Roman raised an eyebrow at this and was silent for a long moment, considering. At last, he said, 'I suppose, but not for a single young girl travelling alone. Regardless, Ricardo is not to be trusted, and my mother would be unduly concerned, should you have any further unsupervised contact with him. No, now that I consider the matter further, I think it best that you remain here as our guest for the time being. As my mother says, this is not a resort, but, well . . .' he chuckled, withdrew a small black case from his breast pocket, took out a small cheroot and lighted it. 'This island holds many quaint fascinations which may amuse you, Port Haven being not the least of them. And both Mother and Maria have told me that they enjoy your company. In my entire lifetime they have agreed upon very little, so with your leave I would like to keep you here a while yet.'
'Are there jobs in Port Haven?' Kara found herself asking hopefully.
Again, Roman raised an eyebrow. 'You might find a job on the docks cleaning fish or sorting shellfish, or at one of the plantations picking coffee beans,' he told her, studying her reaction carefully. 'You might even find work on a fishing vessel or a farm or orchard. But it's hard work and long hours you'd be looking at-'
'I am well used to hard work, Señor,' Kara muttered distractedly, uncomfortable under his scrutiny. 'As a child I'd always dreamed of working outside, doing something truly useful, something that wasn't fake, like adorning an estate house! No one thought I'd last a week on my own when I left home, but I did more than merely survive- I thrived! I was dirt poor of course, but that was a small price to pay for being left alone . . . I've always wanted just to be left alone . . . to be free of the unreasonable demands of tyrants.'
'You don't see poverty as a sort of tyranny?' he asked her sardonically.
She shrugged. 'At least it's a tyrant I can meet on my own terms, Señor.'
He seemed to take a fresh look at her at that.'True. What about the belongings you left behind in England?'
Avoiding his eye, she said, 'I sold everything of value I owned. I no longer own anything of value, sentimental or otherwise.'
'You would simply pick up and start a new life here- is that it?'
'Yes . . . here, or wherever else I end up.'
He considered her in silence a long moment. At last, he said evenly, 'Take a few weeks here, first, before making up your mind. Then, after two weeks, let me know what you wish to do with your life. Is it a deal?'