‘She has listened, in fact, to my advice.’ Phyllida turned gratefully at the sound of Brett’s cool voice.
‘Just what I said. The voice of cold caution! I tell you, milord, the time of Greece’s crisis is now! We have no money to pay our sailors; no money to send a relieving force to Athens! What will Phyllida think when she hears that the Turks have taken the Acropolis, and put its defenders to the sword. And knows that she herself has prevented her brother’s own money from saving his life!’
‘But how do we know that the money—if she should send it—will not be used in civil war against the rival government at Hermione?’
‘You have my word for that—’ Alex had never looked so handsome. ‘And that of my uncle, Petro Bey.’
‘Who served the Turks before 1821?’
‘Milord!’ His hand flashed to the pistol at his belt.
‘You can’t fight here,’ said Jenny, ‘Aunt Cassandra wouldn’t like it.’
‘What wouldn’t I like?’ To Phyllida’s heartfelt relief, Cassandra herself appeared on the terrace.
‘A fight,’ said Brett cheerfully. ‘But no need to look so disapproving, Aunt Cass. Alex won’t waste powder on me. Not when I tell him I have promised to bring Phyllida round, funds and all, in the Helena, as soon as we hear that Cochrane and Church have arrived.’
‘Madness to wait so long.’ But the interruption had given Alex time to get hold of himself. ‘And no need that I can see, since I too have a letter from Petros speaking of the gift as a thing of certainty. Since you will not do as he asks, kyria, I shall be compelled to speak to his man of business. This is men’s work, after all. Had it not been you, of all women, I should never have considered consulting you.’
‘I’m afraid you don’t understand, Alex.’ Phyllida looked appealingly at Brett. ‘Mr. Biddock can do nothing. Will it be so very bad if you don’t have the money till the spring?’
‘Do nothing!’ He ignored her last question. ‘And why not, pray?’
‘Because Miss Vannick is her father’s sole heir,’ said Brett. ‘And I rather fancy that even if she should be so mad as to listen to your pleas, she would be unable to touch so much money yet. Biddock tells me that he has still not heard from New York about the settlement of the estate.’
‘Oh—’ This was a new idea to Phyllida. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. You mean I can’t even if I want to.’
‘Exactly.’
‘But surely she could borrow against her expectations.’ Alex had had time to digest this new aspect of the affair and now bent his glowing gaze on Phyllida. ‘Think, kyria, how Greece bleeds, how she suffers … You’ve seen the wretched refugees from the mainland, and heard their stories … How can you let such atrocities continue for a day, when there is something you can do to help?’
‘The last family of refugees I talked to,’ said Jenny, ‘had their house burned down by Kolokotronis and his Greek pallikars.’
‘For treachery, no doubt.’ He was red with anger again as he turned to Phyllida. ‘So you will forget your brother, who lives on rats, and mice, and the dew he can gather on the marble of the Parthenon?’
‘It is really so bad?’ She was weakening visibly. ‘I thought Colonel Fabvier took in supplies.’
‘No, kyria, he took nothing but gunpowder. Who knows? This is the second siege your brother has endured. Privation may destroy him before the Turk can. And then what comfort will you get from your riches? Will they help you to sleep sound at night, when you remember how your brother died, without a pillow for his head, or a glass of water for his thirst?’
‘Alex, don’t! Brett—’ Once again she turned to him. ‘Father never approved of borrowing, but surely in a case like this—’
‘If you could be sure that the money would go to the relief of the Acropolis, I would agree with you,’ he said. ‘But, Phyllida, you must see that Alex can only speak for himself.’
‘And for my uncle, who is a member of the government.’
‘For the moment, yes. Of one of the governments. So long as they are at daggers drawn between themselves, what hope is there of a relief of Athens? You must face it, Phyllida: if you send the money now, you have no guarantee that it won’t be used in civil war. The blood of innocent Greeks will be on your head, and, when Church and Cochrane do get here, you will be unable to help them. Alex’—it was an appeal—‘tell her I’m right. You must see what an agonising decision it is for her. As soon as we hear that Church or Cochrane have arrived, we will set out for Eastern Greece. By then, Mr. Vannick’s will should have been proved—the Helena will be ready for sea again—’
‘You’ll come in the Helena?’ Alex asked.
