Intrigue in Portugal

After the guests had left, Phillip sat alone in the lounge room sipping a drink and smoking a cigarette. Mrs De Lemos, whose good humour had evaporated with the departure of her guests looked at Emily irritably and her ill-temper was evident as she said in a brittle voice, "There was no reason for you to have lingered so long, Miss Landers, as you really should have left earlier. I did tell you it would be alright for you to excuse yourself after dinner on account of being tired. And as you stayed behind so long, Therese hardly had any time with Phillip, because you monopolised her all evening." She retorted indignantly, "I wasn't tired at all, Mrs De Lemos. I enjoyed Therese's company and she wanted to talk to me. Don't you worry, I'll be up bright and early as I'm eager to start work." she added as an afterthought in case Mrs De Lemos thought she would be too tired to work tomorrow. She remained stony-faced though, and glared at Emily without replying before she left the room. Emily did not want to antagonise her any more than she could help, but she did not appreciate being told off like a naughty child, who had stayed up too late and should have gone to bed early. Mrs De Lemos was annoyed as she seemed to think Phillip’s evening was spoilt because of Emily, and as she started to walk away, she heard her raised voice and Phillip's quiet reply. She hesitated for a while, and then called out, "Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." they replied vaguely and continued their heated discussion. Emily was halfway up the stairs when the sound of her angry voice reached her, "How long do you want to act like a fool, Phillip? Therese will fall into your arms if you propose to her tomorrow. Her parents are getting impatient too, as you hardly spoke a word to her all evening, because that stupid Landers girl monopolised Therese all the time. Her mother hinted her daughter is not so hard up for a man that she should come here just to get the cold shoulder from you." She listened in surprise and thought, so that was why Mrs De Lemos was in such a bad mood. And though she did not mean to eavesdrop, she was curious to hear Phillip's reply, so she stood on the stairs and listened. He did not respond for some time, and then she heard his calm voice murmuring low; obviously he did not lose his temper as quickly as his mother did or even raise his voice at all, she thought. A few moments later, Mrs De Lemos spoke loudly again, and this time it seemed she had gone too far, because she heard Phillip's voice spluttering angrily as he cried out, "God, Mother, haven't I had enough with women? I burnt my fingers once, and here you are, pushing me to marry someone I don't even love, and who doesn't care for me either. Leave me alone! I don't want to hear any more about any woman from you or anyone!" His mother, who was unwilling to give up easily, retorted heatedly, "Love! You married for love the first time and where did it get you? Therese is a good girl from a respectable family and she likes you and you like her. That's more than enough for a sound marriage." A door slammed, and at the sound of approaching footsteps Emily hurried upstairs, closed her bedroom door and leaned against it breathing rapidly. Mrs De Lemos was determined that Phillip should marry Therese, and he was equally determined not to marry her or anyone else. He had made that much clear. Both were iron-willed, but who would prevail, she wondered, as they would fight with all their strength to get their own way. Emily felt cold suddenly and shivered. It was the longest day in her life with so much happening since she had arrived here, and she seemed to be another person already and not the carefree girl full of adventure and high spirits she had been only yesterday. Too many events were unfolding much too fast, most of all her feelings for Phillip. And although she was drawn towards him helplessly, romance was the last thing on her mind. Emily felt she was caught in a tidal wave that swept her away in their family emotions. It was dangerous, as she was getting too involved in their intrigues and family tangles, because she was strongly attracted to Phillip. She wished she could speak to her mother or her practical-minded father, who would have talked her out of these irrational feelings that confused her now. Emily decided to call them next day, though she would refrain from mentioning any of these affairs, except what her first day had been like. Although Emily felt sorry for Therese after listening to her tale of hopeless love, she was certain there must be a solution. All problems could be solved in time, she mused, and it was not an unsurmountable task for Therese to introduce her parents to the man she loved. Then there was Phillip's failed marriage and broken heart, and his mother's implacable will to see him re-married. Emily understood that the loss of her eldest son made it vital for Phillip to remarry and produce heirs to inherit their vast property. She breathed in deeply as she realized she would be swept away in their turbulent intrigues over the next few weeks, and how deeply would it affect her. It would be much easier if she was impersonal and concentrated strictly on her work, just like an ordinary employee and not get embroiled in their family affairs, she decided. The events of the day passed in her mind like a movie reel as she lay in bed, and she fervently wished she had come to work in a less complicated family. If only Phillip did not move her so deeply, and if only her heart did not beat so fast each time she thought of his handsome sombre face; ah, IF is a mighty big word, she thought, as she tossed and turned for a long time before she finally fell into a deep sleep.