The Goddess Of Love

by Barbara Cartland

  With an effort she managed to ask,

  “Have you any idea when my father will return?”

  “That is what I have come to talk to you about,” Mr. Thespidos answered, “and it all depends on you, Miss Melville.”

  “On me?”

  “Yes ”

  “Why?”

  “That is what I will explain.”

  He bent forward as he sat in the chair so that he was a little nearer to her.

  His voice dropped to a low note so that she had to strain her ears to hear him.

  “I understand,” Mr. Thespidos said, “that, while your father had heard a rumour of this statue lying concealed in the ruins of Delphi, there is somebody else who knows a great deal more about it.”

  “Who is that?”

  “An Englishman called Warburton. Lord Warburton.”

  Corena was aware of the name.

  She then remembered that she had heard her father speaking about Lord Warburton as a collector, as he was himself.

  He had said he was a somewhat aloof man who had no acquaintance with other archaeologists. He did not exchange, as most of them did, his knowledge of any particular site.

  As if he was following her thoughts, Mr. Thespidos said,

  “Lord Warburton is a very rich man. He can well afford to pay for his discoveries, yet we have reason to think that he has stolen many treasures of antiquity from Greece, which are now in his houses in England.”

  “You have seen them?” Corena asked.

  She had the feeling as she asked the question that it would not be easy for Mr. Thespidos to answer.

  “I have not seen them,” he replied, “but I have met somebody who has and I am quite certain from his information that Lord Warburton is in fact a menace to Greece who should be prevented from stealing any more of our treasures.”

  He was speaking with what most people would have felt was a sense of patriotism and pride in his national heritage.

  But Corena was convinced, even though she had no grounds for substantiating it, that Mr. Thespidos was more concerned with filling his own pocket than the museums in Athens.

  However she said quietly,

  “I think you must explain a little more clearly, Mr. Thespidos, what part you wish me to play in helping you, if that is why you are here.”

  “I will explain it very simply,” Mr. Thespidos said. “If you want your father to be returned to you, Miss Melville, then Lord Warburton must take his place!”

  Corena drew in her breath and stared at Mr. Thespidos before she said,

  “I-I don’t – understand!”

  “Then I will make it clearer – I, with several of my friends, found your father digging late one evening in the ruins of the Temple of Athena below the Sanctuary at Delphi.”

  He looked at her for a moment.

  Then he said,

  “It took us a little time to extract from him the information we were seeking – ”

  Corena sat upright.

  “Are you – saying,” she interrupted, “that you – forced or – tortured my father into – telling you what you – wished to know?”

  “He needed a little persuasion,” Mr. Thespidos replied, “but I believed him when he told me that, although he had heard a rumour about a statue of Aphrodite, he had no further knowledge of where it might be or if indeed it actually existed.”

  With great difficulty Corena did not rage at him.

  She knew that would not bring her father back and she would be wiser to listen first to what Mr. Thespidos had to say.

  “I have, however,” he went on, “ascertained from the reliable source that I spoke of before that Lord Warburton knows a great deal more about this statue than your father does.”

  “Then why do you not approach him?”

  “He is, disappointingly, unapproachable while he is in this country and I have heard that what he is seeking may not actually be at Delphi, but somewhere else.”

  “Then it does not concern my father!”

  “Unfortunately, Miss Melville, Lord Warburton confides in nobody and, when he visits Greece, no one is aware that he is in the country before he has come and gone.”

  Corena looked puzzled, not understanding exactly what Mr. Thespidos was suggesting.

  He continued,

  “Greece is a country with a great number of small natural harbours where a yacht can lie hidden for perhaps a week without anybody being aware that it is there.”

  His voice became more intense as he said,

  “What I therefore require from you, Miss Melville, is that you should discover where Lord Warburton will anchor and communicate the information to me.”

  Corena stared at him in astonishment.

  “B-but – that is – impossible!”

  “Then I am afraid that your father will not be returning home for a long time.”

  “What are you saying – what are you – trying to – make me do?” Corena asked.

  Now, although she tried to prevent it, there was a frantic note in her voice.

  She was suddenly afraid, desperately afraid for her father, and afraid too of the man sitting opposite her.

  Now she knew without any doubt that he was evil.

  “Let me tell you what you have to do,” Mr. Thespidos replied. “You will go to Lord Warburton and tell him that your father is desperately ill in Delphi without any medical attention. The only way you can get to him is if he will convey you to Crisa in his yacht.”

  “And you think that Lord Warburton will agree? And if he does – what then?”

  Mr. Thespidos smiled and it was not a pleasant smile.

  “If you bring Lord Warburton into port at Crisa, then you can leave everything in my hands.”

  “Supposing he suspects that my father – is a prisoner?”

  “What is important is that Lord Warburton should come to Crisa, as you will be able to persuade him to do.”

  Corena rose to her feet.

  “I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in the whole of my life!” she exploded. “I don’t know Lord Warburton, and it is extremely unlikely that he would concern himself with – my father’s illness.”

