Dear Benefactor

DEAR BENEFACTOR Anne Hampson

Kathy’s fortunes were at a low ebb, she had lost her home, she had no money, and she was stranded on a Greek island, when she met Adam Kanaris, who promptly came to her rescue. In no time he had completely changed her life, giving her a job and a home in his luxurious house. Nevertheless Kathy was taken aback when he then suggested that she pretend to be engaged to him to make it clear to his cousin Stella, Adam explained, that he had no intention of marrying her. Gratitude demanded that Kathy comply with his request, but where would it all lead her?

CHAPTER ONE THE alarm went off and Kathy opened her eyes. Memory flooded over her and she turned her face into the pillows. Her father was dead; yesterday afternoon she had attended his funeral at the little church in the village. And now she was left with the stepmother who hated her, the stepmother who, yesterday morning, had impatiently asked Kathy to stop crying. 'Your father was very ill,' Natalie had snapped. 'If he had lived he'd have needed waiting on hand and foot. And as I wouldn't have been willing to do it, you'd have found yourself taking on the role of nursemaid for the next ten or twenty years.' 'I wouldn't have minded,' sobbed Kathy. 'Rather that than lose him -' 'Oh, for heaven's sake, Kathy, stop wailing!' Kathy made her exit, leaving Natalie and her daughter, Carla, in possession of the elegant living-room where, at one time, Kathy and her parents had been so happy. As she lay in bed now, she thought of those happy times; they seemed so long ago, and yet it was only three years since her mother had died. Kathy, at fourteen, had been utterly broken by her loss, and it did seem that George, her father, had received just as severe a blow, yet within eighteen months he was married again, bringing Natalie and her seventeen-year-old daughter to Manor Lodge, the small but stately home which had been in his first wife's family for four generations. Along with the house, Kathy's mother had inherited a considerable sum of money, and all had been left to her husband. 'I know that you'll always look after our daughter, should anything happen to me,' Margaret had told George with a confident smile. 'And so I'm making my will leaving everything to you.'

And now George was dead too, and Kathy supposed that half of everything would go to Natalie, who had always hated the idea of having a stepdaughter living in the house. 'She could go to boarding-school,' was her suggestion when she had been married only a week. 'Would you want Carla to go to boarding-school?' George had inquired mildly. Kathy suspected that much as he cared for Natalie, this suggestion had angered him intensely. 'She's older. It wouldn't be good for her to be moved,' was Natalie's reply. George had shaken his head. 'This is Kathy's home, Natalie, and you knew before we were married that both our daughters would be residing with us. I'm hoping that Kathy and Carla will be very good friends—sisters for one another.' That had been a dream on George's part; from the very first, animosity had been directed at Kathy both from her stepmother and Carla, but for her father's peace of mind Kathy had refrained from mentioning this; much less would she have made a complaint. Nevertheless, George had eventually noticed the way his daughter was being treated, and during the last few months of his life he had been gradually drifting away from his new wife and coming closer to his daughter. It was obvious that, had he lived, there would have developed a serious rift, -with the result that it would have become a divided household. That George could see this coming was illustrated by his attempts to have the four of them go on a holiday together. 'I want us to be in complete unity,' he had said, and Kathy was quick to detect the note of actual pleading in his voice as he spoke to his

wife, 'A cruise around the Greek islands. I don't care how much it costs me so long as we're all happy together.' 'I'm going away with my latest boy-friend,' had been Carla's prompt rejoinder. 'I prefer to take a holiday alone,' Natalie said implacably. 'It wouldn't be a rest for me if I had others around all the time. I shall visit my sister in Cornwall.' Kathy and her father had exchanged glances; Kathy saw the hopelessness in his eyes. At last he said, 'Then Kathy and I shall take the cruise—on our own.' And so it was booked. That was four months ago and Kathy and her father should have sailed on the fourteenth of September—that was, a fortnight from today. What now? Added to Kathy's great sorrow at the loss of her father was the nagging anxiety as to how she would be treated by her stepmother and Carla now that she had no support. 'Kathy!' came Natalie's loud hard voice from the bottom of the stairs. 'Are you up? I told you we were going out this morning! Come along! I want to be in town by nine o'clock!' 'I'll be down directly.' Carla was sitting at the breakfast table as Kathy entered the diningroom. She glanced up indifferently and, ignoring Kathy's quiet, 'Good morning,' she told her to be quick with her breakfast as neither she nor her mother wanted to be kept waiting.

