by Anne Hampson
Martine and Sophia were fortunate in finding a seat away at one end and they gave their order. Sophia had a glass of wine while Martine had her usual light coffee served in a large cup.
'You had every intention of telling my husband of what you had seen,' began Martine without preamble once the waiter had gone. 'Why did you change your mind after Kelvin had spoken to you?'
'Ask Kelvin what he said.'
'So you really are adamant? You're not going to tell me anything?' Martine's hopes of getting something out of the girl were dying and she wondered what had made her so optimistic in the first place.
'You don't seem afraid of what your husband would say if I did tell him,' said Sophia curiously, completely ignoring what Martine had just said. 'I should be terrified in your place. Luke can be a savage when his temper's roused.'
'You've seen him in a temper?'
'My sister has—' Sophia broke off and shuddered.
'She jilted him. It was only to be expected he would be angry.'
'He was more than angry.' Another curious glance as Sophia said, 'If I were to tell him of that little love scene between you and Kelvin he'd probably wring your neck.'
Martine had to laugh, much to the other girl's surprise. 'He'd not do that, Sophia. He likes being married to me no matter what you might think to the contrary.'
'He doesn't love you. He loves my sister.'
Silence. Martine had no truthful answer to give to that, so she said after awhile, 'Greeks do not normally favour divorce, and so Luke and I are not likely to have one, if that is what your sister is hoping for.' This was not actually a truthful comment but Martine had no intention of allowing either Sophia or her sister to cherish the hope that Luke would one day be free to marry Odette.
'My sister had a divorce.'
'Luke has different ideas from your sister about marriage.'
'Why haven't you gone back to Kelvin?'
Martine shot her a glance, taken aback by the abrupt change of subject. 'I never had any intention of—'
'Oh, yes, you did,' broke in Sophia rudely. 'He told me—I think he was being spiteful, not that I cared! I've found someone else. Kelvin said you'd given him your promise that you'd leave Loukas and go away with him. Something made you change your mind and I can tell you now, Martine, that I have every intention of —er— spilling the beans—Is that what you call it?'
Nerves tensed, Martine said, 'You were only willing to keep quiet if you knew I would leave my husband?' The mystery was unfolding even though Sophia had had no intention of its doing so—not all of the mystery but at least some of it. Martine felt that the most important, the most vital, clue was still going to be withheld from her.
Sophia shrugged and said casually, 'I felt that so long as you were leaving there was no need to divulge to Loukas what I knew.'
'You meant us to part.' It was a statement and a small pause followed as Martine fully assimilated what she had just heard. She glanced at Sophia, who was idly watching a heavily-laden donkey ambling along the street, a shaggy dog on one side of it and a farmer clad in baggy black pants on the other. He had a switch in his hand with which he tapped the animal's flanks now and then but the donkey still ambled along at its own chosen pace.
'Loukas belongs to my sister.' Sophia spoke at last, turning her attention to Martine. 'And you belong to Kelvin, so the sooner you see sense the better. I shall give you a couple of days to make up your mind and then, if you haven't left and gone away with Kelvin, I shall tell your husband what I know.'
'I am not afraid,' returned Martine, marvelling at her control. Inwardly she was quaking at the idea of a confrontation with her husband after Sophia had divulged what she knew; described with embellishments in plenty what she had seen.
'Loukas will kill you!'
'Don't be melodramatic,' admonished Mar-tine, who felt she was speaking to a child even though Luke had told her the girl's age was nineteen. 'You can tell Luke everything if you must, but it will be totally ineffective; there will be no divorce for my husband and me.'
'If only I hadn't taken Kelvin from you this would never have happened!' snapped Sophia, obviously more furious with herself than anyone else.
'But you did take him from me,' returned Martine gently, 'and so the damage is done.'
'You're so calm!' It was a complaint, spoken in tones that could only be described as peevish. 'Aren't you afraid of Loukas?'
