Beware the Beast

by Anne Mather

  Charlotte heaved a sigh. "I didn't say I was unhappy."

  "No. But it is obvious, isn't it? You would not be here otherwise,"

  "Yaya, Alex has brought work to do. George is here because there is work to do. He - that is, Alex said that George is saying, for several days. My presence at the villa is - is just a nuisance."

  "Ah, I see." Eleni looked a little less strained now. "You are angry because AJex brings work to do when your time together has. been so limited so far."

  Charlotte opened her mouth to protest, and then closed it again. Why not let Eleni think that? What harm could it do, after all? At last it would stop her from worrying. She would see only that she wanted to see, and anyway, the facts seemed to beat it out. Only Charlotte knew the truth. And Alex him­self, of course.

  "Can I stay to lunch, then?" she asked, and Eleni nodded her grey head.

  "Why not? Why not? If I know Alex, it will not be long before he comes looking for you." Her smile reappeared. "You may not realize this yet, pethi, but Alex can be a very jealous manl"

  If she had thought to reassure Charlotte by these words, she was wildly off key. To consider Alex's reactions when he found her gone made Charlotte's nerves tingle. To imagine him coming here, looking for her, almost made that craven part of her change her mind about staying.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Charlotte and Eleni were drinking tea after lunch when Sophia arrived. The girl was hot and breathless, her cheeks flushed from hurrying in the heat of the day. Bettina brought her into the parlour, and Eleni regarded her frowningly.

  "Kala, ti thelete? What is it?"

  Sophia glanced resentfully towards Charlotte resting com­fortably on the couch, and Charlotte guessed what she was about to say before she opened her mouth.

  "Kyrios Alexandros sent me to find his wife, Kyria Eleni," she replied stiffly. "We have been worried about her. Kyrios Alexandros has had us all searching the villa."

  Eleni turned questioning eyes in Charlotte's direction. "I thought you told me that Alexandro knew where you were?"

  "I did." Charlotte put down her tea cup arid swung her legs resignedly to the floor.

  "Wait!" Eleni gestured for her to stay where she was. "What are you doing?"

  Charlotte sighed. "I thought you expected me to go with Sophia."

  Eleni shook her head vehemently. "Do not be so foolish. You cannot leave immediately after the meal. Besides ..." She turned to look again at Sophia, "why did not Kyrios Alexandro come himself?"

  "He is working, kyria. Kyrios Constandis is here. They have been working all morning."

  "Then Alexandro cannot expect his wife to wait around for him to find the time to speak with her," Eleni retorted .sharply. "You may tell your master that his wife is in safe hands. I will see that she gets home safely, ohi?"

  "Ne, kyria." Sophia subjected Charlotte to another of those hostile stares. "Efkaristo."

  Eleni instructed Bettina to give Sophia a drink before she left, but after she was gone Charlotte shifted restlessly on the couch, "Why does she dislike me so much?" she exclaimed, half to herself, but Eleni had heard her.

  "Sophia’s mother used to work at the villa when Sophia was a little girl," she explained. "Alexandro was already a young man, of course, but he took time out to play with her when she accompanied her mother. He was fond of her, as he is of all children. But Sophia did not see it that way. She adored him, she still adores him. She is jealous of you, that is all. And why not? You are younger than she is. Perhaps when she realizes you are to have Alexandro's child, she will accept you.”

  Charlotte found that very doubtful. Besides, after the child was iron, she would be going away. Who would Alex get to take cart of the baby? She found the thought that it might be . Sophia something she did not care to contemplate.

  Conversation lapsed, and Charlotte saw that Eleni's head was nodding. She felt drowsy, too, but she could not relax. Soon she would have to return to the villa and face Alex's annoyance that she should have dared to disobey him.

  Bettina was serving tea at four-thirty, and Eleni was just asking her to arrange for Yanni to take Charlotte home when the powerful roar of the helicopter's engines rent the quiet afternoon air. Charlotte's mouth went dry at the sound. Surely Alex wasn't leaving again without even saying good­bye? Couldn't he at least have waited until she got back? Devastatingly, she knew that she didn't want him to go.

