Stormy the Way (10 page)

With inward blushing warmth she owned that she would trade a whole lifetime with Ricky for one night with her pagan Greek husband.

cIt seems odd that he didn't ask you to go with him.' Ricky moved restlessly on the chair and she was suddenly aware that she had forgotten to give him a drink.

'I'd rather have a cup of coffee,' he said when she had corrected the omission, and she rang the bell. His eyes brooded as she did this and when Savvas had been and gone he said, 'All this luxury - I'm the world's greatest fool to have thought you'd come back to me.'

She frowned heavily at this.

'You're married, Ricky,' she reminded him gently.

'Freda wants a divorce.'

'So soon? You haven't given your marriage a chance.'

He looked at her.

'You're not a bit troubled by my plight, are you, Tara?'

'Were you troubled by my hurt?'

He bit his lip.

'I asked for that, didn't I? No, I admit I wasn't - not at the time. But at the wedding— Oh, my God, Tara - I knew then that I'd made a mistake! It's you I love, and I always will love you.' She thought for one horrified moment that he was going to cry, and indeed he did brush a hand across his eyes. 'I've made a terrible mess of my life, Tara - and I can't see anything to live for.'

'We get over these things,' she said gently, hating to see him like this.

'Time will put everything right.'

'You're saying that, some day, I'll meet someone else - and make a proper marriage?'

'I don't think I meant that exactly. I meant that the hurt you're feeling now will eventually be healed. Why- don't you and Freda have a talk and see what can be done? You must have thought something about each other at the time you decided to get married.' How strange she could speak like this to the man who at the time had hurt her so dreadfully. It was as if she was numbed of all emotion; she felt no more than an impersonal adviser who was trying to help him.

'You know what happened. Freda's father and mine put their damned heads together and decided that there should be more than a business merger. Dad said that if I married you, and Freda married someone else, then, eventually, the business would have to be shared instead of being left as a whole.'

Tara could find nothing to say to this, and she was relieved to see the door swing open and Savvas appear with the tray.

She poured the coffee, thinking of the little bar where she and Ricky used to meet at lunchtimes. Strange that she had believed that this sort of thing was all she wanted from life. With a switch of thought she brought Leon into her vision. Had he been with her in a small coffee bar it would have been exciting—

'I wonder if I can stay here for tonight?' Ricky's anxious voice broke into her thoughts and she frowned.

'I don't know, Ricky - it isn't quite die thing, not with Leon being away. There's an hotel—'

'Please let me stay here,' he begged. 'Just for one night, Tara. Give me this, for old times' sake. I'd like to have a meal with you and - and talk.' She made no answer and he added pressingly, 'There are servants -1 noticed a woman as well as the man. Surely your husband trusts you?'

'Certainly he does!' sharply as die handed him his coffee. 'It's just that, to my mind, it isn't right that you should stay here.'

'Don't you ever have guests?'

'We haven't up till now. We shall some day, I expect.'

T shall feel awful in an hotel on my own.'

She gave a small sigh. There was nothing wrong in his staying, she decided, still finding pity in her heart for him. It had been foolish of him to come, especially as he could very well have encountered Leon, and been turned away immediately, but as he
had
come Tara could understand how he felt about going into an hotel on his own.

'Very well, Ricky,' she said at last. 'You can stay.'

'Thank you,' he returned humbly. 'I'm grateful to you, Tara.'

She caught at her underlip. Being so unhappy herself, she could feel deeply for him. He too had made a complete mess of his life, as he himself had just admitted.

Having once given way on the question of his staying at the villa Tara saw no reason for not being friendly, and as the afternoon passed she and he chatted amicably enough, with Tara discovering that she was rather glad of the company, after five weeks of spending long hours every day on her own, and many evenings as well, because Leon went out so often. As for Ricky, he dropped his dejection for a while, and it was almost like old times - almost, but not quite.

With a couple of hours to spare before the evening meal Tara suggested they go into the town and stroll around.