Martine said nothing; she was glad when the waiter appeared with the tray, his broad smile revealing the inevitable gold fillings, while his dark and roving eyes instinctively went first to the curves of Martine's breasts and then to the rather more exposed curves of Sophia's.
'Eet will be sixty-five drachmae,' he said in very broken English, and held out his hand.
'Later,' said Sophia shortly, speaking in Greek. 'Go away!'
I'll pay,' from Martine who always treated those who served her with respect. 'Keep the change.' She gave him a hundred drachmae.
'Efharisto poli!'
'You shouldn't tip them,' snapped Sophia. 'They come to expect it all the time.'
'What I do is my own business,' returned Martine levelly. 'Don't make any comments like that again, Sophia.'
The younger girl's mouth compressed. 'You speak to me as if I'm a child!' The hostile fury in her voice matched to perfection the set of her mouth and the glitter in her eyes. Martine wondered as she drank her coffee just what Kelvin had seen in the girl. True, she was lovely to look at, but underneath she was poison.
'I merely asked you to refrain from commenting on my actions.' Martine's attention was arrested suddenly by the couple who had just disappeared round a bend in the road. Kelvin and Odette…
Sophia had also seen them and her eyes became veiled even as she sent her companion a covert glance. Martine said nothing and neither did Sophia, and it was not long before the two said goodbye after leaving the cafeneion.
Martine sat thoughtfully on the verandah, pondering the situation in the light of what Sophia had threatened to do. At last she rose and went in search of her husband, whom she knew would be in his study at this time of the afternoon. She knocked quietly and entered after she heard his 'Come in.' He glanced up from some papers he was perusing and leant back in his chair, a half smile on his lips.
She looked at him from her place by the door, which she had closed behind her, and, as always, she found herself affected by his strong masculine appeal which was manifest even in the arrogance and superiority which were almost always present, a legacy from his ancestors.
'What is it?' he inquired when she did not speak. 'You look rather anxious. Something wrong?'
She shook her head, an automatic gesture which was belied by her words, 'There is—yes, Luke.' She glanced at the chair facing him on the opposite side of the big oak desk at which he was seated.
He said quietly, 'Sit down, Martine, and tell me what is wrong. It must be urgent for you to come here to me at this time.'
'No, it's not all that urgent.' She spoke slowly, trepidation thickening her voice. 'It is rather important, though.' She sat down, nerves taut, heart racing madly. Anger surged because of her fear; it always was that way—fear made her angry, had done so ever since she could remember.
Her husband looked at her and suddenly she suspected that he was ready for her to broach the subject of Kelvin, saying she wanted to go to him after all.
'Well?' he murmured, eyes glinting as he leant a little further back in the chair as if wanting to feel the upholstery at his spine, 'Let us not waste time, Martine.'
She was a long time in speaking, for the whole room seemed to reflect the autocratic manner he adopted; he seemed ready to pounce on her, to inflict his will in ruthless domination. But at last she managed to say, her voice surprisingly steady considering the tumult within, 'It's about something that happened when you were away in Athens.' She paused a moment but her husband did not speak. His scrutiny was keen, though, his eyes narrowed. 'I'd gone to see Kelvin—you k
new that, of course.'
'Of course,' softly and with a question in the depths of his tone.
'I—we—that is—Kelvin and I were—were affected emotionally and—and…' She tailed off, almost flinching under the unmasked evil of his stare.
'You're telling me you were—unfaithful—?'
'Good heavens, no!' The idea that her hesitant words would give that impression had not for one second entered Martine's head. The vehemence and swiftness of her denial had their affect. Luke, who had become tensed and upright, relaxed his body again and his face lost most of its savagery. Heaven help me if that was what I had come here to confess! Martine thought.
'What, then?' after a pause. 'You were saying that there was an emotional scene between you and Kelvin.'
She nodded, her mouth dry, like sawdust. 'We were embracing and—and kissing when—when Sophia arrived. She threatened to tell you what she had seen.'
