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‘ “This” is only a very good friendship,’ her mother informed her, ‘so you mustn’t read anything more into it than that.’

‘I won’t.’ Anna’s mind was in sudden turmoil. ‘Is John Malecos coming on Martha’s picnic?’

‘I’m not quite sure. He was certainly invited. I think everybody was!’

Except Andreas, Anna thought, but it was strange that Martha had not insisted on him being there.

‘We are ready to start,’ Helena said, coming back into the hall. ‘Take a jacket with you, Dorothy. We can’t risk you getting cold.’

The Warrenders had obviously provided the picnic lunch, but Helena had organised her own contribution to the feast, hastening to the kitchens to produce a basket covered by a white cloth which she gave to Nikos to put in her car.

‘You’ll come with us,’ she told Dorothy, ‘and Nikos can bring Anna. It’s an open car and not at all suitable for you when you have just been ill,’ she added.

Anna and her mother exchanged glances, but Helena’s arrangements had evidently been made as soon as the invitation from Lara had been accepted.

‘See you at Lachi!’ Anna smiled. ‘We can talk for hours once we get there.’

They followed the valley road to Magounda and on to Polis to find the ancient city-state of Marion lazily asleep in the morning sun. Standing on its commanding height a short distance from the sea and up to its knees in orchards, Polis was a popular tourist rendezvous, but the rain of early morning had dampened the enthusiasm of all but the most intrepid visitors and once they were out again on the coast road they were almost on their own. The three cars made a small procession along the peninsula, the Mercedes in front with Lara driving, the estate car bringing up the rear, and Nikos’ roadster in between.

‘We should have the bay practically to ourselves,’ Nikos said. ‘Most people will be at the tombs on a day like this after a morning’s rain.’

He left the asphalted road, taking an unsurfaced track to a magnificent viewpoint above the bay where sun and sea sparkled through a verdant landscape of carob and eucalyptus trees and the pungent scent of myrtle filled the air.

Anna knew it well because she had come there often enough as a child to climb down the ravine with its legendary cave where limpid water fell amid wild figs and trailing plants into a natural basin hollowed from the rock. The traditional Spring of Aphrodite, whose water made those who drank it lovesick!

She knew that the true Fontana Amorosa lay farther along the coast, but this beautiful ravine had always remained a rendezvous for lovers and she had once come here with Andreas long ago.

So long ago that he had probably forgotten all about it. She gazed into the crystalline spring, a sigh escaping her lips as Nikos helped her down the path towards the beach.

The other cars had disgorged their passengers along the shore after Lachi and Martha ran quickly to greet them.

‘Where have you been?’ she demanded.

‘Looking for Love!’ Nikos grinned, hoisting her on to his shoulders. ‘We’ll take you to the Baths some other time.’

Kypros and Lara were helping Philip along the beach.

‘We’re going to swim,’ Martha announced. ‘My Daddy used to be a champion swimmer,’ she added proudly, ‘and he can still beat Andreas!’

Andreas was conspicuous by his absence although he might have been expected to attend a small girl’s birthday picnic, especially a small girl who apparently adored him.

Slipping off the cotton sun-dress she wore over her swimsuit, Anna waded into the sea, swimming strongly when Nikos joined her.

'I'll race you to the island,’ he challenged, but she shook her head. ‘Too dangerous. I know this shore,’ she said, but perhaps she was just waiting for Andreas to appear.

Philip and Lara swam together far out into the bay, Lara's scarlet costume contrasting vividly with the sun- dazzled aquamarine water, Philip’s silver head visible for a long time above the surf. He was evidently in his element in the sea, untramelled by any hint of paralysis as he lay on his back with his face to the sun enjoying a freedom he was denied on land. Anna swam away, leaving them together as she headed back towards the shore where Nikos was teaching Martha to dog-paddle while Susan looked on. She could see Dorothy farther along the beach, sitting in the shade of a carob tree talking to a man in white shorts with a brilliantly striped towel across his shoulders.

Andreas? No, the newcomer was not tall enough. Slowly she went towards them, recognising John Malecos who was an old friend of the family, widowed many years.

‘Ti kanete?'
he greeted her. ‘I’m glad you were able to spare a day off to visit your mother,’ he added, looking down at Dorothy with deep affection. ‘She misses you.’

