Stormy the Way (3 page)

'I feel that if he saw you he'd admit . I'd shown wisdom and maturity in my choice.' He paused to note the effect of this, but Tara's face remained expressionless. 'If you'll come with me, as Leon suggests, it will swing the balance in my favour and he won't withhold my inheritance. If you won't come, and I'm forced to tell him that the engagement was all a pretence, then I'm lost - utterly. The third course is to say the engagement has been broken, but here again I'll be in his bad books.' Paul stopped again, but as she did not speak he added beseechingly, 'Do this for me, Tara. You mentioned you had three weeks' holiday to come, and you'd love it in Poros.'

'My three weeks is spoken for. Besides, what will happen later?

You'll have to tell him the truth some time.'

'Yes, but not until I've got my inheritance in September. If you come with me now, then we can correspond - just for his benefit - until I go back to university. A couple of weeks later I'm twenty-one and Leon, believing I've a sensible fiancee like you, will readily drop the reins and give me my freedom.'

'I can't pretend to be your fiancee,' she said with slight impatience. 'I'd like to help you, but it's not in my power to do so.'

'It is in your power. As I've said, you'll influence my brother because anyone can see you're genuine—'

'Thanks, but cut out the flattery, Paul. I'm still thinking of what you said about your brother's having an aversion to the English.'

'I did say that, but it doesn't mean that he would dislike my marrying an English girl.'

'I can't see him receiving one with open arms.' .Paul bit his lip; it was clear that he now regretted his words about Leon's not liking the English.

'Please come,' he begged. 'Leon won't expect you to stay for more than a fortnight or so, for he'll realize you can't leave your work for any longer than that. As I've said, we'll correspond, then when I get my money you and I can say good-bye.'

She eyed him curiously.

'How will you explain my disappearance?'

'I'll say you broke the engagement,' He shrugged. 'It won't matter then if he is mad. I'll be out of his power.'

Tara remained silent. What was she thinking about to be considering such a deception? She could not possibly go to Poros, much as she would have liked to help the boy, deploring his brother's pinch-fisted control of the money. No, she could not go to Poros....

'Would you like something to drink?' she asked, and to her surprise Paul said he would like a cup of coffee.

'I'll make it and bring it in,' offered Joan when Tara went into the kitchen where Joan was making potato cakes for supper. 'By the way, there's a letter for you in the hall. You missed it when you came in. It's on the table.'

'Thanks, I'll get it.'

The letter was postmarked Liverpool and contained the brief information that the post had been filled.

Never mind, there were other posts, she thought as she returned to the sitting-room, the letter still in her hand. She put it on the sideboard and stared at it for a moment. She was leaving her present job, and she had no other to go to. She was free; it was an odd feeling - like being in a vacuum. Free. She could do whatever she cared to do ... while her savings lasted, that was.

Paul began his persuasions again as she sat down, and gradually the idea of going to Greece became attractive. Just her fare to find, plus some spending money.

'You'll come!' exclaimed Paul, suddenly reading her expression.

'You're really giving the matter some thought?'

'I don't know, Paul,' she replied cagily. 'It's not a decision I can make without thinking more carefully about it.' Looming large on her horizon was the awareness that what Paul contemplated was grossly dishonest, even though this Leon deserved to be thwarted. Obviously he was dictatorial and overbearing, and in Tara's opinion he had no right even to contemplate holding back his brother's inheritance. It had merely been a whim on the part of the boy's father that had put Leon in control of his money, and as Tara thought about this she found her conscience troubling her less and less. Dishonest it might be to go to Greece as Paul's fiancee, but Leon obviously deserved all he got.

'You won't give me your answer now?' Paul spoke persuasively, but Tara shook her head.

'I must consider it first.'

'If I have to tell Leon the truth it will be awful. For one thing, he's so proud, and would be furious if he discovered I'd done what I did for the sake of a mere ten pounds.'

'I've thought of that,' she admitted, then added, 'You wouldn't necessarily have to mention the money, though.'

