Apollo's Daughter Read online

  *I find it unreasonable!'

  *Do you?' She turned back to the window, a thud-

  ding pulse at her temple warning her that she was treading on dangerous ground. I'm not sure I've changed either, Nikolas.'

  He swore, but the oath was too muffled for her to recognise it, then he got up out of Pavlos's chair, coming to stand immediately behind her so that she felt suddenly trapped. His nearness brought unexpected warmth to her flesh through the thin cotton dress, and yet she felt herself shiver.

  'You're stubborn!'

  *To add to my other sins!' Bethany retorted quickly before he could go on, and he gripped her shoulder, spinning her round to face him, so that she could see the glittering darkness of his eyes at close quarters.

  His fingers dug deep and hurt, and she tried to shrug him off, grasping his wrist with her slim fingers.

  *I ought to ' He let her go suddenly and turned

  swiftly away, running one hand over the back of his head in a gesture that was tauntingly reminiscent of Papa. *Go and see where Takis has got to.' His voice was once more firmly under control, brisk and confident. *I thought he at least was anxious to meet his cousins.'

  Bethany looked up at him and was surprised to realise how much she regretted being the one who had changed the mood from compliments to recriminations. 'I know he is,' she assured him.

  His hand on her shoulder stopped her before she moved away, and she looked up at him with slightly apprehensive grey eyes. *None of the family have seen Pavlos for—a great many years,' said Nikolas, and Bethany had the impression he was choosing his words very carefully. 'He loved you and Takis, he loved you both very deeply, and how they think of Pavlos depends quite a lot on how you and Takis impress them, try and remember that, Bethany. You're his—^his vindication.'

  'His vindication?' His choice of term puzzled her and she frowned up at him curiously.

  Nikolas considered for a moment, and she could not

  imagine what was going on behind those deeply serious eyes, but she was trembling and her legs felt horribly unsteady. 'There are things you don't know, child,' he said after a moment or two, and she once more resented that unwelcome terminology but said nothing about it.

  Tapa did nothing to be ashamed of,' she declared in a small and not very steady voice, for somehow she felt she was speaking with less than her usual certainty when she spoke of Papa, and it troubled her. 'We hadn't much money, but we were happy and he always ' She broke off and caught her bottom lip between small sharp white teeth as she shook her head slowly. 'You don't know what it was like here then, Nikolas.'

  He said nothing for a moment, but his hand still rested on her shoulder and Bethany could not simply walk away from him in that event. Then he used the same hand to stroke one long forefinger lightly down her cheek and there was a warmth in his eyes again. 'I can guess,' he said softly, and Bethany's heart beat with a breathtaking urgency suddenly. 'Now go and find Takis, will you, Bethany? It's time we were leaving.'

  'You wouldn't let me '

  'I wouldn't dream of leaving you here,' Nikolas affirmed quietly, and Bethany turned quickly and went to do as he said, feeling oddly satisfied that he had answered as he did, but not in the least understanding her own reaction.

  CHAPTER THREE

  There was something undeniably thrilling about skimming across the blue Aegean in the motor launch that Nikolas handled with such skill and panache, and the effect was to make Bethany feel slightly less apprehensive about the coming visit for the moment. The yielding surface of the ocean was like a silken cushion shedding white feathers in their wake that were tossed and fluttered by a playful wind.

  The trip was taking rather longer than Bethany anticipated, but she knew it was quite a distance to the largest of the Dodecanese islands; Rhodes was quite close to the coast of Turkey. It was a journey broken by a seemingly endless scattering of small islands spread out between the mainlands of the two countries, and each one with its own exotic place in mythology.

  The sun was hot and dazzling on the water, but a cooling wind made it bearable, and for the moment Bethany stood in the cockpit of the boat with Nikolas and Takis. *How much further is it, Nikolas?' she asked, and he turned his head and eyed her for a moment before he answered her.

  'Not much further now,' he promised. *Don*t you enjoy boats, Bethany?'

  'Oh yes! * She considered how far they had come and something about the way Takis was looking struck her as vaguely suspicious; it made her uneasy and she wondered why. 'It just seems rather a long trip to make in one day, that's all.'

