Disclaimers: Fireworks owns the copyrights to the characters from the Queen of Swords. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author: Maril Swan
Rating: G
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The Courting of Tessa

by Maril Swan

Part 1 of 3

Chapter One: The Rival

There, he did it again! Helm set his wineglass down heavily, sloshing the red fluid over the rim onto his hand. The smooth bastard. Anger roiled in his gut as he watched the man dancing with Señorita Alvarado. Couldn't she see what a smarmy, oily Casanova he was? The doctor seethed as his eyes followed them around the Rose Courtyard, impotently watching Tessa's partner sneaking little touches and light kisses as they danced. How could she fall for such a transparent seducer?

His temper rose as the man ran his hands over her neck, and down her bared shoulders. In the warm light of the many candles illuminating the courtyard, he could see the banked passion in her eyes, the way her body swayed dangerously near the man's. Helm was almost choking with indignation. Where was Marta? he wondered, glancing around the crowded patio. He finally spied her sitting and chatting with a group of servants on the periphery of the fiesta. He had a mind to take her to task over her lack of vigilance with her charge.

Impulsively, he stood up, swaying a little from the many glasses of wine he had quaffed this evening, first out of boredom then out of frustration. If Marta wouldn't do her job, he would do it for her, by god! Helm marched across the tiled floor to the dancing couple and tapped Tessa's partner on the shoulder. The man's eyes were locked onto Tessa's, and for a second he did not respond. When he turned to Helm it was with an impatient glare.

Helm had to admit the fellow had everything going for him. Finely featured with wavy dark hair that was oiled smoothly to his shapely head, tall and muscular, and above all, he seemed to have a way with women. From the moment Arturo de Sallas had turned up in Santa Helena, all his efforts seemed to be concentrated on wooing Tessa Alvarado. It was almost as if he had a mission. Helm had seen from the first that she was taken in by him. In the days that followed, de Sallas seemed to take every opportunity to further his interest. Tonight, at Montoya's fiesta, was the final straw as far as Helm was concerned. The blackguard was blatantly seducing that innocent young woman under the eyes of the whole pueblo. He would put an end to it.

"Excuse my interruption, Señor de Sallas, but you have been monopolising the most beautiful woman in the room. I would ask for the pleasure of the next dance with Señorita Alvarado. If she will permit, of course," he added, bowing with a wry smile at Tessa.

Tessa returned his smile. "Of course, Doctor." She stepped away from her partner who looked on with ill-concealed annoyance. "The next dance is a waltz." She moved into his embrace as the small band began to play again.

"If music be the food of love, play on..." Helm quoted with a quirk of his lips. He held her at a decent distance, enjoying the fluidity of her graceful movements. She knew how to dance, making even his awkwardness seem smooth. She seemed especially lovely tonight, quite radiant in fact. He forced his mind back to the reason he had asked for this dance.

"Señorita Alvarado," he began hesitantly. "In the time since I've gotten to know you, I have developed certain feelings for you." He felt her body move reflexively and she looked startled. "As you have no near male relatives, I've begun to feel a kind of brotherly concern for you." The banked passion he saw in her eyes earlier now flared into fire and she suddenly became rigid in his arms. He plunged on. "What I mean to say is, de Sallas is the kind of man who tries to seduce women, not because he loves them but because of the challenge. I don't want to see you get hurt."

But she did look hurt as she pushed him away . "Perhaps, Doctor, you should mind your own business!" she snapped and strode briskly away toward Marta. Several faces turned to Helm, and he felt his cheeks beginning to burn as if she had slapped him.

He turned away from the group and walked out of the Rose Courtyard, leaving the noise of conversation and the music behind. 'She's right,' he thought. 'What business is it of mine if she gives herself to that cad? It isn't as if I could do anything to stop her.' Helm reached his office but the din from the fiesta could still be heard faintly. He stood outside for a long time, bathed in the silver moonlight, wondering why he felt so wretched.

Chapter 2: The White Knight

Tessa stared ahead moodily while Marta drove the wagon home from the fiesta. It should have been a wonderful evening, with Arturo's ardent attentions to her, his seeming to hang upon her every word. But it wasn't. Not after her dance with Doctor Helm. It all seemed like ashes in her mouth now. 'Damn him!' she thought angrily as she pulled her shawl more closely around her bare shoulders.

"Are you cold, Tessa?" Marta asked, breaking into her thoughts. As if sensing her mood, she added, "Your dance with Doctor Helm was brief. What did he say to make you so angry?"

Tessa shifted on the bench, mildly annoyed at Marta's intrusion. She could never hide anything from the Gypsy woman. It was almost as if Marta could read her thoughts.