  “In which case I am sure that you will be very sorry not to see your father again!”

  Mr. Thespidos spoke quietly, but Corena knew the gloves were off and now he was openly forcing her to obey him.

  She wondered desperately what she could do about it. Although he had not moved from his chair when she stood up, she felt as if he was like a huge black bird hovering over her menacingly.

  He did not speak and after a moment she said,

  “What– you are saying is – impossible!”

  “Nothing is impossible. Miss Melville, when anyone is as beautiful as you.”

  Corena stiffened as she felt his insinuation was an insult.

  Then she asked,

  “You obviously knew what I looked like before you – came here.”

  “I could not believe that you could be as beautiful as the miniature your father carries in his pocket,” he replied, “but I was mistaken! You are as lovely as Aphrodite herself and, I am told, Lord Warburton has a penchant for the ladies.”

  Corena clenched her fingers, fighting for self-control.

  She wanted to scream at Mr. Thespidos and order him to leave the house.

  He was not only grossly impertinent but, she thought, evil, cruel and calculating, but he held her father prisoner and somehow she had to save him.

  Because it was the first thing that came into her mind, she said weakly,

  “I have no way of – getting in – touch with Lord Warburton and I have already said that I don’t – know him.”

  She knew that Mr. Thespidos would take what she said as weakness and that she had acquiesced in his demands.

  But for the moment she could not think of anything but that her father was in his clutches.

  “It’s really quite easy. Miss Melville,” Mr. Thespidos said briskly, as if he knew
that he had won the battle. “You will go tomorrow to Lord Warburton’s house, which I have already ascertained is only fifteen miles from here and where he is at this moment in residence.”

  Corena parted her lips to tell him that she could not do such a thing.

  Then she was aware that, whatever she said, Mr. Thespidos would override it.

  “You will tell Lord Warburton what I have told you to say and plead with him, if necessary on bended knees, to take you to Greece.”

  “And – if he – refuses?”

  “I have already told you,” Mr. Thespidos said in an oily voice, “that you resemble Aphrodite!”

  “But the Aphrodite that his Lordship is interested in was made of marble!” Corena said scathingly. “I doubt if he would be interested in a – living version.”

  “In which case your father will remain where he is – until we find him an encumbrance!”

  This was plain speaking and only with a superhuman effort did Corena prevent herself from screaming.

  Instead she turned round towards the mantelpiece to stand with her back to Mr. Thespidos.

  She could hardly believe what she had just heard was not some terrible nightmare from which she would wake up and find that it was all untrue.

  How could her father, who was so intelligent, find himself in the clutches of this horrible man who was now threatening her?

  He was, she knew, evil and avaricious, and undoubtedly one of the Greeks her father had spoken about. They were only interested in the statues and treasures to be found amongst the ruins for what they personally could get out of them.

  The only thing to do, she thought suddenly, was to tell Lord Warburton the whole truth.

  Again, as if Mr. Thespidos knew what she was thinking, he said quietly,

  “If you do anything but what I have told you to do, Miss Melville, we might find it incumbent upon us to torture your father a little further in case he has information that he has not yet divulged to us and then, when there is no more to learn, dispose of him.”

  Corena turned round.

  “What you are planning is a wicked and criminal act!” she said. “I have always respected the Greeks, but you are a charlatan and a murderer!”

  She spoke in a low voice.

  Yet every word she said was like a dagger she threw at the man she hated.

  Mr. Thespidos listened, then he laughed and the sound seemed to echo round the room.

  “Magnificent!” he approved. “You look even more beautiful when you are angry! What could be more awe-inspiring than a Goddess declaiming in a divine rage against a man who will not listen to her?”

  Because she hated him so intensely, Corena turned back towards the mantelpiece.

  There was silence until she said in a different tone,

  “If I – try to do as – you ask, will you – swear to me that in the – meantime you will not – hurt my father?”

  “That is better!” Mr. Thespidos said. “Now we can talk business!”

  She waited reluctantly because she knew what he wanted and then turned again to face him.

  “What you have to do, Miss Melville,” he said, “is to carry out my orders and, as soon as Lord Warburton tells you when he will be leaving for Greece, you will inform the man I will leave here.”

  He paused for a moment to look at her calculatingly before he said,

  “From that moment you can relax and leave everything in my hands.”

  “That – is what – horrifies me!” Corena retorted with a flash of spirit.

  Mr. Thespidos smiled.

  “You will get everything you want – your father returned to you in good health. And from the time the yacht sets sail from Folkestone Harbour, where it is at this moment, I give you my word that he will not be touched.”

  Corena drew in her breath and Mr. Thespidos went on,

  “If, on the other hand, you were so foolish as to inform Lord Warburton what has passed between us and he should telegraph the authorities in Athens, then I am afraid, Miss Melville, you will never see your father again!”

