Beware the Beast

by Anne Mather

  "I'm very pleased to hear it." Alex's drawling masculine tones startled both women, as he came down the shallow steps into the hall. "Now, Maria," he went on, putting an affection­ate arm about her shoulders, "what has Charlotte been doing to make you look so worried?"

  Maria glanced significantly at Charlotte and the girl held her breath. But after a moment, the old woman answered: "She.- she isn't eating enough." She paused. "I think she misses you, kyrie."

  Alex glanced at his wife, but Charlotte refused to meet his eyes, and he looked away again. "Well, I'm back now, Maria." He hesitated. "And I’m ravenous. Where are those warm rolls I've been tantalising myself with the thought of ever since I went away?"

  Maria excused herself and went to attend to his breakfast, but not before she had cast a rather reproving look in Char­lotte's direction which Alex intercepted. Charlotte, however, only waited for the old woman to disappear before turning and walking along the corridor towards the patio. She wanted to put some distance between herself and her husband. But he followed her.

  She walked jerkily across the tiled area at the back of the villa, where she had spent so many hours while he was away. As she scuffed her toes, a quick look over her shoulder assured her that he had stopped by the open doors, supporting his shoulder against the jamb. In close-fitting denim jeans that moulded the muscles of his thighs, and a sleeveless denim waistcoat which left most of his chest bare, he was dis­turbingly attractive, the more so because she knew what had put that lazy indolence in his walk. Last night he had been tired and tense, someone she could feel compassion for. This morning, after the sensual satisfaction of their lovemaking, reasserting his male dominance, she told herself she hated him.

  And yet she could feel her skin prickling just to contem­plate the touch of his hands upon her. His hands and lips had explored every inch of her body, and the pagan delight he had inspired in her made her yearn for him to do it again. But he must never know that - this man who had taken her as payment for a wager, whose only intention was to plant his seed inside her. How easily he had succeeded, she thought ! bitterly, aware that in some despicable way she was wishing it had taken some considerable time...

  Now Alex flexed his shoulders muscles lazily. "You're brown," he said, surveying her with his head tilted to one side. "It suits you."

  Charlotte did not answer, and he went on: "What have you been doing with yourself while I 've been away ? Have you been bored?"

  Charlotte shook her head. No, bored she had not been. Restless, maybe, towards the end of the time he was away. But she had her own reasons for that.

  Alex's expression hardened slightly. "What's wrong? Have you stopped speaking to me or something?"

  Charlotte took a deep breath and turned. "No," she said

  shortly. "Of course not." -

  Alex's brows drew together. "Charlotte, don't let us have start all over again. We both know things have gone too far for that,"

  "Was that why you stayed away?" she flared hotly. He sighed. "No. Well - perhaps partly." He straightened, moving away from the door towards her. Looking down at his bare feet, he went on: "I could say that the merger took longer than we expected. It did. I only got through there two weeks ago. But - well, f couldn't come right back." Charlotte stiffened. "Why? Is there someone else?" "Nol" His retort was angry. "No, there's no one else. My God, Charlotte, you have some opinion of me, don't you?"

  She flushed. "I only meant-"

  "I know what you only meant. Anyway, no. There's no one else, as I say. But - oh, God I you know as well as I do how you were when I left. Dear heaven," he raked a hand through his hair, "you certainly know how to make a man feel a dogl"

  "You hurt mel" she defended herself, in a small voice, and he nodded resignedly.

  '! know, I know. But there was no way ... Do you think it didn't hurt me, too?" He halted before her, and she looked up at him with wide curious eyes. "You have a lot tp learn about me, Charlotte. I'm not an automaton, you know."

  "Aren't you?" Charlotte held up her head. "What are you trying to say?"

  "I'm trying to say, I had - doubts."

  Charlotte's courage wavered. "About - coming back?"

  "Yes."

  She licked her lips. "Wh-why?"

  "You ask me that?" His voice was harsh, and he pressed his balled fist against his thigh. "Charlotte, you may not believe this, but I felt sorry for you, sorry for the things I'd done. Even if your father didn't deserve any better, maybe you did - "

  "Anyone can make a mistake I" Charlotte burst out feelingly. "If Daddy really was a compulsive gambler - "

  "Oh, he was, believe me I" Alex's lips twisted sardonically.

