by Anne Mather
‘Hello, love,’ she said, sitting down beside her, while Alexander went outside with the nurse. ‘How do you feel?’ Jane looked at her sister, and then her face crumpled up and she burst into tears. ‘I’ve lost my baby,’ she sobbed, pulling Dallas towards her, and burying her face in her sister’s neck.
Dallas let her cry. After all, that was probably the best thing she could do. Only getting it out of her system in this way would she be able to make any real recovery.
After a long while Jane became silent, and drew back, looking ashamed.
‘I’m sorry, Dallas,’ she said quietly. ‘I’ve been an absolute idiot. You have every right to really let go at me!’
Dallas sighed, taking Jane’s hands. ‘Don’t be silly. I’m only grateful that you’re all right. otherwise. You are all right, aren’t
you?’
‘Oh yes, perfectly. My concussion isn’t even as severe as Andrea’s. Have you seen him?’
‘Not yet. I expect we will, later. ’
‘How did you get here? Did Mr. Stavros send for you?’
‘No. He came for me, in a jet! ’ Dallas managed a light laugh. ‘Just imagine, executive treatment, for us!’
‘He was marvellous when he came to see me this afternoon,’ said Jane, gripping Dallas’s hands very tightly. ‘He told me I hadn’t a thing to worry about. That he would see I didn’t suffer because of ... well, because of this.’
Dallas stiffened a little. ‘You realise we’ll have to return to London now, once you’ve recovered.’
Jane looked less happy now. ‘Why?’
‘Oh, Jane, don’t be silly. You know perfectly well why.’
‘Don’t trouble Jane with your plans right now,’ murmured a voice behind her, and Dallas sprang up to face Alexander.
She twisted her hands together, and said: ‘Sooner or later we’ll have to leave. It’s no use pretending about it.’
‘We’ll talk about it,’ he said quietly, and then looked at Jane. ‘Well, Jane, how do you feel now?’
‘Woozy,’ said Jane, smiling a little. ‘But I’ll recover.’
‘I’m sure you will.’ He nodded kindly, and then said: ‘The Sister says we should not stay too long. Jane has been given a sedative, and will probably sleep for a while. You’ll see her tomorrow.’
After leaving Jane they went into Andrea’s room. He looked much weaker than Jane, and could hardly open his eyes. But he looked shamefully distressed, and said, a little thickly:
‘I’m sorry, Dallas. I don’t know what you and Jane must think of me. I’ve made an absolute mess of everything.’
Dallas found it was terribly easy to forgive Andrea. He was obviously so upset, and she leant over him smiling, and murmured: ‘Don’t worry. I don’t place blame on people. I guess it wasn’t ordained that she should have the child. Maybe it’s just as well.’
Andrea looked a little comforted, and when they were going down in the lift again, Dallas looked at Alexander thoughtfully. ‘You don’t suppose this anxiety of Andrea’s will retard his progress, do you?’
Alexander looked half amused. ‘No, I don’t think so. Not now, at any rate. You certainly relieved his mind. Thank you. I’ll have a few well-chosen words to say to that young man myself when he’s fit to hear them.’
‘Oh no! ’ Dallas put a hand on his arm, and then as he bent his head and looked at it, she quickly withdrew it. ‘I mean ... wait and see how Jane progresses.’
He lifted his shoulders, and then they were outside in the excitingly scented night air. He lifted the white jacket she was carrying, and placed it about her shoulders, and then said:
‘Come on, we’ll walk. I want to show you my Athens.’
‘But ... I mean ... the car ... ?’
‘Stephanos will see to all that,’ he remarked lazily.
‘And tonight? Are we going back to the island?’
‘No.’
Dallas stared at him. ‘No?’ she echoed faintly.
He smiled down at her. ‘Don’t be alarmed. I’ve booked you a room in a very respectable hotel.’
‘Your hotel?’
‘No, not my hotel. Don’t worry, I shan’t be around to disturb your beauty sleep.’
