Chapter 10

Samantha conducted Toby through Palma airport with the air of one who knows exactly what they are doing and led him to a row of waiting taxis.

The ride to Porto Cristo took a little over an hour and Toby was fascinated by the scenery, as he had never before been to Spain. As they reached the outskirts of the town Samantha pointed to a large villa a little way up the side of the hill.

‘That’s our place there,’ she explained, ‘It overlooks the bay, see?’

‘What, you mean that massive one with the red tiled roof?’

‘It isn’t that massive,’ laughed Samantha, ‘It just looks big because it’s all on one floor.’

They soon arrived at their destination and Samantha paid the taxi driver from a thick wad of notes that she produced from the pocket of her jacket.

‘Where did you get all that money from?’ asked Toby wonderingly, thinking of the meagre supply of pesetas in his wallet that he had rushed in and purchased from the bank that morning.

‘Daddy gave it to me. He doesn’t like me to be without enough cash. Actually that reminds me, I must put it in the safe when we get inside.’

Looking in her handbag, Samantha produced a key and made for the front door. Toby followed behind her carrying the suitcases.

‘I thought you said that we were to travel light,’ he gasped, straining under the weight of the ones that Samantha had brought with her. She giggled.

‘I said that you were to travel light,’ she corrected, ‘I don’t believe that I mentioned my luggage at all.’

The sweat was trickling down Toby’s back and his shirt was sticking to him, so the blast of airconditioned coolness that met him in the hallway was more than welcome.

‘Ooh, that’s lovely,’ he sighed.

‘It’s wonderful, isn’t it,’ agreed Samantha, ‘It’s only been in for a couple of years. It’s so nice to be able to sleep properly at night.’

The double doors into the lounge were open and Toby looked through approvingly.

‘What a super pad,’ he breathed,

‘It is nice,’ agreed his hostess, leading him through to show him round, ‘Mummy and Daddy’s bedroom is through the archway over there.’ she explained, pointing to the far corner of the room, ‘Talking of which, let’s go and put the money away.’

Toby followed her meekly and was delighted by the huge bedroom with the elegant fourposter bed standing against the far wall. Samantha stopped at a picture opposite it and much to Toby’s amusement he saw that it was hinged at one edge. She pulled it open to reveal a safe behind it and proceeded to work the combination lock with consummate ease. She opened the door, put the greater part of the wad of notes inside and closed it again.

‘Right,’ she said, ‘Now I’ll show you the rest of the place.’

Toby was taken round the kitchen, utility room and dining area and was shown another bedroom which also faced onto the sea.

‘I usually sleep in here,’ explained Samantha, ‘But I don’t think we very much want single beds, do we?’

Toby grinned at her and shook his head. Samantha laughed and leading him back across the hall she threw open the door of yet another bedroom.

‘Oh yes, this will do much better,’ chuckled Toby, looking approvingly at the enormous double bed that was found within.

‘The French windows go straight out to the pool,’ explained Samantha, pulling back the curtains and opening the shutters.

Toby looked outside and saw a large limpid blue pool, surrounded by a warmcoloured stone patio and high plantcovered walls. He stepped outside and surveyed the surroundings, noticing the shower in the corner by the utility room, the barbecue beside the dining room windows, the swing couch and the sun loungers which were catching the rays of the early evening sun.

‘Oh this is fabulous Sammy,’ he called, ‘I don’t think I’ll move from here until it’s time to go home.’

‘Glad you like it,’ floated the girl’s voice from the bedroom, ‘Come and start unpacking and then we’ll go for a swim.’

Toby went back through the ceilingtofloor glass doors and was met by a scene of chaos. Samantha had opened her suitcases and was throwing clothes absolutely everywhere.

‘What a mess you’re making,’ he laughed, opening a wardrobe and taking out a handful of coat hangers. He began to pick up the garments methodically.

‘I can see that I’m going to like having you here darling,’ observed Samantha.

‘I hope so,’ he replied, ‘I’ll do my best to please.’

They finished their unpacking and Toby suddenly realised that he was dying to visit the bathroom. He had not been since just before the ‘plane left London. Excusing himself, he went into the ensuite bathroom attached to the bedroom and found that it was quite up to the standard of the rest of the house. When he returned to the bedroom he found that Samantha had changed into a minuscule bikini.

‘Fancy a swim now?’ she asked.

‘I’ll say,’ he agreed and began to strip off. To his amusement she looked away modestly. ‘OK, I’m ready,’ he said after a few moments and when she turned back to him she realised that he was quite naked.

‘Toby,’ she exclaimed, looking somewhat scandalised, ‘You’ve forgotten to put your trunks on.’

The young man looked out through the windows and gestured at the private pool.

‘What do I need trunks for?’ he asked.

Samantha was obviously nonplussed by his reply.

‘You see I’m used to swimming without a costume over at Andrew and Natasha’s house,’ he explained, ‘The Stevensons don’t believe in them. It seems nice and private here too so if you don’t mind too much I’m not going to bother with one. I can keep up my all-over tan that way you see,’ he turned sideways and pointed down at his bottom.

‘Oh yes, it’s the same colour as the rest of you,’ giggled Samantha.

Picking up one of the towels off the bed, Toby sauntered outside casually and dropped it onto a lounger before moving over to the pool. He dived in and swam the length effortlessly beneath the surface. When he emerged he found Samantha standing on the water’s edge with a thoughtful expression on her face.

‘Come on in,’ he encouraged, ‘It’s beautiful.’

He saw her take a deep breath as if to say something and then, evidently making up her mind, she resolutely took off her bikini and dropped it onto the swing couch behind her.

‘Delicious,’ he cried, clapping his hands with approval.

Samantha grinned at him and jumped into the water, making an enormous splash. She surfaced and swam briskly from one end of the pool to the other and back again.

‘It’s lovely, isn’t it?’ called Toby, referring to the temperature of the water.

‘Oh Toby darling, it’s simply gorgeous,’ cried Samantha, who was talking about her new found sense of freedom, ‘I never ever swam without a costume before and it feels fantastic.’