by Anne Hampson
Pride alone had held her, and now she was sorry. Yet in trying to visualize a scene in which she would ask Nigel to remain here at home she came up against an unfruitful vision. She could never have brought herself to ask him to stay, not under any circumstances. Her pride would not allow it - now or at any other time.
What a situation they were in! If they were ever to make a success of their marriage one of them must inevitably climb down. She herself could not, even in this new and softened mood. Nigel would never do so. It seemed, then, that they were to remain in this position of stalemate all their lives.
With a deep sigh she went down to Daniel. No need to flirt with him any more, and as the day progressed it gradually dawned on him that she was cool now that her husband was not with them and he said perceptively, as they were having dinner that evening,
‘It appears it didn’t come off.’
She frowned and asked,
‘What didn’t come off?’
‘You were endeavouring to make Nigel jealous. But obviously he’s not in the least jealous, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone off and left us alone together.’
She felt a rush of anger at his words. More than ever she wished she had not invited him over on this holiday.
‘I don’t understand you, Daniel. What makes you think I was trying to make Nigel jealous?’
‘It was obvious.’ He laughed at her expression and added in a rather coaxing tone, ‘Don’t get mad, Liz. I was only stating a fact; if you’re honest you’ll admit that you intended using me.’ A small pause and then, ‘What’s wrong? Isn’t the marriage going smoothly?’
‘You know very well why we married - everyone knew about those wills.’
‘Admittedly, but somehow, when I saw you at Grace’s a month or two back, I did wonder if you’d married for more than convenience.’
She gave a sigh and said,
‘It’s something I don’t want to talk about, Daniel.’
He shrugged.
‘Sorry. We’ll change the subject.’
Later Spiros called and Liz sat back for a space and let the two men converse together. But after a while, suddenly realizing that Liz was not participating, Spiros looked apologetically at her and drew her into the conversation.
He stayed till midnight, but at half past eleven Daniel excused himself, saying he could not keep his eyes open.
‘It’s the enervating climate,’ he apologized, and left Spiros and Liz together on the terrace.
‘I’m surprised at Nigel's going off like this when you have a guest.’ Spiros looked inquiringly at Liz and shook his head.
‘I expect he has important business to attend to.’ Liz’s thoughts flickered to Greta and she caught her lip between her teeth. Visions of Nigel and Greta in Athens spiralling through her mind, she lowered her head to hide her expression. ‘He’ll be back in a couple of days,’ she added, in a sort of endeavour to convince herself that the brevity of the visit would preclude her husband’s spending very much time with his girl-friend.
Spiros shrugged in his usual expressive manner, but his eyes became reflective as they peered through the open window to the darkness beyond the immediate half-circle of light sent out by the lamps above the terrace.
‘Can’t understand,’ he murmured to himself, shaking his head. ‘Myself—’ Bringing his gaze back, Spiros looked bewilderedly at Liz. ‘I couldn’t leave you, Liz - and certainly I could never have left you here alone with this fellow Daniel.’
She had to smile, because Spiros was reddening swiftly, aware of his lack of tact. She did not spare him as she said,
‘You would not trust me?’
‘I’m one big fool, as I’ve said before. Of course I’d trust you.’
‘Then why wouldn’t you leave me here with Daniel?’ she asked softly.
‘I just couldn’t leave you at all. My God, Liz, can’t he see how lovely you are?’ Spiros was becoming heated and Liz’s eyes widened. Not complications with Spiros, she hoped. There could be, should it ever occur to him that Nigel did not love her.
‘Nigel must attend to his business,’ she said unemotionally. ‘He can’t neglect it simply because he’s married.’
‘But you could go with him. He used to take—’ Again Spiros broke off, his colour increasing.
‘Greta?’ she finished, wincing even as she uttered the name.
‘Yes, Greta. You know about her, so there’s no point in trying to get myself out of the muddle I’m in,’ he answered resignedly. ‘And I might as well tell you, Liz, that the whole thing’s a great puzzle to me—’
‘You’ve just implied that, Spiros.’
‘And if I didn’t know Greta happens to be here in Delphi,’ he went on as if Liz had never interrupted, ‘I’d be very much inclined to believe she was with him.’
Liz stared wordlessly at him, and a long silence ensued. Spiros opened his mouth at last, intending to apologize but Liz was before him.
‘Greta is here ... in Delphi?’
‘That’s right.’ He stopped, eyeing her in some puzzlement. ‘Liz—!’ he exclaimed perceptively. ‘Liz, you didn’t think—? No, you must not! I told you before, Nigel would never let you down. You didn’t think he was with Greta - you couldn’t!’
A slow triumphant smile was curving her lips. Yet she had to say,
‘You seem to have a very short memory, Spiros. You yourself have just a moment ago said that, had Greta not been here in Delphi, you’d be very much inclined to believe she was with Nigel in Athens.’