Dallas glanced at him helplessly, wondering what the situation would have been if it were Helen Neroulos here with him in Athens. She felt hopelessly out of her depth and with burning cheeks she turned and walked quickly away down the street, looking back to find him following her with long lazy strides.
That evening in Athens Dallas experienced a little taste of what living there was really like. They avoided the huge, noisy restaurants patronised by the tourists, and instead he took her to a taverna near the Plaka, where they sat outside under the stars, eating fish that fell apart in their fingers, and drinking the sweet Greek wine in tall beakers. This was yet another side to Alexander Stavros. Wherever they went he was recognised, but not as the owner of the Stavros Shipping Line, but as a man, a man, moreover, that they liked and respected. They listened to the music of the entertainers inside, and then stood watching the men dance the zeimbekiko. The Greeks seemed the most effervescent race Dallas had ever known, and the singing and laughter and constant chatter obliterated for a while her own unhappiness. Alexander was more relaxed than she had ever seen him, and afterwards they walked to the foothills of the Acropolis, feeling almost part of the whole scene.
Then it was very late, and Alexander summoned a cab, and they drove to Dallas’s hotel. She stared in trepidation at the imposing facade of the Athens Hilton, and then shook her head at Alexander.
‘I—I couldn’t stay here!’ she gasped.
‘Come,’ he said, ignoring her protestations. ‘Don’t be alarmed, I will take you to your suite.’
Dallas had no option but to follow him, but her trepidation increased when she saw the opulence of her surroundings. She had never had a suite all to herself before, and she stood in the centre of the lounge looking lost and vulnerable suddenly.
Alexander stood by the door watching her through narrowed eyes, and then he said, with a kind of impatience, ‘Relax, Dallas. Don’t underestimate yourself. You’ll find it’s not so terrifying. ’
‘You’re wrong,’ she said, hugging herself tightly. ‘You forget, I’m not Helen Neroulos!’
She didn’t know why she had to mention that woman’s name, but it was out, and she felt hot and embarrassed.
Alexander gave her a long look. ‘I know who you are,’ he murmured, and then turned away and went down the hall away from her. Dallas ran and closed the door leaning back against it, her eyes closed.
CHAPTER NINE
Dallas did not see Alexander Stavros again for four days. The morning after their visit to the taverna, Stephanos arrived at the hotel with a message to the effect that Alexander wanted Dallas to remain in Athens for the next few days, some of her clothes were being sent for, and Stephanos had been given the job of looking after her.
‘Oh, but really ...’ began Dallas, looking disturbed. ‘I mean— you don’t need to bother about me. I can easily get myself a cab when I go to the hospital to see Jane. I’m not completely incapable.’ She felt angry that Alexander should have again asserted his control over her. Did he think she needed a bodyguard? Simply because he was not around! In her emotionally unstable condition she could hardly assimilate things sensibly and normally.
But Stephanos merely grinned tolerantly at her outburst, and said: ‘Have you breakfasted? Good. Then get your coat and we’ll go.’
‘Go?’ Dallas stared at him. ‘Go where? To the hospital? Is
something wrong?’ Her cheeks paled.
Stephanos shook his head vigorously. ‘Nothing’s wrong! We’re going sightseeing, that’s all. That’s what you’d like to do, isn’t it?’
She stared at him. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Sure. Why not? After all, I’ve been given instructions to keep you happy! What other way could I oblige?’ he grinned.
Dallas had to smile at th
is, and lifted the weight of her hair off the back of her neck thoughtfully. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Just give me five minutes. I’ve got nothing to change into, I’m afraid. ’
‘You will have, later,’ he remarked lazily. ‘Hurry up.’
Those days in Athens Dallas found pleasantly uncomplicated. Stephanos was an amusing and interesting companion, but he made no demands on her, and she was able to relax with him and find that acting like all the other tourists could be very enjoyable. She saw all the famous archaeological sights, the museums and parks; they went window-shopping along Stadium Street and visited the harbours. Dallas saw the sleek, white-painted yachts moored at Pasha Limani, they drank aromatic Turkish coffee in the restaurant there. Naturally they spent longest at the Acropolis, Dallas trailing round after the guide while Stephanos rested his tired feet on a low wall, smoking, and looking on with good-natured amusement.