'We're going to the solicitor's office, you know that!' added Natalie, entering with two plates of bacon and eggs. 'You'll have to make do with bread and marmalade, seeing that you're so late down,' continued Natalie shortly, setting one plate before Carla and the other in her own place. 'I don't want anything,' returned Kathy, glancing at her stepmother's plate piled up with bacon, eggs and grilled tomatoes. How could she eat so much at a time like this, when she had just lost her husband? But Kathy dismissed the question, since she had known for some time that Natalie had no love at all for the man she had married. Although she owned it to be an uncharitable thought, Kathy suspected that the opportunity of a charming home and wealth to go with it had been the spur which had driven Natalie into marriage with George Lindon. As for Carla, there never had been any sign of gratitude in her manner towards her stepfather. All had been taken for granted. In fact, the girl might have been doing George and his daughter a favour by consenting to take up residence at the Lodge. Natalie drove the big car into town and parked it outside the office of Marsland and Weatherby, solicitors. Half an hour later Kathy was again in the car, being driven home by Natalie. 'I can't believe it.' Kathy's voice was no more than a whisper, for she was still stunned by the news imparted to her by Mr Weatherby. 'Father said several times recently that he would make sure to provide for me in his will.' She was speaking her thoughts aloud, too dazed to realize how undiplomatic she was being. 'He said it was important.' 'He made his will on our wedding day,' snapped Natalie, her dark eyes glinting angrily. 'It would seem that he had second thoughts. Well, any ideas he might have had were never put into operation, for I get everything. You're not entitled to one penny -'

'But all the money, and the house, belonged to my mother -' Kathy's voice trailed off as a shuddering sigh of helplessness escaped her quivering lips. Mr Weatherby had explained fully enough. Her father, having made the will on his wedding day leaving everything to Natalie, had never made another will, and the fact of his having intended doing so made no difference at all. Yet the injustice was appalling. Kathy, whose mother had inherited the wealth, was now a pauper, while Natalie and Carla, no blood relation to Kathy's mother, had come into all that should by rights have come to Kathy. 'The money and the house belonged to your father,' Natalie was saying in response to Kathy's faltering statement. 'Your mother left it to him. He in turn has left it to me—his wife—which is only right.' 'I suppose,' said Kathy, 'that it doesn't really matter. Manor Lodge is still my home, and so -' 'Your home?' from Carla with a lift of her thinly- pencilled eyebrows. 'My mother's home, and mine, but certainly not yours.' Before Kathy had time to say anything to this Natalie had brought the car to a standstill and the three got out. Once inside the charming drawing-room Natalie turned to her stepdaughter and said without any preamble, 'Carla was right; this is our home, not yours. Therefore, you'll leave within the next fortnight.' 'L-leave . . .?' Still in her outdoor things, Kathy stared, her face drained of all colour. 'I d-don't understand. You can't turn me out.' Yet even as she spoke Kathy knew the very depth of despair and hopelessness. She realized now that this was what she had feared, there in the solicitor's office, when she had learned that her father had failed to make another will. Natalie hated her, had never wanted her

in the house. Carla disliked her intensely, and had always treated her as an inferior. 'Yes—leave!' said Carla shortly. 'Where can I go?' Natalie, with casual unconcern, discarded her coat and handed it to Carla who was about to hang up her own in the oak wardrobe in the hall. The woman's dark eyes ran over Kathy disdainfully as she replied, 'I always warned your father that if you were ever in a position where you had to think for yourself you'd flounder completely. He spoiled and pampered you, with the result that you're quite helpless now that you're faced with finding yourself a home. I suggest you find a job— there are plenty available in town. I saw an advertisement only today in Sherrinton's window. They want an assistant in their haberdashery department. You can apply tomorrow morning; I'm sure you'll stand as much chance as anyone else.' Kathy continued to stare. The world seemed to be crashing about her ears. Three years ago she and her parents were as happy as any family could be, the only sorrowful memory in her parents' lives being the loss of their son at birth. After the birth of Kathy, Margaret Lindon was advised to take care. Another birth could be dangerous, the doctor had told her, and this was the reason for Kathy's being an only child. 'But my home,' she faltered, staring around at the dear familiar objects in the room. There was the Chelsea bowl her mother used to love; there were the two bronzes which had been handed down from her great-great-grandmother. 'This is my home. It's mine by rights -'