‘I did say that, yes, but I didn’t mean it.’ He spoke with a certain awkwardness and Liz decided to allow the matter to drop, her mind in any case being occupied with the news Spiros had just imparted, and in this moment of discovery she wondered how Nigel could have made the miscalculation of being so sure of her not discovering the truth. That he had been playing her at her own game was certain, but this time he hadn’t been at all successful. Wait until he returned ... Would she tell him what she knew, though? It might be more entertaining to keep quiet.
He was back before lunch and Liz calculated that he must have started from Athens very early indeed. He had been away only a day and a half, but two nights. She subjected him to a long and rather amused scrutiny when on coming on to the verandah, he greeted her cordially and immediately asked if she were enjoying herself with Daniel.
‘Very much.’ She continued to scrutinize him. ‘Did you enjoy yourself with Greta?’ she inquired sweetly.
He nodded.
‘It was most diverting.’
She smiled at him.
‘And you’ve returned - er - refreshed?’
‘Absolutely.’ He sent her a slanting glance of amusement, tinged as usual with satire. ‘And you,’ he drawled, ‘are you refreshed?’ He was laughing at her. She was tempted to let him know that she also could laugh - at his expense. But that would bring down the curtain on this delightful little farce, and such was Liz’s enjoyment that she only wished to prolong it.
‘So-so ... I could have done with your staying away a little longer, though.’
Nigel laughed, and with a lightning movement he had her in his arms.
‘You wretch, Liz - you delectable wretch! I shall be driven to beating you in the end. In fact, I’m inclined to think I should have done it long ago.’ Instead, he kissed her, in a way that left her breathless, and she took in gulps of air while Nigel still held her, firmly, and looked down at her, with considerable amusement. ‘Did you miss me?’ he asked suddenly and unexpectedly. Liz lifted her head, but he gave her no opportunity of voicing the retort which flashed to her lips. ‘I’ll not allow you to lie,’ he said, and pressed his mouth to hers again. ‘You did miss me - and always will whenever I’m away. Admit it—’ He gave her a little shake. ‘Drop that damned armour and admit it!’
‘I certainly missed the arguments,’ she replied in honeyed tones. ‘And your pompous, self-opinionated comments. It’s been wonderfully peaceful and, as I’ve just said, I could h
ave done with your staying away a little while longer.’
‘Liar!’
‘I’m not!’
He held her arms, but pushed her away from him, his regard searching and accusing.
‘You’re not, eh?’ His voice was soft, his dark eyes still holding hers in a steadfast gaze until at length she was obliged to lower her head. ‘Well, in that case you’ll not mind if I return to Athens. In fact, I came back merely for some papers I’d forgotten.’ Slow and stressed the words, and his eyes still searched. With a careless finger under her chin he forced her to meet his gaze. ‘I’ll be back a couple of days before we go to Rhodes.’
Her heart seemed to sink right into her feet. Why was she so stupid? Still, she could not have kept him, it seemed - not if he spoke the truth when he said he’d returned only to pick up some papers he had forgotten. Releasing her, he moved away, going into the room to pour himself a drink. Was he speaking the truth? From what she knew of him he was thorough, and methodical. So it was unlikely he had forgotten vital documents. These would be the first things of which he would think, and accordingly they would have been put into his briefcase. The more she considered this the more she began to suspect that pique alone had forced him to say he was going away again. Surely, though, he would not go - not if there was nothing to go for, which Liz suspected was the case. He returned to the verandah, a glass in his hand.
‘When are you returning to Athens?’ she asked, her spirits still greatly dampened by reason of her own obstinacy and deliberate refusal to give an inch.
‘Later this afternoon.’ He appeared bored all at once and as Daniel had come down from taking a shower and was now in the garden Liz left her husband ... but her footsteps dragged a little and behind her Nigel allowed himself a very satisfied smile.
The fact that he had not been with Greta was sufficient evidence that Nigel was playing Liz at her own game, and in all fairness she could not blame him. Also, he was not in the least troubled by her hints regarding her relationship with Daniel. She might just as well have saved her breath, she concluded, for he knew exactly what she was about. By now, however, the game they were both engaged in was fast becoming irksome. That she loved her husband she freely owned. That she wanted him just as he was she also freely admitted. And in addition she had a shrewd suspicion that Grace had been right when she suggested that Nigel had married Liz because he loved her. In fact, that could be the only reason - Liz saw that now. For otherwise he would not have left her like this. No, the reason for his leaving her was to bring her round, she felt sure. And if that were the case he knew his love was returned. She went out to Daniel, heaving a deep sigh as she swung off the patio and walked towards him. The only problem appeared to be that of capitulation - whole and complete surrender on her part. Nigel would accept nothing less and he meant to continue the wearing-down process until his desire was fulfilled, no matter what it cost him. Liz’s mouth compressed at this idea. She was no stupid fawning female ready to supplicate herself before a mere male! No, she would see him in Hades first!
They flew to Rhodes, gliding over the shimmering Aegean with its numerous islands, scattered like gems gleaming in the sunshine. Nigel spoke little on the flight and Liz sat in thoughtful silence, looking down and wondering that her home in England, loved for so long, and for which she had sacrificed her life - or so she had believed at the time of her marriage - should have receded into the misty backcloth of her mind, replaced by Nigel’s lovely villa, so small by comparison to Carlington Hall, standing proudly on its plateau on the mountainside, surrounded by tropical trees and shrubs, and looking out on to the towering massif of Parnassus and the great Plain of Amphissa with its silver sea of olives.
