Upset by his tone, she assumed the same cool demeanour.
“Yes, I am very hungry.”
As she spoke, she slipped her hand firmly through Wayne’s arm and he patted it with a look of tender fondness.
The Marquis led the way out of the room.
Matters did not improve when the three of them were seated at their table. Lexia was angry with the Marquis for having suddenly set her at a distance, but she would not allow him to see that this was making her unhappy.
Wayne looked from one to the other feeling apprehensive. He was not a subtle man and he lacked the social skills to deal with this situation.
“Lexy,” he muttered, while the Marquis’s attention was occupied by the waiter, “you don’t think he’s mad about me being here?”
“Of course not. I told you, he is just a brother to me.”
The Marquis, trying to instruct the waiter and listen to them at the same time, heard only, “he’s just a brother to me.”
So it was true.
This was the man she loved and had loved all the time.
He could not say that he admired her taste. To him Wayne Freeman appeared little more than an overgrown schoolboy, but he had the face of a Greek God and perhaps that was all Lexia asked.
He forced himself to try to appear civil.
“Will you be aboard the Maybelle for long, Mr. Freeman?” he enquired.
“Hey, call me Wayne. All my friends do.”
“Indeed?”
“I’m headed for Athens. There’s a big event happening there - a dinner and a ball afterwards.”
“We can all go,” came in Lexia. “Wayne says there will be some tickets set aside for the passengers.”
“How delightful. Is the ball for any particular occasion?”
“It’s concerning some treasure that’s been discovered on one of the islands,” Wayne told him. “There’ll be a lot of collectors and historians.”
“Are you an historian?” the Marquis asked politely.
“Me? No, I – er – I’ve got another reason for being there.”
He shot a look at Lexia as he spoke and she interpreted his remark correctly as, ‘you won’t let me down, will you?’ but the Marquis read something entirely different into it.
After the awkward meal was over they moved to the ballroom, where Wayne promptly begged Lexia to dance, as a way of removing himself from the Marquis’s orbit.
“He’s real heavy going, isn’t he?” he commented as they circled the floor.
“He’s just in a bad mood.”
“Maybe he thinks there’s something between us and he’s jealous?”
The sudden leap of her heart warned Lexia that this was dangerous territory.
Surely Frank could not be jealous? That would be too wonderful to be true.
Suddenly she could not wait to find out.
“Let’s go and sit down,” she urged.
But when they returned to their table there was no sign of the Marquis and the waiter said that he had retired, leaving them a message to say goodnight.
CHAPTER TEN
They all awoke to find that the ship had already docked and before them lay the beautiful city of Athens, while in the distance they could just make out the Parthenon.
The Purser’s Office had already received tickets for the dinner and ball that evening and the Marquis hastened to secure three, insisting that Mr. Freeman, as he persisted in calling him, was a guest.
Since this was precisely the kind of cover Lexia wanted, she said nothing, but she wished that the Marquis’s manner was less forbidding.
In her mind she was calling him ‘the Marquis’ again. Somehow ‘Frank’ no longer seemed appropriate to this coolly dignified man.
One thing was certain – whatever she had hoped to say to him last night would have to wait.
About twenty of the ship’s passengers were to attend the ball and carriages would call for them in the late afternoon.
Lexia spent the afternoon preparing her appearance.
Her dress was magnificent, made of pink satin heavily embroidered with beads and glittering thread. Tiny diamond ear rings nestled in her ears, a diamond tiara perched on her head and around her neck she wore Wayne’s gift of the diamond pendant.
“You’ve done a wonderful job, Annie,” she smiled. “You can go now, but be careful going round Athens alone.”
“I shan’t be alone, miss. That Hawkins will be with me.”
“I thought you despised him.”
“Well, I don’t mind him making himself useful,” replied Annie generously.
Lexia chuckled as Annie put on her cloak and departed.
The Marquis called for her first, looking every inch the English gentleman.
“You look delightful,” he told her.
His eyes swept over the pendant, but he made no comment and before she could speak, he added,
“I was wondering whether to add a tie pin to my attire. I have one that I am very fond of, a gift from a dear friend.”
For a moment they were able to smile together.
“Frank – ”
But she was interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Wayne.
“Our carriage is just outside on the quay,” he announced.
It was he who put Lexia’s cloak around her shoulders, his eyes lighting on the pendant. The Marquis did not miss his smile of recognition and approval.
He tensed, but then forced himself to relax. He was determined to remain pleasant tonight. He had played the game of love and lost. He might not approve of his lady’s choice, but he would at least behave like a gentleman.
On the journey Wayne seemed overcome by an attack of the fidgets. He coughed, looked over his shoulder, then at his watch and then at Lexia.
At last she leaned forward and took his hand.
“Wayne, please don’t worry. It’s going to be all right, I promise.”
“Is there any trouble?” enquired the Marquis politely.
Wayne flung him a despairing look and Lexia hastened to calm him.
