by Anne Mather
‘Well, I can’t,’ said Charles flatly. ‘It’s no good, Dallas. It would never work. We’d be at each other’s throats in a month.’
‘ So where does that leave me?’
‘You must decide,’ replied Charles. ‘Me, or Jane.’
Dallas stared at him. ‘That’s a callous thing to say! ’
‘But true.’ It was obvious from his attitude that Charles thought she would give in, choose marriage with him above everything else. But Dallas couldn’t do it, any more than he could love Jane. And some small voice, deep inside her, was saying: ‘Isn’t it better to find out now than afterwards? When you’re married to him? And can you honestly say you’re heartbroken by the prospect?’
‘Then I must choose Jane,’ said Dallas quietly.
Charles looked startled ‘What!’
‘You heard what I said perfectly well,’ replied Dallas. ‘It’s no good for me either, Charles. I could never live with you, not knowing where Jane was, or what she was doing.’
‘I never said that.’
‘No, but you said you wouldn’t associate with her while she was expecting this baby. I can see us having a terrible time if I want to see her and you don’t. It’s no good, Charles. I’m sorry, but there it is. I think you’re the one who has made the decision, and you’ve chosen your mother. ’
Charles grunted angrily, ‘Dallas, you infuriate me! You’re deliberately trying this on. I can’t believe you could give up everything we’ve worked for these last few years at the drop of a hat, so to speak. That’s simply not like you!’
‘Have you ever wondered whether I am all you think I am?’ asked Dallas, surprisingly. ‘I mean, you say that’s not like me. Maybe it is. Maybe the person you know is not like me.’
‘You’re talking rubbish, and I won’t listen to any more of it.’ Charles started the car violently, and throwing it into the wrong gear stalled the engine at the first attempt. Furious with himself, he started again, and Dallas wished she was in London, and able to get home alone. She looked round.
‘Look, Charles,’ she said, ‘there’s no point in my going to your mother’s now. We have nothing more to say to each other.’
‘I disagree,’ muttered Charles, fumbling for his gears. Dallas slid swiftly out of the car, looking about her thoughtfully. She might be lucky enough to catch a bus home. If not, she would rather walk than stay with Charles any longer just now.
Charles wound down the nearside window and glared out.
‘Dallas! Get back in the car this minute! ’
Dallas turned away. ‘It’s no good, Charles. I’ve told you!’
‘Dallas!’ Charles’s tone turned to a plaintive one. ‘Dallas, please. Don’t be so hasty. Let’s talk some more about it’
‘No. It’s just no good, Charles, and I can see no point in labouring on about it. Just let me go. I’ll get the bus home.’
Charles snorted furiously, ‘Very well, then, if you persist in being stupid about it. But I shall expect to hear from you. You know the number. ’
Dallas did not reply. There was nothing more to say.
Although Dallas told Jane what had happened between herself and Charles when she got back to the flat she did not invite confidences, so Jane refrained from making any comment. But as the week progressed and Dallas became restless and moody, Jane had to have it out with her.
‘Dallas, are you sure that’s really what you want to do?’ she asked sympathetically. ‘I mean, Charles was your choice, not mine, and it’s no good breaking with him, whatever his views, if you love him. ’
Dallas ran a hand over her hair, shrugging her slim shoulders.
‘That’s just the trouble,’ she said, sighing. ‘Charles was my choice, and obviously a wrong one, because quite honestly I’m not brokenhearted about our separation. What’s worrying me is what we’re going to do now.’
Jane traced a pattern on the arm of the chair she was sitting in.
‘We ... well, we could accept Alexander Stavros’s offer,’ she murmured tentatively.
Dallas stared at her. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Well, I only thought ... I mean ... he did say you could go, too, didn’t he? And it would only be until the baby was born.’
‘No.’ Dallas shook her head ‘That’s the last thing we must do.
If once he gets control of you, the child will never be yours again. ’
Jane frowned. ‘Why do you distrust him so? Surely, he seemed all right to me. I rather liked him.’