Tessa sighed heavily as she reviewed the doctor's words in her mind. Aloud she said, "He thinks of me as a sister, and one who needs brotherly advice, and protection from other men." Tessa laughed bitterly then relapsed into a morose silence. Her attention was caught by the full moon as it seemed to chase beside the moving wagon, casting vivid shadows on the rugged trail. 'So big and bright – a moon made for romance.' She sunk further into gloom and turned away from its unsettling brilliance.

"Why did you invite Señor de Sallas to dinner tomorrow, Tessa? You can't be serious about letting him court you. Not if your feelings are already involved with Doctor Helm."

"Why not, Marta? At least I will show the other women in the pueblo that a man can be interested in me. I have the feeling they laugh at me behind my back, or pity me that I don't have a man."

Marta shook her head. "You should ignore them. That is all they have to talk about. Your life is so full, and you have so much they do not even know about. Your intelligence, your skills, your double life. What do you really need a man for?"

Tessa raised her eyebrows and gave Marta a wry look.

"Other than that, I mean," Marta laughed. "And of course, Doctor Helm is in love with the Queen. What more could you want?"

"She's a phantom, not real. I want him to love me – the real woman, not some romantic figure he imagines the Queen to be. He's in love with a myth." Tessa sighed deeply and settled back against the wagon seat.

Arturo de Sallas presented himself at the door of the Alvarado villa with a large bouquet of roses. Marta wondered vaguely whose gardens he had plundered for these beautiful red blooms. She forced herself not to glance toward Tessa's garden to see if some of her roses were missing.

"Señor de Sallas," she said, a tight smile pasted on her lips. "Please come in. My mistress will join you in the main salon." She allowed herself a quick look at him, realising how handsome he was. He was elegantly and formally dressed in a dark suit with a burgundy cravat pinned to his white shirt. Those heavy-lidded black eyes seemed to simmer with a promise of secret pleasures. A flash of smile revealed a row of brilliant teeth over a pair of full crimson lips that betokened powerful passions. However, Marta found him quite resistible as her eyes began to water from the strong cologne he wore. 'Another peacock,' she thought in disgust, as she led him into the salon. 'Tessa has absolutely no taste in men – except for Doctor Helm, that is.' she added. Excusing herself, she went to inform Tessa that her guest had arrived.

*********

Tessa stood for a moment in the doorway of the salon watching Arturo gazing around the bright room with its elegant furnishings. Was there a hint of calculation in his eyes? She stepped into the room and startled him. He covered his surprise with a warm smile and greeted her with an elegant bow, his hand over his heart.

"Señorita Alvarado!" he said fervently. "Though the sun has shone brightly all day, my heart was dimmed until now, being illuminated by the radiance of your smile." He took her hand and kissed it, then turning it over continued his kiss from her wrist to the crook of her elbow. All the while, he studied her face under his heavy-lidded eyes as if watching for her reaction.

His sensuous kisses made her almost giddy. The heavy languor of those dark eyes was mesmerizing with a promise of passionate delights. Steeling herself against his powerful appeal, she pulled away gently and gestured to one of the chairs. "Please make yourself comfortable, Señor de Sallas. The dinner will be ready in a few minutes. May I offer you some cognac?" Tessa moved across to the sideboard and lifted the bottle.

"Make that two, por favor," a familiar voice said from the entrance. Doctor Helm stepped in and grinned at her surprise. "I was just passing and thought I would stop in to say hello."

At that moment, Marta entered and announced, "Dinner is ready." She appeared taken aback by Helm's presence in the room, but seemed to recover quickly. "Perhaps, Doctor, if you have not already eaten, you would like to join us for dinner." She seemed to ignore the crimson that had risen to Tessa's cheeks and the way her mouth opened then closed quickly. Marta gave Tessa a brief smile. "With my mistress' approval, of course," she added, almost as an afterthought.

"Of course, Doctor Helm. Please join us," Tessa added after a second's hesitation. If the invitation sounded half-hearted, Helm didn't seem to notice. Tessa took Arturo's arm and led him to the dining room.

**********

The table had been set for two, but Tessa insisted that Marta should also join them, so a setting for four was quickly arranged. The meal proceeded with the usual compliments to the cook which made Marta blush --- or perhaps it was the wine that brought the roses to her cheeks. She was unusually chatty and effervescent, making Tessa realise that Marta was either nervous or excited, or both. She glanced covertly at her friend, wondering what Marta was up to.

Indeed, most of the table conversation flowed between Marta and the doctor, leaving Arturo to chew his meal in a sullen silence, and Tessa to interject comments in the intervals. When the meal was finally over, Tessa took her guests into the salon again.

