Beware the Beast

by Anne Mather

  Alex straightened. "Grandmother, we are newly married," he said mildly. "Were you and my grandfather eager for company on your honeymoon?"

  Eleni moved her head from side to side. "That was different. Your grandfather and I were not honeymooning in the bosom of the family, as it were. Alexandro - you promised to come and see mel"

  Charlotte listened to this interchange with an acute feeling of discomfort. On the one hand she felt responsible for Alex's tardy behaviour, and on the other she objected to the entirely misleading impression he was allowing his grandmother to acquire. And yet what else could he say? How could he explain to this arrogant old woman that his only reason for making this marriage at all involved a hastily contrived gamble and a latent desire for a son and heir?

  Maria arrived with the chocolate Eleni had requested, and rinding Alex with the two women, offered to get another cup.

  "Oh, then pirazi, Maria," replied Alex, shaking his head, and Charlotte guessed he had refused. He turned once more to his grandmother. "You'll join us for lunch, of course. I'll go and change."

  Eleni looked piercingly up at him. "No, Alexandro, I won't stay to lunch today. I did not come here to intrude upon your privacy. I came to meet your wife, and I have." Her eyes flickered over Charlotte. "She's a beautiful creature, I can understand your desire to keep her to yourself. But I expect to see you again - soon, ne?"

  Charlotte glanced up at her husband, realizing something was expected of her. "Er - please stay," she ventured, not quite knowing what he wanted. "You're very welcome."

  "Thank you, my dear, but I know when I am not wanted." Eleni indicated the chocolate which Maria had set on a low table in front of Charlotte. "If I can just have some chocolate, I’ll be on my way."

  "Chocolate? Oh, yes. Sorry." Charlotte had almost for­gotten the chocolate. She struggled to pour the steaming liquid without spilling any. "Of course."

  Eleni frowned up at Alex. "You're looking pale, my boy," she commented, startling Charlotte still further. "And your wife is nervous of me," the old woman added, with wry perception. "What have you been telling her?"

  Alex managed a smile, although his eyes remained sombre. "You're imagining things,yaya" he told her firmly. "And remarking on someone's nervousness is not likely to put them at their ease."

  Eleni shrugged, and took the cup of chocolate Charlotte handed to her. "She's too thin, of course," she went on, changing the subject with confusing speed. "But once babies start coming, that will soon change."

  "I hope not," retorted Alex calmly. "I like her just the way she is."

  Eleni sipped her chocolate slowly, and Charlotte made an effort to drink hers. As his grandmother had refused his offer to stay to lunch, Alex had not gone to get changed, and for that she was grateful; even though it meant he would probably disappear again the minute his grandmother departed.

  At last Eleni got up to leave, and both Charlotte and Alex accompanied her to the door. To Charlotte's surprise and delight, a small cart waited outside drawn by a donkey with his ears poking through the brim of a straw boater. Giving a little exclamation of pleasure, she left her husband and his grandmother to approach the animal, stroking his neck and murmuring to him. Until then, she had not given a thought as to how Eleni must have "made the journey across the island. She had seen no cars since her arrival, and as most places were accessible on foot she had naturally assumed there was no means of transport.

  Eleni came to join her, climbing up on to the front of the cart where a benchiike seat was made a little more comfortable by the addition of cushions. Alex helped his grandmother up, and she took up the reins and a small whip.

  "What's his name?" Charlotte asked, unaware of the sud­den warmth in her voice as she spoke to the donkey.

  Eleni regarded her strangely. "Pepe," she said at last. "Do you like animals?"

  Charlotte nodded eagerly. "I love them. We had a dog once..," She hesitated. "After my mother died, there was no one to exercise it when I was away at school." She bit her lip, unconsciously wistful. "Daddy said we had to get rid of it."

  Eleni and Alex exchanged glances, and then Eleni flicked the whip. "I must be off. I will see you both in a few days. Do not forget, Alexandro."