  " — well, if he was, you must have driven him to the end of his tether I"

  "Charlotte! For God's sake, this wa'sn't the first time - " He broke off, turning violently away. "God, how did we get on to this topic? I wanted to talk to you."

  Charlotte felt a quiver of apprehension feather along her veins. "No, wait. What do you mean? This - wasn't - the -first - time?"

  "Forget it!" Alex took a deep breath, and at that moment Tina appeared behind him.

  "Parakalo, Kyrios Alexandros. To proyevma," she ventured shyly, simpering under his gaze. Without a backward glance, Alex went towards her.

  "It's good to see you again, Tina," he responded in English, smiling down at the Greek girL "Come on I Show me those rolls before I die of starvation."

  Giggling, Tina led the way into the villa, and left to her­self, Charlotte turned away and walked towards the lounger Maria always set out for her. But she was too restless to sit down. She felt upset and frustrated, not altogether sure what Alex had been trying to tell her. One thing did seem certain. His visit to her room the night before had not been intended to pick up where he left off before he went away. When he had fallen asleep, she should have woken him up and sent him back to his own room. Then this morning's - incident -would not have occurred.

  But what good would that have done? she argued with herself. It was already too late to have doubts, although Alex was not aware of it. She frowned. It was possible, she sup­posed, to have an abortion. It was not yet too late. But... She pressed protective hands over her abdomen. No I What­ever happened, she could not permit that. Not when there was no reason why she should not produce a perfectly healthy baby. This thing, this foetus which was growing inside her, was already a living being, and she could not contemplate taking its life for any reason.

  But what should she do ? Sooner or later, Alex would have to know about the baby. Perhaps though she should wait and discover exactly what his intentions might be. Tugging the darkening leaves from a hanging clump of bougainviilea, she stared unseeingly towards the lemon grove, unaware of the island's beauty beneath the cooling autumn skies. What had Alex meant about her father? Why couldn't he tell her the truth? He must know that whatever her father had done had been only weakness, not criminal irresponsibility.

  Eventually she sought the relaxation of the lounger, stretching her length comfortably. She expected Alex to come looking for her when he had finished his breakfast, and she intended to continue their conversation. But he did not return, and she lay there resentfully, feeling the cool breeze bringing goose pimples to her arms. With an exclamation, she got up and went into the villa, refusing to admit that she was curious about Alex's whereabouts.

  Tina was clearing the table, humming happily to herself, but Charlotte regarded her dourly. "Where is my husband?" she demanded, ignoring the dictates of reason, and Tina pointed towards the closed library door.

  "Eki kyria" she answered politely, but Charlotte suspected she had her own reasons for the small smile which accompan­ied this information.

  Descending the steps into the hall again, Charlotte ap­proached the library door rather tentatively. She wondered why Alex should choose to spend his first day at home indoors, and whether she ought to mind her own business.

  But it was her business, she argued impatiently. He knew she w
ould be waiting for him to come and finish their con­versation. Was he deliberately being awkward?

  Collecting all her courage, she flung open the library door. Alex was seated at the square oak table which occupied a central position, a briefcase open beside him, its contents strewn across the table's surface. He was obviously working, and he looked up rather impatiently at her entrance.

  Charlotte halted uncertainly in the doorway, and then deciding she could not retreat gracefully after that entrance said: "What are you doing?"

  Alex pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. "What does it look as if I'm doing?" .-

  Charlotte rubbed her nose with her finger. "Working, I suppose."

  "Right first time I" Alex was sarcastic. "What do you want? Is something wrong?"

  Charlotte's breathing quickened. "Is it too much to expect a little of your company on your first day home?"

  Alex stared at her mockingly. "You want my company? That was not my impression earlier on."

  Charlotte flushed. "Oh, what's the use?"

  She turned and would have marched out of the room, but he covered the space between them, caught her arm and drawing her back inside the room, closed the door.

  ""Now," he said quietly, without mockery, "I’m working because George is due in about an hour, and I want to have these figures ready for him. I intended to do them last night, but - " he broke off, "as you know, I didn't."