'Rights!' put in Carla with a short, harsh laugh of derision. 'My mother is the one who has rights here. Manor Lodge is her property by law I' Swinging round, Carla flounced from the room into the hall; Kathy turned her eyes towards her stepmother. 'You can't be so cruel,' she said, shaking her head. Bewildered still, she was unable to assemble her thoughts. The death- of her father had happened so unexpectedly that Kathy was stupefied by the event, unable to grasp the fact that she would never see him smile again. The position had been made more poignant by the attitude of Natalie who had treated the matter with what could only be described as brutal indifference, declaring it were better for George to die than to be a burden on the people with whom he lived. 'I must see to my will,' he had said only two days previous to his death, but even then it did not strike Kathy that something might be wrong. For he had never mentioned any pain—or even discomfort— prior to the moment of collapse, while he was coming from the bathroom. As for Carla—well, she had never got on with her mother's husband, had accepted George's generous allowance without any word of thanks. Carla's allowance had been greater than that of Kathy, since Carla was older; she had left school and was training for secretarial work. 'Cruel?' Her stepmother was speaking at last. 'You say I'm cruel? Is this statement made because I am wanting to take what is mine by rights?' Kathy looked into her eyes; she was much taller than her stepdaughter and Kathy had to look up. She saw a hard face and thin mouth, dark piercing eyes and a pugnacious chin. So very different, this woman, from the lovely girl who had been Kathy's mother. Right up to her death Margaret Lindon had been beautiful, with a soft and

tender mouth, warm grey eyes that could sparkle with laughter or cloud with compassion. She had a little retrousse nose, a heartshaped face, hair that gleamed, strands of pure gold mingling with its basic colour of deep chestnut. Altogether Margaret Lindon had been the most attractive of women, and her daughter was a replica except for her figure, which, quite naturally, was immature, for Kathy was only just seventeen years of age. Seventeen and told to go from her home. Seeing the implacable expression on her stepmother's face, Kathy accepted that even a plea would prove ineffective. Natalie was happy at the idea of owning Manor Lodge and all that went with it. After only eighteen months of marriage she had come into a fortune. 'The injustice is something I shall never be able to understand or accept.' Kathy spoke quietly, and with stiff dignity. Although her heart dragged within her at the idea of being ejected into the world, she had no intention of allowing this woman to see just how shattered she was. Turning, she left the room. As she closed the door behind her she heard Carla laugh—Carla, who had returned to the living-room and flopped contentedly into a chair by the window. That this chair had been her mother's favourite one only added to Kathy's grief, and tears brimmed in her eyes as she slowly mounted the stairs. Only in her bedroom had she ever been able to find peace—this since the coming into her life of those two down below. She reflected on the many occasions when her father had endeavoured to bring a family unit into existence. The setting was perfect, the house being mellow and graceful, with lovely gardens, a tennis court and swimming-pool. But the newcomers were unappreciative of such things as old beams and the delightful little salt oven by the inset fireplace. Kathy knew for sure that the house would now be modernized to so great an extent that much of its character would be lost.

Once in the sanctuary of her room, with the door firmly closed behind her, Kathy sat down on the window seat and looked unseeingly into the grounds. Joshua, the gardener, was pottering about; Kathy saw his dismissal in sight, for Natalie had always complained of his slowness in the garden. She would replace him with someone young, just as she would replace Cynthia, the dear old woman who had been housekeeper for Kathy and her father for several years and who, on the advent of his marriage, had expected to be given her notice. This most certainly Would have been the case had it been left to Natalie, but George had put his foot down and Cynthia still retained her comfortable post as housekeeper. Now she would be expecting her notice ... and she would receive it, mused Kathy, sitting with her hands tightly clasped, deliberately avoiding the question of her own future. Having left school only two months ago, she had no training for a job. Yet she was being tossed out into the world, to battle on her own, to make her own way 'If Mother and Father could only know,' she wept. But soon she was drying her eyes. She would not have them know, would not wish them to endure remorse for their neglect and lack of foresight. Kathy's shirking of her own future continued, while she gave up all her thoughts to the past, to the wonderful times she had had with her parents. They had gone away twice a year on holiday, mainly to spots in the British Isles, but on one occasion they had taken a cruise to the Canary Islands. This was one of their happiest holidays, hence the attempt of George to have the four of them take another cruise, this time to the Greek Islands. Kathy did not go down again until tea time. The fact of her having missed lunch was not commented upon as she sat down to the table with Natalie and Carla. They had been chatting, but immediately on Kathy's appearance a deep silence descended upon the room. The