‘Under sail, if need be, but we’ll come.’
‘I believe, after all, you are right.’ His capitulation surprised Phyllida almost as much as had his fury. ‘Forgive me, kyria, if my anxiety for my brother Petros made me say more than I should have. It’s true, I may have let it cloud my judgment. Milord Renshaw sees more clearly, since his emotions are not involved. How should I ever forgive myself if I were to take charge of my brother Petros’ fortune now, and return to Aegina to find that those rascally capitani from Hermione had taken over the government? If Kolokotronis and those brigands of his were to lay hands on the money, it would be goodbye to any hope of rescue for Petros. More than ever, I shall count the days till spring, since it will bring not only, I hope, Cochrane and Church, but you, kyria, like an angel of rescue for the heroes in Athens. In the meantime, I only beg you will forgive me.’
‘Of course.’ She could not resist that melting glance. ‘And you’ll try to get my letter to Peter? I’ve said nothing, by the way, about our father’s will.’
‘That’s like you! In my anger, I misjudged you, kyria. I shall do penance for it until we meet again.’
‘He changed his tune very suddenly.’ Jenny caught Brett alone on the terrace after Alex had gone. ‘I don’t like him, Brett.’
‘Oh, nonsense, kitten. He’s a good enough sort of fellow in his flashy way. You’ve not seen him at his best. I can tell you, that day he saved us from the pirates, I thought him a perfect paladin.’ He laughed, and pulled one of her golden curls. ‘Confess, Jen, that what you really have against him is that he makes bigger eyes at Phyllida than he does at you.’
‘Stupid!’ But she said it in sympathy rather than anger.
Chapter 13
That year, February was the longest month in the calendar. Nothing happened. Lord Cochrane was still somewhere in the western Mediterranean, making his dilatory way towards Greece. Biddock had not heard from New York and nor had the Helena’s gudgeons arrived. Phyllida’s only comfort was a letter from Alex, delivered by the famous Greek Captain Kanaris on his way to throw supplies into the Greek fortress at Corinth.
‘He managed to send my letter to Peter!’ Her colour was high as she read. ‘I knew he would. Peter sent me a message. Have they no paper, perhaps? He’s well, thank God. And hopes to see us in the spring. So does Alex.’ By the length of the letter, Alex had said a good deal more than that.
‘It’s spring already,’ said Jenny. ‘The sun’s as hot as in full summer at home, and there are a million flowers I never saw in my life. Won’t you put a chapter about them in your book, Brett? I’m sure you could find them all in Homer if you tried. You know, asphodel and all that?’
‘I keep telling you, Jen, it’s not that kind of book. I’m writing about Russia and Turkey just now. Do you know they’ve exchanged ambassadors?’ This was rather to Phyllida than Jenny.
‘No? Have they? That’s bad, isn’t it?’ Phyllida had been copying one of his finished chapters, but put down her pen to look anxiously up at him.
‘For the Greeks? I’m afraid so. I wish Cochrane and Church would get here.’
She smiled at him warmly. ‘I believe writing about them’s making you begin to care about the poor Greeks.’
‘You can’t help but be sorry for people who make such a muddle of their affairs. But there’
s one good thing: the Resident told me this morning. Great Britain and Russia have offered to mediate between the Greeks and the Turks. The Turks have refused. If the Greeeks have the sense to accept, it may mean a real step forward for them.’
‘Surely they will?’
‘You never can tell with the Greeks. Besides, first, they must produce a single government capable of accepting.’
‘I know! Goodness, how right you were, Brett, not to let me send that money. God knows what would have become of it by now. But, poor Peter … This waiting is bad enough for us: what must it be like for him!’
‘The packet’s in!’ Jenny had grown bored with the political talk and drifted out into the sunshine on the terrace. Now she hurried back: ‘Maybe this time it will have news for us.’
‘I’ll go down at once and see.’ Brett had seen Phyllida’s look of almost painful eagerness. The waiting had indeed been hard on her. Anxiety for her brother had been exacerbated, he knew, by doubt as to whether she had been right about the money. If the Acropolis fell, she would never forgive herself, or him.
