by Kay Thorpe
`You will promise me,' said Nikos firmly at the foot
of the steps, 'that you will not be as foolish the next time you are in the town. It is not fitting that one in your position should play games with the young men who wander the streets.'
Grittingly conscious that every word must be plainly audible through the open windows of the coach, and that everyone on it was craning their necks curiously, Nicky reluctantly took the line of least resistance.
`Very well,' she said stiffly. 'May we get on our way now?'
`Of course.' For the first time in almost fifteen minutes he released her arm and stepped back. There was a faintly sardonic twist to the corners of his mouth.
calimera.'
And good morning to you too ! she thought seethingly, entering the coach to become the immediate focus of twenty pairs of eyes. 'I'm sorry for the delay, folks,' she said, switching her mind over swiftly to business. 'I'm afraid I got held up. Did everyone get what they wanted?'
Amidst the resulting spate of answers the coach set off, with Nicky studiously avoiding even a. glance in the direction of the tan-suited figure still standing where she had left him. What did he think she was going to do? she fumed. Jump off the coach and go careering around the town on her own again if he turned his back on her too soon !
`Wasn't that the owner of the Xenia?' asked the woman who sat nearest to her with some interest. 'I saw him talking with Mr. Merril the first day we got here. He's very Greek, isn't he?'
`Very,' agreed Nicky with some feeling. She smiled at the woman. 'Didn't I hear you say you were looking
for a ring for your daughter, Mrs. Gerrard?'
Lee was at the desk when she went through the vestibule.
he greeted her laconically. `How did it go?'
'Well enough, I think,' she said. 'They all seemed happy enough on the way back.' She paused before adding, saw the Big Boss in town.'
`Nikos? Where?'
'Now you're asking. He was coming out of a shop in some street not far away from the Castello.'
'You were alone?'
'Yes.' She looked at him sourly. 'You too?'
He laughed with swift understanding. 'Well, it's not advisable for any female who looks like you do to go wandering round the town unprotected. The island isn't exactly over-endowed with blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauties.'
'You know, you might be wasted here,' she retorted. 'With that talent for alliteration you should be in advertising or something.'
'The something sounds more my line.' He studied her, pen poised above the open ledger on the desk before him. ready for the party tonight?'
`Up to a point. How do they usually go?'
'Quite well. There's a local group who come along to give the place some atmosphere, and a couple of the younger waiters can usually be relied on to put on a demonstration of Greek dancing. The rest is up to everybody. We clear back the tables after the meal, put on a few records and leave it to them to decide whether they want to dance, or listen and talk as they prefer. Normally the whole thing fades out about one o'clock.'
'Sounds a bit dull for the last night,' she said
thoughtfully. 'Too late now to do anything about tonight, only next time we might gyp things up a bit. At the Athena we often made it a fancy dress occasion — using whatever comes to hand. You'd be amazed at some of the creations people manage to dream up.'
`We could always lay in a plentiful supply of fig leaves for those without too much imagination, I suppose.'
'I'm serious, you brute. Do you think something like that would go down well here?'
don't see why not. Folk like dressing up on holiday — one way or another.'
'There wouldn't be any . . . objections?'
'You mean from Nikos? Why should he object?' don't know, but he better have the chance. When is he likely to be in again?'
'Could be tomorrow, could be next week. I'm going out to the villa for a drink after siesta. Why not come with me and mention the matter in passing?'
'Thanks,' she said quickly, 'but it's not that important. I'll make an opportunity some time. See you later, Lee.'
Roland Gordon was coming along the corridor as she turned into it, yet another of the gaudy flowered shirts buttoned tightly over his thickening middle.
We missed you this morning,' he said with what he probably regarded as a captivating smile. 'Are you planning to grace the terrace with your delightful presence at teatime?'
'I'm afraid I have a lot of paper work to catch up on this afternoon,' Nicky answered smoothly. 'It will probably be almost dinner time before I'm through.'
'All work and no play makes Jill a dull little girl,' he
came back with a sickly jocularity. `Ah well, it seems I shall have to wait with what patience I can muster until the festivities begin. Am I too late to book a dance with the belle of the ball?'
`I really don't know, Mr. Gordon,' she said. 'You'll have to ask her. I hope you enjoy your lunch.'
His over-loud laughter followed her down the corridor, making her cringe. The man had a skin like a rhino's when it came to a brush-off. He simply refused to believe what his eyes and ears should have told him long ago.
Tied as she was to Company colours for the greater part of her days and evenings, it was a pleasant change to get into something a little different that night. Nothing too special, of course. It would not do to look as though she were trying to outshine the other females in the hotel. Nicky chose a simple maxi in pale blue cotton, sleeveless and fairly high-necked, brushed her hair into a smooth shining layer and applied just a touch of pink lipstick. She felt both happy and slightly guilty together — the one because tomorrow she could say goodbye to these people she had barely had time to know and begin again, the other because it was surely unfair to welcome the end of anyone's holiday. Standing there before the wall mirror, she resolved to try and make this last evening as memorable as possible for the guests who would already be gathering downstairs in anticipation, regretting the fact that she had not given the matter immediate thought on her arrival a couple of days ago.