meal, a light one of sandwiches and fresh scones, was always taken at four in the afternoon, then dinner at eight or half-past, according to what Natalie desired. 'Have you decided what you're going to do?' Carla put the question towards the end of the meal, and Kathy shook her head. 'I have no idea what to do,' she replied, then added, uncaring whether or not her words offended, 'I only wish I had some relative to whom I could go with my problem, but I'm completely alone now that Father has gone.' The last words caught in her throat and she felt choked with grief. Natalie gave a short laugh and said derisively, 'What a baby you are! It's a pity your father didn't think about your future, and do something to fit you for life.' 'She'll soon change once she finds employment,' from Carla with a laugh which matched that of her mother. 'There won't be any time for all these stupid tears.' Kathy looked at her. 'You've never mentioned your father,' she began, but was not given the opportunity to proceed further. 'And I don't want to! My mother divorced him— and that's all you're being told about him, so you needn't start indulging in idle curiosity!' Divorced -Had he gone off and left his wife and child? Kathy felt sure this was what had happened ... and she could not blame the man. There had been occasions when she had wondered if her own father would eventually tire of the situation and decide on a divorce. Later in the evening Natalie sent for Kathy, and spoke to her firmly and implacably, telling her she must leave the house.

'But I can't go until I find a job,' protested Kathy. 'I will leave eventually, because I have no alternative, seeing that you don't want me here. But I must be given time—I demand it!' she added with a touch of spirit. 'This house belonged to my mother, and to her father and grandfather before her, so no matter what the law says, I do have a right here -' 'You insolent creature!' broke in Natalie furiously. 'I've a mind to order Cynthia to pack your bags at once!' 'I should go to the police,' submitted Kathy quietly, 'for I don't think you can turn me out so soon after my father's death.' Brave words, but inside Kathy was trembling, and her lips moved convulsively as she added, 'I must have time to establish myself in some kind of a home.' Her voice faltered, for she could not picture the immediate future at all. She vaguely imagined herself finding a single room in someone else's house, but what about furniture? Then there were things like bed linen and kitchen utensils. Suddenly she burst into tears, wishing she were dead. 'The police, eh?' muttered her stepmother heartlessly. 'Do that very thing, my girl, and you'll be informed of just where you stand now that this is my property!' A pause and then, 'You've a cruise coming up in another two weeks. You might as well go on it, but don't come back here, as you won't have the door opened to you -' 'Go on the cruise—with my father only just having died!' Used even as she now was to the woman's utter callousness, Kathy gaped at her unbelievingly. 'You're suggesting I go on a holiday—at this time?' 'The girl's too sentimental for anything,' laughed Carla from her seat by the window. She held a cigarette between her fingers, as did her mother. How, Kathy asked herself for the hundredth time, had her father got himself mixed up with these two? 'I'm darned sure I wouldn't forgo my holiday just because someone had died!'

'Nor would I,' agreed her mother, her dark piercing eyes fixed on Kathy's white and tear-stained face. 'However, Kathy seems set on pining over her father's death for some considerable time to come, so she's decided not to go.' Another pause. 'The cruise, I understand, is already paid for in full?' 'Of course. You have to pay several weeks before you sail.' 'Has it occurred to you that you might be able to recover some of the money? After all, it was a most expensive cruise, with your father insisting on the best cabins on the ship—which I need not remind you was a waste of good money. If you could get some of this money back it would help you to get yourself settled somewhere.' 'But surely that money is ours, Mother,' interposed Carla sharply, her low brow creased in an ugly frown. 'I think you yourself should see the travel agent, tell him what's happened and, under the terms of the insurance, you can get the whole of the money returned.' 'So I could,' murmured Natalie thoughtfully, her eyes flickering towards Kathy. 'Yes, that possibility never crossed my mind. I can claim the whole of the cruise fare back -' 'It's not yours!' flashed Kathy, her anger rising. 'Oh, how dare you think of claiming money which doesn't belong to you!' C aria's thin eyebrows were raised. 'Not Mother's? Certainly it is!' she snapped. Kathy swallowed. Surely it was not possible that these two could claim the cruise fare, and keep it for themselves? 'I shall telephone at once,' declared Natalie, rising from her chair and putting out her cigarette in the ashtray. 'There's well over a thousand pounds involved; I'm not losing all that without a fight.'