'We’ve got to come to terms with the summer heat,' Anna reminded him, ‘and it’s so beautiful up here in the mountains. I see you’ve been invited to the birthday lunch.’

‘Marty went round inviting everyone in sight,’ he smiled. ‘Now that she knows how to use the telephone there’s no holding her back!’

Anna sat down beside him. ‘It’s ages since we met,’ she remembered. ‘Are you still working in Nicosia?’

He shook his head. ‘I’ve retired. Time I was settling down to some relaxation, I thought, and the business seems to be running itself these days. I still keep the bachelor flat in Nicosia, but I’ve bought a place at Nikos near the monastery. We all migrate to the hills eventually,’ he decided. ‘I’m trying to persuade your mother to come and see my modest abode while she is with the Masistas’ and she has all but promised to do so. If you were not such a busy young woman,’ he added, ‘I’d ask you to bring her along.’

Anna glanced at her mother. Dorothy’s sapphire eyes were glowing, her cheeks prettily flushed.

‘Perhaps Andreas would bring me,’ she said. ‘Or Nikos.’

‘Any time!’ John prepared to go for his swim. ‘I think Philip and Lara are going too far out,’ he said. ‘I must warn them.’

Five minutes later a familiar car drew into the parking lot behind them and Andreas got out, striding across the beach to where they sat.

‘It wasn’t too easy to find you,’ he said, sitting down beside them. ‘I was looking for Nikos’ car.’

‘We left it up at the headland, on the dust road,’ Anna explained, ‘and walked down through the ravine.’

‘To the falls,’ he said, meeting her gaze directly. ‘Did they prove anything?’

‘Aphrodite must have been somewhere else!’ Anna said lightly. ‘Besides, I’ve been there before.’

‘With me,’ he said.

And now she had gone there with Nikos, to the legendary spring which had always been a meeting-place for lovers although the memory of her first visit there with Andreas was still strong in her heart. He had thought of that visit, too, but the poignant simplicity of first love could be no more than a memory to him now. ‘Are you going to swim?’ she asked.

‘What else?’ He stood up to consider the water. ‘Will you come?’

She smoothed her swimsuit, which had already dried in the sun. ‘I’ve been in already.’

‘Does that matter? We used to swim all day,’ he reminded her.

‘Go with him,’ Dorothy said. ‘I’ll be fine just sitting here in the shade.’

Anna hesitated.

‘Are you ready?’ Andreas asked, holding out his hand.

She could not very well refuse him. She did not want to refuse, but she ignored his proffered hand, getting to her feet unaided to run with him towards the sea, her heart suddenly light and glad.

They swam together for half-an-hour, the sun warm on their backs, the sea a vast open blue plain isolating them from the land. The tiny waves they made sparkled around them, and when they floated idly to rest for a while Andreas said, ‘If your mother eventually goes to stay at Stroumbi will you go with her?’

‘You’re asking me if I’m going to marry Nikos.’

‘That was the general idea, wasn’t it?’

‘No. I will have to make my own decision.’ She caught her breath. ‘I haven’t done that yet.’

Lying there in the cool blue water by his side such a decision seemed impossible because nothing—nothing at all could ever take the place of what had been for her the first bitter-sweet experience of love.

‘Will you tell me when you make up your mind? I know it would be best for Mama.’

She turned on her side to look at him. ‘You don’t know at all,’ she accused him. ‘You
think
it would be best for her, but she has a will of her own, remember. She—could marry again.’

‘Aha!’ he exclaimed, paddling idly. ‘You surprise me. Is romance really in the offing?’

She hesitated.

‘You can tell me,’ he encouraged her. ‘I’m one of the family, in case you have forgotten.’

‘You’re being facetious;’

‘Not really.’ The smile left his face. ‘You know I have her interests very much at heart and I believe she now trusts me. Has someone proposed to her?’

‘Not yet, but I think John Malecos will eventually.'

He whistled. ‘You don’t really surprise me,’ he decided. ‘She is still a very attractive woman. Are you jealous?’

‘Jealous? Of course not! I want her happiness more than anything else.’

‘What would you do with the villa? Sell it?’

The question made her angry. ‘No, I would never part with it, even if I had to live there alone.’ He left that unanswered, striking out towards the shore.