  The donkey cart rattled away along the track which led to the village, and Charlotte felt suddenly bereft. In spite of the tension involved in speaking with Alex's grandmother, there had been a certain stimulation in the exercise, and now she had gone and things would resume their dull pattern.

  Alex turned and walked back into the house, and after a few moments she followed him, wandering along the hall which led to the back of the house. The lounger she had occupied earlier awaited her, her book laid conveniently within arm's reach.

  There was no sign of Alex and she guessed he had gone to his room. She had learned, by a process of elimination, that Alex occupied the room several doors along from her own, and the brief glimpse she had had of it had shown her that he did not use his wealth for his own comfort. Compared to the room she slept in, it was almost bare, with a locally woven coverlet on the bed and plain white curtains at the windows. The only rug she had seen had been beside the bed, a simple divan of the type to be found in any department store.

  She glanced at her watch. It was barely twelve o'clock and there were two hours to kill until lunch time. She felt sweaty after the tension of her encounter with Alex's grandmother, and she thought with longing of that pool Alex had offered to show her. She wondered where it was and whether she could find it on her own, and then discarded the idea. It was too hot to wander aimlessly about the island, and she had no wish to develop sunstroke to add to all her other worries.

  She was hesitating at the doorway to the patio when hard hands on her midriff shifted her firmly aside, and Alex passed her to walk across the sun-bleached tiles. He leant against one of the wide stone pillars which supported the entrance to the villa; and glanced back at her with cool appraising eyes. He had changed his shorts for close-fitting cotton pants, but had discarded his shirt altogether.

  "Well?" he said challcngingly. "What are you thinking?"

  Charlotte stepped out on to the patio. "I was thinking that I'm hot and sticky," she admitted honestly.

  "What did you think of Eleni?" he persisted, ignoring the unknowing appeal in her words.

  Charlotte shrugged. "She's - very nice."

  "But inquisitive."

  "I didn't say that."

  "No. But she is." Alex looked away from her. "I intended to introduce you the other day, but ..." he shrugged. "I guessed she would come, sooner or later."

  "You might have warned me."

  "Why?" He looked at her over his shoulder. "I haven't noticed any tendency on your part to indulge in conversation with me."

  Charlotte thrust moist palms into her hip pockets. "No -well, maybe I was hasty." She spoke half reluctantly, but something was driving her on. "I - perhaps we should - talk to one another. I mean, how else am I going to - to get used to you?"

  Alex turned right round, supporting his back against the column. "Go on."

  His expression was faintly derisive, and a certain defensive-" ness crept into her voice. "Well, wouldn't you rather we behaved like - like civilized people?"

  "Indeed." He inclined his head. "But I wonder what has changed your mind? Too many hours spent alone, perhaps? I can hardly believe that you're desperate for my company!"

  Charlotte pursed her lips. "If you're going to be sar­castic - "

  "How the hell do you expect me to be?" he demanded harshly. "You stand there and tell me that perhaps you've been hasty, that perhaps we should talk to one another ! Perhaps I don't want to talk to you!"

  Charlotte was amazed how easily he could hurt her. Holding up her head, she said: "I wish. I'd never mentioned it."

  Alex shook his head impatiently. "Oh? Are we now to revert back to our childish tantrums? Are you withdrawing your so-generous offer?"

  "You're a brute, do you know that?" she stormed tremu­lously
.

  "And you're a sweet misunderstood girl. I know. Forgive me if I find the analogy rather hard to take!"

  Charlotte gasped and stalked forward, intending to snatch up her book and leave him, but his ringers round her forearm prevented her.

  "Let's stop playing games, shall we?" he suggested, and she was so dose to him that his breath mingled with hers. "I'll take you swimming, if that's what you want."

  Charlotte's eyes flashed angry indignation and his fingers tightened warningly. "Don't deny it," he admonished quietly. "I might just take you at your word."

  Charlotte wrenched herself free, unwilling to admit the

  disturbing exhilaration these confrontations always aroused

  inside her. She could still feel the hardness of his hand against

  her flesh, and she rubbed her arm with impatient fingers.