  She caught Eleni's eyes upon her, but she could give the old woman no reassurance. She sensed that Eleni was as anxious as she was herself, and her lips parted helplessly.

  But the noise was increasing, not fading away, and with an exclamation Charlotte scrambled off the couch and rushed to the windows. The helicopter was landing, on the cliffs a few yards from the cottage, and she could see that Alex was alone behind the controls.

  She turned and looked at Eleni. "It - it's Alex," she said, unnecessarily.

  Eleni's hands relaxed their hold on the arms of her chair. "Well, you'd better bring another cup, Bettina," she said, with enviable calmness. "It seems we have another visitor."

  Alex strode into the cottage unannounced, his eyes going straight to Charlotte, still standing beside the windows. Then he Went towards his grandmother, taking her hand and bending to kiss her cheek. As he did so, Charlotte watched him. He had changed out of the jeans he had been wearing earlier, and was now more formally dressed in a bronze silk suit and matching shirt. His attire disturbed her anew. On the island he did not wear suits, silk or otherwise.

  "So, Alexandro," Eleni was saying now, "how are you? It is so long since you went away."

  Alex straightened, his eyes flickering coldly over Char­lotte, releasing himself from his grandmother's clinging fingers. "I am sorry," he apologized without enthusiasm. "The situation was more complicated than I had imagined."

  "But you are back now, and that is the main thing," remarked Eleni with satisfaction, unaware that Alex was looking at Charlotte again, silently stripping her of any defence she might raise against his obvious anger.

  Then Alex turned back to his grandmother. "I may not be staying long," he stated bleakly.

  Eleni looked up at him then, her eyes wide and troubled. "Not staying?" She turned to Charlotte. "What is this?"

  Charlotte moved her shoulders uncomfortably. "I don't know."

  "Don't you?" Alex seemed intent on humiliating her. "Of course you do. Why don't you tell my grandmother the truth? That you didn't want me here? That our marriage was a mis­take, and that you'd prefer to be free !"

  Charlotte gulped. "I - that's not true!" Her cheeks were scarlet as she gazed imploringly at Eleni. "I don't know why he's saying such things," she exclaimed. "Just because I left the villa when he asked me not to ..."

  Alex's eyes bored into hers. "And the rest," he said harshly.

  "Alexandro ! Alexandro, please I" Eleni rose to her feet to face them. "You're behaving like children, not responsible adults ! Good heavens, it's natural that after being separated for so long you should both have problems of readjustment. Charlotte has become used to doing as she likes. You cannot come home and make demands on her without giving reas­ons!"

  "Charlotte is expecting a baby !" muttered Alex roughly. "She should not be walking here I"

  "I know that. And she knows that. She was exhausted when she arrived. But is that any reason for you to - how do the Americans put it? - blow your chimney?"

  "Your stack!” put in Alex drily. He raked a hand through his hair. "You don't understand, Grandmother."

  "Don't I? Well, perhaps not. But as Charlotte is in - her condition, you should not be shouting at her simply because she shows a little independence."

  "Independence I" muttered Alex irritably. "I asked her not to come here. I specifically asked her to stay near the villa."

  "I'm not a child!" exclaimed Charlotte tremulously.

  "I suggest we all sit down and have some tea," said Eleni quietly. "Then, afterwards, you can take Charlotte home, Alexandro. In that monst
rous machine, if you must."

  "There was nothing else to hand," remarked Alex briefly, and Eleni conceded this with a dismissing gesture.

  Tea was served, but Charlotte did not enjoy it, and she did not think Alex enjoyed it either. But he was tolerably polite to his grandmother, answering her questions about the merger, telling her that New York had been cold and wet, that it was good to be back in the sunshine again. Then Eleni brought up the subject of Christmas, and Charlotte realized, with a sense of disbelief, that it was only a couple of weeks away.

  "Franco is coming, of course," Eleni was saying thought­fully. Then, to Charlotte: "Franco is my brother. He is a widower, and lives in a village not far from Athens. But he always joins us for Christmas, does he not, Alexandro?"

  Alex nodded, seeking permission to light a cheroot. Charlotte had noticed that he did not smoke often, but when he did it was almost always cheroots.

