er - I didn't catch it, Androula?'
'We must take Tara to one or two places before she leaves. Perhaps you want to go alone - just the two of you?'
Fortunately Leon had missed his brother's interest in the two blondes, and catching his eye Tara gave him a warning look. It was no use her playing her part so effectively if he were going to act in a way that would be likely to arouse Leon's suspicions that all was not plain and above board. In case Paul had not-received the message given silently she said, pouting a little,
'Darling, you're a long way from me. What are you thinking about?'
He jerked then and smiled lovingly at her.
'Sorry, dearest, I was watching that man with the boat out there. He seems to have sprung a leak - or something.'
'A leak?' blinked Androula. 'What are you talking about? He's quite unconcernedly making for the shore.'
'Oh - is he? I must have been mistaken.'
Tara drew a deep breath. Paul was not at all clever.
Androula went on about the trips which she thought Tara ought to take, but nothing definite was arranged. She was perfectly happy relaxing like this, she declared, and added,
'This lovely island's enough for the time being. I can do lots of sightseeing after Paul and I are married.' Her eyes caught those of Leon; his brief glance held the most odd expression before, frowning heavily, he turned his head away, and began talking to Paul.
'Yes,' Androula was saying, 'I suppose you can. Well, we'll see later on. There's time left, if you do decide you want to explore.'
That evening Androula went out to dine with some, friends living at the other side of the island; Paul had had a headache all day and in the end decided to go to bed.
'He's fast asleep,' Leon informed Tara after going up, just before dinner, to see how he was. 'I'm afraid, Tara, that you will have to be content with my company. Will you mind very much?'
Warning lights - red lights! - leapt into her consciousness. There was no particular reason for this, as Leon's face wore a rather bored expression and his whole demeanour was one of indifference. 'Of course not,' she smiled, but thought to add, 'I'm sorry about Paul. It isn't anything serious, is it?'
He eyed her frowningly. 'You're very anxious about him.'
'Naturally,' with a quiver in her voice. 'When someone you love is ill—'
'He isn't ill!' roughly, with the boredom dropping from him instantly.
'He stayed out in the sun too long, that's all.'
Bewilderedly she stared at him. 'I'm sorry. I was worried, you see.' He shrugged, but for one fleeting second she saw a sceptical expression in his eyes. Was it possible that he didn't believe her? What an enigmatical person he was! These changes of mood; these odd glances - sometimes appearing to hold suspicion, deep and strong, then at other times they would be clear indications of his approval of her as a member of the family. Paul had even remarked on one occasion, snatching a few minutes alone with Tara as they walked home from the beach,
'He likes you no end, Tara! I knew he'd approve; I told you right at the beginning, didn't I? There's not much doubt about his allowing me to have my money.'
Tara had recalled Leon's saying he might let Paul have his money on his marriage, but naturally she had kept this from the boy. In any case, she was now fairly optimistic that she had so successfully played her part that Leon would not hesitate to let Paul have his money on his twenty-first birthday.
'As there are only the two of us,' Leon was saying, 'I think we shall eat in the small verandah room. It's cosier.'
'Yes...' Red lights again, brighter this time. 'Y-yes, it will be cosier.'
Where was she going? More important, what was she hoping for?
This dark formidable Greek with the pagan eyes was not the man to fall in love - he was too hard and unfeeling, his contempt for women was too strong - especially Englishwomen. Besides, who would want to find herself under his domination? Not she! That was for sure!
The meal
'We must take Tara to one or two places before she leaves. Perhaps you want to go alone - just the two of you?'
Fortunately Leon had missed his brother's interest in the two blondes, and catching his eye Tara gave him a warning look. It was no use her playing her part so effectively if he were going to act in a way that would be likely to arouse Leon's suspicions that all was not plain and above board. In case Paul had not-received the message given silently she said, pouting a little,
'Darling, you're a long way from me. What are you thinking about?'
He jerked then and smiled lovingly at her.
'Sorry, dearest, I was watching that man with the boat out there. He seems to have sprung a leak - or something.'
'A leak?' blinked Androula. 'What are you talking about? He's quite unconcernedly making for the shore.'
'Oh - is he? I must have been mistaken.'
Tara drew a deep breath. Paul was not at all clever.
Androula went on about the trips which she thought Tara ought to take, but nothing definite was arranged. She was perfectly happy relaxing like this, she declared, and added,
'This lovely island's enough for the time being. I can do lots of sightseeing after Paul and I are married.' Her eyes caught those of Leon; his brief glance held the most odd expression before, frowning heavily, he turned his head away, and began talking to Paul.
'Yes,' Androula was saying, 'I suppose you can. Well, we'll see later on. There's time left, if you do decide you want to explore.'
That evening Androula went out to dine with some, friends living at the other side of the island; Paul had had a headache all day and in the end decided to go to bed.
'He's fast asleep,' Leon informed Tara after going up, just before dinner, to see how he was. 'I'm afraid, Tara, that you will have to be content with my company. Will you mind very much?'
Warning lights - red lights! - leapt into her consciousness. There was no particular reason for this, as Leon's face wore a rather bored expression and his whole demeanour was one of indifference. 'Of course not,' she smiled, but thought to add, 'I'm sorry about Paul. It isn't anything serious, is it?'
He eyed her frowningly. 'You're very anxious about him.'
'Naturally,' with a quiver in her voice. 'When someone you love is ill—'
'He isn't ill!' roughly, with the boredom dropping from him instantly.
'He stayed out in the sun too long, that's all.'
Bewilderedly she stared at him. 'I'm sorry. I was worried, you see.' He shrugged, but for one fleeting second she saw a sceptical expression in his eyes. Was it possible that he didn't believe her? What an enigmatical person he was! These changes of mood; these odd glances - sometimes appearing to hold suspicion, deep and strong, then at other times they would be clear indications of his approval of her as a member of the family. Paul had even remarked on one occasion, snatching a few minutes alone with Tara as they walked home from the beach,
'He likes you no end, Tara! I knew he'd approve; I told you right at the beginning, didn't I? There's not much doubt about his allowing me to have my money.'
Tara had recalled Leon's saying he might let Paul have his money on his marriage, but naturally she had kept this from the boy. In any case, she was now fairly optimistic that she had so successfully played her part that Leon would not hesitate to let Paul have his money on his twenty-first birthday.
'As there are only the two of us,' Leon was saying, 'I think we shall eat in the small verandah room. It's cosier.'
'Yes...' Red lights again, brighter this time. 'Y-yes, it will be cosier.'
Where was she going? More important, what was she hoping for?
This dark formidable Greek with the pagan eyes was not the man to fall in love - he was too hard and unfeeling, his contempt for women was too strong - especially Englishwomen. Besides, who would want to find herself under his domination? Not she! That was for sure!
The meal
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