  Nikolas was not looking at her any longer, but he spoke in the same quiet and matter-of-fact tone as before. 'I don't remember saying it was a day trip,' he remarked, and Bethanv stared at him, too stunned for a moment to say anything.

  Takis seemed to find her reaction very amusing, and

  hazily Bethany registered the fact that their once mutual tastes seemed to have diverged lately. *We're going for several days/ he informed her with obvious relish. 'Didn't you know, Beth?'

  Bethany sat down very suddenly on the narrow seat inside the cockpit, for her legs no longer felt capable of supporting her, and she was half deafened by the thudding beat of her heart as she contemplated what was in store for her. For the moment she could only think that Nikolas meant them never to return to Apolidus, and at the thought of that her whole being rebelled.

  'You had no right,' she whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the engine, and Nikolas regarded her with raised brows. *Why, Nikolas?' She looked down at the simple blue dress and spread her hands in a gesture of helpless frustration because she knew why he had not told her, and given her time to argue against the trip even more earnestly. *Do you realise that this is all I have with me?' she asked bitterly.

  Takis was obviously puzzled by her objections, but Nikolas could hardly claim to be surprised by them. Nevertheless he looked as if he saw her protest not only as inevitable but too unimportant to arouse anything more in him than a faint irritation. *A11 that will be taken care of when we arrive,' he explained in a firmly controlled voice. 'You'll go with Aunt Alexia and buy whatever you need; her word will be the final one on whatever you choose, but you may be quite lavish in the circumstances.'

  'In compensation!' Bethany guessed, and sat restlessly twining her fingers together. She felt resentful and oddly deflated, because he had made it difficult for her to express her anger as forthrightly as she would have done in other circumstances. 'Must you treat me like a baby, Nikolas?'

  The long brown hands on the wheel tightened perceptibly, and she noticed Takis's swift sideways glance that anticipated a lash of temper. Instead he spoke

  quietly, but in a voice that was very obviously under strong restraint. 'Takis,* he said, 'will you go below and see how Aunt Alexia is doing?'

  Rather than risk the anger lurking in the dark eyes, bursting upon him, Takis did as he said, but it was clear he would rather have stayed and seen the outcome. Nikolas waited until he had ducked down the narrow compani^nway into the small neat cabin, then he turned on Bethany and gave the fury in his eyes full rein.

  'I've been patient to the point of idiocy with you,' he said in a flat hard voice, *but if you behave like a spoiled child and ruin this visit, Bethany, I'll deal with you as Pavlos should have done years ago I Do you understand me?'

  Tou should have told me!' Bethany insisted, and in her frustration the words almost choked her. *Why didn't you tell me as you did Takis? Is it this—this male superiority thing you're so keen on? I'm a woman so I don't have to be told anything, even if it concerns me intimately! Did Aunt Alex know she was being brought here for—for heaven knows how long?'

  'Aunt Alexia thought you'd worry about it if you knew too soon,' he told her, obviously very reluctant to admit that the idea had not been his alone. Tou apparently hate leaving your precious island for any reason at all, and rather than have you fretting about it, or even finding reasons why you couldn't come with us,
we didn't tell you. The matter of luggage didn't arise because, as I've already said, you and Takis are to be fitted out completely when we get to Rodos.'

  Her lip refused to stop trembling and tears were already running down her cheeks, and yet she could not really think of any reason for her weeping, except that she had been fooled, and that for the very best of reasons. Getting up, she would have gone to stand in the stern of the boat, but before she could pass him Nikolas put a hand on the edge of the cockpit and blocked her way.

