Stormy Haven by Rosalind Brett Read Free Book Online

know about geology? ”
    “ Very little. Is the public allowed to watch you on the job? ”
    “ An occasional member of the public—if she ’ s well behaved and not too facetious. ”
    “ Thank you, Stephen, ” she said demurely. “ When do you start digging? ”
    “ In a week or two, but there ’ ll be nothing of interest for a long time. ” He shot back his cuff, gave her a swift, hard smile. “ It ’ s nearly one o ’ clock and you ’ ve learned plenty for one morning. Let ’ s get moving. ”

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    At the Miramar one dined in the open air, at a table on the terrace. A band played European music with an Eastern rhythm, fireflies flittered about the vine-clad pillars and bright green parrots winged from branch to branch in the brightly illumined garden. Food and wines were French; the waiters, in soft slippers and wearing puttees over their white trousers, were a blend of several races; and the guests were the most exciting mixture Melanie had ever seen. There were women in Paris gowns and others in floor-length pastel silks and saris; men in white dinner jackets, in khaki drill, in wide-sleeved Chinese coats. Jewels flashed, laughter tinkled and came in masculine gusts.
    Melanie wore pink and white striped silk and a chunky white necklace at her slim throat. She was considerably fortunate to be here at all, for Elfrida had not taken kindly to Ramon ’ s invitation. He had charmed Mrs. Paget as he charmed every woman, had brought her a magnificent bouquet for her room and used much subtle flattery. But there was no varnishing the fact that Melanie was to dine out while Elfrida spent her evening alone at the hotel, which was a condition of things that the older woman could not be expected to tolerate with equanimity. Melanie knew that tomorrow Elfrida would have a bad head and a fiendish temper, but just now it hardly mattered. The night and the music was exotic, and right across the table sat the most handsome and attentive of cavaliers.
    He set aside his fruit plate and leaned forward, “ You are happy, Melanita? ”
    “ Ecstatically. This is a marvelous place. ”
    “ It pleases me very much that I make you happy. ” Melanie had not quite meant that. She would have been happy here with anyone. But as it was Ramon who had brought her she smiled at him and sipped her wine. After all, half the women here envied her escort; all knew him for the fastidious and rich son of the aristocratic senor. Melanie was unaware that her own pale sweetness, the green eyes and silky brown lashes, her slightly reddened lips, were attracting as much comment as the familiar figure of Ramon. He put it into words.
    “ How lovely you are, Melanita. I have never known anyone so flowerlike. ”
    “ Flowers don ’ t eat roast chicken and iced walnuts. ”
    “ Please. I am serious. I know that it is shyness that makes you joke—but, please, not with me. ” His dark face bent nearer, his white teeth shone. “ I want us to talk, to learn each other. Tell me about your life in England. ” That was safely prosaic ground, at any rate, and Melanie didn ’ t mind talking about those dull days because they were over, and her life could never slide back into the rut where adventure was unknown. She was positive of that. It was the school that was unreal now, and the inky-fingered juniors banging out scales.
    “ So you play the piano! ” he exclaimed delightedly. “ But what a pity that ours has spoiled with dampness. In our house at Cadiz we have a fine piano that my sister played before she was married. You would like Cadiz—it is a city that sparkles. How I wish it were near, so that I could take you there to meet my mother. ”
    Ramon had the faculty of steering the drabbest subject into perilous seas. It was really safer to say little and smile a lot. Melanie leaned back, drummed her fingers in time with the music.
    “ Will you dance? ” he said.
    “ I ’ m longing to. ”
    They entered the ballroom, which