Dark Avenger

by Anne Hampson

  "What makes you say that?"

  "All Greek men expect, and receive, dowries when they marry."

  "Not all. It may interest you to know that I personally do not particularly approve of our dowry system, and it will please me greatly when it becomes obsolete."

  "You would have married without a dowry?" Unthinkingly she had referred to the past and once her words were uttered she glanced a little anxiously at him, not wishing either to evoke his memories or arouse his temper.

  Taking the words calmly, he said, "The girl to whom I was betrothed was bringing me a dowry, yes, because, in obedience to our parents' commands, we had agreed to an arranged marriage, and custom had to be followed. That is, my parents would not for one moment have considered Annoula had her father not been able to provide her with a dowry." He spoke dispassionately, and Julie remembered saying to Edwin that Doneus had been brokenhearted at the time of his fiancee's death. Julie now felt that his reaction was one of anguish at the idea of a young girl being ruined, and that there was no actual love between him and Annoula. How could an arranged marriage be based on love?

  "I can't imagine anyone like you taking orders -" Julie stopped, colouring, and chiding herself for her lack of tact.

  "I was a boy at that time," he said, still in the same unemotional tones. "Also, you must remember that in my country parental supremacy is drilled into children from birth.

  One grows up with it as one would grow up with a belief concerning one's religion. Only when one is older does the idea of opposition occur." He smiled faintly, his dark eyes on hers. "No one would dare to give me an order now, of course."

  Convinced that his words contained some deeper meaning, Julie dwelt on them for a long moment. He sounded almost as if he occupied some sort of superior position, yet he was merely a spongediver, and surely he must take orders from his superiors when on the ship?

  He had leant back in his chair and his eyes had strayed to the perivoli occupying one side of the unkempt garden. Fruit trees still flourished in this orchard - bananas and pomegranates, oranges and lemons. Edging the orchard was a row of carob trees, their fruit black and shrivelled, while on the rising hillside majestic cypresses grew, with here and there a palm, swaying as a gentle zephyr blew in from the sea.

  "The question of the house, Doneus," Julie murmured into the deep silence. "Can't I spend just a little of my money?" Her voice, soft and sweetly pleading, had no effect other than to bring a frown to her husband's brow.

  "Julie, I should let the matter drop," he advised gently. "I have said no, and I mean no."

  She bit her lip. To be mastered by a mere peasant - the haughty and wealthy and influential Julie Veltrovers ... it did not seem possible. And yet she had no alternative than to accept her husband's authority even though, at this moment, she felt nothing would have given her greater satisfaction than to override him.

  He watched her reaction with interest, but as Julie decided there was nothing to be gained by a pursuance of the subject she merely looked at him, her eyes moist because of her defeat and because in reality her desire to make the house more comfortable was as much for her husband's benefit as her own.

  She wanted him to come home to a cool airy room with his own big chair in which to relax, to have pleasant things about him, and a carpet under his feet.

  "I hope you can accede to my wishes without animosity."

  Doneus's deep voice was edged with sternness and yet, paradoxically, it seemed to contain a hint of anxiety. Did it mean so much to him that she should not harbour animosity?

  She shook her head and murmured,

  "I don't feel any animosity towards you, Doneus." And as Julie sat there with Doneus so close, it was suddenly borne on her that she would rather have the answer she had received than a capitulation from her husband. Had he given way to her it would not only have meant that he could sink his pride, but also the submission to her desire would have constituted a weakness which would have brought her more disappointment than satisfaction. She did not, at this stage, ask herself why she should feel like this, nor did she think to probe her own emotions regarding her husband. This had been done; the conclusion was that she pitied him, and Julie was content with the sublime acceptance of her findings.