  She was fighting a battle inside her, fighting against the im­pulses which were driving her towards him. But weakness won.

  "All right," she got out at last. " - I would like to go swimming."

  Alex straightened and walked across the patio, turning his back on her. "You do have a swimsuit, don't you?" he inquired rather flatly, and then: "Get it. You're wasting time."

  Charlotte hesitated only a moment longer, and then pressing her balled fists against her thighs, she marched into the house.

  In her room, she took off her trousers and halter top and put on one of the half dozen bikinis Verna had insisted she needed. It was all white, two diminutive scraps of cotton that revealed the whiteness of her skin below the waistband of the trousers she normally wore. She put her trousers on again over the bikini brief, but decided the halter top would look rather silly over her bikini bra. Instead, she thrust it into ( a canvas bag along with a towel.

  Alex was waiting for her in the hall, without either towel or trunks as far as she could see, although like her he could be wearing his swimming gear underneath. Her heart quickened automatically.

  "Ready?" he inquired coolly, and she nodded, preceding him outside. He took her bag from her unresisting fingers and said: "Come on. Follow me."

  It was hot, much hotter now than when Eleni had left in her donkey trap. Following Alex across the rough ground, Charlotte was soon tired, and her legs ached from the un­accustomed exercise. All around them the sea gleamed invit­ingly, the sound of the water splashing on the rocks below them, a tantalising temptation.

  Alex was used to this terrain, and he strode easily ahead, pausing now and then to allow her to catch up. He didn't say anything, but she was glad. She didn't think she would have the breath for conversation as well.

  At last he stopped and pointed down what appeared to be a sheer cliff face. "This is it," he said, not attempting to hide his amusement at her hot cheeks. "Come on, take my hand. It's rather steep."

  Charlotte allowed her fingers to entwine with his, and gasped when she saw where he was taking her. An overhang of rock concealed a track that was half path, half rocky steps gouged out of the cliff itself. It wound downwards, a haunt for sheep and goats, Charlotte thought wryly, but surely not for man.

  Keeping her eyes on Alex's broad back, she allowed him to precede her down the slope, not daring to think what might happen if he slipped. Below them, the water sucked greedily along the base of the cliffs, subsiding in showers of spray which, as they neared the bottom, wet them, too. At last they reached the flat plateau of rock which provided a natural diving platform, and Charlotte could see the curving promontory which formed the pool's basin.

  Alex released her hand, and looked at her laughingly. "Do you realize you've nearly broken my fingers?" he asked, flexing them painfully.

  Charlotte's tension relaxed into giggles. "I'm sorry, but it was so steepl" She looked back the way they had come and shuddered. "Heavens, do we actually have to go back up there?"

  "It's easier going up than coming down, actuallyI' Alex told her reassuringly, kicking off his sandals. "Well? Was it worth it?"

  "Mm." Charlotte looked about her excitedly. "I can't wait to get into the water."

  "Go ahead!" Alex indicated the pool, and trying not to feel too self-conscious she stripped off her trousers and walked to the edge of the platform.

  She dipped her toe first. Against her heated flesh, the water felt cold, but after a few moments she became more daring and sat down to dangle her feet in the water. She was aware that Alex had seated himself further back on the shelf of rock, his back against the cliff, one leg drawn up to support his elbow.

  Deciding it was now or never, Charlotte slipped off the platform, allowing herself to submerge slowly beneath the waves, opening her eyes on a green-shrouded world of rocks and waving seaweed.

  When she came up again to take some air, she was near the middle of the pool, and Alex was standing on the edge of the platform, his eyes showing the anxiety he had obviously experienced. She swam back to him, shaking the hair out of her eyes, wanting to reassure him. "Were you worried about me?" she exclaimed.

  "What do you think?" he demanded roughly. Then, more calmly: "How is it?"

  "Marvellous i" she replied, turning on to her back and floating, closing her eyes against the glare of the sun. "Aren't you coming in?"

  Alex shook his head. "I think not."

  She came upright, eyes wide again. "Why not? Aren't you hot?"

