Marianna (39 page)

The uncertainty remained, would always remain. Yet somehow it mattered so much less now. Tears sprang to Marianna’s eyes at seeing them together — these two men she held so precious. But at a leavetaking a few tears could surely be forgiven.

* * * *

Marianna rose at dawn and made her way up on deck. It was no surprise to find Jacinto there already, standing at the rail. As she joined him, he slid his arm around her waist and drew her closer.

‘I’ve been hoping that you would come,
querida.’

‘Could you doubt it?’ she smiled, ‘I had to catch the very first glimpse of our island,’

The eastern sky was blushing a soft apricot and only tiny curls of foam broke the darkly blue surface of the ocean. Then with almost startling suddenness an edge of blazing sun appeared and the water turned to a sheet of fire. But Marianna’s gaze was drawn in the other direction, to the distant mass of rugged rocks which grew clearer every instant as the ship steamed its steady course and the sun rose higher to bathe the mountains in a golden light... crag upon crag of broken ridges, forested slopes and barren summits, with puffs of cloud gathered like frilly collars around the loftiest peaks.

‘Could anything in the world be more beautiful?’ she breathed. But then the chilling thought struck through that her beloved Jacinto was unable to share this enchanted vision. To him, it would be no more than a misty haze.

He must have sensed her sudden distress, and understood it. With other passengers now crowding round them at the rail, exclaiming in delight, he murmured, ‘Always remember this,
minha querida,
with you at my side I shall have as much happiness as any man can bear.’

‘It has been such a long time, dearest one,’ she whispered.

 ‘A long time!’ he echoed. ‘But the years that lie ahead of us are longer still.’

The authors’ thanks must go to the many people of Madeira who so readily gave assistance in gathering material for this book. In particular, we wish to mention Senhora Dalila Henriques de Freitas, whose knowledge of the island and its history is surely limitless; and Senhora Lynne da Sousa for much helpful advice on sources. We are most grateful to Senhor Freitas of the Savoy Hotel for kind hospitality in his charming Funchal home and access to his extensive library; to various officials of the Madeira Wine Association, and to Senhor Mario Barbeito de Vasconcelos for allowing us the freedom of his unique collection of magazine articles and press clippings garnered over many years.

And back at home, all praise to the West Sussex County Library, especially to the staff of the Midhurst branch, who remain undefeated by our most obscure demands for reference material.

Copyright © 1981 by Nancy Buckingham

Originally published by Eyre Methuen

Electronically published in 2015 by Belgrave House

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.