"Ah," Arturo said with a pleased look. "I see you have a small pianoforte. Do you play, Señorita Alvarado?" She shook her head negatively, and he strode over to the shiny instrument and pushed the cover off the keyboard. "Con permisso?" he asked with an ingratiating smile. When Tessa nodded, he seated himself with studied assurance and began to ply the keys as if testing the tone. Seeming to be satisfied, he launched into a baroque piece by Mozart. His playing was polished and mannered, though not brilliant. When he finished with a flourish, Helm applauded enthusiastically.

"Bravo, Señor de Sallas," he said. "Would you play another tune for us?"

It was all the encouragement Arturo needed and for the rest of the evening, conversation was unnecessary as he was prompted by the doctor to continue playing one piano piece after another. Tessa and Marta sat together on the brocade sofa. Now and then, Tessa nudged her when she seemed in danger of falling asleep.

Finally, Arturo stopped playing and stood up. "You have been a most appreciative audience." He bowed modestly with his hand on his chest. "But I feel I have monopolised the evening. Perhaps, now we should..."

His words were cut off by Helm who exclaimed, "Oh dear, look at the hour. Past eleven o'clock. Time flies when you're having fun. I must go." Helm bent to Tessa and took her hand, kissing it warmly. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Señorita Alvarado." He turned to Arturo. "We might as well ride back together. It's a long ride and safer that way."

"I think I will stay a while and speak with the señorita. We have not had a minute together all evening." Arturo smiled into Tessa's eyes, as if waiting for the signal to remain.

"Dr. Helm is right, Señor de Sallas. It is late and you should not ride alone at night. There are bandits in this area, like the Queen of Swords, and one never knows where she will strike next," Tessa said with a meaningful look at Marta. She stifled a yawn and began to walk toward the door.

As soon as Arturo and Tessa left the room, Helm bent to Marta's ear. "Thank you for giving me the dinner invitation in town today. I can see you are as concerned as I am about this Don Juan. I think we showed her tonight what an absolute bore he is." Helm laughed at the twinkle of mischief in Marta's eyes.

"Yes, but I think this is not over yet. He will not give up so easily. We must come up with something else to convince Tessa he is not the man for her." Marta moved toward the door, and Helm followed as she went through the house to the front door. He noted how a smile kept trying to tug its way across her face. A bubble of laughter tried to force itself past her throat and she coughed to hide it. Once outside, she turned to him. "Good night, Doctor Helm. And thank you for coming tonight."

"The pleasure was mine," he said earnestly. His eyes flicked to Tessa and Arturo standing near the horses. Arturo's voice was too low for Helm to hear what he was saying, but the tone was unmistakeable, as was the way he was pulling Tessa toward him, bending his head toward her. A sudden flush of anger ripped through Helm.

He moved swiftly to his horse, startling it. The horse sidled and bumped into Arturo, nearly knocking him over. He glared at Helm, who shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, old man. My horse is a bit skittish, especially at night. I hope I didn't interrupt anything," he added with a wry grin at Tessa.

"Of course not," she said archly. "And now I bid you both good night." With that, she turned abruptly and went into the house without a backward glance.

The doctor mounted his horse, humming under his breath. When Arturo had gained his saddle, Helm said, "Well, that was a most satisfactory evening, wouldn't you say, de Sallas?" Ignoring him, de Sallas kneed his horse into a trot, and Helm followed, his spirits suddenly ebullient. Maybe La Con-Tessa deserved de Sallas for all that she was an aristocratic spoiled brat, but Helm felt she needed his protection from this obvious gold-digger.

He shook his head. 'Why she can't see through him is beyond me. It's as clear as glass that he's after her wealth. The fact that she's rather attractive is a bonus for someone like him.' As he recalled her face, his heart lurched strangely. 'Rather attractive is putting it mildly,' he thought. 'She's quite beautiful. If only she showed a bit more character, like...' He veered his thoughts away from that masked woman who tormented his conscience, and attracted him like a magnet. He forced his thoughts back to Tessa. 'In spite of the fact that she seems a bit of a scatterbrain, Tessa Alvarado is an interesting woman. The more I get to know her, the more I see there are some hidden depths. And she has no one but Marta to advise her and protect her.'

Tonight he'd fired the warning volley over de Sallas' bows. 'Maybe he'll take the hint and look elsewhere for his quick fortune. If he thinks she is easy pickings, he is about to find out differently. The lonely princessa now has her own knight to defend her against ignoble fortune-hunters. Sir Robert Helm.' He grinned into the darkness as he followed the other rider, keeping back far enough to discourage any conversation. 'Wouldn't my mother laugh herself silly if she could see me now. She would say, "See, Robert. Chivalry is not dead." And I guess she would be right — as usual.'

Continued in Part 2

The Courting of Tessa by Maril Swan