Dallas lifted her shoulders. ‘It’s just ... his attitude! He’s very arrogant. ’
‘Well, of course he would be, wouldn’t he?’ exclaimed Jane. ‘A man in his position could hardly be anything else.’
‘Well, anyway, I’d rather we managed alone. Wouldn’t you?’ Dallas looked hopefully at her sister. ‘You know you can rely on
me.’
‘I know.’ Jane smiled. ‘All right I’m thinking of going back to work next week. No one need know. Nothing reveals my condition, and I’ll leave before it’s obvious.’
Dallas nodded, but she wondered whether Jane really wanted to go back to work in those offices where they had all known about Paris, and would be avid for information.
Two days later she was summoned into the headmistress’s office just before the lunch-break. Entering Miss Chater’s office, Dallas wondered anxiously whether she was answering some sort of complaint against her. She hoped not at this time when she most particularly needed the security of her job.
But to her astonishment Miss Chater was not in the office when she arrived, and instead a tall dark man was awaiting her, rising from his seat at her entrance.
‘You!’ she exclaimed in astonishment, looking into Alexander Stavros’s dark eyes.
‘Good morning, Dallas,’ he said easily. ‘I’m sorry to intrude on your working hours, but I have an appointment this evening which I do not wish to break. ’
“Yes?’ Dallas’s voice was remarkably cool, considering she had burning cheeks, and a fluttering sensation in the region of her stomach.
Alexander Stavros walked towards her, thoughtfully, and then said: ‘I have been in contact with your ... er ... fiance, or should I say ex-fiance.’
‘You’ve what!’ Dallas was astounded.
‘Yes. I wished to make certain of his views on this rather delicate situation. I knew that you would be hardly likely to
convey to me any worries you might have, and therefore I am afraid I intervened. ’
Dallas accepted a cigarette from him before speaking. ‘I don’t see why you can’t leave us alone,’ she said unsteadily.
‘I’ve told you, I’m quite capable of looking after Jane myself.’
‘Yes, I know. Unfortunately, I do not believe you. And nor do I believe that you are being wholly fair to your sister. I think you are allowing your antagonism towards me, and towards Paris, influence your decision. It is possible that Jane will fall in with your plans because she feels an acute sense of guilt about what she has done.’
Dallas hunched her shoulders, unwillingly remembering Jane’s suggestion that they should accept Alexander Stavros’s offer, and her own outright rejection of any association with him.
Alexander Stavros looked down at her enigmatically. ‘What is wrong? Do you really feel I might be right? Be honest with yourself. Admit you may be wrong!’
Dallas looked up at him. ‘I ... I think it’s possible that Jane would go to your island, but what of me? I couldn’t possibly go, and I doubt very much whether she would go without me.’
‘I doubt this also. So far as your job is concerned there is no earthly reason why you cannot leave it. ’
‘We shall need money,’ exclaimed Dallas, half angrily. ‘You seem to be forgetting that.’
‘On the contrary, I never forget money,’ he replied suavely. ‘However, I do not believe money enters into this at all. You cannot imagine that I would expect you to live on Lexandros penniless!’
‘We don�
��t want your money!’ exclaimed Dallas scornfully. ‘I wouldn’t take a penny of it.’
‘Oh, grow up, Miss Collins!’ he snapped violently. ‘How old are you? Twenty, twenty-two, perhaps? I don’t know. You are behaving like a foolish schoolgirl. Jane is entitled to support from the father of her child, and I am perfectly prepared to admit that Paris was that man. This being so, I as his father am entitled to financially take his place. Jane must recognise this if you do not. Stop behaving so childishly. If you cannot come to Lexandros in any other capacity then I will invent a job for you, for which I can pay you a salary.’
‘That’s ridiculous!’ Dallas turned away.
She felt his hands grip her arms, swinging her back round to face him. ‘No one turns their back on me!’ he muttered savagely. ‘Least of all a woman!’
Dallas shivered, and he let her go. ‘So!’ he said icily. ‘That is my decision. ’
Dallas shook her head. ‘It’s not yours to make.’
‘Oh, but it is, Miss Collins. Just watch me! ’ He swore in his own language. ‘For God’s sake, be reasonable. I can help you. No one is more willing to do so. At least give Jane the chance to decide for herself!’
