffly by the table.
    It seemed this abominable man must be everywhere at once. One's own cabin was the only safe retreat. She moved stately to the door. Bartolomeo went to open it, but was put aside by a careless hand. Sir Nicholas held the door wide, and my lady went out with a quickened step.
    ‘You, too, Bartolomeo,’ Don Manuel said, and lay watching Beauvallet. He fetched a stifled sigh. This handsome man with his springing step and alert carriage seemed to the sick gentle man the very embodiment of life and health.
    Beauvallet came to the bunk, and pulled a joint-stool forward, and sat down upon it. ‘You want to speak with me, señor?’
    ‘I want to speak with you.’ Don Manuel plucked at the sheet that covered him. ‘Señor, since first you brought us aboard this ship you have not again spoken of our disposal.’
    Beauvallet raised his brows quickly. ‘I thought I had made my self plain, señor. I shall set you ashore on the northern coast of Spain.’
    Don Manuel tried to read the face before him; the blue eyes looked straightly; under the neat mustachio the mouth was firm and humorous. If Beauvallet had secrets he hid them well under a frank exterior. ‘Am I to believe you serious, señor?’
    ‘Never more so, upon my honour. Wherefore all this pother over a very simple matter?’
    ‘Is it, then, so simple to put into a Spanish port, señor?’
    ‘To say truth, señor, your countrymen have not yet learned the trick