'I suppose not, but Leon is so staid - he'd consider me more immature than ever for taking part in - in ..His voice trailed away and he flushed at his lack of tact. Tara also coloured, once again recalling her brother's scathing comments on her own immaturity, 'Please come,'

urged Paul again. 'I don't think I could tell my brother the truth.'

Tara remained firm despite his entreating manner.

'As I've said, I'll consider the matter carefully.'

'And give me your decision soon? Leon is expecting us within the next fortnight.'

'I'll give you my decision tomorrow.'

LEAVING mist behind in England, Tara entered a world of sunshine when the plane touched down at Athens airport. After lunch taken in an hotel she and Paul took a taxi to Piraeus and then the boat to Poros, passing many rocky islands on the way. The small ship sailed through a narrow strait into the circular Bay of Poros where the sea was smooth as a lake and pine forests and olive trees and lovely citrus groves rose up the sides of the mountains. White cubic houses occupied the lower slopes, while all along the waterfront small craft were moored. Across the strait - and appearing so close that it would seem possible to throw a stone on to it — was the pretty village of Galata with hotels and shops spread along its front. Small boats plied continuously between the harbour at Poros and that of Galata on the mainland.

On disembarking Tara and Paul were met by Androula, brown-haired and grey-eyed and not nearly as dark as Tara had expected her to be.

Speaking excellent English, she welcomed Tara to the island and then said,

'I've been so excited about my aster. I never expected to have one so soon!' and only then did Tara experience her first tinge of uneasiness.

Androula drove away from the harbour, into the lush green hills, and there on a wide terrace stood the modern villa, built partly on stilts so that it commanded a panoramic view across the limpid landlocked waters of the bay to the coast of the Argolid.

The car came to a standstill at the front of the house; a manservant was there ready to take the luggage.

Tea was served on the patio, and the two girls got to know each other.

Androula was thoroughly modern both in dress and manner. She possessed strength of character, too, Tara soon discovered. There would be no arranged marriage for her.

'I wish Leon, would come,' said Androula, glancing at her watch. 'He was rather upset at having to go out, when you were expected, but he said he would be back by five o'clock, and it's that time now.'

'Where has he gone?' asked Paul without very much interest.

'Across to Troezen. He had to meet someone there.'

Paul was looking at Tara; she wore an air of confidence, but she was inwardly aware of a small access of trepidation at the idea of meeting this brother of Paul's ... and yet what had she to fear? She was here to act a part, just for a couple of weeks, and after that she would never set eyes on any of these people again. Most certainly she would never cross Leon's path again.

When, an hour later, Leon had still not appeared, they all went into the house and Paul left the two girls in the lounge, saying he was going to his room to write letters.

'Tell me all about yourself?' Androula smilingly invited, crossing her elegant legs as she leant back on the couch. Tara had been glancing around, faintly surprised that she saw no sign of such things as ikons and statues of the saints. What she did see gave evidence of an enlightened westernized existence - the gold- covered chairs designed for comfort, the inlaid tables and the cabinets filled with rare china and jade. One cabinet was completely given over to a splendid array of Georgian silver.

'There isn't much to tell,' returned Tara in answer to Androula's eager question. 'As Paul told you, our engagement came swiftly upon our getting to know one another.' She stopped, frowning inwardly, her eyes on the ring she wore - Joan's engagement ring, lent to Tara without Stewart's knowledge. This was all wrong; Tara hated to deceive this lovely girl, and although she freely owned that Paul needed her help she was beginning to be stirred by conscience trouble.

'But you yourself,' persisted Androula, her eyes eager and smiling.

'You have relatives?'

'My parents are in the West Indies.' Tara went on obligingly to offer a few brief facts about herself and her family, naturally omitting anything about her projected move to the north of England.