  CHAPTER SIX

  GRADUALLY, Julie was getting to know the people in the nearby village, and would greet them with a smiling "kalimera" or "yassoo", depending on what time of day it was when she happened to meet them. At first strange looks had been cast at her, and she had been slightly puzzled by the amusement on the people's faces. It was as if they all were possessed of some knowledge which caused them to smile inwardly. But they had now grown used to her and it was quite usual for some black-robed old woman, working in her garden as Julie passed, to invite her in for a cup of coffee or a glass of the delicious sherbet which they made from the juice of the pomegranate fruit.

  On first drinking this Julie had recalled with irony that it was because Persephone had tasted the juice of the pomegranate that she had been forced to spend the four darkest months of the year with Aidoneus in the underworld. But since that time Julie had gradually changed, in many ways. She loved the island and its people; she often felt as if she were becoming an inseparable part of it. Her adaptation amazed her and often when dwelling on her action in marrying Doneus, there would come over her a strange conviction that some subtle force had influenced her - a force which had no connection whatsoever with her anxiety about the family fortune or even that of saving Lavinia from pain.

  There was no denying the impact Doneus had made on her at their first meeting, or that she was in some vague way enriched by it. She felt that a secret had entered her heart and lain dormant, a secret whose presence was felt without being understood. She had denied it even without trying to probe it, had in her confusion and desperation almost overlooked it ... but not quite. And from its obscurity it had been gradually emerging until she was beginning to wonder what exactly had been the driving force which drew from her the decision to marry Doneus, and condemn herself to poverty for seven months of every year. His personality, his profound gentleness, his restraint - these were all at variance with what she had expected from him. And from the depths of her own gentle nature had emerged this great pity she felt for him. Pity ...?

  Julie would often think about it, and wonder what she was going

  to feel like when he went away next Easter, away to the fishing grounds where he would run such terrible risks. At first, she had lived for the day when he would leave the island for these five months ... but now, with pity deepening in her heart, she began to wonder if she would be glad, since her freedom meant danger for her husband.

  "Kalimera, Madam Doneus!" Julie was strolling along the sunlit village street when the voice hailed her and she stopped, smiling.

  "Kalimera, Astero." Julie turned back and immediately the gate was opened for her to enter the garden. "How are you this morning?"

  "Very good. My daughter has new baby. You come and see?"

  "Already? I thought you said it was next month?"

  "It come last night - a boy!"

  Julie smiled as she entered the house. A boy, so no head-aches for father. No dowry to find for this one.

  Kyria was already up, sitting on a chair with her little brown scrap feeding contentedly. The girl's eyes were glowing, her firm white teeth revealed in a flashing smile.

  "Mrs. Doneus - it is good of you to come to see Yannis. He is sixteen hours old!"

  Julie bent over him, and gently touched his cheek. He was chubby, with jet black hair, wiry and strong. "He's adorable, Kyria. You are very proud today?" The girl laughed.

  "I am proud, yes, for we make boy."

  It was Kyria's first baby; she had been married a little less than a year. Another baby could be expected next year, and so it would go on.

  "You have some sherbet?" Astero was already holding the flagon and Julie nodded. "We drink to health of my grandson, yes?"

  "Indeed,
yes, Astero." They both drank, while Kyria went on feeding her baby. Presently she held him out to Julie.

  "You would like to hold him?"

  Taking the bundle from the proud mother's arms, Julie held him, looking down at the sleeping child, and as the minutes passed she experienced an odd sensation of yearning. She had hoped to have children and in a sudden flight of fancy she saw them - two boys, perhaps, and two girls, growing up in the lap of luxury, with a nanny from the start. Then school - a good school - and later, some sort of career. Julie closed her eyes tightly for a second, as if to shut out the pain of frustration and loss.

  She told Doneus about Kyria's baby over their evening meal.

  "He's absolutely delightful," she added, and Doneus glanced, swiftly at her, his gaze holding hers for a long moment. She lowered her head on recalling once again that he had said her eyes were all-revealing. Doneus made no comment, but changed the subject, telling Julie that they were invited out to dinner the following evening.

  "To dinner? But where?"

