"Why don't we call it the Trysting Cave?"
"You are a man with very limited thoughts, Lyon!"
"Yes, ma'am. Otherwise known as a randy goat."
"And I am a randy ewe?"
"There is nothing sheepish about you, Diana." He tossed her into her saddle. "I hear a turtledove."
"Yes, there in the frangipani. See him?"
"I see him. He's alone."
She gave him a slow, very satisfied smile. "He won't be for very long. His voice is sweet and seductive."
Lyon click-clicked Egremont. They rode side by side. "Perhaps," he said, smiling at her, "you will now tell me the truth about clarifiers and worms?"
She laughed, a sweet sound, and lightly punched his shoulder.
"I am forgiven?"
Since she loved him, it would be nearly beyond her not to forgive him. "Your way of apologizing was mostthorough."
He let it go at that. He imagined it would take her some time to forget what he had done.
"Look, Lyon! The turtledove --- he is no longer alone."
Nor am I, he thought, extremely pleased.
22
Heavens, with you I must look after myself!
—PLAUTUS
Diana and Patricia stood in the shade of a cascading bougainvillea at the edge of the croquet grounds behind the great house. It was late the following morning, and the sun was climbing high in the sky. Diana experienced a small flash of memory of her mother whenever she was here. She could hear light laughter, smell a strange elusive scent. She felt a moment of overwhelming sadness, but was brought quickly back to the here and now by Patricia's sharp voice.
"What is it you want, Diana?"
"I want to know why you abused my mare."
"Your mare? I was under the impression that everything belonged to your father."
"Tanis is mine. But it wouldn't matter, in any case. Why would you hurt a helpless animal?"
"I told you, the mare is a brute."
Perhaps, Diana thought, if she weren't seeing Patricia with new eyes, she would be more tolerant, more patient. As it was, she wanted to throttle the girl. To betray Daniel, kind, gentle Daniel, it was too much. Good heavens, Patricia was only eighteen and but a few months married. Hadn't the infamous Charlotte been only eighteen when she betrayed Lyon?
"Tanis is spirited," Diana said finally, bringing herself back to the subject at hand. "Her spirit is something to be encouraged, not something to be broken. You will not ride her again, ever."
"You are no longer mistress here, my lady, as Deborah told you. Nor do I take orders from you. When you leave, as you will, I shall do exactly as I please."
"If I leave, my mare will go with me, you may be certain of that!"
"Your mare is large enough for Daniel to ride. I doubt that you will take the animal anywhere."
Frustrated, Diana could only stare at her sister-in-law.