Delilah. Eleanor Jong De

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СКАЧАТЬ tongue that sent him on his way. And now he had returned, his desire for her seemed to have waned. He kept his distance, except when others were about, and they had developed an understanding that nothing of that sort could ever occur again.

      ‘I tried again last month to get Ekron to try the different vintages,’ he said eventually, changing the subject. ‘He’d always rather talk about politics than savour the tastes of the wines in his mouth. At least I have you for that.’

      ‘And perhaps Jered one day too.’ Delilah smiled bashfully for she knew it would make Achish laugh in that soft way of his. But did he know how her heart thudded at the prospect of seeing the handsome merchant’s son again? He and his father, Mizraim, had visited many of the Ashkelon vineyards two months ago in search of wines to sell in Ashdod, and this exclusive invitation to return with samples had the potential to build Achish’s business significantly. For not only would Mizraim be present, he’d also invited several other merchants to try the wines. That the invitation had extended to Delilah also, suggested Jered’s interest was more than pecuniary.

      ‘You should take a little care, though, Delilah,’ said Achish. ‘You’re apt to be less than modest about your own powers. Your skills in both flattery and argument are as well-balanced as your face, but it would be as well at least to pretend that you are not aware of that.’

      ‘I suppose you are talking about Hemin. You think I was mean to her last night.’

      Achish arched an eyebrow. ‘Do you think you were?’

      ‘She does not care about the vineyard as I do. I was merely reminding her of that. She owes her marriage to old Phi – to Lord Phicol, to the vineyard’s prosperity, but she has never bothered to learn anything about our livelihood.’

      ‘The vines were in your father’s blood, so they are in yours. Hemin has other interests—’

      Delilah scoffed. Dressing up, mostly.

      Mizraim’s home was very different from the vineyard house, set as it was right in the middle of Ashdod. The building was bordered by streets at the front and back, so the eastern half of the house was devoted to the business, and the western half to living. Mizraim was a merchant in foods as well as wines, and even before the cart had pulled up in front of the business part of the property, Delilah could smell the heady fusion of spices and oils and the scents of warm citrus fruits piled up in the late morning sunshine. They had been travelling since first light, and hunger had sharpened her senses. She was so enthralled leaning over baskets of dried fruits, taking in their fragrance, that she didn’t notice Jered standing under the awning at the entrance to the house until she was almost in front of him.

      ‘You look like a small child, if I may say so, thrilled by their first trip to the market.’

      Delilah lowered her head in the formal way, then smiled. The merchant’s son was even more handsome than she remembered, though he was dressed quite soberly and his hands were slightly oily and his nails stained dark. He saw her studying them and quickly drew them behind his back, but she only laughed and let her eyes linger on his.

      ‘We had a delivery of berries this morning,’ he said, ‘but they are delicate things and are likely to burst if a person doesn’t take enough care.’

      Delilah peered teasingly at his face. ‘No evidence you have been eating them, though?’

      He blushed. ‘I put some by especially for you and Achish to try. If you are to trust us with your wines, then you should know what good company they are going to keep.’

      ‘Good company, you say?’

      ‘Food and wine should always make a careful marriage.’

      Delilah was about to respond when she noticed Achish and Mizraim standing companionably together, and remembered her promise to behave with more propriety.

      ‘Is there something you would like me to do, Father?’

      Achish gestured to the cart. ‘Can you supervise the moving of the wines into our host’s house, please? Then we can begin the tasting.’

      Mizraim – whose ample build and features showed that he ran his business and his life in equally generous portions – had turned a simple tasting into an opportunity to impress his acquaintances, and a splendid array of dried and fresh fruits, olives, breads, oils and cured meats had been arranged on tables for the twenty or more guests to enjoy. This house had a more informal feel than the vineyard house, large open rooms with wooden shutters to divide the indoor space from the outdoor, and to divide off smaller rooms if required. Being bordered by streets on two sides, the house was flanked by a walled garden at one end, and a large courtyard at the other, across which hung a large awning of woven reeds to keep off the heat of the day.

      With the wines carefully arranged in a row along one of the courtyard walls, Delilah took her place by Achish’s side as he presented the different vintages to the guests. She handed out the little stoneware drinking bowls, adding water as the guests wished, and supplying her own comments about the particular taste of each wine as she did so. Beneath the careful smile she mentally noted the names of the possible clients and their preferences. And all the while she was conscious of Jered watching her from the edge of the crowd, his own cheeks growing a little flushed. She flattered herself that it wasn’t just the wine.

      Soon enough the tasting was over and she retreated to the food tables to allow Achish to begin with the business. She’d have liked to follow the conversations, but being a young woman among men made this impossible. Besides, with her work done, her appetite was keener than ever. She helped herself to some cucumber relish and bread smeared with a paste made from crushed olives. Jered was talking with one of the other merchants, but when he saw Delilah he broke off with a hurried excuse and made his way across the courtyard. His straight-backed enthusiasm was almost comic, and with an inky finger he pushed aside the smooth black forelock that fell over one eye.

      ‘You hide your boredom well, Delilah. But I fear discussions have only just begun. Your father drives a hard bargain, but my father has stubbornness on his side.’

      ‘I’m not bored at all, but there’s not very much for a girl to do here. Perhaps you’d like to show me a little of Ashdod. To see if it compares with home.’

      The implication wasn’t lost on Jered, who agreed it was a good idea.

      Having obtained permission from Achish, who’d nodded graciously at her request, she left the front of the house with Jered at her side. Out on the street, she arranged her shawl over her head to shade herself from the sun. The mid-afternoon heat had smothered the streets with its soporific spell and after only a few steps even the babble of contentment from the merchant’s garden was inaudible. Delilah paused at the corner and looked around her.

      ‘Where is everyone?’

      ‘This is mostly a residential area, so they are probably using their common sense and lying down quietly in the cool of their houses. You’re sure you wouldn’t rather be indoors?’

      ‘No, I’d rather be out here with you.’

      Delilah could feel Jered’s pleasure at the compliment without having to look at him, but she decided to heed Achish’s advice, for a change, and kept her eyes on the street ahead of her. ‘What is it like to live in Ashdod?’

      ‘I’ve never lived anywhere else, but I like it. The sea is not as close as in Ashkelon, so things are quieter. It’s half a morning’s walk СКАЧАТЬ