  "Some friends of mine. They live up at the white and pink villa you can see from here." He indicated the lovely house, perched on a tiny plateau cut into the hillside. It was a long way off and looked like a doll's house. Julie blinked. She had been close to the house on one of her rambles. Everything about it spelt wealth and gracious living.

  "They're friends of yours?" The surprise in her voice brought a hard light to her husband's eyes. He said abruptly, "And why not, might I ask?"

  "I'm sorry, Doneus. I expect my surprise stemmed from the fact that you have never before mentioned them to me."

  He picked up a piece of the brown peasant bread and broke it on to his plate.

  "Your surprise stemmed from the fact of your disbelief that I could have friends of their particular standing."

  She bit her lip, disconcerted by his quick perception.

  "They're Greeks?" she murmured, veering the subject.

  "Michalis is, but his wife's English -"

  "English! Oh, how nice! To think an Englishwoman lives there and I've never met her. What's her name?" Excitement brought adorable colour to Julie's cheeks; Doneus's small spurt of anger died and he smiled at his wife.

  "Tracy. She and Michalis met at the castle - when the owner was giving a party. Tracy was over here on holiday. The reason why you haven't met her before now is that she and Michalis have been touring the Continent for the past few weeks."

  Julie looked swiftly at him.

  "She was on holiday, and invited to the party?"

  "The owner knows her parents." Doneus glanced down at Jason, who lay a few feet from the table.. "I saw Michalis today and he asked us to go up tomorrow evening."

  Expressionless his voice and for no apparent reason Julie's pulse fluttered. A peasant to be friendly with people like that?

  She wanted to ask a dozen questions, but suitable phrasing eluded her. Nevertheless she did ask if his friends were acquainted with the circumstances of his marriage.

  He hesitated before replying and Julie knew for sure that he was carefully choosing his words. "They know part of the story."

  "Part of it?"

  "Obviously I have not told them the whole." Doneus began eating his dinner and Julie's eyes narrowed. His very attitude contributed to the mystery surrounding the whole situation in which she and her husband were involved, and although she knew quite well that Doneus was in no mood for further questioning she could not resist saying, "How much have you told them, Doneus?"

  He glanced up, regarding her with slight impatience across the dinner table.

  "That need not concern you, Julie," he returned quietly, and her mouth compressed.

  "Why must you be so exasperatingly uncommunicative?"

  "A woman's curiosity, eh? How typically feminine you are."

  "Naturally I'm curious, when my whole life is involved!"

  His eyes flickered in what she knew was feigned lack of comprehension.

  "I don't quite understand?"

  Her mouth went tight again. "This mystery-"

  "Mystery ?"

  "I would be completely lacking in intelligence were I unable to sense a mystery! The more I know you the more I'm convinced you didn't harbour a grudge all those years! "

  He smiled faintly.

  "Am I to take that as flattery?" he inquired.

  "It would be completely out of character for you to harbour a grudge. Something tells me it would be quite impossible for you to do so."

  "I am being flattered, it seems?" She glared at him and his eyes lit with amusement. "You're rather enchanting when you're angry. Your eyes become more expressive than ever."

  Exasperated, Julie picked up her knife and fork, and silence fell on the room. When at last Julie spoke her voice was softer, and gently persuasive.

  "Why do you keep me in the dark like this?"

  "Someday, my dear, you'll know everything," he replied after a

  pause. "But for the time being -"

  She interrupted him, seizing on his words.

  "So you admit to there being a mystery?"

  "I admit there's a lot you don't know, Julie." His face softened slightly. "As I've just said, some day you will know everything, and 'someday' might be quite soon."

  She shook her head.

  "Why not now?"

  "The time is not yet, Julie. And if you don't mind we'll change the subject." The inflexibility of his voice and the sudden tautness of his jaw convincing her that persistence was useless, she adopted an air of cold hauteur and the rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Later, however, when they were taking their coffee as usual on the patio she unbent sufficiently to ask if she would be expected to dress for the dinner to which they were going. Curiosity prompted the question, as she knew full well that Doneus had nothing really decent to wear. He had the cheap suit he had worn on the day he had come to the cathedral, and that was all.