  She Stood for a moment, stiflE as a statue and shivering inwardly as if she was afraid of something nameless that threatened her precious security. Then she looked up at Nikolas's dark, stern face and found it oddly reassuring. 'Let me go,' she pleaded in a small and not very steady voice. *I—I'd like to stand in the stern and—and watch the way the—the way the water curves away.*

  Still that long arm blocked her way, and ducking underneath it did not even occur to her. It's out of sight, Bethany,' he said quietly, and she shook her head, denying that she had been going to see if Apoli-dus was still in sight. 'This is the first step, why don't you enjoy it? There are people waiting to welcome you and you'll love Rodos almost as much as you do Apolidus.' His mouth curved upward at the corners into a smile that showed in the depth of his eyes too, and he let down his arms at last. 'You'll enjoy buying new clothes too, won't you?'

  She nodded. There was something incredibly persuasive about that deep soft voice, even in the flattening dullness of the open air, and she would enjoy buying a whole new wardrobe, she could not deny it. It was the first opportunity she had ever had of being so extravagant and she was, after all, a perfectly normal eighteen-year-old in that respect.

  'It's—it's very good of you, Nikolas,' she said in a small and rather choked voice. 'I'm—I'm sorry about '

  He placed the back of one hand against her bare arm and stroked the long fingers downward very slowly, sending curious little shivers through her whole being. *I can't guarantee that Rodos has all the latest fashions,' he said, 'but I'm sure you'll find something to suit you.'

  Trembling slightly and more affected by that rare contact with him than she cared to admit, she tried to thank him. Tm sure I will, thank you, Nikolas.' It was purely impulse that made her stand on tiptoe suddenly and kiss his smooth brown cheek lightly be-

  fore she turned away, but it seemed to Bethany that he too half turned his head and put his lips briefly against her cheek.

  The moment she appeared below, Takis eyed her narrowly and with some disappointment, she thought, when it became obvious she had not cried hard enough or long enough for it to show. Then he disappeared on deck again, and left Bethany to make rather desultory conversation with Aunt Alexia. The old lady, she felt, was curiously absent in her manner, although there was no doubt at all that she looked forward to this visit with nothing but pleasure. Neither of them mentioned her being deceived.

  Bethany was once more on deck with Takis and Nikolas when they got their first sight of the island of Rhodes, and she felt other feelings than simply apprehension mingling in her wildly beating heart as she watched it grow ever closer. The city of the same name was at the far north-eastern end of the island, and within sight of the Turkish mainland, and it was for there that they were making.

  The entrance to Rhodes harbour came into sight, with its stone columns supporting huge sculpted deer; the stag at one side and the doe at the other. And the ancient windmills strung along the breakwater that formed one side of the harbour looked squat and enduring with their scrawny sails turning lazily against the background of blue sky; enduring as Rhodes itself.

  With Nikolas's reassurances in mind, there was no reason why she felt as she did, but the nearer they got to their mooring, the worse that niggling sense of apprehension. Soon she would meet Pavlos's other family and be judged. Nikolas took them in through the harbour entrance by the domes and arches of the new Market, overshadowed by the soaring towers and ramparts of the Knights' Town, built and held by the Knights of St John for more than two hundred years. The inner harbour was crowded, but somehow the motor cruiser was fitted into a berth, and Bethany held tightly to Nikolas's hand as he helped her ashore.

  for her legs were trembling as well as her hands.

  Nothing, of course, was left to chance, Nikolas Meandis was not that sort of man, and a car was waiting for them—a huge luxurious German model attended by a tall young man who came hurrying over to meet them, and over whose presence Nikolas was frowning even before he spoke. He was no hired man, that was obvious, for he had a bouncing self-confidence as well as good looks, and Bethany glanced curiously at Nikolas.

  With a beamingly impudent smile the young man gathered Aunt Alexia in to his embrace and kissed her heartily on both cheeks. *Aunt Alex! Oh, why have you been away so long? We're all so glad you're back and we shall never let you out of our sight again! Welcome, welcome, dear auntl'

  His boisterous good humour acted as a reviver for Bethany's low spirits, and she was smiling without being aware of doing so, until the bright dark eyes were turned on her. He sent his gaze skimming over her from head to toe in such obvious appreciation that she felt herself colouring furiously, then he pursed his lips in a silent whistle and shook his head.