But at last the packet brought good news. There were two sets of gudgeons, and an apologetic letter from Mr. Galloway; there was a great parcel of American mail for Biddock and Phyllida; and, perhaps best of all, was the news that both Cochrane and Church were actually on their way to Eastern Greece at last.
Arriving at the Palazzo Baroti later that afternoon, Biddock found a scene of frenzied activity. Cassandra was sorting linen; Jenny was packing Brett’s winter-long accumulation of papers; Phyllida was checking over the consignment of medical supplies she had ordered from London. She greeted him with pleasure. ‘Mr. Biddock! I was sure you would come at once.’
‘Yes indeed. It’s all in order, I’m glad to say. You could not ask for a tidier will. Not even Mr. Peter could break it.’
‘As if he’d try! And you can let me have the funds I need?’
‘You’re an immensely rich woman, Miss Vannick.’ Had he never quite believed in that will of her father’s? ‘But if you insist on making this lavish gift to the Greek government, I must beg you to think hard about how you are going to get it to them safely.’
‘Yes.’ She had, somehow, assumed that when the time came to sail back round the pirate-infested coasts of the southern Morea, Alex would be there with the Philip to escort them. But he had explained in his letter that he was desperately busy taking supplies to the little army General Gordon had landed at Munychia in the hope of relieving Athens.
‘What do you suggest?’ she asked Biddock now.
‘That you entrust the money and the stores you ordered to Captain Hamilton in the Cambrian. Best of all, I think you should arrange to travel in company with him. If you really feel you must go.’
‘He’s sailing soon?’
‘He’s at Corfu now. You’d best lose no time in your preparations. You’d like me to get a message to him?’
‘Oh yes, please.’
But Brett, returning from a visit to the Resident, with whom he had made firm friends in the course of the winter, told her that he had anticipated Biddock. ‘It’s the obvious answer,’ he said. ‘I’ll feel very much safer rounding Cape Matapan in company with the Cambrian.’
‘So we’re all going?’ Jenny jumped up from where she had been sitting on the floor, packing books.
‘I see no alternative,’ said her brother. ‘Phyllida and I can hardly go jaunting off on our own, and I’m certainly not going to leave you here without Aunt Cass to look after you.’
She kissed him impulsively. ‘Darling, dearest B, I was so afraid you’d decide, after all, to leave me behind with Cissie Biddock.’
‘Heaven forfend,’ he said. ‘God knows what mischief you’d get up to. There’s a letter from my uncle, by the way.’
‘Full of reproaches?’
‘Naturally. Helena’s married.’ Even now, he found it hard to say it.
‘Not really!’ Jenny did not share his difficulty. ‘Has she caught her Earl at last? I’d never have thought it.’
‘My uncle does not name the lucky man.’ His tone was repressive. Then, relenting. ‘From what he says, it does not sound as if he thought it a good match. And that, of course, is all my fault, like everything else.’
‘Oh, poor B!’ And, irrepressibly, ‘Aren’t you just glad you’re safe out of it? But when do we start? How is Mr. Brown getting on with his blessed gudgeons? Will Captain Hamilton really let us go along with him? Tell me quick!’
‘In one word, I suppose?’ He could not help laughing at her. ‘Well, to begin at your last question and work back: the Resident’s written a moving plea to Captain Hamilton on our behalf. He seems sure he will help us. Hamilton’s a good friend to the Greeks.’ He might be answering Jenny, but he was speaking to Phyllida. ‘And Brown says the gudgeons are perfect, much to his surprise, and he should be able to get steam up tomorrow. Then it’s merely a question of waiting for the Cambrian. I think it will be best if we all move aboard at once. We’ll be a tight squeeze, I’m afraid, since I intend to take Marcos along. My Greek’s still not nearly as good as yours, Phyllida, for all my studies this winter, and I’m not sure how the Greek Government would feel about your acting as my official interpreter.’
‘No,’ said Phyllida thoughtfully. ‘They do seem to treat their women as beasts of burden, don’t they? I’ve noticed the refugee families; the father walks along with nothing to carry but his pistols and yataghan, and his poor wife follows bowed down with such of their possessions as they have managed to save. But, surely, with intelligent Greeks like the Government it would be different?’