Lee was standing in the main doorway smoking a cigarette and listening to the sound of guitars coming from the terrace round at the back of the building. He
turned when he heard her coming down the stairs, looked her over with unconcealed appreciation and inclined his head in the direction of the terrace.
'They're nearly all down, and most of them dressed to kill — the women, at any rate. Would you say they were expecting to sort out the opposition?'
Nicky grinned at him. 'I'm not competing — not tonight. There's no one here I could be bothered to fight over.'
His wince was theatrical. 'Spare a thought for my ego, sweetheart, if not for any other bloke's. I was thinking of offering my support.'
'Gratefully accepted,' she said. 'What does it include?'
'Leave to monopolize the hostess in the interests of general harmony,' he returned easily 'No woman is going to watch you dancing with her man with an open mind — any more than the men liked it when their partners latched on to your predecessor.'
'Who'd be a rep?' she asked with humorous resignation. 'You'd need a course in advanced psychology to cover every situation. Are you joining us for dinner?'
'No, I've had mine already. I shall be there, of course, hovering in the background while you all stuff yourselves sick. Someone has to stand by and keep an eye on things.'
'Martyr,' Nicky said smilingly as she passed him in the doorway to make her way round the side of the building to the terrace. 'I'm surprised you stick the
job.'
His answering smile was taunting. 'It takes on compensations, at times.'
Party night, Nicky found during the following hour or so, had its own effect on guests and staff alike. With wine flowing like water, any slight formality still left between waiters and diners soon dissolved, and an easy cameraderie governed the atmosphere. Nicky herself sat between Tony and John, the two young men who had come unp
artnered to the Xenia, knowing full well that tomorrow someone would be sure to remark on her 'blatant behaviour' but mindful of the appropriate fable and choosing to please herself.
It was a choice she began to regret as the meal progressed and competition between the two became marked, however, and as soon as she reasonably could she made an excuse to rise from her seat and go to seek out Lee in the interests of keeping the party spirit going.
'Those two are showing signs of becoming belligerent,' she murmured. 'Why couldn't you have found a couple of nice girls from the village to come and dance with them?'
'Because nice girls from the village don't do that sort of thing,' he replied. 'Anyway, it's Wednesday, and most the village people are up at the local kendro doing their own kind of whooping it up. Sunday, you'll be expected to take a few of the newcomers there to gather some local colour. It's usually a very successful excursion.'
'Fine,' she said, 'but it's tonight I'm thinking about right now. Can you start the exhibition while I look out some records?'
'For you, anything. Don't forget the first dance is ours.'
Nicky was smiling as she went over to the record
player on a table in the corner near the bar. Lee was everything Gerry had said of him, and more. Thinking about it, the Xenia seemed such a narrow setting for a man of his talent and personality. He was equal, she was sure, to something much more demanding. Yet he seemed perfectly content with what he had for the moment. Unusual, to say the least, in his chosen profession.
The Greek dancing was exceptionally good, Nicky had seen it done before on the mainland, but never with quite the skill and grace displayed by the two young waiters as they moved with slow, faultless timing to the music of guitar and bouzouki. Applauding enthusiastically along with everyone else in the room, she saw Stamatis suddenly whip out a spotless white handkerchief and bound across the floor towards her as the music changed character and livened up, his strongly hewed features split asunder by a smile of pure exuberance.
`You dance now with Stamatis,' he cried. 'I show you how.'
Before she could draw breath, Nicky found herself out on the floor with one hand held high in his and the handkerchief clasped between them. Laughingly she gave herself up to fate and Spiros's father, following the simple steps with growing confidence as they progressed about the room.
`Now everybody come !' he cried after a few minutes, and to Nicky's relief and eternal gratification several people immediately rose and joined on to the line, giggling, pushing, muddling up the steps, but at least making the effort. As an example of poetry in motion the following exhibition made Zorba look like Margot
Fonteyn, but by the time the line finally staggered to a breathless standstill there wasn't a single smile less face to be seen in the room.
After that the party seemed almost to run itself. Records were played, there was more Greek dancing, and a couple of the men actually nerved themselves to get up and sing a few verses of a rugby song which had the whole assembly in an uproar, even the ones who could not understand all the words. Two days ago, Nicky was reasonably certain, the same song would have been greeted with frozen stares from quite a number of people. It was amazing how uninhibiting a few extra glasses of wine could be.
It must have been somewhere round about ten-thirty when she slipped from the room to draw breath in cooler night air. The terrace was deserted, the beach beyond vanishing into darkness. Over on her right were the mountains of the interior, outlined against the glow in the sky which was Corfu town, cutting off this end of the island from all but a very few aspects of real civilization. Out here it was easy to imagine oneself living the simple life of the peasant, taking each day as it came, wanting for nothing because nothing better was known. It couldn't last like that, of course. Already there was this one tourist hotel in Perata. Next year there would be another, and in five the whole bay would have erupted into another holiday township. Progress perhaps, but Nicky could not help feeling sad for what would be lost. There was a lot to be said for simplicity when it went hand in glove with contentment.
