Strange Adventure

by Craven, Sara

  Stephanos smiled. `I do not think Eleni understands herself very well. There are two different cultures at war in her, even more so than they are in Troy—the old world and the new. Part of her wishes to be the Liberated Woman, and the other half longs for the sheltered life that girls normally lead on these islands. Somehow she will have to find a compromise, and I think it is something that only she can do.'

  `It's something we all have to do.' Lacey gave a little sigh again. 'But that's not all. There's been a young man staying on the island—someone she knew in the States. I—allowed them to meet because I saw no harm in it, and Troy's aunt didn't raise any objections either,' she added rather defensively as she saw Stephanos' eyebrows shoot up. 'But now I'm not sure I've done the right thing. I think she's fallen for him rather hard—and now he's gone.'

  Stephanos frowned slightly. 'You speak of the young man who is renting a room at Niko's taverna?' he inquired. `Why, yes. You mean he's still there?'

  'I understand he is spending a few days in Corfu, but means to return,' Stephanos said blandly. 'There is no urgent necessity for Eleni to pine for him just yet.'

  Lacey stared at him. 'You seem remarkably well informed about his movements,' she said slowly.

  Stephanos shrugged and spread his hands. 'We are always interested in strangers who spend any length of time on Theros—especially when they are professional photo-

  graphers.' He paused. 'Perhaps it might have been wiser to keep him at a distance, Kyria Lacey.'

  'Oh, he hasn't taken any pictures anywhere near the villa,' Lacey assured him. 'I was adamant about that.'

  `Hm.' Stephanos sounded noncommittal. 'But to return to Eleni. I agree she seems to have something on her mind, but I would not myself have diagnosed it as an affair of the heart. I too have younger sisters, so-I am not without experience in these matters,' he added modestly.

  `Then what is your diagnosis?' Lacey could not help being amused, in spite of her own unhappiness.

  'I would say she has a guilty conscience.'

  `What?' Lacey gave a little frown. 'Oh, I'm sure you're wrong. I mean, she has no reason—she's hardly been out of my sight, really.'

  'Oh, I am not suggesting she has committed any sexual misdemeanour.' Stephanos sounded quite shocked. 'In spite of the laxity of her aunt's upbringing, Eleni is sufficiently Greek to value her own purity. But there are other forms of mischief.' He hesitated. 'I do not know whether I should tell you this, Kyria Lacey, but there was a quarrel between Eleni and your husband after you went to bed last night.'

  `I had no idea.' Lacey stared. 'What was it about?'

  'She told him she wished to return to the States—for a holiday. Troy said it was impossible and she became very angry. There was a lot of wild talk about having the means at her disposal to make him do as she wished. You have no idea what she could have meant?'

  Lacey shook her head slowly. 'None. But she probably wasn't serious.'

  `Troy thinks differently. She came with us this morning. He had asked her if she would like to crew for him and she was pleased, but when he tried to question her—quite gently—on what she had meant last night, she became furious and flounced off. We both felt that she was angry with herself for having said too much, too soon.'

  Lacey gasped. 'But—but you're talking about blackmail! Helen's barely more than a child.'

  `But a child who has been spoiled almost to the point of recklessness by a giddy selfish woman who has taught her

  to consider only her own desires,' Stephanos remarked quietly. 'In such an environment, a more stable personality than Eleni might acquire—strange values.'

  Lacey got up, twisting her hands together nervously. 'I don't think her aunt can wholly be blamed for that,' she said shortly. 'Helen may be more like her brother than she realises.'

  She walked away before he could reply, aware that growing tension had forced her into saying more than she had intended. Depression hung over her like a cloud all the way back to the house.

  The next few days seemed to crawl by. Lacey thought she would never have believed it possible to feel so alone in a house full of people. She was thankful that Stephanos' projected departure had not in fact taken place. His presence at the villa ensured that at least an appearance of normality was presented when the various members of the household gathered together at mealtimes and in the saloni during the evenings.

