Greek Wedding (45 page)

He was answered by a commotion in the doorway as Jenny burst in and threw herself into his arms. ‘B, my darling B, you're safe!'

‘If you call it safe! I'm married!'

‘I'm so happy I could cry.' Jenny was kissing Phyllida. ‘Will you very much mind being a Duchess, love?'

‘I shall hate it,' said Phyllida uncompromisingly, then turned to fling her arms round Cassandra's neck. ‘Aunt Cass, you're all right?'

‘And why not?' asked Cassandra. ‘But, dear child, what in the world are you doing in that rig? Your ankles!'

‘Oh!' She had forgotten all about Miss Mincheon's dress. ‘It's something I borrowed. Dear Aunt, don't you think, as a Duchess, I may perhaps carry it off?' She turned back to Brett. ‘Darling, must I be a Duchess?'

‘If you dislike it so much, my love, we'll just have to live in America.'

‘Do you know, I have the most lowering feeling that it might be worse there. But'—thoughts of Miss Mincheon had reminded her—‘where is Mrs. Froxe?'

‘She don't much like her entrances spoiled,' said Jenny naughtily. ‘I collect Mrs. Biddock has gone to tell her we are all met.' Suddenly, she was looking past Phyllida at the little group
of officers who had accompanied Captain Froxe from the
Redstart
. She turned so white that Phyllida put out an instinctive hand to support her.

‘What is it?' Phyllida paused at sight of a young lieutenant making his determined way towards them.

‘Miss Renshaw,' he bowed punctiliously, then took her hand. ‘It's been a very long time.'

‘Too long,' said Jenny.

‘Well!' began Aunt Cassandra as the nameless young officer drew Jenny ruthlessly into a corner, but Phyllida was not listening. She had seen Brett's eyes fix, in horror, on the curving stairway that swept down into the room.

Mrs. Froxe was making her entrance. A beauty. Well, Phyllida corrected herself, an ex-beauty. Perhaps a mistake to pause for that moment at the head of the stairs, collecting eyes, since the angle from which they saw her served unkindly to emphasise a slight softening of the clear line of the chin, a corresponding thickening of the elegant waist. Now she moved forward again, as Captain Froxe came up to meet her, babbling his apologies.

She frowned down at him, and aged another five years. ‘It's all of a piece. My convenience, your duty to my hosts, are to be as nothing compared with the affairs of a couple of draggletailed refugees.' She was looking past him now, and let out a sudden gasp as her eyes met Brett's.

Cissie Biddock had fluttered down the stairs behind her. ‘My dear.' She broke a queer little silence. ‘I should have explained. It's the Duke of Sarum, and,' she paused, ‘Miss Vannick.'

Brett's hand closed like iron on Phyllida's elbow as he moved her forward to the foot of the stairs. Ignoring Mrs. Biddock, he gazed down for a moment into Mrs. Froxe's angry blue eyes. Then, ‘Well, Helena,' he said, ‘how do you do?' And, without giving her time to answer. ‘May I have the pleasure of making you known to my wife, the Duchess?'

He was a Duke. He could behave like that. And this, incredibly, was Helena. Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, or, more to the point, brought Brett to the point of suicide? Curtsying solemnly, Phyllida was aware of Helena's eyes on her ankles, and badly wanted to laugh. Instead, she smiled sweetly and thanked her in dulcet tones for the loan of her maid's dress.

Mercifully, Cissie Biddock was marshalling the company in to dinner. Phyllida seized her chance to turn on Brett. ‘If that's the way Dukes behave, I'm against it.'

‘I know.' Meekly. ‘It was very bad of me. But admit I was provoked?' They were parted by Cissie Biddock before she could answer him.

Who had arranged the table? Helena was sitting on Biddock's right, with Brett beside her. Phyllida was aware of Brett's angry reaction and grateful to him when he controlled it. This was no moment to be fussing over precedence. Besides, she immensely enjoyed watching Helena play off her beauty's armoury on Brett, and then felt guilty when she was aware of Captain Froxe, beside her, watching it too. Farther down the table, Jenny had contrived to sit beside her lieutenant, and Phyllida found a safe subject by asking Captain Froxe his name.