'I would have liked to come and see you in England,' smiled Androula, twisting a soft strand of hair between her fingers, 'but I have no long holiday until next summer and by that time you'll be married to Paul. Oh, I am so glad you're what I wanted,' she exclaimed impulsively. 'It is a little frightening, you know, when you realize you're to have a sister-in-law. I used to have visions of someone I couldn't like - and indeed I am sure that I shall never like anyone who marries Leon, because she is sure to be like him—' She broke off, her lips forming a silent 'Ooh!' but then she shrugged and went on to confide, 'It doesn't matter if you know, because you are to be one of the family anyway, but Leon is cold, Tara, and somehow so very aloof and superior, that I'm sure he will choose a wife who is equally forbidding.'Naturally Tara made no comment on this piece of deduction; die was still troubled by her conscience, since every word said by Androula seemed to act as a prick. Already Tara knew she was going to feel mean and guilty, and thoroughly ashamed of herself, when eventually this trusting girl learned of the broken engagement. Not that Androula would ever be in receipt of the knowledge that the engagement had been a sham anyway, but this went no way at all to assuaging Tara's conscience. Androula began to speak again and then stopped, as, glancing through the open window, she saw Leon appear. Tara twisted round, saw the gleaming white Mercedes coming quietly along the path before sliding to a halt at the side of the house.

'Your stepbrother. ..Tara spoke automatically, her fascinated gaze fixed on the man who was now striding majestically across the wide green lawn. Incredibly tall for a Greek, and slim to the point of angularity, he wore such an air of confidence that he might have been descended from the mighty Zeus himself! Dark-skinned like his brother, he even exceeded him in looks and grace of movement, the natural result of maturity. With easy agile steps he mounted the patio and entered the room, his eyes on Tara, expressionless eyes dark as coal, and set in a face which was now an inscrutable mask.

His hand was extended as Androula made the introductions.

'I trust you had a good flight,' he said after the preliminaries were over. Tara nodded, automatically rubbing her fingers soothingly, for his grip had hurt.

'Yes, thank you.' All Greeks extended a welcome to strangers and Leon's omission was not only noticeable, but also unpromising.

'I had hoped to meet you myself, but pressure of business prevented it. I apologize.'

So formal. Did the man ever unbend? wondered Tara, noting the rigid jaw lines and stern set mouth.

'It was all right,' put in Androula brightly, 'I was there on time.'

His eyes slid towards her, sweeping her elegant legs; Tara knew instinctively that he would have his sister clad in long black clothes if he had his way. But the girl was in a pretty mini-skirt, her legs crossed to reveal shapely thighs.

'A miracle,' he murmured at length in a dry tone which did no more than bring a tinkling laugh from Androula. She had referred to her brother as formidable, but it was plain that she was a long way from going in awe of him. She was in his good books, though. Not like poor Paul, who went in fear of his inheritance being delayed.

'Don't give my new sister the wrong impression, Leon. I am not nearly so scatterbrained as you would have people believe!' She smiled enticingly at him, but no responding smile softened that inflexible mouth.

'That,' he said, 'is something Tara will determine for herself - when she gets to know you better.' He sat down, hitching a white trouser leg, and leant back languidly, his eyes once again fixed on Tara's face. It was ridiculous, but already she sensed his dislike of her.

Impatiently she tried to shake off the idea, telling herself that it was of no consequence anyway, and yet she reluctantly admitted the fact of his disapproval was not what she could ignore. She frowned inwardly. How could he dislike her on so short an acquaintanceship?

She must be imagining it, she told herself sternly. 'I'd like to have a few minutes alone with Tara,' he said at length, glancing at Androula.

'Will you leave us?'

She rose at once.

'Of course,' obligingly. 'I'll go and see what Paul is doing. He went upstairs to write some letters.'

Leon watched the door close behind her, then turned his attention to his companion. His gaze was searching; her figure had been ignored and Tara soon realized it was her mind in which his interest lay, not her body, as is the case with the great majority of Greek men. She managed somehow to present a frank expression, but the rising colour in her cheeks was quite beyond her control. He was altogether too disconcerting, this lean bronzed Greek with the superlative classical features and the piercing black eyes. It would be no easy matter to deceive him, and unless she wanted to ruin Paul's chances at the outset she must be very much on her guard. Added to the suspicion that he had disliked her on sight was the instinctively- formed idea that he did not trust her. Yes, she must tread with extreme caution in her dealings with Leon - whose surname, by a coincidence, was also Dorkas - as otherwise she was going to find herself letting Paul down.