In the evenings they went to the tavernas, and Dallas joined in the general air of festivity. It was only when she was back in the quiet of her rooms at the hotel that a kind of depressing misery overcame her, and she cried herself to sleep more than once.
At the hospital, Jane made good progress. She was up and about again, and had been told she could leave at the end of the week. Andrea was staying for a few days longer, owing to the fact that he had had stitches in his head and they would not let him leave without removing them.
When Dallas went to see Jane it was impossible to pin down the conversation to their future plans. Jane refused to consider what they were going to do, and kept on saying that there was plenty of time. Dallas was less confident; they had never really been accepted by Madame Stavros, and she doubted very much whether Alexander’s mother would expect them to return to the island at all.
However, the day before Jane was due to leave the hospital Alexander himself arrived while Dallas was with her sister. Dallas felt her heart throbbing sickeningly when he walked with easy grace into the room, and she marvelled that her body could stand the strain. But not much more, she thought achingly. She had to get away!
He spoke to Dallas and then smiled at Jane. ‘Well?’ he said. ‘I hear you’re being discharged tomorrow.’
Jane nodded. ‘Yes, thank goodness.’
He looked thoughtfully at Dallas’s bent head, and then looked again at Jane. ‘Stephanos will pick you up at ten-thirty,’ he said. His eyes returned to Dallas. ‘He’ll pick you up at your hotel, Dallas, on his way to the airport. ’
Dallas’s head jerked up. ‘To the airport?’
‘Yes. Didn’t Jane tell you? You’re returning to Lexandros tomorrow.’
‘No!’ Dallas stared at Jane. ‘She didn’t say anything.’
‘Never mind. It’s not important,’ he murmured lazily. Dallas stood up, clenching her fists. ‘Oh, but I think it is,’ she said quickly. ‘I mean, I don’t quite know what your plans might be, but so far as I’m concerned, any return to the island would just be to collect our things before we leave!’
Alexander studied her pale cheeks with some deliberation. ‘You are not leaving,’ he said coldly. ‘That is understood.’
‘By whom?’
‘By me, for one,’ exclaimed Jane.
Dallas gave her a hurt look. ‘Mr. Stavros,’ she began, ‘we’re both very grateful to you for everything you’ve done for us, but it’s over now. There’s no more need for your protection. It was a period in time, that’s all. And the period is over now.’
Alexander’s eyes were glacier-cold. ‘I disagree,’ he replied. ‘Does it not occur to you that Jane might require some time to recuperate from such a shattering experience?’
Dallas flushed. ‘Jane can recuperate in England. After all, it’s early summer now. Even England has some good weather! ’
‘Stop being so damned awkward!’ he muttered angrily, and then, as though remembering they had an audience, he said: ‘We’ll sort this out, Jane. You just concentrate on getting well, again, hmm?’ He walked to the door. ‘I will see you tomorrow, as arranged. Come, Dallas!’
Dallas wanted to refuse. She wanted to get as far away from him as she could, but without appearing childish she could only wish her sister goodbye for the present, and leave the room with as much dignity as she could muster.
Once outside the hospital, Dallas made to walk to where Stephanos was waiting for her with the car, but Alexander caught her arm in a hard, unyielding grip, and said:
‘Come, I want to talk to you.’
Dallas looked up at him, trying not to feel so emotional. ‘Anything you have to say, you can say right here.’
He looked as though he was going to protest, to make her go with him by force, but then he changed his mind, and said:
‘Very well, if you insist on behaving like the outraged sister!’
Dallas twisted her hands together. ‘What have you to say?’ she asked in a tight little voice.
‘Simply this—there will be no more talk of returning to England for the present time, is this understood?’
When Dallas did not reply, he went on: ‘Just what do you imagine you will do when you return there? Your flat, I understand, is leased until the end of the summer. To whom do you intend going? Charles Jennings, perhaps?’
‘My plans are no concern of yours,’ she retorted rudely.