Brett was discouraging: ‘I doubt it, and so does the Resident.’ Had he succeeded, at last, in putting a doubt into her head about Alex? He hoped, but did not think so.
The Helena’s engines were as good as new. Sailing swiftly and safely in company with the Cambrian, they reached Aegina to find chaos compounded. Penniless and without authority, President Zaimis’ Government had made a feeble and unsuccessful attempt at relieving Athens, but was really more occupied by its feud with the opposing factions of Kolokotronis at Hermione and Kondouriotis on Hydra. The navy had turned to piracy, and what remained of the army to brigandage for lack of pay. The inhabitants of Argos had been reduced to closing their city gates and threatening to fire on anyone who approached. Worst of all, the Egyptian leader, Ibrahim Pasha, had taken astute advantage of the chaos in the Morea to persuade whole Greek villages to submit to him as a lesser evil than their own predatory soldiers.
‘I don’t know what to do.’ It was their second night in harbour at Aegina, and the bad news had been coming in all day. ‘I just don’t know what to do,’ Phyllida said again as she stood at the rail, gazing unseeingly southwards to the blue-shadowed mountains of the Morea.
‘Wait.’ It was the only advice Brett could give, and his heart bled for her. ‘If Hamilton cannot persuade the rival governments to unite,’ he went on, ‘perhaps Cochrane will manage it when he gets here. In the meantime, I’m sure Hamilton is wise when he urges you to say nothing about your proposed gift. If news of it gets out, you’ll be badgered as poor Byron was. I’m delighted to find that Alex has had the sense to say nothing about it.’ He was also, privately, a good deal surprised, but that was not a thing to say to Phyllida.
‘Anyway,’ Jenny gave a great sigh of pure happiness. ‘We’re here. We’re actually in Greece itself! I never really believed we’d get here. B, darling B, say we can go and look at the Temple of Aphaia tomorrow?’
‘I’ll see, kitten, but I’m not sure that this is really a time for sightseeing.’ He had been on shore himself that day and did not much want Phyllida to see the crowded refugee camps on the island, or hear the stories of the fugitives who had escaped from the Acropolis when Fabvier fought his way in at Christmas.
Jenny jumped up to join Phyllida at the rail. ‘It all looks so beautiful—and so peaceful—those delicious little white houses, and the men sitting about on the quays—it’
s hard to believe they’re at war.’
‘It is hard to believe it,’ said Brett. ‘The men idling on the quays there are soldiers who ought to be with Gordon and Karaiskakis outside Athens.’ Too late, he saw where this was leading.
‘Why aren’t they?’ asked Phyllida, and answered herself: ‘For lack of pay, I suppose. Oh, Brett, shouldn’t I—?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘If you’d met the chiefs of this government, as I did today, you’d know it would be madness. Pay their soldiers and they’ll send them to Hermione to intimidate Kolokotronis and his gang.’
He was actually relieved to see the Philip come swooping into the harbour a couple of days later, and even more so when Alex urged Phyllida as strongly as he had to do nothing for the time being. ‘I know it’s maddening for you, kyria, but we must wait, now, until Lord Cochrane gets here. Nothing’s happening, over there at Athens. Gordon and Karaiskakis are sitting in their two camps, and the Turks are between them, at Saint Spiridion, laughing at them. But I’ve good news for you, just the same.’
‘Another letter? Oh, thank you, Alex!’ Once again it was an indescribably dirty and tattered old piece of paper, but the message it carried was reassuring. ‘He says I’m not to believe all I hear,’ she exclaimed. ‘Things up there aren’t so bad as Fabvier’s been painting them. I wonder why?’
Alex laughed. ‘Think, kyria! You can’t blame General Fabvier if he’s drawing it a bit strong; he wants to be relieved, doesn’t he? I’ve heard it said he’s not best pleased to be shut up there in the Acropolis while Sir Richard Church is made Commander-in-Chief outside. He didn’t at all intend to stay there, in the first place. He meant merely to throw supplies into the Acropolis and fight his way out again. No wonder if he’s getting impatient!’
Greek Wedding Page 14