Luke, though grim, was puzzled, too, and there was evidence of this in his expression as he asked, 'Why hasn't she told me, then?'
'Kelvin persuaded her not to. You see—' She stopped a moment and stared at her hands, resting tensely on the pleats of her skirt. 'You see,' she began again, 'Kelvin believed I'd go away with him, and so he convinced Sophia that there was no need for her to go running to you with her tales.'
Luke frowned at her. 'Why have you told me this?' he demanded. 'Surely there was no need to do so?'
'Sophia's now given me two days in which to make up my mind. If I don't go away with Kelvin then she's going to tell you of what we—we were doing.' Martine's voice quivered and her eyes were wide and scared. She noticed the ruthless lines of his face, the gleam of anger in his eyes and waited breathlessly for his fury to descend upon her. To her amazement he rose and, coming to her, pulled her gently to her feet. No rough handling, no wrath to make her shrink away, nerves rioting.
'Sophia's threatened you, frightened you.' Luke's teeth gritted and the glitter in his eye was like an ember fanned to life. 'The little cat! Why didn't you come sooner? Why allow a wretch like that to put fear into you?'
Martine could only stare, first into his face and then at the hand that held hers, gently… almost protectively. How unpredictable he was, taking her part when she had fully expected some form of punishment as a reward for her confession.
'Aren't you angry?' A stupid, superfluous question. But Martine was still so taken aback that she could think of nothing else to say.
'Angry, yes—with Sophia! What I should like to know,' he said, again frowning in puzzlement, 'is what she hopes to gain?'
'She hopes that I will go away with Kelvin.'
Luke's frown deepened. 'And what benefit would that be to her?'
Martine paused a long time, her eyes on his hand, holding hers, his thumb moving absently over her knuckles. 'I believe she—she would like you and Odette to—to get together again.' There, it was out. Not what she had intended saying, but she was glad now, for Luke knew everything…
Everything? No, for she herself did not know everything. She felt sure there was still a mystery, some circumstance which was being kept from her, both by Kelvin and Sophia.
Luke had thrown back his head and his laugh rang out in the silence of the room. 'What a hope! Surely you told her there was no chance?'
Martine nodded her head. 'I told her you'd never divorce me.'
Luke's gaze became curious. 'You could be so sure?'
Again she nodded, saying yes, she could be sure. 'I know you like being married to me,' she added, her voice rather strained because her own love was not returned.
'And so I am to expect a visit from our young friend, Sophia.' Luke had made no comment on what Martine had said but she did wonder at the way he suddenly dropped his lashes… hiding his expression?
'If I haven't gone in two days, yes.'
'It will be interesting.' There was both contempt and humour in Luke's tone. 'Young Sophia will get more than she bargains for.'
Martine stared down at his hand again and, noticing, he drew her gently to him, tilted her face and kissed her lips.
'I can't understand your attitude,' she said and her husband laughed in the most attractive way, causing her heart to contract and then flutter as her anxiety was released.
'You expected me to be angry, I suppose?'
'It was a very natural conclusion.'
'I rather think you have suffered enough already.'
'I certainly was—er—apprehensive.'
Again he laughed. 'That's mild. You were scared out of your wits.' A pause and a glimmer of amusement in his eyes as he saw hers flash. 'I must say it's gratifying to know that my wife is aware of the mastery of her husband.'
He was asking for it, she knew, but instead of losing her temper and thereby adding drama to the situation, she smiled saucily and said, peeping up at him provocatively, 'And it is nice for a wife to know that she can soothe the lion in his den without much trouble at all!'
'Don't be too confident. I just happen to be in a mellow mood!'
'A most attractive mood—' She hadn't meant that to be spoken aloud but it was there before she could hold it back.
'Thank you, my dear,' he said gravely. 'I'm flattered.'