  "Mmm," he nodded. "But..." He paused. "Enjoy your­self !" And he walked back to his earlier position on the plat­form.

  Charlotte rested her arms and her chin on the shelf, regard­ing him steadily. "What is it? I thought we'd agreed to call a truce."

  "We have. And I don't want to start hostilities again." Then as she still continued to look puzzled, he said: "Char­lotte, I haven't swum in trunks since I was eight years old!"

  "Oh!" Charlotte turned abruptly away and swam swiftly across the pool. She should have guessed. What reason would he have for wearing anything here? This was his island, this pool was probably private property. And that would account for his tan which did not appear to be confined to any par­ticular area of his body. It was a curiously disturbing idea, and she was glad of the water to hide the sudden wave of heat which swept all over her body.

  Even so, it was lonely swimming alone. She wished he could have joined her. No doubt he would, if she asked him to, but...

  She swam back to the side, and wrinkling her nose said: "Who else swims here?"

  Alex shrugged. He had taken out a case of cheroots and was lighting one. He inhaled deeply before replying: "No one but me these days. When I w,as a child I used to swim with Vittorio and Dimitrios and some of the other boys, but nowadays ..." He shrugged expressively.

  Charlotte nodded. "What time is it?"

  He consulted his watch. "Quarter past one."

  "What time do we have to leave?"

  "Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes."

  "Oh." Charlotte nodded again and looked back at the water. "I don't suppose I would dare to come here alone - "

  "Don't even think about it I" said Alex harshly. "It can be dangerous, swimming in deep waten If you got cramp ..."

  "I know."

  Charlotte gave a wistful little sigh and letting go of the rock swam lazily across the pool again. She was turning to swim back when something struck the centre of the pool, something sleek and dark and powerful, something that caused very little spray as it entered the water. It all happened too quickly for her to feel any fear, and when Alex's dark head emerged only a few feet away from her, she felt only relief that he had decided to join her after all.

  His smile was faintly self-derisory, however, as he said: "I'll promise not to take advantage of you, if you'll promise the same," and she smiled. "You did want me to join you, didn't you?" he added.

  Charlotte nodded. "Yes. Oh, yes."

  The next half hour flew on freedom's wings, Charlotte had never indulged in water sports before, but Alex soon had her swimming and diving and racing, enjoying the elemental release of it all. He was an expert swimmer and
she knew he tempered his speed to her breathless efforts. He taught her how to hold her breath for longer periods of time, how to control her breathing, swimming with her to the break in the rock wall where the sea spilled through into the under­water caverns he had explored as a boy.

  But eventually they had to leave the water, and Alex hung back while Charlotte towelled herself dry and put on her trousers over the bikini. She left the halter top in the bag, the heat of the sun already drying the bra of the bikini against her skin. She averted her eyes as Alex vaulted out and borrowed her towel to dry himself. Curiously enough, she felt no real embarrassment any more. After all, she thought, this man is my husband ! And then was shocked at the realization that she was coming to accept the situation.

  They saw Maria looking out for them as they approached the villa. Her gnarled features revealed her concern, and Charlotte guessed she had been worried about them. She said something reproving to Alex in her own language, and then, when he insisted: "English, Maria !" she went on: "Where have you been? It is long after two o'clock ! I was about to send Sophia to the village for Vittorio !"

  Alex patted the old woman's shoulder affectionately. "We've been swimming, Maria, and I guess we forgot the time."

  "Swimming?" Maria's dark eyes flickered over Charlotte's flushed skin and tangled hair. "Ah - ah, yes, I see."

  Charlotte understood only too well what the old woman thought she saw, and now she was embarrassed. Naturally Maria would know of Alex's swimming habits and imagined no doubt some tender love scene down there beside the pool. With a toss of her head, she brushed past both of them, and went into the villa.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  When Charlotte appeared for lunch, Alex was waiting for her at the table. He had put on a shirt and combed his straight hair, but that was all. Charlotte meanwhile had showered and chang­ed into a white poplin shift that left her arms and most of her legs exposed to the sun.