Sweet Revenge Read Online Free PDF

Portuguese, dressed completely in black, her skirts longer than any Toni had ever seen. To complete the picture, a bunch of keys hung from her belt, and Toni t had to hide the smile that sprang to her lips.
    Paul spoke warmly to Jose as he passed on his way to get their suitcases, and then greeted Luisa enthusiastically.
    'Janet,' he said, after he had spoken a few words of Portuguese to Luisa, 'this is Luisa. She's a veritable treasure. Not only does she supervise the servants with a will of iron, but she cooks like an angel! Luisa, este e minha noiva Janet West.'
    Luisa smiled politely, gave a half-curtsey, and said: 'It is a pleasure to meet you, senhorita. I hope you will enjoy your stay at the castelo. If you will come with me, I will show you to your room. Senhor, will you wait for Jose? He will take your baggage to your quarters.'
    Paul agreed, and gave Toni another encouraging wink. 'See you later, Janet,' he said, lightly, and so casually that Toni wondered whether he was used to intrigue. 'Come down when you're ready. Luisa will tell you where. Tell me, before you go, Luisa, how is my grandmother?'
    Luisa lifted her shoulders eloquently. 'As well as can be expected, senhor,' she replied. 'She has had a little more trouble with her heart - and some rheumatics, but otherwise she continues quite well.' Toni felt relieved. If a servant could speak of the Condessa with such warmth in her voice she could not be so formidable.
    She followed Luisa up the staircase and along the gallery, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. There was so much to see. The walls of the gallery were lined with portraits of previous Condes of Estrada, their features dark and forbidding, their clothes made of silks and satins, slashed with vivid colours. Toni stared at them curiously, hardly aware of Luisa's remarks concerning their journey, and the heat of the day. They passed through an arched doorway into a wide corridor and now Toni saw what Paul had said earlier. Here the floors were mosaic-tiled, which without detracting from the decor, nevertheless permitted a slight trend towards modernization. The stone walls had been panelled with rich dark wood, and tiny windows had been enlarged to let in more light.
    They followed the corridor for some way before branching off to their left along another corridor. Toni tried to remember these turnings. She was trying to keep her bearings in relation to the great hall. At last Luisa halted before a white panelled door, and flinging it open said:
    'Your rooms, senhorita!'
    Toni stepped inside on to cool marble tiles, strewn as downstairs with soft, furry rugs. The shutters had been released from her windows, and a faint breeze from the sea stole through the open windows bringing the scent of salt air and seaweed. The furniture here » was modern Swedish wood, light coloured and comfortable. There was a low divan bed, a dressing table, fitted wardrobes against the curved outer wall, and an easy chair. Orange drapes hung at the windows, and the colour was repeated in the heavy embroidered silk bedspread.
    Toni clasped her hands. 'I - er - it's marvellous!' she exclaimed, looking warmly at Luisa. 'It's just perfect!'
    Luisa looked pleased. She crossed the room to a door at the far side, and opening it, said: 'Here is the bathroom. Now, I think you have everything here you need. Jose will bring your cases, and if you require them to be unpacked—'
    'That won't be necessary,' replied Toni quickly, remembering that there might be some identification in her suitcases. 'Thank you. Oh, by the way, where do I go when I want to go down? I mean, do I go back to the hall?'
    Luisa shook her head. 'No, senhorita. Instead of turning for the hall, turn the other way and you will come to a small staircase which leads down to the main rooms of the castelo. You understand, the castelo is too big for the family to occupy all the rooms. Most are dust- covered and locked, senhorita. If you follow my directions, the Senhor will find