Greek Wedding (27 page)

‘What did happen?'

‘Lord Cochrane assembled the fleet at Poros, to replan his strategy in the light of the army's defeat at Phalerum. And the Hydriot and Spetsiot captains demanded a month's pay in advance. Well, you can't blame them. What other security have they? Lord Cochrane understands nothing. He would only offer a fortnight's money. There he was, flying his flag as Lord High Admiral of Greece. The sun was setting behind the mountains of Argolis; the shadow of the rock of Methana growing darker every moment. Darker than the water under the ships as they left him, one by one. Now he's alone. There is no Greek navy.'

‘What did you do?' asked Brett.

‘I came here. To see my brother Petros, to ensure his safety and that of this lady who has dealt so hardly by me. There is nothing more to be done for Greece; it is time to be thinking of one's friends. And you Franks would be much safer back at Zante. I am come to offer you the
Philip's
escort there, as once before in happier times. That duty done, I shall retire to my castle in the Mani and hope that Ibrahim Pasha is fool enough to seek me out there.'

‘Oh, Alex—' Phyllida was both touched and relieved. ‘How good you are! It's true, we all long to be back at Zante, but the doctor says Peter's not strong enough to be moved.'

‘No,' said Brett, ‘and I, personally, don't take quite so dark a view of Greek affairs as you do, sir. I know the military situation looks black enough, but from all one hears it's only a question of time now until the Great Powers intervene with some kind of plan for a pacification.'

‘Yes.' Savagely. ‘Easy enough to make peace when every Greek worth the name has died either on the field of battle or from starvation.'

‘Or fighting each other. As to the starvation, that's what Miss Vannick and her American friends have been working so gallantly to fend off. And here, unless I'm very much mistaken, comes Dr. Howe.'

Howe, too, was dusty from his morning's work, and apologised for it briefly. He saw no reason why Alex should not see
Peter. ‘You won't, of course, touch on any topic that might agitate him.'

‘You ask a good deal,' said Alex gloomily. ‘But I'll do my best.'

And Jenny, running downstairs from the sickroom settled the question by reporting that Peter had heard the bustle in the house, deduced Alex's arrival and insisted on seeing him. ‘He's getting rather excited.'

‘In that case,' said Howe, ‘I think you'd best visit him at once, Mr. Mavromikhalis, and do your best to calm him down.'

Alex succeeded to a marvel. Cassandra was sitting with Peter, and refused to leave, though as she said afterwards, she was not much the wiser, since what the two men said was, literally, Greek to her. ‘But Alex really did cheer him up immensely,' she concluded. ‘I don't know what he told him, but it did him a power of good.'

In fact, Peter's recovery seemed to date from that meeting, and Phyllida could not help blessing Alex for the good effect he had had, any more than she could help wondering what, in fact, he had said. But he had left at once, explaining that, since they did not need his escort yet, he felt in honour bound to take supplies to the gallant little garrison that was still holding out in the Acro-Corinth. ‘But trust me,' he held Phyllida's hand for a long moment. ‘Any new threat to Nauplia, and I will return on the instant. If it was dangerous last year for a Frankish ship—and so desirable a one as the
Helena
—to round Cape Matapan alone, this year it would be mere madness. I suppose you know that the three ciphers we call our governors are issuing Letters of Marque to anyone who asks for them.'

‘For a price,' said Brett. ‘Yes, I had heard of it. Licences for piracy. But isn't one of those “ciphers” your cousin?'

‘Yes, to my shame. I had thought better of him. He and his two companions are busy selling the good name of Greece for what they can get.'

‘And oddly enough, it may be the best thing they can do for the Greek cause,' said Brett. And then, in response to Phyllida's little gasp of astonishment. ‘Don't you see? The Great Powers simply cannot afford to have this end of the Mediterranean degenerate into a nest of pirates. They're bound to do something. And, granted the immense public sympathy for the cause of Greek independence, I don't think they can possibly
just restore the Turkish yoke. I've no doubt that they are busy, right now, trying to work out some kind of a compromise. But, in the meantime,' to Alex, ‘if trouble really does break out here in Nauplia we'll be most grateful for your escort round Cape Matapan.'