  “I cannot believe – this is true!” Corena cried. “I cannot believe that there are men like you in what is – otherwise a very beautiful and happy world!”

  “That is what you have found, Miss Melville,” Mr. Thespidos said sarcastically, “but other people are hungry, other people need money! You must therefore learn to share your happiness or at least pay for it.”

  “What I am – concerned with is – my father’s – safety!”

  Mr. Thespidos rose to his feet and gave a gesture that was entirely Greek.

  “That is up to you,” he said, “and I have the feeling that you will prove to be a competent and exceedingly sensible young woman.”

  His voice sharpened and once again Corena was conscious of how evil he was as he added,

  “As I have already said, on your knees or in his Lordship’s bed, is the only possible way that you can save your father!”

  Corena gave a little gasp.

  Never in the whole of her quiet and sheltered life had anyone spoken to her in such an outrageous manner.

  She wanted to scream abuse at the Greek, but she knew that it would only be a waste of words and also undignified.

  Instead she said,

  “You have left me no choice but to try to save my father’s life and I can only pray that, criminal though you are, you will keep your word!”

  Mr. Thespidos laughed.

  “I like your spirit, Miss Melville,” he said. “I can assure you that once Lord Warburton is in our hands your father will be in yours and, if you are wise, you will take him back to England and persuade him to stay here!”

  Now his tone was not only menacing, but at the same time dominating and aggressive because he had got his own way.

  Corena was also aware of the way that he was looking at her and the expression in his eyes made her feel sick.

  With a pride that she knew her father would have approved of, she merely said,

  “Good day, Mr. Thespidos. I presume the man who is waiting to hear when Lord Warburton will be leaving for Greece will also inform me how I can get in touch with you once we reach your country.”

  “I have already told you. Miss Melville, to leave everything in my hands,” Mr. Thespidos relied. “They are very capable, and at the same time I never relinquish my grip.”

  He was threatening her again.

  As if she could bear no more, Corena turned round with her back towards him and said again,

  “Good day, Mr. Thespidos!”

  She heard him rise to his feet.

  She felt as if his eyes were burning their way penetratingly into her body.

  She was not certain what he was thinking – but she was suddenly afraid of him in a different way than she had been before.

  Then he made a murmur, almost as if he spoke to himself.

  He turned and she heard him walk lightly across the room towards the door.

  When he reached it, she knew he looked back.

  But only when she heard the door close and his footsteps going across the marble hall did she put her hands up to her face.

  She was not crying, she was just stricken with the horror of the situation.

  She was afraid, desperately, terrifyingly afraid, for her father and the future.

  Chapter Two

  Lord Warburton walked ahead into his study.

  It was one of the most attractive rooms in the house and had a magnificent view over the garden.

  Its sporting pictures were some of the finest ever painted by Stubbs and Sartorius.

  The chairs were upholstered in red leather and so was the fireguard, which had a cushioned seat.

  Lord Warburton sat down on it and said to his friend as he advanced towards him,

  “You are looking well, Charles, but rather thin.”

  “It’s not surprising,” Major Charles Bruton replied, “considering I have been exercising your horses from the crack of dawn until du
sk.”

  “What do you think of them?”

  “Absolutely superb! Especially those with a touch of Arab in them!”

  Lord Warburton smiled slightly and it removed for an instant the cynical look that characterised his face.

  “Then I hope we shall win a number of races with them,” he said dryly.

  “I am prepared to bet on that!” Charles Bruton replied.

  “Unfortunately I shall not be here to see them run.”

  Charles Bruton, who was seating himself in one of the comfortable armchairs, looked at him in surprise and exclaimed,

  You are surely not going to Greece again!”

  “I have to!”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have heard of something really extraordinary which is what I have been looking for for a long time and I dare not miss the opportunity of acquiring it.”

  Charles Bruton sighed.

  “I would have thought, Orion, you already have enough Greek statuary to fill a museum!”

  “Can one ever have enough of a good thing?” Lord Warburton queried. “I might say the same about horses!”

  His friend Charles laughed.

  He had left the Army with the reputation of being the best rider in the Household Cavalry and Lord Warburton, realising that he was hard up, had offered him the position of Manager of his racing stable.

  Charles Bruton had jumped at the chance.

  It was not only the present Lord Warburton who had built up the stable but his father and his grandfather before him. With the result that horses carrying the Warburton colours that ran in every Classic race had now become a legend.

  “I must say,” Charles remarked now, “I think it rather shabby of you, after all my hard work, not to be in at the finish.”

  “I am sorry, Charles, and I knew you would be disappointed,” Lord Warburton replied, “but as you know, when it is a question of a contest, Greece comes first!”

  “I suppose I should have expected that,” Charles Bruton said, “and this particular objective, which is taking you away from England, is it really better than what you have already?”

  “I cannot answer that question until I have seen it,” Lord Warburton replied, “but my informant, who has helped me before, has written to me very positively to say that this is something unique and, if I miss it, I will regret it for ever.”