  He would, Bethany suspected, have introduced himself had Nikolas not intervened first. A rather surprisingly possessive hand was slipped under her elbow and drew her forward slightly. 'Bethany, this is my brother Theodore; Theo, Bethany Meandis, the adopted daughter of our cousin Pavl6s.'

  All very precise and accurate, Bethany noted. It designated her position exactly as an acquired member of the family rather than a born one, and she wondered if that slight difference was to be stressed by others before the day was out. But whatever Nikolas's opinion, it was quite clear that Theo Meandis had no reservations at all. Her hand was taken and squeezed firmly, then, before she could prepare herself for it, she was pulled into an embrace as bold and enthusiastic as that he had given Alexia. He kissed her on both cheeks too, as he had Alexia, but with a subtle difference.

  His lips were warm and smooth and they lingered over-long on her soft cool skin, then he looked directly down into her eyes, boldly seeking her reaction while he spoke. 'Welcome, cousin,' he murmured, then laughed. 'Had /found you hidden away on a quiet little island Fd have kept you there for myself! But then that is Nikolas for you, eh?'

  Overwhelmed, Bethany said nothing and it was Nikolas who once more took over the conversation. 1 asked that Petrakis bring the car to meet us,' he reminded his brother, and was obviously annoyed because his instructions had been countermanded.

  But Theodore Meandis merely shrugged, thrusting out his lower lip. *I came instead,' he told him, stating the obvious. *It makes no difference, surely, Niko.'

  *It means that instead of Takis and me shopping by taxi and Aunt Alex and Bethany having the use of the car,' Nikolas pointed out with barely contained impatience, 'the ladies will now have to use a taxi while we take the car, since they are without a driver.'

  *rm a driver,' Theo reminded him, and caught Bethany's hastily lowered eyes. 'And I'm quite willing to drive the ladies anywhere they wish to go.'

  'I have no doubt,' Nikolas replied dryly, 'but you'll come with me, Theo, and leave Aunt Alexia and Bethany to do their own shopping. It isn't something you can help with, and I'm sure the shopping will take much less time if you're not—helping.'

  'Niko '

  'Please find a taxi,' Nikolas told him, ignoring his attempted pleas, and it was no real surprise when the younger brother obeyed with little more than a resigned shrug.

  For all that, he half turned his head as he went and once more caught Bethany's eye and, while he did not actually wink, he came very close to it, so that she automatically smiled to herself. Rather than encourage him further, however, she appeared to take a passing interest in what was going on around her and.

  quite unexpectedly, found herself under scrutiny from another source.

  It was
probably quite coincidental, of course, but it seemed as if someone standing over near the New Market had been watching her quite intently until she caught his eye. A man, standing near one of the arched entrances to the market, wearing a light suit and with nothing on his head so that she had a really good look at his face, considering the distance between them.

  He was tall and lean, as far as she could judge, and evidently unwilling to have it realised that he was watching her, for he looked away and moved off the moment she made it obvious she had seen him. Hands thrust into his pockets and his head averted, he went striding off and was soon lost among the crowds, but something about him made Bethany frown—some nagging, irresistible sense of familiarity that just for those few seconds had almost become recognition.

  *Is something wrong?'

  Inevitably it was Nikolas who asked, and Bethany shook her head quickly, for already the man's face was fading from her mind, and she thought he was probably just one of the artists she had seen at the commune in Apolidus anyway. 'Nothing's wrong,' she assured Nikolas, but she noticed that his eyes narrowed slightly as if he was not altogether sure she was being honest.

  'You'll find it easier shopping without Theo/ he promised, and from his expression he was not being facetious about it. He consulted the watch encircling his wrist, then looked at his aunt. 'Shall we expect you in about two hours. Aunt Alexia?' he suggested, and having got Alexia's assent, he gave his attention to Bethany once more, surprising her with a show of gentleness in his eyes for a moment. 'I know you'll enjoy yourself, little one,' he told her, using an endearment he had never used before and which his brother marked with a swiftly elevated brow. 'But not too extravagantly, eh?'

  *Oh no, of course not,' she assured him, and could not help wondering why it was that when he smiled as

  he did then, it was so hard to remember how much she hated him sometimes.