  Troy spent much of the time working in his study, often late into the night, and did not appear for meals. Lacey would lie awake watching for the tell-tale gleam of light under the communicating door, unable to sleep without the sterile reassurance of his presence a few yards away. The door between them was still locked. She had not tried to open it since, but she knew it just the same, and the hurt of it scalded her as she lay in the darkness.

  Her anxiety about Helen, too, was growing. The younger girl had become almost morose, snubbing every overture and disappearing alone to the little beach below the villa first thing in the morning until evening. Mint Sofia seemed the only person oblivious to the undercurrents and tensions around her. She was planning happily for the time when she could leave Theros and return to the house Troy had purchased for her near Athens where she could be with her friends, and she embarrassed Lacey by promising to return to look after the household when her babies were born. Troy had been present when she had made these remarks, and it was obvious to Lacey from the coldly sardonic glance

  he sent her that he had heard every word.

  How much longer could they go on like this? she asked herself wearily. Just what did he intend? This stalemate in their marriage could be no more satisfying to him than it was to her, but how was it going to end? She supposed that in spite of what he had said about her continuing to live with him as his wife, he would want a divorce eventually, but she had no doubt it would be in his own good time. After all, he would not want the undesirable publicity attached to such a speedy breakdown of his marriage as would undoubtedly occur if they parted now. It was poor comfort to know that she was being allowed to live with him, almost on sufferance, as if she was the one to blame instead of himself for the failure of their relationship.

  She heard footsteps approaching across the terrace where she was lying on a sun-lounger, shaded from the full heat of the afternoon sun, and she looked up, almost glad of an interruption to the unwelcome tenor of her thoughts.

  `Kyria Lacey,' Ariadne stood in front of her, `Kyrios Kent is here. He brought a package for Kyrios Troy and when I told him he was sailing with Kyrios Stephanos, he asked for you.'

  Lacey hesitated. She had not realised that Evan had returned to Theros, and she did not particularly want to see him again, but she supposed she had little choice.

  `Are you sure he wants to see me, Ariadne?' she asked. `Didn't he ask for Kyria Eleni?'

  Ohi, kyria. He asked for you.'

  Lacey sighed. 'Well, you'd better bring him to me.'

  When the maid had gone she reached out for the brief jacket that matched the bikini she was wearing and slipped it on, feeling rather foolish. After all, she had sunbathed in Evan's company on a number of occasions without feeling even slightly self-conscious, but she knew instinctively that everything had changed. She wondered why he had come, and again she experienced that faint uneasiness. He must know Troy had returned and it might have been better to postpone his visits until he knew they were welcome, she thought.

  `Hello, Lacey.' He walked quietly across the terrace and

  stood looking down at her with a smile. He was the old, friendly Evan, casually dressed in jeans and knitted sports shirt, and there was no reason in the world for Lacey to feel that he was a dark shadow hiding the sun from her.

  `Hello, Evan,' she returned equally calmly. 'It's—it's nice to see you again, if a trifle unexpected. Helen will be pleased, I know. Have you seen her?'

  `We've talked,' he said laconically. He hitched one of the garden chairs forward and sat down facing her. It gave the interview a feeling of intimacy she wou
ld have been glad to avoid, and she told herself she was being ridiculous. She had sat with Evan on the terrace before and felt perfectly at ease. Of course, Helen had always been there as well, but it was not as if they were really alone now. The windows into the saloni stood open and anyone from the house could walk out on to the terrace at any time.

  She said rather hurriedly, trying to mask her growing feeling of disquiet, 'Actually, Evan, I'm a bit worried about Helen. It's as if she's brooding about something all the time.'

  'Is she now?' he said, and there was a note of almost unholy amusement in his voice. 'Now, what could that be, I wonder?'

  Lacey took off her sunglasses and laid them on the table that stood at her elbow. 'I think you know what it is,' she said slowly. 'Because I think you're involved in it. Evan, she's only a child. It's not fair to play with her emotions if you're not serious about her, and I don't believe you are.'

  'Oh, she's no child,' he said lightly. 'But I can set your mind at rest about one thing. Helen and I are not emotionally involved and never have been. No, I'd say we had more of—a business relationship—with the emphasis on the past tense. My partner just ran out On me.'