Kathy half rose as her stepmother went from the room. But she sat down again, knowing she was as helpless in this situation as she was in any other involving this avaricious woman and her daughter. Natalie returned after a while, a triumphant expression on her thin hard face. 'I shall get it all back!' she cried with satisfaction. 'Every penny your father paid out. Thank you, Kathy, for refusing to go. And now,' she added, briskly returning to the previous subject, 'I'm telling you again, Kathy, that you've exactly two weeks in which to find yourself some accommodation. I'm warning you,' she added, looking directly at her, 'that if you haven't found yourself a place by the fourteenth of September, then your belongings will be put outside that gate down there -' She pointed towards the drive, indicating the high wroughtiron gates at the end of the avenue of oak trees. 'This is my home and I do not want you in it!' Ten days later Kathy was wandering along the streets of the town, as she had wandered along them every day since Natalie ordered her to leave Manor Lodge. She had come by bus from the village in which Manor Lodge was situated. Weighed down by grief as she was, she found clear thought impossible. Through the haze of misery she saw the need for action but could not exert herself to that action. Only four days left in which to settle herself in a job and find a home! 'It isn't possible,' she cried, turning swiftly into a narrow side-street because the tears were streaming down her cheeks. Finding a handkerchief, she dried her eyes, but she was unable to move, so unhappy did she feel. The world suddenly seemed an ugly place, peopled by ogres who were bent on her destruction. She wanted to run—no, fly from the world, up into space where she would not be attacked. A faintness came over her and she swayed, putting a trembling hand to her head. A young man, hurrying along the road in

his attempt to take a short cut away from the crowded main thoroughfare, had the time to stop and inquire if she were ill. 'No,' she faltered, looking up into clear-cut features and anxious blue eyes. 'I'll b-be all right in—in a m-moment....' The tears came again, filling her eyes and trickling down her face. 'I'm very sorry—if you will please 1-leave m-me?' But the young man shook his head. 'You're not well,' he said. 'My car's in the park just along here—I've only just left it. Come—;—' He took her arm in a firm grasp. 'Get in and I'll take you to your home.' 'No!' The one word was spoken with such vehemence that the young man gave a start. 'I can't go home!' 'Had a quarrel with your mum and dad?' he asked, looking her over curiously. She said nothing for a long moment and then, with a sort of abandon which she was unable to control, she told him of her father's death. 'Come and sit in my car?' he invited again, still holding her arm. 'You're quite safe, kid, so don't look scared like that. I was in a hurry to get to the office, but as I'm virtually my own boss it doesn't really matter if I'm a little late. My dad owns the concern, YOU see.' Kathy looked up into his face, saw the compassion written there, saw the evidence of traits which she had never seen on the faces of those two she had left behind—in the beautiful home that was rightly hers. 'I'd very much like to sit in your car,' she said, trying unsuccessfully to produce a smile.

'Fine!' No more than this one brief word, and Kathy was grateful for the silence as, walking beside her, and still affording her the strange comfort of his hand on her arm, he led her eventually to the car standing on the car-park. 'Bill's the name,' he said as, after putting her into her seat, he slid behind the wheel. 'Talk if you like, if you don't it's okay with me. Just relax and tell me if you want to go anywhere. I'll be glad to drive you there.' 'I'm Kathy. I'd like to talk,' she added shyly after only a moment's hesitation. And she told him everything, within a matter of half a minute or so. He stared; she saw the colour rising in his cheeks, heard the anger in his voice as he said, as soon as she had finished speaking, 'You've been robbed! How can this woman take what is rightly yours? I could do an injury to a person like that!-' Kathy gave a long quivering sigh. 'There's nothing I can do, is there?' He looked thoughtful. 'I'm afraid I don't know, Kathy,' he replied frankly. 'People do contest wills, but what the outcome of a fight in your case would be I couldn't say.' 'I wouldn't know how to go about fighting the will.' 'A solicitor would do everything for you.' 'He'd want paying. I haven't anything—at least, a few pounds, that's all. Savings from the allowance Father used to give me.' 'The solicitor could be paid when the case was over.'