‘You may rely on me.'

*          *          *

‘So father cut me off without even a shilling?' Peter greeted Phyllida without a smile.

Alex must have told him. ‘He didn't mean it to stand, of course. I told Mr. Biddock that as soon as you were safe, we'd arrange to share alike.'

‘I knew I could count on you.'

‘Yes.' Was it unreasonable to feel that a word or so of thanks would not have come amiss?

His next remark was still more dangerous. ‘And these vast sums you've been pouring out for the relief of Greek beggary,' he said. ‘Are naturally your own affair.'

‘But, Peter—You wrote and told me to send you your entire share—'

‘That was to fight with. Not to cosset a lot of wretched babies who would probably be very much better dead. No, no, Phyl. Spend your own money on what mad philanthropy you please, but keep your hands off mine.'

His? But he was ill. She bit back the retort that had sprung to her lips, and he went straight on. ‘I may need all my wealth if I'm to get Jenny. I don't suppose that stiff-necked brother of hers will let her go without a deuced amount of settlements and pin-money and so forth, and, if I don't miss my guess, a little something for brother Brett as well.'

‘Peter!' Now he had really shocked her. ‘What in the world do you mean?'

‘You hadn't even noticed! How like you, Phyl. You never did see the things that really concerned me. You haven't seen that I'm head over heels in love with that pretty little puss of an English girl! And what a wife she'll make! Absolutely of the top rank—My cousin the Duke, you know. Well, obviously you have to pay for that kind of thing, and you can tell Mister Brett that I'm quite prepared to do so.'

She was so horrified that it was hard to know where to begin. ‘Mr. Renshaw and I are hardly on such terms—'

‘Played your cards badly all round, haven't you? But never mind, Alex still carries the torch for you. God knows why. I told him he'd be hag-ridden as I used to be, but he just said, “Nonsense”. Well, it's his own business, and, of course, with things as they are now, he'll find the money handy. How much is there, by the way? Isn't it about time we sent to old Biddock for an accounting?'

‘No need.' He had shocked her so much that the only thing to do seemed to be to treat the whole subject as the most ordinary one in the world. ‘I have all the figures here. But we'll have to wait till we get to Zante to have the papers drawn up handing over your share. Biddock will have to do that.'

‘And till then I'm to be dependent on you for every penny I spend! Just like the bad old days. You never knew, did you, how it irked me to have you dole out my pocket-money as if you were my mother.' He moved restlessly in bed. ‘I wish that damned doctor of yours would let me get up and start getting my strength back. But in the meanwhile, what's this about you and Alex?'

‘Just that I've refused him.' She must try not to let him excite himself further.

‘But that's not the whole story, and you might as well admit it. You didn't refuse him the first time, did you? Got cold feet, I suppose, now the Greeks are losing.' It was what Alex had said, which did not make it any pleasanter hearing. ‘Did he tell you I'd given my permission?'

‘Yes.' Odd to remember that she had actually found this comic.

‘I suppose that goes for nothing with you? I'm just the little brother you used to bully—oh quite for his own good, of course. Harvard, and the law, when you knew perfectly well all I wanted was a chance to try my luck against those damned turncoat Canadians. Well, times have changed now, Phyl, and the sooner you realise it, the better. I'm the head of the family, and what I say, goes. That crazy will of the old man's would never stand for a moment if I were to fight it. Undue influence … Obviously his mind was going or he'd never have dreamed of bringing a couple of women here in times like these. Frankly, I thought him a little touched in the head the last time he was
home, and I've friends who'd say so too. But no need to look so qualmish, I'm a fair-minded man. Fifty-fifty should do us both well enough … Of course, I ought to have the larger share, but there's Alex to be considered. The best friend a man could have.'

‘But I've told you, Peter.' Here at least was a bit of solid ground. ‘I've refused Alex.'

‘Want to be an old maid, do you? Like dear Aunt Cass?'

She shivered a little at the spite in his tone. ‘I can imagine worse fates.'