'Yes, indeed; I'd like that,' responded Ricky eagerly, and would have taken hold of her hand, but she pulled it out of his reach.

Tara nodded several times as she and Ricky strolled along the waterfront, as she knew a few people by sight. A good many more knew her, for the Greeks were a naturally inquisitive people, and a stranger was instantly an object of the keenest interest. Tara had entered the island unobtrusively at first, for no sooner had she stepped off the boat than she was in the car being driven by Androula. But nevertheless, her presence was known to everyone soon enough, as Savvas spent all his off time in one of the
tavernas
along the front.

And of course, Savvas talked. What the Poriots thought about the English girl who had come to the island as the fiancee of one brother, then married the other, was something which, she suspected, had kept numerous tongues wagging for some considerable time.

'This is a delightful little island.' Ricky spoke after a long silence and Tara turned her attention from the scene across the strait, to him, smiling and nodding her agreement. 'You've been very lucky,' he added in a much less enthusiastic tone.

'I suppose I have.' She took care not to allow any hint of her unhappiness to enter into her voice, as she had no intention of answering any questions which might ensue were Ricky to suspect she was not perfectly nappy with her husband. Her life was complicated enough already; she was not intending to create a situation where she would be obliged to fight Ricky's persuasions to put a speedy end to her marriage. In fact, she knew for sure that, if there were eventually to be an end to it, then all action should come from Leon. She would never divorce him because even though she would soon be living apart from him she would always feel he was hers, so long as they remained married.

'What's your husband like?' asked Ricky as they turned eventually to retrace their steps. 'You know, I would never have expected you to marry a
foreigner.'

'We never know what's in store for us,' she murmured, almost to herself. 'As for what my husband is like - he's rather wonderful, Ricky,' she said softly, catching back the break in her voice. 'He's exceedingly handsome.'

'He certainly brought you to a beautiful home,' Ricky conceded graciously, glancing up to where the low white villa stood out against the sunset sky. 'He must be a millionaire?'

'I don't know, Ricky, and it doesn't matter. I'm not a very money-minded person, as you very well know.'

'Your wants were often meagre,' he said pensively, and added, 'Since the merger we're making a lot more money. You could have had anything you wanted, Tara.'

Tara appeared not to have heard him; she was watching one of the

garsonis
at the cafe which they were approaching. He had noticed her and Ricky, had drawn the attention of a customer to them and this man swung right round in his chair in order to get a bettor view of them. Something was said as the
garscni
bent his dark head to that of the customer and both men laughed. Tara went hot, then cold with fury. She looked straight at the
garsoni
as she and Ricky drew abreast of him; she could not miss the sly grin, and the eyes dropping to the customer whose head was tilted now as he looked up at Tara. The

garsoni
then slanted her a glance and there was something animal-like in his eyes; they were fixed and liquid, and still sly.

'Those two had a jolly good look,' commented Ricky, amused. 'Do they always subject strangers to that sort of treatment?'

'Women they do,' she replied sharply, regretting her suggestion that she and Ricky should go into town. 'They're charming people really, but they're far too fond of minding other people's business. It will be all over Poros that I was walking out with you.'

He turned to her and frowned.

'What's wrong in that?'

'We're not in Britain now. In Greece one has to be circumspect.'

'I fail to see how anyone can say we're not circumspect. I'm only walking with you.'

She shrugged and changed the subject, but the man's sly expression remained with her for a very long time. She would hate anyone to talk about her, if only for Leon's sake. It would not be very nice for him if the villagers were feeling sorry for him or, even worse, laughing at him.

'What's troubling you?' asked Ricky as they sat on the patio after dinner, he smoking a cigarette and she eating a confection with her coffee. 'You looked quite angry just now.'

She managed a smile.

'It's nothing, Ricky. Tell me all about the business - and that new idea you had for holding your own fashion parades in London.'

He shook his head.

