Unknown by Unknown Page B

were sent from a Limissol florist for my sister from an old friend of the family,’ she announced. ‘I rang from our room for a vase to put them in and, so far, nothing has happened. I have been waiting for over an hour.’
    ‘I’m sorry!’ Anna apologised. ‘If you had rung down to reception I’m sure something would have been done. We have a change of staff at four o’clock and your vase could have been forgotten. I’m sorry!’
    ‘Forgotten?’ Mrs Pope could hardly believe her ears. ‘It is your duty not to forget. These flowers will wither quickly in the heat of our room. I demand an explanation!’
    Anna hesitated. ‘I can only offer you an apology and accept the blame,’ she said. ‘I will find a vase for you immediately.’ She came round the end of the desk, wishing that the irate lady would lower her voice because there were already several other guests in the hall. ‘How many flowers do you have? I wasn’t here when they arrived.’
    ‘No,’ Mrs Pope agreed, ‘that’s another thing. We did expect some personal reception, especially since it’s such a small hotel, but apparently you were elsewhere or otherwise engaged.’
    ‘We had an emergency this morning,’ Anna explained patiently. ‘Our guide on the mini-bus wasn’t able to go on the tour we had arranged so I had to take her place.’
    ‘I’m not concerned about that,’ Mrs Pope told her, the angry colour still high in her cheeks. ‘I’m pointing out that we take exception to being greeted by a beach employee of some sort in a pair of jeans and minus a shirt.’
    Paris! Anna thought in alarm. Where had the others been?
    ‘I do apologise.’ She was genuinely sorry now. ‘That sort of thing doesn’t happen very often, I can assure you, Mrs Pope.’
    ‘I should hope not! Quite apart from the indignity of the situation, it shows a marked lack of authority when guests are met in such a haphazard way by a half-naked beach-boy with imperfect English into the bargain.’ Again the angry lady drew a deep breath. ‘If that is an example of management I take a very poor view of it, I must say, and it won’t be long before my sister and I find alternative accommodation.’
    Anna kept her temper admirably. ‘I’m sorry,’ she repeated quietly.
    ‘Apologising isn’t good enough,’ Mrs Pope declared, holding her ground. ‘These flowers were delivered over an hour ago. Was it too much to ask for a vase as well?’
    ‘It must have been an oversight.’
    ‘Which is hardly my fault.’ The strident voice rose to a crescendo. ‘I am not responsible for your staff's tardy service. You are!’
    Anna nodded in agreement. ‘I’m sorry, but I can only apologise ’
    ‘Leave this to me!’
    Anna turned at the sound of his voice to find Andreas close behind her. He appeared to be neither angry nor exasperated by the tirade he had evidently overheard.
    ‘Go and find a suitable vase,’ he said under his breath, ‘and send it up to her room.’
    With a bland, placatory smile, he turned to Mrs Pope who appeared to be slightly disconcerted.
    ‘That young woman has just told me she’s the manageress,’ Anna heard her complain as she rushed off obediently to find the missing vase.
    When she came back from the store-room Andreas and Mrs Pope were smiling at each other.
    ‘Mrs Pope would like some tea taken to her room,’ he told Anna pleasantly. ‘Her sister is a bad traveller and has been air-sick. I think we could find a remedy for that, too. Perhaps a rest before dinner and a little champagne would help.’
    Stunned into unbelieving silence, Anna went to get the champagne, coming back with the bottle to find Andreas and her disgruntled guest discussing the relative merits of English hotels both in London and the provinces.
    ‘We like Bath,’ Mrs Pope was saying. ‘It has an aura which pleases us, but this year we decided to do something different. We have always taken a keen interest in archaeology and my sister is anxious to see