‘Such as marriage to a real man like Alex, who'll expect a real wife? Scared of it, aren't you? Scared of anything real? A proper New England miss you turned out to be. Frankly, I can't think why Alex wants you, but he does, and, I tell you, Phyl, if you don't take him I'll break that will, and you can starve, or turn governess for all I care. You'd make a good governess,' he concluded brutally.

‘Who'd make a good governess?' Jenny pushed open the door, her arms full of flowers. ‘Look what Marcos brought me! I thought they'd cheer up the sickroom a bit.'

‘
You
cheer up the sickroom, Jenny.' His tone changed completely at sight of her. ‘I was beginning to think you'd never come. And so, I'm sure, was Phyllida who longs to be off counting okas of flour with those American friends of hers.'

‘And a very good work, too,' said Jenny. ‘I think you must be better. I've always found that bad temper is a great sign of convalescence. And just look at the state you've got your pillows into. Anyone would think you and Phyl had been having a fight!'

And so we have, thought Phyllida, retreating wearily to her own room. She could not even bring herself to go down to the warehouse, though she knew she would be missed, but sat, all afternoon, wondering wretchedly where she had gone wrong with Peter. And what should she do about it now! She longed to ask advice, but whose?

The roar of an explosion brought her out of her reverie with a start. She hurried downstairs and found the rest of the family already gathering. ‘What is it?' ‘Did you hear it?'

‘Gunfire.' Brett had emerged from his study. ‘It sounds to me as if the Palamede has opened up on the Itchkali.'

‘And what happens to us?' asked Jenny.

‘We leave, I think. Stay here, all of you; keep calm. There's no reason why a ball should fall here. Marcos and I will find out what's happening and make arrangements to board the
Helena
, if necessary. I just hope Peter's well enough.'

‘Of course I'm well enough.' Peter himself appeared at the head of the stairs. ‘So we're to run away are we?'

‘Well,' said Brett reasonably, ‘what would you suggest?'

‘You'll be careful, B?' Jenny said what Phyllida had longed to.

‘I'm always careful, kitten. You should know that by now.'

‘Yes, indeed.'

Something in Peter's tone made Jenny turn on him. ‘He's been pretty careful of you, when you come to think of it, Mr. Vannick.'

‘Yes. Forgive me, Jenny. I'm not myself.' A convincing stagger brought her hurrying to his side to help him back to bed.

‘I hope we don't have to move him.' She rejoined Phyllida downstairs. ‘He's not a bit well really. I'm sure that's what makes him so short-tempered, poor thing. I expect it was just one gun, don't you? An accident or something?' But her hopeful words were drowned by a new burst of gunfire. ‘That's from the other direction!'

‘Yes,' said Phyllida. ‘From the Itchkali.'

Brett returned with more bad news. ‘The town's in a panic, and the gates are shut. For the moment, no one's allowed out or in. Oh, I expect we could bribe our way through if the worst came to the worst, but the streets are in such a state I really think that for the moment we'd do better to stay here and take our chance of a stray ball. Under the cliff as we are, I think we should be safe enough.'

‘And to think I used to complain of the overhang!' said Jenny. ‘You don't think a ball might bring it down on us, Brett?'

‘I hope not. They're wild shots, God knows, but not I hope, so bad as that. It's what we thought. Trouble between Fotomarra and Grivas.'

‘What are the government doing?' asked Phyllida.

‘They're mixed up in it. It all started with trouble among the three regents. I wish to God Capodistrias would get here.'

‘I'm not sure I wouldn't rather see Captain Hamilton and the
Cambrian
,' said Phyllida.

‘You may well be right. Or Codrington himself, the Admiral. I've never met him, but from what I've heard, he's not one to stand much nonsense. Oh—that reminds me of one good thing: Dr. Howe must have had early information of the trouble. The American relief ship that arrived yesterday, the
Six Brothers
, slipped anchor and sailed in the night. I imagine Howe didn't intend the government to take their tithe of her supplies, as they did with the
Tontine
.'

‘Yes,' said Phyllida. ‘It made him furious, and no wonder. I hope he's all right today. Did you see him, Brett? Should we ask him to stay here? It's much safer than those lodgings of his in the centre of the town.'

‘That's what I was coming to,' said Brett. ‘He sailed with the
Six Brothers
.'