  "Nothing special, Julie. Put on that pretty cotton dress - the one with the flowers round the hem."

  His words brought, a sudden smile to her face; why should she derive pleasure from the fact that he had noticed what she wore?

  The question came to her again later as they stood looking in the dim light thrown off from a moonless, star-sprinkled sky across to the indistinct shape that was the island of Leros. They had walked to the end of the is-land, as usual, with a faint breeze teasing their hair and the tang of the sea in their nostrils. It had been a silent stroll, both being occupied with their own thoughts, and now as they stood there, in the soft hush of night Julie was suddenly aware of a quickening in her heart, profound and overpowering. From a long distance the white yacht could faintly be discerned, a graceful bird floating on the smooth dark sea. It gave her an excuse to break the silence, which was fast becoming unbearable.

  "Do the Americans go far in their yacht?"

  "To the islands here abouts." Doneus turned his head to follow the direction of her gaze.

  "Have you ever been with them?" She did not think so, but she had to go on talking.

  "I have been to several islands in the yacht, yes," he returned, surprising her.

  "They must think a lot of you." No response, and Julie fumbled for more words. "Do you help them to sail it?"

  "I do sail it " He came round to face her. "Why the sudden interest, Julie?"

  "It - it was just something to talk about." Her voice was unsteady and he stepped close up to her. Before she grasped his intention he had taken her face between his hands and was looking into her eyes, searchingly.

  "What are you fighting against, Julie?" he inquired unexpectedly. "Tell me!"

  She remained still, profoundly aware of his touch, as she had been on several previous occasions.

  "I d-don't know what you mean?"

  He said unsmilingly, "I believe you do understand me. Examine your feelings, Julie, and tell me what you are fighting against."

  She quivered under his touch, thrilling to it. .. and yet fearing what it did to
her.

  "Your question is so strange -" The rest was smothered by his kiss; she resisted for one futile moment before, with a trembling sigh, she surrendered to the power he exerted over her, a power she now owned she had been constantly striving to deny. His lips were warm and passionate, gentle and demanding, and subtly persuasive. She became part of him, unable to move from the enfolding nearness of him, or raise even the most feeble resistance to the stimulation which was rapidly sweeping over her ... sweeping her to destruction, she knew as, his lean body pressing closer, she was left in no doubt as to his ardency.

  "Doneus Please -" But the protest was lost as his lips found hers again after one fleeting moment of respite. The blood surged through her veins; she was caught in the tidal wave of his passion and longing ... and in sheer desperation she began to struggle. But his arms were imprisoning bands of steel as mercilessly he retained his hold.

  "My lovely kore - my Julie. . . ." At last he held her from him and words came softly, caressingly, "Don't fight it any more, Julie. I've seen it in your eyes for weeks." His firm lips broke into a smile; she thrilled to the attractiveness of him, and to the magnetism. "Remember what I said about your coming to me willingly?" A pause, inviting her reply, but she could not speak.

  This was madness, brought on by the magic of the night, and by her own impulses which had so nearly forced surrender upon her. "Will you love me? Shall we be married - tonight?"

  Only then did she come to her senses. This could not be! This peasant make love to her? Unthinkable!

  "No! How dare you suggest it? I said our marriage was to be impersonal, and you gave me your word that it would be so. You cannot go back on that! " She twisted away, but his hands retained their hold on her wrists. Somehow, he did not appear daunted ... and Julie was still afraid.

  "I shall not go back on my word," he rejoined with the same quiet gentleness. "I've just asked you to come to me willingly..'

  "No! I've said I won't! "Don't tempt me anymore, she cried inwardly. Please don't tempt me!

  He raised her hands and pressed his lips first to one and then the other.