‘Time to go,’ he said. ‘Lara and Philip are already on the beach.’

The picnic lunch they shared had been specially prepared by Lara to include food which would please both her Greek and English guests. Many of the dishes were regional specialities of Greece and Turkey and even the drinks she served beforehand were presented with a selection of appetisers.
Mezedabia
was a favourite with the men, and
beccaficos
and
dolmades
went down well with everyone once Martha had explained carefully that she had helped to stuff the little vine leaves herself. The desserts, however, were the final
coup de grace
. Slices of nuts and almonds in currant jelly,
kadaif,
an oriental honey-cake, and
halvas
, to be followed inevitably by
rahat-loukoum
, the local Turkish Delight, were sampled eagerly as they laughed and lounged in the sun.

‘I feel as stuffed as the vine leaves!’ Nikos declared, biting into a second square of Turkish Delight. ‘We ought not to eat in the middle of the day.’

Susan, who was sitting beside him, laughed. ‘You look as if you could eat any time,’ she said, ‘but perhaps playing so much tennis helps to slim you down.’

‘You play quite a lot, I understand.’ He regarded her with interest. ‘Do you miss the Crescent Beach?’

‘Quite often, but it isn’t really far to go down for a game now and then.’ She looked at him suggestively. ‘Perhaps you could offer me a lift next time you go?’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t expect you to partner me, of course. It would be just for the chance to play.’

‘What about Martha?’ he asked.

‘I do have time off—once a week, actually,’

‘If I can make it,’ Nikos said, ‘I will.’

Anna, who had been listening idly, wondered what Lara would do without Susan’s help even for a day now that she had Philip to look after, but perhaps that was a question Lara never asked herself. Perhaps she had already acknowledged the fact that Susan wouldn’t stay in the mountains for a moment longer than it suited her and that one day she would have to cope with Martha by herself. It would not be for long, however, because Martha was due to go to boarding school in the autumn and no doubt Susan was well aware of the fact.

They played games on the beach, had another swim in the wide, blue bay and finally decided that it was time to go home.

‘I must go straight back,’ Anna said regretfully. ‘It has been a wonderful day.’

Andreas had been lounging on the sand beside her mother. ‘Let me take you,’ he suggested. ‘I have to be back at the Crescent Beach by six o’clock.’

Anna looked along the beach. ‘I came with Nikos '

‘What difference? It will save him the double journey.’

‘It does seem a sensible idea,’ Dorothy said. ‘Helena has invited everybody back to the house, but I suppose you have to go.’

‘Must do!’ Anna said ‘Elli has the evening off and Paris hates to make decisions on his own.’

Nikos came up with Susan who still wore her swimsuit.

‘We’re going in for a final dip,’ she said. ‘How about you, Anna?’

‘I’d love to, but I have to be on my way.’ Anna looked at Nikos. ‘Andreas has offered to take me back,’ she explained. ‘It will save you the double journey.’

He looked disgruntled. ‘Why can’t you wait?’ he demanded. ‘I could get you back in no time—just over an hour, anyway.’

‘I would save you a lot of trouble if I went with Andreas,’ she pointed out.

‘You must please yourself.’ He turned to go down the beach. ‘I’ll see you some time next week.’

‘Was that a lovers’ tiff?’ Andreas asked when they were finally in his car driving towards Polis.

‘It was a sensible alternative to him driving to Limassol and back when there was no need to.’

‘I thought I detected a hint of discord.’ He settled down behind the steering-wheel, his smile faintly amused. ‘But let’s forget about Nikos for a moment and talk about Mama. You said once that her future was all- important to you and now you know that it is important to me, too. I have no other ties, Anna, and I want to look after her, if I can.’

‘There will be no need for that if she marries John Malecos,’ she pointed out. ‘He is quite able to look after her, but thank you, all the same, for offering.’

He gave her a fleeting glance before returning his attention to the road. ‘It will leave you very much alone.’

She had thought of that but hadn’t come to terms with it, so far. ‘I’m young enough to cope,’ she said, ‘and I’ve already told you that I don’t mean to give up the hotel. I know you hoped to buy it when you first came back—you and Lara—but that isn’t on. I don’t mean to sell.’ They were through Polis, driving along the main highway where the traffic was thick.