Mask Of Scars. Anne Mather

wetly from her fingers. ‘I would have come with you.’

      Christina smiled. ‘I didn’t think your mother would approve!’ she taunted him.

      ‘I approve—and that is what counts,’ he murmured insistently, and she laughed and went up to her room.

      Later in the morning, Sheila sent her to the market to buy some fresh fruit. Clad in her poplin dress, her still damp hair secured with an elastic band, a basket on her arm, she felt she mingled well with the other Portuguese women there, but she was unaware that her golden colouring could not help but distinguish her from the crowd.

      She was considering the price of melons when there was a murmur about her, and she looked round in surprise, wondering what had disturbed everyone. A tall man was making his way between the stalls coming in her direction, nodding and giving an occasional smile to the people he passed. The women in the crowd drew back respectfully, pulling their children out of his path so that Christina was reminded of peasants in the presence of royalty. But it was the man himself who imprisoned her attention, a lean, dark man, dressed immaculately in a navy silk suit with a matching navy shirt and tie. And as he neared Christina her stomach muscles tightened as she saw again the livid scar on his tanned cheek.

      She lifted her startled eyes and met his curiously light ones, and as her nerves tingled she noticed the length and thickness of his lashes. He had recognised her, she knew, and she turned to the stallholder with almost desperate urgency, asking the price of the melons.

      ‘Momento, menina,’ he exclaimed, almost scandalised that she should expect him to serve her when obviously someone of importance was approaching.

      Christina turned away, pushing through the throng carelessly, only wanting to avoid a further encounter. But her pursuer had the advantage, she soon found, for his way was made clear for him while she had to force a pathway.

      ‘Menina!’ The curt tone of his voice halted her, and she was intensely conscious of the curious speculation around her.

      Sighing, she turned slowly to face him, and he inclined his head in satisfaction. But he said nothing, merely passed her and indicated that she should follow him.

      Unwillingly Christina complied, for she had the distinct feeling that had she attempted to disobey him these people would have forcibly made her do exactly as he had indicated.

      Outside the throng of humanity, he halted and now she could see the black limousine parked in the square, Alfredo Seguin at the wheel. He must have noticed her eyes move past him to the automobile, for a cynical expression invaded his eyes. She could see his eyes clearly now, and they were a most peculiar tawny colour, sometimes palest amber, sometimes almost yellow around the irises.

      ‘So we meet again, menina,’ he observed, his accent more pronounced than she remembered.

       CHAPTER THREE

      CHRISTINA held the basket almost defensively in front of her, both hands gripping the handle tightly. ‘Yes, senhor!’ she responded automatically, more calmly than she felt. All of a sudden she could feel the panic which had assailed her the other evening on the beach when confronted by his almost sinister attraction, and she wondered what it was about him that disturbed her so. His dark clothes fitted him so well, while she was intensely conscious of the faded cotton of her dress and the shortness of its skirt.

      ‘And now you know who I am, do you not?’ he continued, glancing round meaningfully towards his sleek limousine.

      Christina made an indifferent gesture. ‘I suppose you must be Dom Carlos Ramirez,’ she conceded reluctantly.