'You don't really want to hear about it.'

What else was there to talk about?

'I do,' she persisted. 'It was an exciting project at the time. Have you got it under way yet?'

'Yes, as a matter of fact we have. Dad's expecting great things from it.' He continued then and became totally immersed in outlining the firm's plans to Tara, who listened with interest, and when at last she said good night to Ricky and went along to her own bedroom she was feeling brighter than she did before he came. The company had done her good, she admitted, feeling less depressed than she had for weeks.

She had just come downstairs the following morning when Savvas emerged from the rear of the hall and told her that the gentleman was ill.

'Ill?' she repeated. 'My guest is ill?'

'Yes, Madam Leon, he is. He rang the bell before six o'clock this morning and I went to him. He seems to have the fever—' Savvas shrugged. 'Or something else. He said I must not disturb you at that time and that he would be all right in a little while, when he had had the brandy he asked for.'

'I'll go and see what's wrong.'

'Yes, madam. The breakfast?'

'Keep it hot, Savvas; we'll be having it later.'

Later? One look at Ricky and she knew he wouldn't be getting up that day.

'It's food poisoning, I think,' he said apologetically as she stood over the bed, looking at his perspiring face. 'I ate some concoction in the Greek caf' in Piraeus while waiting for the boat and I noticed a slight feeling of pain soon afterwards. It went, though, but returned after dinner last night. I didn't say anything to you because I didn't expect it to persist. But it did, and I haven't slept a wink all night.'

'Is the pain very bad?' she asked, a troubled frown on her face.

'It is, Tara. I'm beginning to think I ought to have a doctor.'

She nodded and promised to phone right away.

'Is there anything I can get you in the meantime?'

'There's a clean handkerchief in my bag.'

She opened the small zip-bag he had carried when he came yesterday, and took out the handkerchief.

'There's nothing else? I mean, wouldn't you like a drink of tea or something?'

'No, thanks, Tara. I had that brandy earlier, but I had a job to keep it down.'

'Is it the fever, madam?' Savvas wanted to know when she came downstairs again.

'No; it's his stomach. Mr. Leon's doctor - what's his number?'

'Mr. Leon never has a doctor, madam.'

'Do you have a doctor?' He nodded and she got the number from him.

Within half an hour Dr. Antonakis was at Ricky's beside, and a few minutes later he was telling Tara that he would be in bed for about two days or maybe a little longer.

'It depends on the man himself,' he went on to explain. 'He has food poisoning, but only a little bit — if you know what I mean? Some people take more days than other people. He might be very well the day aftertomorrow - if you know what I mean? But then he might take one more day - if you—?'

'Yes, Dr. Antonakis,' she intervened hastily. 'I know what you mean.'

'Ah,' he beamed, revealing three magnificent gold fillings. 'It is good that you understand. Do you want me to come again? It is not necessary - if you—'

'In that case, doctor, don't trouble to come. I'm sure you must be very busy.'

'Busy? No, we have not many people ill on this island. It is too healthy, so not good for business - if you know what I mean?'

'I do,' she smiled, 'perfectly. Good morning, doctor, and thank you very much for coming so quickly.'

'It is a pleasure. Good morning -
kalimera!'
Savvas was behind her as she closed the front door. He spread his podgy brown hands and a huge shrug hunched his thick shoulders for a moment.

'He always say this thing - "if you know what I mean?" He hear it from an English lady and he think it is the fashion in your country,'

Another spread of his hands. 'So he keeps on saying it.' Tara handed him a piece of paper. 'You must get this medicine for Mr. Ricky.'

'I will, madam. I shall send Margarita immediately to the

pharmakion!'

She stood a moment or two after he had gone. Ricky in bed for two or more days. Leon would be back in three
so if all went well Ricky would be gone. But if he were still here. . . . Not that it mattered; she would have a visitor if she wanted one, but she did send up a little prayer that Ricky would get well in time to be gone before her husband's return.