‘Then let Jane go, if that’s what she wants,’ said Dallas shortly.
‘No. You know she will refuse to go alone. Either you agree to go also, or Jane will give all this up, all we can do for her, because of you!’
It was an impossible situation. Dallas was beaten before she started. Hadn’t she already got proof that Jane was willing to go if she was?
‘You’re making it impossible for me to refuse,’ she said, biting her lips. ‘I think you’re despicable! ’
‘And you are naive and immature,’ he replied unkindly. ‘And so far as your feelings towards me are concerned I can safely say that they will not matter much, one way or the other. ’
Dallas sank down on to Miss Chater’s chair. ‘All right, Mr. Stavros, you win. I’ll see what Jane has to say. But there’s still my work to be considered ... ’
‘You are free in ten days,’ he remarked coolly, lighting a cheroot, which seemed to be all he ever smoked.
Dallas’s eyes widened. ‘I’m what?’
‘I took the liberty of discussing this matter with Miss Chater, before you arrived,’ he replied suavely. ‘Naturally, she had to be
told the facts, or some of them, at least—in confidence, of course.’
‘You were so sure we would go!’ exclaimed Dallas, feeling hot and frustrated.
‘Reasonably. As you said, I did not leave you much choice. However, I hope you will find that the situation is not as black as you seem to think it. Lexandros is quite an enchanting island, and you will find plenty to do to fill your days. The swimming is very good, and of course, there are sports of all kinds.’
Dallas fingered the pleat in her skirt. ‘I would prefer to think there was something I could do; I’m not by nature a sybarite!’
‘And you think I am?’
‘Well, aren’t you?’ she countered, not looking at him.
‘No, Miss Collins, I am not. However, as you seem determined to cause difficulties. I will endeavour to find you some kind of occupation.’
Dallas inclined her head, and then stood up. ‘Is that all?’
‘For the moment.’ He looked angry momentarily at her deliberately off-hand manner, and then he smiled, revealing even white teeth, the smile transforming his face from sombre saturninity to mockingly amused satisfaction. He placed the cheroot between his teeth, fastening his overcoat, and speaking as he did so: ‘You will find, Miss Collins, that circumstances can change identities. We are on your ground at the moment, and you feel capable of crossing swords with me without fear, of counterattack. Maybe when you reach Lexandros you will find the situation somewhat different. Do you feel you will be able to meet this challenge?’
Dallas pressed a hand to her stomach nervously. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, trying to sound nonchalant and not quite succeeding.
‘Don’t you? I think you do. I have known many women, Miss Collins, and I feel that has given me a little knowledge on the subject.’
‘Your personal life doesn’t interest me,’ said Dallas rudely. ‘May I go now?’
His eyes narrowed, but she was no longer annoying him, and she could only assume that now he had got his own way on the matter of them going to Greece he could afford to be expansive. She didn’t actually know why she was behaving like this; she had never thought of herself as being small-minded or petty, and yet she was allowing this arrogant Greek to get under her skin and he knew it.
‘Yes, you can go,’ he said lazily, walking to the door and opening it for her. ‘My secretary will be in touch with you to make all the necessary arrangements.’
‘Which one?’ asked Dallas childishly.
‘Well, as I have about half a dozen, I am sure I can spare someone,’ he replied sardonically. ‘Thank you, and goodbye, Miss Collins.’
Dallas walked out feeling quite idiotic. Why had she had to make that final stupid remark? He would think her quite ridiculous. And so she was, behaving like this, but his overbearing manner infuriated her, and knowing he was making them do what he wanted was humiliating when for the past three years she had made all the decisions.
She went back to her class, feeling disturbed, and quite incapable of teaching them anything.
CHAPTER FOUR
Once Jane knew that it was settled, and that they were going to Lexandros, she brightened up considerably, and Dallas had to assume that Alexander Stavros had been right; Jane had felt distressed and guilty about the whole affair.
As for Dallas, she had to accept defeat gracefully, although the prospect of the next few months among strangers filled her with dismay. Although she worked with children, she was still rather shy, and she wondered however she was going to adapt herself to meeting the Stavros family.