  "Consider," said Eleni musingly, "next year Christmas will begin to mean something again. There will be a baby in our family once more."

  Charlotte got up and walked away. She could not bear to ' think of where she might be twelve months from now.

  The journey back to the villa was accomplished in silence. It was a short hop, and George was waiting for them when they landed. He slid open Charlotte's door and helped her out of the helicopter, commenting on how well she was now looking.

  Charlotte forced a smile. "It's good to see you again, Mr. Constandis," she said, and he shook his head.

  "George," he insisted, walking with her towards the villa.

  Charlotte went straight to her bedroom, and was not sur­prised when Alex came after her. He closed the door and then folded his arms, staring expectantly at her. "Well?" he said at last, when she did not speak but picked up a brush and began to tug the bristles through her hair. "So you are not so brave, after all."

  Charlotte took a deep breath. "I don't know what you mean."

  "Why didn't you tell my grandmother why I married you? Why didn't you complain to her how I forced you into this, how I exacted complete payment for your father's debts?"

  Charlotte sank down on to the side of the bed. "Why should I do that? Why should I humiliate myself in such a way?"

  "You would have humiliated me more !"

  "Would I?" Charlotte hunched her shoulders. "Well, I - I wouldn't hurt yoar grandmother like that. I like her too much."

  “But you’d like amiscarriage more!"

  “No!” Charlotte’s eyes were wide and pained. "No. No, I wouldn’t, damn you !"

  Asa's eyes narrowed. "You said you didn't want the baby.”

  Charlotte bent her head. "I don't. But I wouldn't - do anything to hurt it."

  "So why did you tramp two miles across the cliffs?"

  Charlotte sighed. "I've done it before. Lots of times."

  "She said you were exhausted," he reminded her harshly.

  "I -I was. All right, maybe, it was foolish. But you - you made me do it."

  "I did?" He csme towards her then, sitting down on the bed beside her. "How am I to blame?"

  Charlotte swallowed convulsively. This near, he was too disturbing. She was very much afraid that if he touched her she would break down completely, and that was the last thing she must do. But she could remember only too well what had happened between them on this bed a few short hours ago. And she sensed he was not unaware of it himself. But to him, it had been a physical experience, the necessary accompani­ment to his desire for a child. While to her ...

  She moved, putting some space between them, and said: "You - you can't expect me to behave like - like one of your employees!"

  "Do I expect that?" he enquired, his lips thinning.

  "Yes. You think you can tell me what to do, and when I don't conform, you're furious !" she retorted.

  “I’m sorry. I was merely thinking of what was best for you."

  'For the baby, you mean."’

  "All right, if that's the way you want to see it"

  Charlotte hunched her shoulders. "I don't need your con­cern."

  So what do you need?"

  "Nothing - nothing."

  "Are you sure?" He caught her shoulders and swung her round to face him. "That was not my impression this morning."

  Charlotte's lips parted in dismay. "That's a rotten thing to say!" she choked.

  "But apt, don't you think? I mean, I didn't know about your condition. But you did!"

  Charlotte managed to find the strength to pull herself away from him. "All right," she agreed unsteadily, "I can't deny that. Enjoy the feeling of mastery it gives you. But — but just remember, any man with sufficient expertise could arouse an inexperienced girl !"

  Alex got stiffly off the bed, his expression grim. "I see. So now we know where we stand, do we not? When I need -relief, I come to you. And when you feel the same ..."

  "Oh, don't go onl" Charlotte pressed her hands over her ears. "You can be so cruel, can't you? God, I wish I'd never married you I"

  "Do you think there aren't times when I don't feel exactly the same?" he demanded savagely, and left her.

  While George was staying at the villa, Charlotte saw little of her husband, except at mealtimes. Both mien spent at least part of the day closeted in the library, and part out on the boats. Once they both flew Out in the helicopter, and Char­lotte thought they had gone for good. Then late in the evening they flew back again, and life resumed its pattern. But never once did Alex come to her bedroom, and there were times when, in spite of herself, she wished he would. She told herself it was natural that she should feel she needed him sometimes. This was his child she was carrying inside her.