It meant nothing to her, but Froxe appeared to think well of the young man, for what that was worth. Jenny's look of happiness was infinitely more important. And Peter? The minute this interminable meal was over she must get Jenny, or, more likely, Aunt Cassandra into a corner and find out what had really happened. But, over coffee, she found herself buttonholed by Mr. Biddock. ‘If I might have a private word with you, Miss'—he stopped, compromised—‘ma'am?' He was shepherding her, as he spoke, into his downstairs office.

‘If you wish.' She must break it to him about her gift to Oenone. ‘But first.' This she must ask. ‘My brother?'

‘Safe on the
Helena
.' His tone held deep disapproval. ‘No one has told me anything about it, and I do not in the least wish to know. I only thank God your father had the good sense to leave things as he did. But we have more important things to discuss.'

‘Yes?' Was he finding this more difficult than he had expected?

‘I rely on your good sense.' He stopped, started again in a rush. ‘You must see it's impossible, ma'am. The story of a wedding in some hole or corner of mainland Greece might do well enough for ordinary people, but for a Duke! Imagine the scandal! I rely on your good sense, Miss Vannick,' he said again. ‘You will do the right thing, I am convinced of it.'

‘And that is?' She would not let him see, yet, just how angry his use of her maiden name had made her.

‘Vanish, ma'am. Go back to America, at once. There's a
packet sails tonight. I've made all the arrangements. I did it the minute I heard.'

‘Did you consult my aunt?' She noticed with detached interest that she was trembling a little.

‘I had no opportunity. But she'll see the sense of it. I booked a passage for her too, of course. Don't you see, it's the only way. Then if the Duke wishes, he can come over, after a decent interval, and woo you in form.'

‘I have never heard so much nonsense in my life.' And then, while he gaped his surprise. ‘Did you, Mr. Biddock, have the effrontery to book the passage in my name?'

‘Well, of course.'

‘Then I would be grateful if you would get together the papers relating to my estate. I am transferring my business to Mr. Barff. Today. Your last action on my behalf will be cancelling that passage.'

‘Passage?' Brett joined them. ‘I was wondering where you had got to, love. But what's the matter?' He put an arm round her and felt her tremble.

‘Mr. Biddock wants me to “vanish”. So as not to disgrace you, my Lord Duke. He's been so good as to book passages on tonight's packet for my aunt and me. He suggests that—if you should happen to feel like it—you might come to America in a year or so and woo me decently. Brett!'

He had burst into a fit of laughter. ‘And you let him make you so angry? My poor darling, where's your sense of humour? He hadn't, I take it, consulted your aunt? I can hardly see her lending herself to such a scheme.'

‘No. I'm taking my affairs away from him, Brett.'

‘Oh, I wouldn't do that.' His fingers found her ribs in something between a pinch and a caress. ‘Such a palaver. We've enough to do as it is, love.' He turned to Biddock. ‘The Duchess will forgive you, this once, Biddock. See to the cancelling of the passages, and explain that it was your mistake. Then come back to me, here. We've a great deal to attend to.'

‘Yes, Your Grace. Thank you, Your Grace.' It was hard to tell which of them he was addressing.

‘You don't mind my taking the law into my own hands?' Brett turned to her smiling, as Biddock left the room.

‘Do you know, I find I rather like it. Do you think I'm going to dwindle into a dependent “yes-my-love” wife?'

‘I very much doubt it.' He took her in his arms. ‘Alone at last!'

‘Oh no we're not,' said Phyllida crossly. ‘What is it, Jenny?'

‘The
Philip
!' Jenny threw open the shutters. ‘Look! I'd know her anywhere.'

‘And Alex handling her,' Phyllida agreed. ‘Lord! Look at that for a landing.'

‘Damned risky,' said Brett, ‘like all his behaviour. But you have to give him credit for courage. Besides, he provides us with an admirable excuse to leave this appalling party. If I have to endure five mintutes' more conversation with Mrs. Froxe I shall say something to her we'll both regret.'

Jenny could not help laughing. ‘Oh. B, you horror, and when you think how you pined over her!'

‘Yes,' said Phyllida. ‘How glad I am I didn't accept that place on the packet. I'm not going to give you the chance to forget
me
, love.'

‘You're right about that. But, come, we don't want Alex getting to the
Helena
before we do. You've got Peter safely locked up, I trust?'

‘Yes,' said Jenny, ‘in your cabin. I don't know where you and Phyllida are going to sleep, B.'