  "So that was why you came back !" stormed Charlotte angrily. "To get some figures !"

  "Among other things," he conceded. "Charlotte, I tried to tell you-"

  "And George is coming to collect these figures?"

  "No." Alex hesitated. "No. He'll be staying a few days."

  "Staying?"

  "Yes. There's some organising to be arranged. We can work just as well here."

  Charlotte gasped. "I gather from that you didn't intend to do so. What changed your mind?"

  "Oh, Charlotte!” Her name was a remonstrance on his lips. '"'Charlotte, for God's sake - " He raked a hand through his hair. "Look - okay, so I didn't intend staying. I told you about that. But now I am."

  "Why?" Charlotte's lips had begun to tremble so she damped them tightly together* between words. "Because you changed your mind again after this morning?" She clenched her small fists. "Well, you don't need to bother about me. You don't have to stay here, or assert yourself ever again!" She pulled up her smock to reveal the button of her jeans which she had had to unfasten. "I'm putting on weight, Alex. Can you guess why?"

  Alex stared at her as though he didn't believe her, his eyes dropping the length of her body with disturbing in­tensity. Then he came towards her, staring down at the place which was now hidden beneath her smock again. "

  "You're telling me you're pregnant?" he said, in a strange, uneven tone.

  "Well, if I'm not, I don't know what's wrong with mel" she retorted, coldly flippant.

  Alex's expression was grim. "Don't make jokes I" he commanded harshly. "My God, how long have you known this?”

  "Two - maybe three weeks."

  "Three weeks! Why wasn't I informed?"

  "Oh, sorry, sir, but you weren't here, sir!"

  "Stop it!" Alex's fingers suddenly bit into her upper arms. "Hell, Charlotte, I had a right to be told, didn't I?"

  "Well, now you have been. No one else knows. Except Maria, and perhaps the girls'."

  "And my grandmother?"

  "No. I made Maria keep it to herself."

  "Why?"

  Charlotte shook her head, her momentary surge of provoca­tion leaving her. "I - I didn't want anyone to know," she admitted in a small voice.

  "Why not?" Alex sighed heavily. Then he shook his head. "I never dreamt -! didn't think ..." He paused. "And you? How do you feel?"

  "Me?" Charlotte's lips twisted. "Oh, I'm fine - fine! I can't drink coffee, I'm sick every morning unless I eat dry biscuits before getting up, and I get tired after spending only a couple of hours on my feet I I'm really fit!"

  "Charlotte !" He shook her gently. "Charlotte, please!" His eyes were troubled, and she felt a ridiculous urge to reassure him. But why should she? She hadn't asked to be made his wife, to be brought here and forced to bear his child I Everything he did had a purpose behind it, and right now all he wanted was to assure himself that his child was receiving proper care !

  "Leave me alone !" she exclaimed, dragging herself away from him. "How do you expect me to feel? All soft and gooey, broody like a mother henl Well, I don't. I don't -! don't want this baby!"

  That this wasn't strictly true was something that Charlotte could not admit, even to herself, but Alex did not know this. With a sigh, he turned away and went back to his desk.

  "You knew the terms of the contract," he told her flatly.

  "Yes. Yes, I knew them," she told him angrily. "But I didn't sign anything, did I?" She turned to the door. "I'm going to see your grandmother. Don't expect me back for lunch."

  "Now wait a minute." Alex came after her again. "Why are you going there? You can't go alone."

  "In your absence," she stressed the words, "I've had to do everything alone. And besides, your grandmother has a right to know that she's going to be a great-grandmother, doesn't she?"

  "Wait until this afternoon and I'll come with you."

  "What? And have you gloating over the way you've proved your manhood? No, thanks!"

  Alex put his hand against the door, blocking her departure. "I can prove my manhood with you any time I like!" he bit out savagely, and she trembled. Then his hand fell away from the door. "Oh, go on. Get out of here! But don't leave the villa!"

  Charlotte made no reply, but she knew she would not obey him. His wife she might be, the willing mother of his child — but his slave she was not.

