‘Let me get you a glass of champagne and introduce you to a few people, and then we can watch the game,’ he said, taking her arm and walking her across the tent so that they had a view of the field. Rose tried to ignore the feeling that everyone was looking at her and attempting to figure out howshe was connected to Valentina Santiago; more likely it was her imagination and no one had even noticed her presence.
Rose admired the glossy horses as the players warmed them up, their coats shining in the sunlight. But it wasn’t until Luis touched her arm that she turned to look across to the other side of the field.
‘Someone’s waving to you.’
She blushed when she realised that Benjamin had his hand raised and was looking straight at her, sitting on horseback and talking to a teammate. He wore white breeches and a dark blue silky polo that clung to his skin, and if Jessica were beside her, she’d have whispered that perhaps Benjamin might take the prize for best-looking polo player.
Rose waved back, her eyes tracking him as he cantered across the field, effortlessly swinging his mallet from one side to the other. He certainly made it look easy, and she very much doubted that it was.
‘You seem to have caught my brother’s attention.’
Rose turned slightly to see a beautiful young woman standing beside her, holding an almost empty glass of champagne.
‘Rose,’ she said, holding out her hand. ‘And you must be Benjamin’s sister.’
‘Maya,’ she said, giving Rose’s hand a quick shake. ‘My brother told me this is your first time attending a polo game?’
‘It is, but I’m certainly hoping it’s not my last.’
‘Well, I’m going to let you ladies get to know each other,’ Luis said. ‘I’ll be back with some other people who’ve been so looking forward to meeting you.’
Rose tried not to appear as panicked as she felt about being left, and she also fought against the desire to drain her glass, for confidence. Maya’s smile had disappeared, and Rose had the distinct feeling that she wasn’t so pleased to meet her.
‘Your family has polo in their blood, so I’m sure you’ll enjoy the game today,’ Maya said, with a coolness that Rose was certain she hadn’t imagined.
‘So your brother told me, although I have to admit that I’ve never really been around horses until yesterday, let alone understood polo,’ Rose said. ‘It’s all new to me, but I’m very interested to see what it’s all about.’
Maya gave her a long glance, and Rose had the distinct feeling that Maya didn’t trust her.
‘May I ask you a question?’ said Maya.
‘Of course.’
‘Is it true that you never met Valentina or visited the Santiago property before? Even when you were a girl?’
‘All true,’ Rose said, before lifting her glass and deciding that draining half of it sat squarely between a bad decision and a good one. ‘And if I look out of place, it’s because I am, but Luis and Benjamin both insisted that I stay, so here I am. I’m doing my best to fit in.’
‘We’re a very close family here, Rose, and we all adored Valentina and felt very protective of her, so I’m sure you can understand how surprised we were when you arrived.’
Rose could feel the words between them that were going unsaid, knew that really Maya wanted to tell her they didn’t trust her and wished she’d just go home. ‘I can assure you that no one was more surprised by all this than me.’
Maya’s eyebrows lifted, as if she were about to ask another question, but Rose was saved by Luis, who came back with an older couple who seemed just as curious about her, only far more friendly than Benjamin’s sister.
‘It was lovely to meet you, Maya,’ Rose said, as Luis commanded her attention. ‘I’m sure our paths will cross again.’
But as she turned away, she felt herself hoping that they didn’t. Either Maya was extremely protective of her brother, orperhaps she was worried about Valentina’s legacy. Maybe she’d expected something to be left to her? Either way, Rose doubted the other woman was ever going to warm to her.
‘Here we go!’ Luis declared as the game began, sparing Rose more small talk as everyone turned their attention to the game being played in front of them.
When a waiter wearing all black came past with more champagne, Rose happily took another glass, clapping as Benjamin’s team got a goal and gasping when three of the players galloped so close she felt the ground vibrate beneath her feet.
But no matter who had the ball or what was happening on the field, Rose found her eyes permanently drawn to Benjamin. His dark hair curled slightly at the back, damp and clinging to his neck, his face partly obscured by the helmet he wore, but somehow he still looked breathtakingly good.
She smiled to herself as she took another sip of champagne, imagining what it would have been like to have Jessica and her mum there, elbowing her in the side the very second they knew she was attracted to him. They would most definitely have approved of her little crush, and she found that the more champagne she sipped, the more she could fantasise about what it might be like to get to know Benjamin a little more intimately.
‘Rose,’ Luis said, touching her arm and drawing her from her thoughts. ‘That’s the end of the chukka. May I take you around the tent to introduce you?’
She smiled politely. ‘Of course.’
