‘Why did you not come sooner? That Newmarch, ’e is not ze usual Eenglishman. He is very passionate. Phew!’ Sofia wafted her hand in front of her nose. ‘You stink of cigarro.’ Elena grinned. ‘It worked, si? ’E want to make love to you?’ ‘Tst. Like your grandmother says, you ’ave no manners!’ Sofia said angrily. ‘Where is your respect? I do this for you, so that you can have your Zac and a dowry.’ ‘She is not my grandmother,’ Elena said sulkily, then added, ‘sorry, Momia. I was held up by Sancho. ’E wanted to know where I was going,’ she grinned, ‘and I had one of his cigarros hidden behind my back! I told him that if Meester Newmarch asked me to marry him, I would pray that I would make him an obedient wife.’ ‘What did he say?’ Sofia asked anxiously. Elena shrugged. ‘He just laughed.’ Edward rode out with Rodriguez the following morning and covered most of the estate. He was tired when they got back, being unused to riding all day, but had found his talk with Rodriguez most enlightening.