“There’s no trouble,” she insisted firmly. “Wayne, stop agitating yourself.”
“I can’t help it,” he moaned miserably. “When I meet all those diplomatic characters, I shall just sink into the ground. They make me feel small.”
“What do you mean, ‘diplomatic characters’?” the Marquis asked in sudden alarm. “I understood that this was an historical occasion celebrating an archaeological find.”
“It is,” Wayne explained, “but it’s being staged by the British Embassy and the Ambassador will be there and several major diplomats. Does that matter?”
The Marquis ground his teeth.
“Of course it matters. I went to school at Eton, which is where most of the top staff of the Embassies attended.”
Lexia’s hands flew to her mouth.
“Oh, goodness, of course. There’s bound to be someone there who will recognise you.”
“The British ambassador to Greece is Lord Symons, an old friend of my father – and there will be others.”
“What are we going to do?” asked Lexia, horrified.
“Mr. Freeman will have to go alone,” said the Marquis firmly. “You and I must turn back.”
“Oh, no, I simply must go,” she replied at once.
“Lexia, it isn’t possible,” he came back firmly. “Once my true identity is known, how will we explain you – without causing a scandal?”
“But that’s easy. We go in separately, you by yourself and me with Wayne. Nobody will connect us and there will be no scandal.”
“There’s no need for Lexy to turn back,” persisted Wayne, taking a firm hold on her hand. “They won’t know her?”
“Wayne’s right,” agreed Lexia strenuously. “He’ll take care of me.”
The Marquis felt a flash of bitterness at the way they united against him. They might as well announce their engagement here and now, he thought, but one thing was for certain. He had no intention
of leaving them alone.
“Very well,” he said through gritted teeth.
In all too short a time their carriage rolled up to the British Embassy and footmen emerged to open the carriage door. Lights poured from the inside.
“Are you ready?” enquired the Marquis as they approached the open doors. “From this moment on we do not know each other. We just happened to be travelling on the same ship.”
As soon as they approached the Great Ballroom, Lexia understood how nearly they had fallen into a trap.
The Ambassador recognised the Marquis immediately, yelling,
“Francis! By all that’s wonderful! Fancy meeting you here!”
The next moment their hands were clasped and they were laughing. The Marquis was greeting Lady Symons, who also recognised him.
“Who is that guy?” muttered Wayne.
“Lord Wimborton,” Lexia told him.
“Is he a very high up sort of Lord?”
“He is a Marquis. That’s only one step below a Duke.”
“Gee! Oh, lordy!”
“What is it?”
“I’ve seen Harriet. Over there. The girl in green and that’s her father with her. He’s seen me. Play up to me, Lexy. Quick!”
She responded by giving him a dazzling smile, guaranteed to convince any onlooker that she was besotted with him and he returned her look in full measure.
When they turned away from each other, Lexia realised that the girl in green was staring at them, pale and horrified.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell her,” she whispered to Wayne.
Then they had reached the Ambassador and were giving their names, shaking hands.
First the Ambassador and his wife, then Sir Richard Grant, First Secretary of the Embassy, who regarded Wayne coldly and gave a sharp look at Lexia.
From the little satisfied nod of his head she gathered that he was convinced.
The first hurdle had been successfully cleared.
As they moved on to mingle with the throng, Lexia looked around for the Marquis, but he was nowhere to be seen.
In many ways this was the best thing that could have happened, she realised. It had forced her and Wayne to enter alone together, which was exactly what was needed.
But still, she wished she could see the Marquis somewhere. She felt lonely without him.
They were among the last of the guests to arrive and it was almost time for the dinner to begin.
She found herself seated next to Wayne and Harriet was close enough to turn burning, reproachful eyes on them. Now Lexia could see the Marquis, but he was carefully taking no notice of her.
Somehow she got through the meal, enduring the toasts and speeches which all seemed to go on for ever and when it was over, they were free to make their way into the ballroom.
“This is my chance,” murmured Lexia.
“Are you sure you know what to say?” Wayne asked her.
“I have it by heart.”
Harriet was moving away and now Lexia could see that she was going in the direction of the ladies cloakroom.
As soon as she had gone inside Lexia sped after her and sat down beside her at the long mirror. Harriet gave her a look of tearful outrage and would have moved away had not Lexia detained her with a hand on her arm.
“I come with a message,” she said dramatically. “Wayne loves you. Only you and that’s why he’s here tonight.”
Harriet stared.
“Then who are you?”
“I am his disguise. If your father thinks he’s with me, he won’t get too suspicious.”
“My father is full of suspicion,” moaned Harriet. “He wants to take me away early, before I can even speak to Wayne.”
“Then you must leave at once,” insisted Lexia firmly. “But how can I?”
“When we go out, stay with me. Be very friendly. Laugh and talk. Don’t even look in Wayne’s direction and your father will see only that you are talking to another woman.
“When I move away, come with me. We will leave and depart in one of the carriages that brought us here. Wayne has another carriage waiting a couple of miles along the road and you and he will change into that one, leaving me to go on to the ship.”