  Lacey stared at him. Nothing he was saying made very much sense, but at least she had the reassurance of knowing that Helen was still heartwhole.

  `But why is she acting so strangely?' she asked. 'She seems so upset ...'

  `Helen's just learned her first grown-up lesson of her spoiled little life,' he said, and she was appalled at the

  venom in his tone. 'She's discovered it's easy to start something, but not quite so easy to finish it.'

  `What are you talking about?' Lacey was really alarmed now.

  `Oh, you'll know soon enough,' he said. 'Yes, ma'am, the balloon should go up any moment now, and the whole damned Andreakis family with it.'

  `What have you done?' she demanded huskily.

  He laughed. Nothing—yet. Oh, don't look so alarmed. Helen isn't hurt—except for having her pride dented, maybe. It must be really tough to set out to use someone, and then find they've been using you all along, but that's the way it goes.'

  `But why should you want to use anyone? We've never done you any harm. I thought you liked us—liked me.' , Anxiety made her stumble over her words.

  He smiled slowly. 'Oh, I liked you, Lacey—a lot. You know how much, and I didn't act the way I did just to spit in your husband's eye either, although I was tempted.'

  And so was I, she thought horrified. So was I.

  `You see—Mrs Andreakis,' he emphasised the name as if mocking her, 'there are quite a few people in this world with a grudge against your lordly husband. I have buddies who've suffered at his hands—correction, at the hands of the strong-arm boys he and his pal Lindos employ to make sure everyone knows what they mean by privacy. Take this island, for example. Somewhere there's a list of people who won't be allowed on to it—ever, but I'm not on that list, and that's where Troy Andreakis made his first big mistake.' He smiled again. 'Well, his precious private life isn't going to be so damned private from now on—and anyone who's ever tried to get near him and been roughed up and had his film ruined in consequence is going to be cheering, believe me.'

  Lacey was white. Evan knew! Somehow—and it had to be from Helen—he had found out about Troy and Michelle and he was going to sell the whole sordid story to the newspapers. There wasn't—couldn't be any other explanation. The thought of the repercussions—the blaring headlines, the scandal that would destroy any hope she might still

  cherish of being able to rebuild her relationship with Troy —made her feel physically sick.

  `Evan!' She hated the imploring note in -her voice, but she would grovel to him if necessary to stop him doing this thing. 'Please, you mustn't—publish anything. You've no idea of the harm you would do.'

  'Wrong again.' His smile was charming, almost regretful. `I've every idea. I didn't just dream this up overnight, you know. I put the idea in Helen's head while she was still in the States with her aunt and then let her sell it to me. Poor little Helen! I guess she really thought I was doing all this just to help her get back at Big Brother Troy, and to get her that one-way ticket back to California that she's been banking on. I'm afraid she's going to have to forget it.' He stood up and stretched lightly. 'Don't look so stricken, Lacey. If it's any consolation, Helen stopped wanting to go through with this some time ago. You see, .she found she liked you too. But that's show business.'

  He sighed. 'I think I'll go now—before the sailor gets home from sea. I don't really want to be around for that. I think Corfu is going to be definitely healthier for the next few days. By the way, while I was there I ran across a friend of yours—or should I say relation?' He paused. 'The staff at the Ithaca Hotel called her Lady Vernon, but she let me call her Michelle after a few drinks in the bar. She's a very friendly person—for a lady. She sent you her—love.'

  Before she could move or resist, he had bent over the lounger and kissed her lingeringly on the mouth. He was smiling as he straightened up. 'Goodbye, Lacey. I'm sorry it had to be this way. You're very lovely—with or without your clothes.'

  He flicked the material of the jacket she was wearing almost derisively and turned and went from her down the terrace steps and out of sight through the garden.

  Lacey sat rigid, hardly able to take in the full implications of what he had said. Helen's involvement, the threatened scandal, all receded under the compulsion of the one overriding thought that beat and reverberated in her brain. Michelle was in Corfu.