From the airport they drove by taxi to the harbour at Mandraki, where the great yacht was moored. Many other yachts and pleasure craft were there, with people moving about on them or just lazing around. On a few of the vessels workmen were busy - brown-faced workmen, Greeks employed by the wealthy owners of the boats.
The new experience was exciting to Liz and she was very different from the one-time proud mistress of Carlington Hall as she exclaimed repeatedly on being shown over the yacht.
‘It’s really magnificent,’ she said later when she and Nigel were in their cabin preparing for dinner. The idea of the one cabin pleased her; it forced her husband’s hand, as it were, for since that night when he had so abruptly left her he had never been to her room. All the way out she had wondered about the accommodation, and nothing would have been more disappointing than to find that they had been allotted two separate cabins, She should have known, though, for even dismissing the fact of the question of the limited space on a vessel like this, no Greek would think of separating husband and wife.
‘You’re quite enamoured with it, aren’t you?’ Cool the tone, but Nigel smiled at her all the same. ‘Perhaps I’ll consider having a vessel like this. We could sail to all the islands.’
Her eyes glowed.
‘I’d like that.’ Automatically she turned her back to him and he brought up her zip-fastener. His hands remained on her, moving to her neck and then to her throat. He turned her round to face him.
‘You’re very beautiful, my Liz.’ His eyes were tender and Liz knew instinctively that she only had to nestle close to him, and it would all be over - the struggles of them both. And yet she could not, because such an action would savour of surrender and she felt sure Nigel would produce that mocking satirical smile and that it would also hold triumph, triumph in no small degree. And so she stood there, a little stiff because of her determination to hold fast to her vow never to be conquered. Nigel gave a tiny sigh and, kissing her lightly on the cheek, he turned away and went to a drawer, looking for a handkerchief.
There were ten other people on board, among whom were Annette and Claire, and their husbands. The two girls were glad to see Liz again and after Liz had been introduced to all the others she and the two English girls, finding themselves together in the salon when the pre-dinner drinks were being served, became engrossed in conversation. It was while being similarly engaged in conversation like this with Annette and Claire that she had experienced that first fleeting dart of jealousy against Greta, Liz recalled, her eyes straying, now as then, to her husband. And as before he stood by the cocktail bar, deep in conversation with several of his Greek friends. After a while, sensing her interest, he turned his head and his dark eyes flickered over her. Liz was reminded of that other impact as, her lips forming a ready smile, she experienced a similar impact, but this time it was much stronger than on that first occasion.
After dinner several couples left the boat, to stroll on the waterfront, or to find entertainment. Nigel and Liz went off together, on their own.
They strolled up out of the New Town and entered a romantic park laid out by the tree and flower-loving Italians when they were in occupation. Gigantic date palms were surrounded by smaller palms; there were rhododendron bushes and hibiscus, and shady walks where shadows moved as the tropical vegetation was gently swayed by the Meltemi breaking on to the shore.
‘There’s the castle,’ commented Nigel, pointing, and Liz glanced up. The park was coming to an abrupt end and the massive pinnacles and towers, hewn from honey-coloured weathered limestone, loomed ahead of her. Massive gates guarded the fortress of the Knights of the ancient Order of St. John of Jerusalem, among whose members had been a great many of the famous Crusaders. As they neared the fortress, lights were switched on, softly enhancing the delicate patina of age which hung over the whole delightful edifice. Nigel said,
‘The son et lumiere spectacle’s about to begin. Would you like to hear it?’ And when she nodded eagerly, ‘We’ll have to see what language it’s in. English, French or Greek will do us?’ He smiled as he waited for her answer, which was as he expected.
‘If it’s in Greek you’ll have the task of translating it for me.’
‘Which will be a pleasure,’ he returned gallantly, and Liz was glad of the shadows because
of her blushes and the softness that entered her eyes.
The language that night happened to be English, and, with his arm under hers in a distinctly proprietorial way, Nigel led her over to the hut where a smiling Greek waited to accept their money.
In the grounds of the castle people strolled about, for the spectacle was not due to begin for another fifteen minutes. Everywhere were trees and flowers - palms and pines, swathed against the velvet of a moon-flushed sky, hibiscus and roses and poinsettias growing in profusion. The muted voices of the pedestrians mingled with the shrill chirping of crickets in the olive trees’ trembling foliage. Liz became wrapped in meditation, thinking of the vicissitudes through which the lovely island had passed - from the time of Antigonus, son of Alexander the Great, who laid siege to the city of Rhodes, right down the ages of history from the Roman occupation through the Byzantine era, which included the period of occupation by the famous Knights Crusaders. Then the Knights were attacked and defeated by the Turks under Suleiman the Magnificent, after which came the Italians - tree-planters who gave Rhodes its glorious parks and tree-lined roads and shady squares. And now Rhodes was free, part of the motherland of Greece.
