A Woman Named Coral. Jane Huxley

one day, as he wandered into his office, his secretary announced that an Indian delegation from Ancash was waiting for him in the conference room.

      “Good God, Prunella,” he said. “Why didn’t you get rid of them?”

      “They’re Indians,” Prunella said, scornfully. “I dare anyone to snub them.”

      “What do they want?”

      “Money to build a school.”

      “My money?”

      “If not yours, then King Solomon’s.”

      Aurelio had walked into the conference room looking at his watch and saying, “I have two minutes to hear what you have to say.”

      When he looked up, what he saw took his breath away.

      The Indian delegation consisted of three people. Two men, their skin the colour of bronze and their hair and eyes blacker than coal. The third person was a beautiful young woman. She was white, with long blond hair and eyes the colour of sapphires.

      “You are an Indian?” he asked, astonished.

      “Yes,” she said. “My name is Yupanqui.”

      He handed the delegation a cheque so enormous they made him Honorary Chairman of the school that would be built some day. Two weeks later he asked Miss Yupanqui, whose name was Coral, to marry him.

      “Why?” she asked.

      “Because I’m in love with you,” he answered.

      She seemed perplexed and said she would think about it. A thrill passed through Aurelio. She hadn’t turned him down. He waited in silence for her answer to be delivered.

      “Think she’ll marry me?” he asked Prunella.

      “Why wouldn’t she?” she said.

      “Because she’s young and beautiful.”

      “And you’re old and rich. Strikes me as a fair exchange.”

      Prunella’s assumption proved correct. Yes, Coral would marry him. Her only request was that her parents visit every Christmas.

      “Of course,” he said. “They can stay at the guest cottage in the woods.”

      The brief ceremony at the Cathedral was attended by the bride and groom, the Yupanquis, Aurelio’s son, Silvio and his new wife, Pandora.

      “Disgusting, at his age,” Pandora said.

      “Can’t say I blame him,” he answered. “She’s very beautiful.”

      “Your mother would not be pleased.”

      “You can see that he’s crazy about her.”

      “Can’t see anything except an old man making a fool of himself.”

      Aurelio had chosen Rio de Janeiro for their honeymoon, and Coral seemed a bit startled by the sprawling chaotic bustle of the city.

      “Like it?” he asked her.

      “Well, it is... big,” she answered.