  She felt sick. Had Troy actually brought her with him

  from England, discreetly ensconcing her in a suite at the Ithaca—out of sight, yet within reach? Lacey thought she had been hurt already, but it was nothing to the pain that gripped her now as she faced this new betrayal. Troy could never have had any serious intention of trying to make their marriage work, she thought, pressing her hand against her throat, trying to still the ache of unshed tears.

  She closed her eyes and a picture of her stepmother as she had seen her last swam into her anguished mind. No wonder she had said 'au revoir' and not 'goodbye'. The implication that they would meet again, and soon, had been clear, but she had been blind to see it. Perhaps the visit to Corfu had already been planned then, she thought, recalling the amused malice with which Michelle had taunted her for Troy's apparent lack of ardour in sending her away alone.

  And now she was on Corfu, so secure in her triumph that she could send her 'love' by a comparative stranger to torment Lacey.

  Lacey shivered. What else had Michelle told Evan, apart from her name? she wondered frantically. Had she supplied wittingly, or unwittingly, the corroboration he needed for his story, or had her presence there supplied all the confirmation necessary?

  She heard a slight sound and her eyes flew open, startled. Stephanos was standing framed in the saloni window. His usually friendly expression was censorious, hostile even.

  `I beg your pardon, Mrs Andreakis.' His voice was like ice. `Your guest's departure has obviously upset you. I did not mean to intrude, but I thought you were alone.'

  He made her a slight formal bow and turned to go. With a sickening jolt, Lacey realised he must have been standing in the window for some time and had probably seen Evan take his leave with that last insult of a kiss.

  She leapt up from the lounger, clutching the jacket more closely around her.

  `No—Stephanos, wait. It isn't what you think. That man —he hates Troy. He knows he's having an affair with my stepmother and he's going to give the story to the newspapers. Helen's been helping him ...'

  Stephanos' frown was like thunder. 'What are you saying? What is this madness?'

  Lacey was really crying now. 'That man—he's Evan Kent. He knows about Troy and Michelle. He's going to tell everyone about them and I can't bear it. I must see Troy—warn him.'

  She made to push past Stephanos, but he caught her arm in a grip like iron.

  `Kyria Lacey! You must calm yourself. If
this man has threatened you in any way, he will be dealt with. But no newspaper would ever print such a story, rest assured. They would know at once it was a tissue of lies ...' His voice broke off and he looked down almost wonderingly into her pale face, taking in her tear-brimming eyes and trembling mouth.

  `Merciful God,' he said hoarsely. 'You believe these things?'

  Lacey did not reply at once and he repeated his question in a sharper tone. 'You actually believe—this filth?'

  She nodded mutely, unable to trust herself to speak.

  `Mrs Andreakis.' He led her back to the lounger and seated her on it as if he was afraid she might break. `Kyria Lacey, I knew all was not well between you and Troy, but I never dreamed it could be for such a reason. Who has told you this thing? Was it your stepmother—Lady Vernon?'

  She shook her head dully. 'No, I found out for myself. Troy lost part of a cuff link one night when they were together. Mound it later and realised what must have been going on. I taxed Troy with it, and he didn't deny it.'

  Stephanos swore exasperatedly. 'You let him see that you believed this thing of him? You accused him? No wonder he did not bother to defend himself. Perhaps he hoped his bride might have more faith in him than to give credence to the idea. Troy is a proud man, Kyria Lacey. He would not take such a slur on his honour lightly.'

  Lacey looked at him bewilderedly. 'It wasn't just the cuff link,' she said quietly. 'From the moment our engagement was announced, my stepmother was—odd. She made it so clear she resented my marrying Troy. She said—hinted things that would only make sense if she was Troy's mis-

  tress. And now she's come—she's here.'

  'On Theros?' Stephanos was shocked.

  No—Corfu.' Lacey's lips twisted bitterly. 'I don't suppose even Troy would have the gall to make his wife accept his mistress in the same house.'

  Stephanos took her hands in his. 'It hurts me to hear you speak of your husband with such bitterness. You wrong him when you say such things. I am not pretending he has been a saint, but all that is in the past.°