  She saw the helicopter coming in low over the headland as she walked across the cliffs towards Eleni's cottage. The cot­tage lay some distance beyond the village, but it was easier circling the centre of the island than clambering over its rocky formations. Once Alex had taken her to the village and introduced her to Vittorio's wife, Nana, but since he had been away she had not liked to intrude on the lives of his employees.

  By the time she reached the cottage, Charlotte was exhaus­ted. It was over a week since she had walked here, usually Ending it easier to summon Yanni and his trap. But this morning to have done so would have aroused Alex's attention, and that was the last thing she wanted.

  Eleni was in the garden of the cottage, pulling up some weeds, her hands protected by a pair of stout rubber gloves. She looked up in surprise when she saw Charlotte, and ex­claimed: "Did you not see the helicopter? Perhaps Alexandros is back!"

  Then she noticed Charlotte's pale face, and her expression changed. "Pethi mou, what is the matter? You are ill?"

  Charlotte shook her head wearily. "Oh, no - no. Not ill. I — " She ran the back of her hand across her damp forehead. "I seem to be running a slight temperature, that's all."

  Eleni took off her gloves and taking Charlotte's arm guided her towards the cottage. "Come in, come in. Come inside," she said, urging the girl before her into the cool dimness of her overcrowded living room. She settled Charlotte in a chair and then summoned Bettina. "Kafes, Bettina," she ordered the old servant peremptorily, but Charlotte moved her head slowly from side to side.

  "No, not coffee," she managed weakly. "Just - tea, or water."

  "Water?" Efeni turned to look at her in some surprise. Then she turned back to Bettina. "Poli kala, tsai, Bettina. Ghrighora!"

  Nodding, Bettina went to do her bidding, and Eleni came to Charlotte, lifting one of her limp hands and shaking her head anxiously. "Alex will wonder where you are."

  "He won't. I told him I was coming here," replied Charlotte truthfully.

  "You told him?"

  "Yes. Oh, he got back late last night. That would be George in the helicopter you saw."

  Eleni allowed Charlotte's hand to resume its languid position on the arm of her chair. Then she folded her ow
n hands and regarded her grandson's wife intently. "If Alex just got back last night, what are you doing here today?" She frowned. "You have been - arguing, ohi?"

  Arguing? Charlotte felt a little sick. "You might say that," she agreed tiredly.

  Eleni made an irritated sound with her tongue against her teeth. "Why? Why have you be_en arguing? I'm sure Alex would be delighted to hear he was to become a father, wasn't be? Or haven't you told him that?"

  Charlotte's eyes flicked open. "You - know? What has Maria been telling you?"

  "Maria has told me nothing. Good heavens, I did not need to be told. I guessed a week ago when Maria sent for me, that's all. You were almost convincing, but I have had babies of my own, Charlotte. And although I may be old, I am not blind."

  Charlotte straightened her back, sitting upright in the chair. "Well, at least it saves me having to tell you," she said flatly.

  Eleni uttered an impatient ejaculation. "What is the matter, Charlotte? Have you told Alex? If not, you must."

  "I've told him," Charlotte retorted shortly, and looked up as Bettina carried the tray of tea into the room.

  Tea on Lydros was not the same beverage as Charlotte was used to drinking in England. It was made from camomile and other herbs, and while it was hot and fragrant, it was infinitely different. Nevertheless, she had grown accustomed to it, and right now it was very welcome. There were biscuits, too, still warm from the oven, and after two of these, Char­lotte's feeling of nausea had left her. She remembered she had had little breakfast that morning, but Alex's presence had stifled her appetite.

  Eleni presided over the cups, seated beside the small table where Bettina had placed the tray. She was only a few feet away from Charlotte, and the girl could sense hex silent dis­approval.

  "What is it?" Charlotte asked at last, feeling more able to cope now that she was no longer feeling empty inside. "I thought you liked me coming here, I hoped you'd ask me to stay to lunch."

  Eleni looked at her impatiently. "My dear child, you know how much I enjoy your visits. And as to lunch, what I have is yours. But - " She paused, absently pleating the folds of her apron. "You have to understand, Charlotte, Alex is my grandson. I love him dearly. And you are his wife. If you are unhappy, he must be unhappy, and that I do not like."