Lord Of Zaracus

She swung round. ‘You may what!’

‘I’m sure you heard every word I said, Carolyn.’

‘But why? Dad, honestly, isn’t this getting a bit ridiculous? I mean, all right, I was rude, but heavens, the conditions are primitive. All right, I shouldn’t have said what I did, and if it makes you any happier, I’ll apologise to your Don Carlos—–’

‘That you most certainly will do, whatever happens,’ ground out her father. ‘It appears to me, Carolyn, that the freedom and lack of authority you have experienced in London have changed you from a decent, thoughtful child, into a sharp-tongued young woman, without much thought for anyone but herself.’

‘Dad!’ Carolyn sounded hurt.

‘Well, it’s true, Carolyn. I suppose I have been rather careless in my duties as your father, but I always thought you were well-cared for. I do not care for too much of this modern idea of plain speaking.’

Carolyn stubbed out her cigarette. ‘I think it’s all been taken far too seriously. I was tired and frightened. I should think anyone in my position, any woman that is, would have done the same.’

‘That is a matter of opinion. Certainly, no one in Don Carlos’s sphere would have accused him of being an animal!’

‘Oh, for goodness sake! What do you want me to say? Where is the man, and I’ll apologise?’

‘He’s gone back to his home.’

‘Why did he come, anyway?’

‘To let me know he had returned. He has been in Acapulco for the last three weeks, and only returned this morning. It is unfortunate he had to be apprised of your arrival in such a manner. As it is, I have yet to explain that I agreed for you to come. I knew your presence here would not please him. After all, it is true, digs of this kind are not suitable places for young women alone. Usually, if any women are taken along, there are at least two or three of them in the party. I really feel I have made a mistake, Carolyn.’

Carolyn’s eyes widened. ‘You’re not going to make me go back?’ She clasped her hands. ‘Oh, please, don’t do that! At least, give me a chance to show that I am as capable as anyone else of adapting myself to my surroundings. It’s all been a storm in a tea-cup, so couldn’t we forget it?’ Her eyes were appealing.

Professor Madison shrugged his heavy shoulders, and studied his pipe thoughtfully. ‘I don’t know, Carolyn,’ he began, slowly. ‘If Don Carlos comes tomorrow and I have to tell him that you’re staying for an indefinite period, I feel I may find myself on rather uncertain ground.’

‘Don’t tell him how long I am staying. Say I was in Mexico on holiday, and decided to look you up.’

‘And you think he would believe that?’

Carolyn shrugged, but remembering Don Carlos’s dark, enigmatic eyes, she doubted it. She had the uncomfortable feeling that he would be perfectly capable of seeing through any artifice she might adopt.

‘Well, what are you going to tell him then? Am I staying? Or are you going to make me go back to that terrible modern life in London?’ She used the word deliberately, and Professor Madison sighed.

‘I don’t want to send you back,’ he agreed, thoughtfully. ‘I was glad to see you were showing a little spunk and initiative by coming here. After all, it is far removed from the life you have always known. But if you stay, you will have to find something useful to do, and something less decorative to wear.’ He surveyed her thoroughly. ‘That dress would be suitable for the cocktail bar at the Savoy, not the Mexican bush. Haven’t you brought any sensible clothes?’

‘I don’t have any sensible clothes,’ said Carolyn, a trifle moodily. ‘Honestly, what are these men? Sex maniacs, or something?’

The professor laughed at last, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘All right, Carolyn. All right. You can stay, at least for the time being. But any more exhibitions like this one, and you will have no second chances, is this understood?’

‘Yes, Dad.’

‘Good. Then I think we can join the others for dinner. We do have a very good cook, and the food is not unacceptable. Plain stuff, mostly, with plenty of soups and stews and so on, but it’s usually very tasty, and after a day at the dig, anything tastes good.’

‘Some recommendation,’ remarked Carolyn, a little dryly, as she followed him to the table.

Set out in the open, a trestle table was set about with wooden seats, and Carolyn was seated with her father on one side of her, and David Laurence on the other. David had not had much chance to speak to her before this, and smiled as she sat down, and said, in an undertone:

‘I hear you’ve had a spot of bother!’

Carolyn stifled her giggle. ‘I expect the whole camp has heard,’ she murmured. ‘But seriously, though, what a fuss! Just over losing my temper!’

‘Still, Maddie says you’re staying.’

‘I’m on probation,’ said Carolyn, wrinkling her nose. ‘What is this?’ as a kind of soup was placed in front of her by a beaming Mexican in a white overall.

‘It’s delicious,’ said David. ‘Soup with noodles and vegetables. A Mexican speciality.’

Carolyn tasted it tentatively, and found he was right. It was delicious, and she ate hers with some relish. It seemed hours since lunch at the airport in Veracruz. The dessert was a kind of paste, made of fruit and sugar, and hardened in the sun, called ate. It was a little sweet for her liking, but she managed it, and afterwards there was more delicious coffee.

The evening was warm, and sweet-scented, and after the heat of the day was very refreshing. Carolyn lay back in her chair, and smoked a cigarette, listening to the men talking about the day at the dig.

‘Where are you digging?’ she asked David, as they rose from the table and walked casually across the grass together.

‘Over there,’ he indicated a mound of earth. ‘Beyond that small mound there is lower land, and that’s where we’re working. Tomorrow you must come and see for yourself. It’s quite interesting, even for a novice.’ He grinned.

Carolyn smiled at him. He was very easy to get along with, and she supposed he was handsome in a rather boyish way. His hair was brown, flecked with a lighter colour where the sun had bleached it, and he was solidly built although not much taller than herself.

‘I doubt whether I’ll get that close to the digging,’ she remarked, leaning back against the bonnet of one of the Land-Rovers. ‘I think my father intends to keep me firmly in the background.’

David chuckled. ‘Then I should say he has quite a job in mind,’ he murmured. ‘Tell me, are you still tied up with that creep Alaistair Kendrew?’

Carolyn drew on her cigarette before replying. ‘Alaistair’s not a creep,’ she protested. ‘I admit, he can be rather a bore at times, but I’ve known him since we were infants, and I guess Merle thinks he’s safe.’ Merle was her eldest sister.

‘And his money’s good,’ remarked David, dryly.

‘Oh, David!’

‘Well, it’s true. After all, having Lord Berringdon as his uncle is quite a recommendation.’

‘Not to me,’ said Carolyn, briefly.

‘No,’ David looked repentant. ‘No, you’re right. I’m sorry, Carolyn. Come on, I’ll take you for a drive to the lake. It’s not far from here. We all go there to swim. It’s perfectly safe, and you can see Don Carlos’s hacienda from the shoreline.’ He stubbed out his cigarette. ‘It’s quite spectacular, and after the horror of the journey here, I guess you could do with some convincing that this place isn’t as barbaric as it seems.’

Carolyn hesitated. ‘Oh, David, I’d love to, but—but Dad said I hadn’t to—well—–’ Her voice trailed away.

David studied her for a moment. ‘What’s wrong? What has he said?’

‘Nothing really, except that I shouldn’t get involved—with anyone.’

‘I’m not asking you to get involved,’ said David, reasonably. ‘Go ask him then; ask him if you can take a ride in the Land-Rover.’

Carolyn sighed. ‘You’re making it terribly difficult, David.’

David grimaced. ‘Why? You know you’ll do as you like whatever he says.’

Carolyn frowned. ‘No, I shan’t! Oh, David. …’