The Jade Dragon (1974)
“Although the day was hot, it seemed comfortably cool in his open barouche, spinning along at a brisk trot. In a very short time we had passed the towering arches of the Alcantara viaduct and were well on the road to Cintra. From the very first, I was conscious of a tenseness between us, and very little was said, except when Stafford pointed out something of interest as we went by.
About halfway, we stopped at a roadside inn to rest and water the horses. In the garden an arbor had been made by i...nterweaving the feathery branches of some juniper trees, and Stafford and I sat in its fragrant shade drinking tea and eating little almond cakes.
Presently, looking across at me with a steady gaze, he said, “I’m sorry, Elinor, that you have found things so difficult at Castanheiros.”
I hesitated. “You did warn me before I came, Stafford. You told me that I would not be made welcome.”
“But even so, you have every right to be there. I was not expecting the atmosphere to be made quite so uncomfortable for you by Affonso and Carlota.MoreLess
About halfway, we stopped at a roadside inn to rest and water the horses. In the garden an arbor had been made by i...nterweaving the feathery branches of some juniper trees, and Stafford and I sat in its fragrant shade drinking tea and eating little almond cakes.
Presently, looking across at me with a steady gaze, he said, “I’m sorry, Elinor, that you have found things so difficult at Castanheiros.”
I hesitated. “You did warn me before I came, Stafford. You told me that I would not be made welcome.”
“But even so, you have every right to be there. I was not expecting the atmosphere to be made quite so uncomfortable for you by Affonso and Carlota.MoreLess
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