The next couple of weeks were filled with shopping, arranging about letting the flat in their absence, and getting all the necessary forms to take them to Lexandros. Stephanos Karantinos was continually in touch with them, and he arranged all travelling details. Alexander Stavros had returned to Greece, and Dallas was relieved. At least it seemed they were not going to have to travel with him.
Two days before they were due to leave, Charles telephoned Dallas at work. This was an unheard of procedure for him, he would never ring her during working hours normally, but this was different, he said.
‘You can’t seriously be leaving without seeing me again,’ he exclaimed peevishly.
‘So you know we’re leaving?’ replied Dallas coolly.
‘Of course. That ... that Alexander Stavros made it pretty clear that there would be no question of you doing otherwise.’
‘What!’
‘Yes. He said that it didn’t matter whether I could support you both or not, your place was with him as it’s his grandchild.’
Dallas gripped the phone tightly. ‘He said that!’
‘Yes. I ... I wanted to ring you before, but as he had advised me to leave it all to him ... ’ He halted. ‘You do want to go, don’t you, Dallas?’ His tone was plaintive, deliberately, but Dallas was too angry to wonder at Charles’s change of attitude.
‘I’ll ring you later,’ she said, putting down the telephone receiver with suppressed violence. She felt furiously angry, and for the moment her emotions ruled her head.
She reported to Miss Chater that she had something to do, and uncaring of Miss Chater’s annoyance she collected her coat and left the school. She took a taxi to the Dorchester Hotel where Stephanos Karantinos was still staying and after the usual preliminaries she was admitted to the suite. Stephanos came through from the bedroom, fastening the buttons of his shirt as though he had just got up. As it was already ten-thirty in the morning, Dallas felt an unreasonable anger at the sight of him.
His grey eyes appraised her lazily, and then he said: ‘All right, Dallas, what’s wrong?’
Da
llas’s eyes were flashing. ‘You can tell your so-powerful boss that we are not going to Lexandros after all!’
Stephanos stared at her, and then lifting a tie from the back of a chair, he slid it round his neck.
‘Why?’ he asked, not creating any of the scenes Dallas had envisaged.
Dallas was momentarily taken aback. ‘It’s ... it’s a personal matter, between Alexander Stavros and me.’
‘Is it?’ Stephanos’s eyes were openly amused now.
Dallas flushed. ‘Yes! Oh, what’s the use? Anyway, give him the message.’
‘You can give it to me, instead! ’
Dallas almost jumped out of her skin. She had thought they were alone, but another man came walking into the room, tall and slim and dark, and younger than Alexander Stavros. His hair was tightly curled about his well-shaped head, and his eyes were laughing.
‘Allow me to introduce myself,’ he went on. ‘My name is Nikos Stavros. I am Alex’s brother.’
Dallas had known that Alexander Stavros had brothers and sisters, but she had not thought of them as real people, whereas Nikos Stavros was very real and very attractive.
‘This is Dallas Collins,’ said Stephanos, pulling on his jacket, ‘Jane’s sister. Dallas, Nikos is here to escort you and Jane back to Lexandros.’
Dallas ran a restless hand over her hair, and then stiffened her shoulders. ‘Well... well, that won’t be necessary now, will it?’
‘On the contrary,’ Nikos spoke. ‘Of course you are coming to Lexandros. Alexander will ... how do you say it? ... murder me, if I go back without you.’ He grinned. ‘Now you couldn’t allow that to happen, could you, Dallas?’
Dallas turned away. It was obvious that they simply were not going to take her seriously. ‘There’s nothing more to be said,’ she replied coldly, despite the appeal in Nikos’s eyes. ‘I
meant what I said. I won’t have your brother treating me like an imbecile.’
‘How has he done that?’ asked Stephanos, walking across to her.
‘I ... I can’t tell you.’
‘Yes, you can.’ Stephanos was serious now. ‘Come on, tell
me.’
Dallas hesitated. ‘Let me guess,’ said Stephanos quietly. ‘It has to do with Charles Jennings, has it not?’