*          *          *

There was only time for the briefest exchange of news before they were boarding the
Helena
, to an enthusiastic welcome, and the sight of the
Philip's
boat, rapidly approaching.

‘You'll let me handle this?' Brett asked Phyllida.

‘Gladly.' She was aware of Jenny's amused eye on her. Had she used to be so self-willed? ‘But you won't be hard on Peter?'

‘I propose to be very good to Peter. I hope. But I think we'd best see Alex first, if you don't mind?'

‘Of course not.' She was not even sure that she wanted to see her brother. What in the world, after all that had happened, could they say to each other?

Alex, on the other hand, climbing lightly on board, showed no sense of shame whatever, and that was really rather a relief. He greeted them all, just as usual, with his ravishing smile, and went on to congratulate Brett and Phyllida on a happy escape. ‘And on your marriage?' He made it just a question.

‘You are well informed. Yes. Father Gennaios married us.' Brett said it, deliberately, as a challenge.

‘So I heard. And you led his people on a raid of my stores! If I'd not been so pleased with Oenone otherwise, I'd have been angry with her about that.'

‘She did not know I had seen them,' said Brett. ‘She took the greatest possible care to prevent it. I'm glad you recognise the debt you owe her. She saved you from a very difficult situation.'

Alex threw back his head and laughed. ‘Yes, as things have turned out, I really think she did. A girl in a thousand, And'—he turned to Phyllida—‘you intend to keep your word to her,
kyria
?'

‘My wife always keeps her word.' For the first time, Brett allowed anger to show. ‘You are come, I take it, to collect Oenone's dowry. I warn you, I am going to see it tied up for her and her children. That's why we need Mr. Biddock, love,' He turned to explain to Phyllida. ‘He will do what we tell him, without asking questions. But there's one other condition I am going to make?'

‘Oh?' Alex's bright eye was suspicious now.

‘Yes. We've got Peter Vannick shut up in my cabin, which I happen to want for myself and my wife. I think you had better take him home with you. By his behaviour he's much more a Greek than an American. You agree, Phyl?'

She suppressed a pang. But, almost certainly, Brett was right. ‘If he does, yes.'

‘Then we had better have him up here. Barlow, would you?'

*          *          *

Peter looked so haggard that Phyllida forgot everything in pity for him. ‘Oh, Peter!' For a moment he was her little brother again.

‘Don't “oh Peter” me!' He rejected her advance angrily. ‘It's your fault; all of this. If you'd not persuaded our father to make that unjust will none of it would have happened.'

‘That settles it,' said Brett. ‘I've two things to break to you, Mr. Vannick. One is that your sister has promised your half of her fortune to Alex's wife, in exchange for our freedom. So much for your dreams of wealth.'

Peter managed a sneer. ‘And I take it I am to languish in
prison? A shade embarrassing for you, surely, my Lord Duke?'

‘That's just what I thought,' said Brett. ‘So I am hoping to persuade Alex here to take you away with him. ‘
I
,' he emphasised the pronoun—‘shall arrange to have an annuity paid to you through him. While you live with him, it continues. Agreed, Alex?'

‘Agreed,' said Alex. ‘Come,
koumbaros
, it's time we were going. As for the money'—he smiled his heart-stirring smile for the last time—‘I trust you implicitly, milord.'

‘You can,' said Brett.

They were gone. Phyllida, leaning against the rail, watched their boat pull away towards the
Philip
and tried not to cry too obviously. ‘Don't.' Brett's comforting arm went round her. ‘You did your best by him. Now, I really hope, he's ready to learn a little sense.'

‘Oh, do you think so?' She smiled up at him, shakily.

‘Yes. There's nothing like making a real fool of oneself. I should know. Lord, I wonder you didn't take that passage on the packet after one glimpse of my Helena.'

Her smile broadened. ‘Depressed you, did she? Brett, how soon can we leave here?'

‘Just as soon as we've done our business with Biddock. You'll let me handle it for you?'

‘Gladly. If
he
will.'

Now his smile was a little grim. ‘Of course he will. There's something, I think, that hasn't occurred to you, my love. I'm afraid when you married me you made me master of your fortune. I'm ashamed not to have pointed it out at the time, but there were more important things to think of. Will you mind very much?'