  Why shouldn't he bear some of the anxieties she was suffering alone?

  Christmas, and all the things it had meant in England, seemed a million miles away from this remote island, and although there were few people she wanted to send cards to, she wished she had the opportunity to do some shopping, if only to try and feel the spirit of the season.

  She mentioned the matter to Eleni one afternoon when the older woman was visiting the villa, and she advised her to speak to Alex. "Athens may not be London," Eleni told her frankly, "but there are some excellent stores, and I'm sure you would be able to buy everything you wanted there."

  Charlotte felt sure she could, too, but mentioning the matter to Ales was something else again. Nevertheless, she felt she had to make the effort, if only to assure herself that she dared to do so, and over dinner that evening she brought the subject up.

  "You want to go to Athens?" Alex considered her words unsmilingly. "Do you think you should?" His meaning was obvious.

  "I'm not an invalid," Charlotte replied shortly, aware of George Constandis's eyes upon her. "Actually, I've never felt better now that I don't feel sick in the mornings."

  Alex crumbled a roll on his plate. "Very well. When would you like to go?"

  "As soon as possible."

  Alex frowned. "Is tomorrow soon enough?"

  "Tomorrow?" Charlotte's eyes widened. "Tomorrow would be - marvellous!"

  "Good." Alex lifted his soup spoon. "Well take a break tomorrow, George. You don't mind flying my wife to Athens, do you?"

  "George !" Charlotte had uttered the man's name almost involuntarily. "I mean, won't you be taking me, Alex?"

  "I don't think that's necessary," replied Alex, spooning soup into his mouth. "I have work I can do here while George is away."

  "Oh, but - " Charlotte's disappointment was out of all proportion to the request denied. She pressed her lips tightly together and stared down unseeingly at her dish. She was dangerously near to tears and she despised herself for her weakness.

  "Surely you can take the day off and fly Charlotte to Athens, Alex," George was saying now. "I'm sure she'd prefer your company to mine."

  "Do you think so?"

  Alex's words were sardonic, and Charlotte wondered how much of their .curious relationship he had relayed to his assistant, and what George really thought of their
marriage.

  "Please." Charlotte lifted her head proudly. "I don't mind, Mr. Constandis, honestly. I'm just sorry you've been given the chore."

  "It is no chore, and my name is George," he answered firmly. "Very well. What time would you like to leave?"

  Charlotte shrugged. "Would ten o'clock be suitable?"

  "Eminently," replied the older man smilingly. "I shall look forward to it."

  But Charlotte did not. She was doubtful as to the effects of flying in her condition, and if she had to be ill, she would have preferred it to be Alex with her. But then she chided herself. George was more likely to be sympathetic than her husband, and no doubt he had more patience.

  Still, she did not sleep very well that night with the un­expected outing ahead of her. It was so long since she had been in contact with other people, and she was ridiculously nervous of leaving the island. She awakened soon after seven, and was bathed and dressed by the time Tina arrived with her tray of morning tea and biscuits.

  She had decided to wear a dress for a change, a simple pinafore style dress with a high waistline fitting just beneath her breasts which successfully hid her condition from all but the most discerning eyes. The dress was cream, splashed with orange, which amazingly did not clash with the copper gold brilliance of her hair, and wedge-heeled shoes did marvellous things for her morale. Studying her reflection in the ward­robe mirrors, she was satisfied she had never looked better, and it was with a sense of impatience she had to concede that pregnancy suited her.

  Alex was seated at the dining table when she came along the corridor, lean and masculine in a blue denim shirt and close-fitting denim pants. A matching jacket was slung carelessly over the back of his chair. He was stirring his coffee with an air of abstraction, but he rose at her approach and his eyes narrowed beneath his heavy lids.

  "Well," he drawled sardonically, "is this all for George's benefit?"

  Ignoring his sarcasm, Charlotte seated herself at the table and rang the bell for Tina. After ordering rolls and more tea, she felt more capable of dealing with her husband. He had reseated himself, and although he appeared to have finished his meal, seemed quite content to sit and watch her every movement with the unnerving intentness of a cat with a mouse.