‘Oh, but they are,’ he said furiously. ‘Dallas, stop behaving so foolishly. I want you to go back to the island. ’
‘Well, I don’t want to go,’ she said tightly. ‘Besides, why do you want us to go back?’
‘I do not intend to go into my reasons here, in the centre of one of Athens’ main thoroughfares,’ he ground out angrily. ‘So! You will do as you are directed, and I will see you tomorrow afternoon when you arrive, with Jane. I myself am returning today. I have certain matters to attend to.’
Dallas did not answer him, and with a muffled exclamation he turned and strode away down the sunlit street. Dallas watched him go with a feeling of despair.
Then she turned back to Stephanos, who had slid out of the car and come to join her. He nodded towards his employer’s retreating figure.
‘Do you do it on purpose?’
Dallas stared at him. ‘What?’
‘Make him good and mad? Lord,’ he turned away, ‘I’ve never seen any woman treat Alex as you do. You ought to be careful. You’re playing with dynamite! ’
Dallas shook her head. ‘Oh, Stephanos,’ she said wearily, ‘I wish I knew what to do.’
Stephanos gave her a strange look. ‘I guess you might remember that subordination does not come easily to Alex,’ he remarked enigmatically.
Dallas did not go to see Jane again that day. She could not bear the thought of the argument that would be bound to ensue. Jane wanted to go her way, as usual, and she would not contemplate any suggestion of Dallas’s.
For Dallas the situation was intolerable. It was bad enough living on the island when their presence there was justified. Now it would seem like nothing but charity, and this was one thing she could not accept from Alexander Stavros. Maybe, if she had not cared for him, she would have been able to equate the situation with the upheaval in their two lives, and accept what the gods offered, as Jane was so fond of saying. But feeling as she did, going back there now would be too torturous. Living there, seeing him with Helen Neroulous, watching Madame Stavros manipulate them into the marriage she had desired for so long, would be more than she could bear.
As she lay on her bed in the early evening of that day, Dallas found her thoughts turning in another direction. Towards England, and Charles. She had no illusions about her feelings for Charles now, but she felt that if she were really desperate he would not let her down. It was true what Stavros had said, about their return to England. They had no immediate home, but if she had a base, at Charles’s for example, she might be able to make other arrangements, temporarily.
Compared to the whiplash of Madame Stavros’s cold opinions, Mrs. Jennings seemed barely uncongenial, and to be back among norma
l things, and normal surroundings, seemed all that she could hope for to retain her self-respect. If she were to return to Lexandros, and Alexander Stavros created another situation like the night at the cabin, she was afraid of her emotions destroying her completely.
With sudden decision, she slid off the bed, and reached for the telephone. She asked for the number of the international airport office, and once through, she asked whether there were any available seats on flights to London. As she waited for the girl to investigate, she thanked her stars that she had brought her handbag with her, and in it her passport and money. She had little of the latter, but once she arrived back in England, she could draw on their small savings until she resumed working. At least teaching positions were not too hard to find.
The airport receptionist was polite and thorough. There was a seat available on the seven a.m. flight to Gatwick the following morning. Dallas said she would take it. She gave her name, and the address of the hotel, half smiling when she reflected that from her address everyone would imagine she was rich and affluent. Still, she thought bleakly, her clothes would soon destroy that illusion, unless they considered her an eccentric millionairess.
She packed her suitcase with everything except the yellow two-piece she was wearing, phoned the reception desk and advised them that she would need a cab very early in the morning, and then sat down in a low armchair near the window to wait. She would not go to bed. There was no point really. She would never sleep, and besides, if she did drop off from complete exhaustion, she might miss her flight.
She watched the lights flicker out all over the city, and shivered a little before lighting another cigarette. There was no time so depressing or unnerving as those early hours before dawn.
She had never felt so alone in her life before. Even when
her mother abandoned them, and her father was so broken up about it, she had still felt they had something, the three of them together. But now her father was dead, and Jane—well, she had realised that Jane was ultimately more capable of taking care of herself than she was. Maybe if she were more like Jane, things wouldn’t hurt her so badly.