From where she stood she could hear the soothing murmur of the tiny waves breaking on the shore. It was
calm out there tonight, although not by any means always so. This north-west corner of the island could boast a fresher climate than the rest because of its sea breezes, but according to Lee those same breezes could sometimes whip the surrounding waters into white-capped turbulence not often seen around this part of the world at this time of the year.
On impulse she slipped off her sandals and stepped from cool stone on to the soft brown alluvial sand, still warm from the heat of the day. She walked down to the water's edge and dabbled her bare toes in the lapping wavelets, holding up her dress a little so as not to wet the hem. She did not hear the footsteps in the sand behind her, and was startled when Roland Gordon spoke softly out of the darkness.
`A very charming picture, my dear. Why did you run away from the party?'
`I was just coming back,' she said, letting down her dress as she stepped away from the reaching waves. 'I only wanted a breath of fresh air.'
`Yes, it did get a bit stuffy in there. I came out for the same thing, and saw you disappearing into the darkness.' He came nearer, fleshy mouth set loosely into a smile. 'Don't stop because of me. I might even join you in a paddle.'
Nicky had a swift mental impression of the man at her side with trousers rolled up his calves a la middle aged British male on holiday, and wanted suddenly to giggle.
`That's better,' he- said approvingly, mistaking her smile. 'You can let yourself relax with me. After all, it's not as if you were an ordinary member of the staff
here.'
The implication was obvious. Nicky looked at him with contempt. think we should be getting back to the party.'
`Not just yet.' He was barring the way. 'We're only just getting to know one another. Isn't it your job to keep the guests happy?'
'Collectively, Mr. Gordon,' she answered crisply, stepping to one side to pass him. 'Won't your wife be looking for you?'
'She knows better.' He had sidestepped with her. 'You don't have to be afraid of Margaret catching us together. I told her I was going for a walk.'
'Then why don't you?' Nicky was past caring about politeness at all times to guests by now. She wanted only to get away from the obnoxious man who obviously believed he was God's answer to every maiden's prayer. 'At any rate, get out of my way!'
'Don't come that outraged innocence bit with me.' His voice wasn't soft now; it jarred. I know your kind, girlie. I've been watching you these last couple of days making up to that pair in there, setting them against one another. You're all the same, you girls, flaunting yourselves in front of men, then pretending to be all virtuous when we take the bait. Well, you're not getting away with it with me ! You came out here hoping somebody would follow you, and I did. And you're not going back until I say so
Nicky stuck out a swift foot as he reached out for her, hooked it smartly behind his right ankle and pushed hard with the heels of her palms against his chest. Next moment Roland Gordon was measuring his length in the sand and she herself was running towards the terrace and the security of the lights, not even seeing the
man who stood at the bottom of the steps until she found herself suddenly up against a broad hard chest with two hands like steel clamps holding her steady.
`Who is it you are running from?' demanded Nikos sharply, putting her far enough away from him to see her face yet making no attempt to release her.
Nicky braced herself against his manner, brought up her chin and tried to sound calm and cool. 'Why should I be running from anyone? Didn't you ever feel like running along the sand just for the fun of it on a night like this?'
Very slightly he seemed to relax, and his hands dropped. 'Perhaps so. When I had only your years I did many things for the fun of it, as you say. You are tired of your party?'
`No, just taking a break.' She was disconcerted by the cha
nge in him. He could be quite human when he made the effort, she thought. 'I'm sorry for barging into you like that,' she added quickly, wondering how she could get him off the terrace before Roland Gordon came into sight. wasn't looking where I was going. Did you want to see Lee?'
`Not especially so.' His smile softened the austerity of the taut features, making him look younger and far less formidable. In the pale fawn slacks and tailored shirt he could have almost been one of the guests instead of the autocratic proprietor Nicky had hitherto known. 'I heard the music in passing, and thought I would see for myself how you say goodbye to our guests.'
`You'd see even better from inside,' she suggested. `Why don't you join us? It would satisfy curiosity to a certain extent.'
He looked surprised. 'Why do you say that? Why
should these people be curious about me?'
Nicky bit her lip. She hadn't meant to say that. `Well,' she began slowly, 'you do keep yourself pretty much to yourself, don't you?'
`This is considered impolite in your country?'
`No, not exactly. I only . . .' She floundered, began again, 'It's just that they consider you a bit of an enigma, I suppose. The owner of all this whom they never see and know nothing about. Naturally they're interested.'
He was studying her with an expression she couldn't quite fathom. 'And you? You too share this curiosity?'
`No.' The denial was swift. 'Why should I?'
'Why indeed?' His tone was dry, his lip faintly lifted. `You are . . .' He stopped abruptly in mid-sentence, his gaze going beyond her, and hardening. Without turning her head, Nicky knew that Roland Gordon had emerged from the darkness out there on the beach and was approaching the spot where they stood, knew also that her explanation of a few moments ago no longer held water. She found herself holding her breath until the other man had passed them by with scarcely a glance in their direction, his face flushed and tight lipped beneath the lights, traces of sand still adhering to the back of his jacket, letting it out with a slight sigh when he had vanished round the corner of the building without any sign of movement from her companion. She had to nerve herself to meet the narrowed dark gaze.