She coloured, not too sure if he was being faintly sarcastic with her. But whatever, he drew her to him again, closely and tenderly, looking deeply into her eyes before bending his dark head to take possession of her lips. She lifted her arms to put them around his neck, aware of a lightness within her, a surge of pleasure which brought a sparkle to her eyes. Luke stared down into her lovely face, his fingers combing through the bright mass of her hair.
'How beautiful you are…' The words vibrated with a passion that was gentle, his breath cool and clean as a morning breeze. She thrilled to his nearness, to the intimacy of the moment, thinking of her fear when she had decided to make her confession. Fear that had proved to be groundless because her husband had been kind and understanding, had overlooked a good deal because he had the sense to realise that there must have been an intimate scene between her and Kelvin, or otherwise they would not have been contemplating going away together. 'I ought to stop everything and make love to you.'
She looked up, laughter in her eyes, laughter which she hoped would hide her love. 'It's not the right time,' she retorted teasingly. 'Night time is for lovers.'
'You're coming out of your shell, my dear,' he declared unexpectedly. 'Not so long ago you would have blushed and refused to make any comment.'
It was true. But this interlude was so intimate, so different from any other that had taken place between them, that she felt close and secure and able to speak her thoughts aloud.
'I suppose I had better go,' she said reluctantly as she drew away from him. 'You're busy by the look of things.'
'So you are not in the mood for love?' His voice teased but his expression was serious. Martine, a little embarrassed now, backed towards the door. 'Very well, my dear—' He glanced at his watch. 'I think I might finish early and take you for a walk.'
Her eyes shone up at him across the space separating them. 'I'd like that, Luke,' she said eagerly, and he stared for a long moment, as if he were thinking about saying something, but after awhile he shrugged lightly and said he would be with her in about an hour's time. She hesitated, conscious of feathery ripples along her spine, profoundly aware that there was something tense and unfathomable in the atmosphere. While she watched, Luke returned to the other side of the desk and sat down. Martine turned and quietly left the room.
Chapter Ten
The following day Martine ran into Kelvin, both having gone into town to do some shopping. He greeted her as if they were still friends, albeit a little coolly and so she matched her mood to his.
'Hello, Kelvin. How is the book progressing?'
'As well as can be expected under the circumstances.' He fell into step beside her as she went along the street towards the chemists where she was to buy a few toilet requisites for herself an
d some after-shave for Luke. 'Has Sophia spoken to you lately?' he asked after a moment of hesitancy.
'She has, and she threatened to go and see Luke.'
'To tell him what she had seen?'
'What else?' tartly and with no intention of admitting that she had already put her husband in possession of the facts. 'She's bent on destroying my marriage—'
'She feels that Luke belongs to Odette.'
'And you?' sharply and with a curious look for there had been something strange in Kelvin's tone of voice, some undercurrent which was as disturbing as it was incomprehensible.
Kelvin drew his brows together in a heavy frown which only added to Martine's puzzlement. 'Why should I have any particular opinion on the matter?' he asked and Martine knew for sure that he was prevaricating.
'I saw you with her yesterday. I was with Sophia—we met and I suggested she join me in a cup of coffee. I had hopes of getting something out of her because I feel there is a mystery-something you are all keeping from me.'
'All?'
'You and Sophia, and possibly Odette as well—' She stopped abruptly as, sending him an upward glance, she saw his lashes sweep down to hide his expression. Her nerves tensed; she was definitely sure now that the three had some scheme in common… and it was aimed destructively in her direction…
'You say you saw me with Odette?' Casual the tone but she could tell that it was forced. 'We met by chance and it was natural that we'd walk together.' He paused a moment. 'You'll be in serious trouble with your husband when Sophia tells him what she saw.'
A look of contempt was Martine's only reaction for a space, but eventually she said, the look in her eyes reflecting what was on her lips, 'You're really spiteful, aren't you, Kelvin? You always seem to forget that this whole situation was brought about by your fickleness.'
'All right,' he snapped. 'There's no need to keep on reminding me!'
'Then don't you try to frighten me!'
