Marianna by Nancy Buckingham Read Free Book Online

accept the offer of my hand in marriage. Now that won’t be so very difficult, will it?’
    He waited expectantly, but to Marianna’s profound dismay she found that she could not utter a single word. As the silence extended, Mr Penfold’s smiling expression changed to a frowning one. His eyes still twinkled, though, and she could tell that he was only pretending to be cross.
    ‘Dear me, this won’t do at all!’ He reached out for her hand and drew her closer to him. ‘I see that I must instruct you on how to make a pretty little speech. It is quite like the schoolroom, is it not? Now, say after me ...’
    As if mesmerized, Marianna repeated the words he dictated, to the effect that she felt honoured to receive his proposal of marriage, which she was proud and happy to accept. When she had done, Mr Penfold nodded in satisfaction.
    ‘Now then, come and sit on my knee, dearest one,’ He saw Marianna’s reluctance and added with a flicker of irritation, ‘Don’t be silly, it’s perfectly proper now that we are betrothed. You must always do as I tell you, child. I expect instant obedience or I shall not be pleased with you. Do you understand?’
    ‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘I... I understand.’
    Marianna nodded dumbly, but he would not leave it there.
    ‘Speak up, child. I asked if you understood me.
    ‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘I…I understand.’
    ‘Excellent,’ he chuckled. ‘You look like a little girl who expects to be thoroughly spanked for being naughty. But you need have no fear of that from me, you know, so long as you are good.’
     

Chapter 3
     
    Marianna kept as utterly still as the tiny brown lizard sunning itself on the warm rock beside her. Hidden by a clump of prickly pear, she watched Jacinto striding down the narrow path with a large funnel-shaped basket on his shoulders, filled with bananas, she guessed, or some early custard apples.
    He had been avoiding her, that was painfully clear. She had been back at the quinta for more than a day now and had spent most of her time on the lookout for Jacinto. But in vain. This was her very first chance of waylaying him for a talk, and she did not intend to reveal her presence too soon and give him any opportunity to escape. Marianna waited until he was less than twenty paces away before stepping out from concealment. Jacinto halted and seemed about to turn and retreat. Then, with an air of sturdy indifference, he continued down the path.
    ‘Hallo, Jacinto.’ Her palms felt suddenly damp and she wiped them on the skirt of her blue dress.
    ‘Hallo.’ It was hardly more than a grunt. He would have walked right past her, Marianna thought, had she not been blocking the narrow path.
    ‘I wanted to see you before I leave Madeira,’ she said. ‘To say goodbye.’
    Jacinto did not speak for a moment, his dark eyes searching her face with sullen intensity. Then he burst out, ‘Why are you doing this?’
    Marianna gave a casual lift of her shoulders. ‘Doing what?’
    ‘You know what! Marrying that man.’
    ‘Why should I not, pray? And you have no right to refer to Mr Penfold as “that man”. It’s disrespectful.’
    ‘Oh, I beg your gracious pardon, Dona Marianna. I should have said His Excellency the Great and Noble English senhor. There, does that satisfy you?’
    ‘Now you’re being silly. But it’s no business of yours, Jacinto, whom I decide to marry.’
    ‘Then kindly let me pass. Unlike you, I have much work to do. I’ve been in trouble enough with my father for neglecting my tasks because of you.’
    ‘Because of yourself, you mean,’ flashed Marianna, staying right where she was. ‘You and your boring lessons.’
    Jacinto opened his mouth for an equally rude retort, but choked back the words. After a moment, he said, ‘That Senhor Penfold is too old for you, Marianna. And besides, you are too young to wed at all.’
    ‘I shall be sixteen on my wedding day. Your sister will be much younger than that when she gets