“I will do everything you say,” vowed Harriet nervously.
A few moments later they emerged together, arm in arm and engaged in vivacious talk. Looking around, Lexia could see that they were attracting no particular attention.
Sir Richard Grant glanced up once but, seeing that his daughter was not in Wayne Freeman’s company, returned his attention to a diplomat from another Embassy.
While his back was turned Lexia grabbed Harriet’s hand and pulled her through a side door.
“You’ll have to lead me from here,” she urged.
Harriet began to run with Lexia scurrying to keep up with her.
Then they were in sight of the front door. It was standing open and they hurried out.
Suddenly behind them Lexia heard a cry,
“I say! Wait!”
“Run!” she urged Harriet.
The two girls picked up their skirts, sped out of the door, down the long wide path to where a closed carriage was waiting all ready to go.
From behind came the cry of,
“Wait for me!”
The door of the carriage was opening and dimly they could see Wayne inside watching Harriet’s approach, eyes filled with heartfelt love.
He leaned out to embrace her while she was still outside.
“We’ve no time for that,” screamed Lexia. “Hurry, there’s somebody behind us.”
She could hear footsteps catching up with them.
Wayne immediately pulled Harriet into the carriage and next Lexia.
But the brief delay had been fatal as before he could close the door behind Lexia, it was wrenched open again and another person hurtled in to land on the floor.
As the carriage started moving they all stared aghast at the newcomer.
“Mr. Storton!” exclaimed Lexia in disgust.
“I say, steady on, you might have waited for me?”
“Who the devil are you?” demanded Wayne violently.
“Sam Storton. I am a very good friend of this young lady.”
“She doesn’t seem to think so,” responded Wayne belligerently. “Shall I throw him out, Lexy?”
“No, there’s no time,” she told him anxiously. “Hurry.”
Sam Storton hauled himself up and sat down beside her. Inwardly she groaned, but she would deal with him later. For the moment Wayne and Harriet were her first concern.
For a couple of miles they were locked in each other’s arms and then Wayne leaned out of the window and called,
“Here!”
The carriage halted. Both Wayne and Harriet thanked Lexia fervently and embraced her before climbing out. Wayne cast an uncertain look at Sam Storton.
“I’ll be all right,” she assured him.
They hurried away and Lexia saw them jump into a waiting carriage and she knew that Wayne had been ashore that afternoon to make all the necessary arrangements.
Then the carriage started up again and she was alone with Mr. Storton.
“Well, this is very nice,” he said a blurred voice.
Lexia sighed, telling herself that it was only a short distance to the ship and she could put up with him for a little while.
He was not very sober and insisted on trying to squeeze her hand. Exasperated, she slapped him with her fan, only to provoke the response, “naughty, naughty!”
“That’s nothing to what I’ll do if you don’t leave me alone,” she threatened.
After that she fended him off as best she could and at last he seemed to take the hint, relapsing into the corner, giggling to himself.
When the carriage drew up on the quay she jumped out and raced on board, hoping to escape him, but he was right behind her.
As soon as they were on deck he grabbed her hand and pulled it through his arm.
“I w
ill look after you, my beautiful one,” he cooed.
“I can look after myself,” Lexia told him sharply.
But he only tightened his hand and she was unwilling to make a scene in front of the passengers she could see taking a final stroll in the moonlight. Too late she wished she had been sensible enough to stay at the ball and return later.
‘But I will be all right,’ she thought as they reached her cabin and she opened the door. ‘Annie will be here and – oh, no! She isn’t here.’
Too late she recalled that she had given Annie the night off and she would have to manage alone.
She tried to push her way past Storton, who was still holding on to her arm.
“Goodnight,” she said, “and thank you for bringing me here.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he replied in a drunken voice.
“Oh, yes, you are.”
Moving fast Lexia managed to slip away from him just long enough to get inside and slam the door in his face.
“Let me in, my darling,” he yodelled.
“Go away!”
To her horror he began to thump the door, harder and harder. It bulged under the strain, but the lock held.
But for how long?
If only somebody would hear the noise and come to investigate, but there was nobody in this part of the ship tonight. They had all gone ashore.
Her only hope was that the Marquis would arrive soon.
She stared at the door as another thunderous hammering made it bulge again.
*
At last the Marquis forced himself to look around for Wayne and Lexia and that was when he realised that they were no longer present.
Enquiries elicited the information that neither of them had been seen for at least an hour.
So that was it – they had run away together.
Or perhaps they were back at the ship this minute, packing their bags, ready to depart before he could catch them.
In a moment he was out of the ballroom, running down the drive. He seized the first carriage he found and ordered it to race him to the ship in record time.
All the way there he was wondering just what he would find when he arrived.
He ran on board and headed down to their cabins as fast as his feet would carry him.
With a few yards still to go, he heard Lexia scream and the sound galvanised him to run even faster.
The Waters of Love Page 13