'If I lost it -' she faltered, and at the fear in her voice he frowned. 'You're just a babe,' he said angrily. 'The woman wants flogging for treating you like this!' He paused in thought. 'This question of the money due back on the cruise,' he said almost to himself, 'I'd not let her have it all! I'd go on the damned thing! She can't stop you, and you'd stop her from profiting by your refusal to go.' Kathy was already shaking her head. 'I couldn't take it,' she quivered. 'It would be sheer misery, remembering that Father was to have come with me.' 'How long is it for?' 'Three and a half weeks.' 'At least you'd have a home for that time.' Another thoughtful pause and then, with a sudden eagerness, 'Look, Kathy, it's the only sensible thing to do. You'll obviously not enjoy it, nor would anyone in your position—no one with any semblance of a soul, that is,' he amended, thinking of her stepmother. 'But it'll give me a bit of time to make some inquiries. I could then see about the chance of setting in motion some sort of fight against this will.' 'You'd do this for me?' she gasped. 'You don't even know me.' 'You're in trouble; you haven't anyone to turn to. It isn't going to do me any harm to help you. My dad'll be interested too, because he's like that—always wanting to rush in on other people's problems and troubles and see if he can help them out. He and I will set something afoot, but we need time, Kathy. Go on the cruise, kid, and at least you won't be wondering where you're going to live. I'd like to take you home if that was at all possible, but my father and I are living in

a caravan, so it wouldn't do at all. You see, we sold up our house so that we could set up in business.' 'I wouldn't want to trouble you in any case,' she was swift to reply. 'Your father wouldn't want to be bothered -' 'As I've said, my dad's like me. He wants to help people. Besides, this is a challenge and I'm eager to take it up. We've a solicitor who'll advise us whether or not it's going to pay off for you to fight the will. But he's away on holiday for a week, so you must take the cruise, Kathy.' Turning his head, he looked anxiously into her eyes. 'You've no alternative,' he said gently, and added, 'Besides, it'll be one in the eye for that stepmother of yours. She won't be able to claim your half of the cruise money.' Again he paused, waiting for Kathy to make up her mind. At length she nodded, although there was a natural reluctance in the gesture. 'I'll go,' she told him resignedly. And she had to add that it seemed very wrong indeed for her to be going off on a cruise so soon after her father's death. 'But I do agree with you that it's the best thing for me to do,' she went on as she saw the slight frown which settled on his forehead. 'Good kid!' He smiled at her, warmly and reassuringly. 'You're not going to enjoy it, as you've said, but at least you'll be away from those two creatures, and you'll be well looked after as regards food and rest. Take advantage of the sun, and try to relax. I know it's going to be damned difficult, but at least you'll be away from all the dissension.' She nodded her head. 'Yes, I will—and I must admit it'll be a great relief.'

Taking a pencil and paper from his pocket, Bill asked for the name of the ship. 'I can then contact you and let you know what this solicitor has to say about the possibility of contesting the will.' 'The Eirene' she said, and added, 'You will let me have the news— even if it's bad news?' He frowned at this, and hesitated. Kathy spoke again, saying she would rather be informed of the solicitor's verdict, as the suspense would be worse than the truth. 'All right,' he agreed at length. 'I'll let you have the news—whether it's good or bad.' 'Thank you, Bill.' She managed a weak smile before asking him how much money he would require for the sending of the cable to the ship. 'Not a penny,' was his prompt reply. |Our business is flourishing, so it'll stand it—no argument,' he added as he saw her changing expression. 'You'll need what little money you have for the odds and ends you'll want to buy on the cruise.' He offered to drive her back to Manor Lodge, but she shook her head. 'I don't want to go back until bedtime,' she quivered. 'They make me feel like an intruder.' 'It's a damned disgrace that this situation should have arisen!' He would have liked to say more; this Kathy guessed, but he remained tactfully silent. However, he invited her to take lunch with him and his father, giving her the name of the cafe where they ate each day. She thanked him fervently, knowing she had found a friend.

'And if you're to be walking about every day between now and the day you go on the cruise, you must have lunch with us -' 'Not every day,' she protested. 'No, I couldn't trouble you -' 'No trouble,' he assured her at once. 'In any case, it's only three or four days.' 'Yes, that's all.' He walked back into the shopping area with her and, after telling her that he and his father would be at the cafe at half past twelve, he hurried away. Her eyes followed his figure, and a wave of gratitude swept over her. There were still good people in the world ... and she had found one of them.

CHAPTER TWO THE Eirene sailed from Venice, into the sunshine of the Adriatic Sea. The following day, Sunday, there was no landing, but on the Monday Corfu was reached and as most of the passengers were going ashore Kathy decided to do the same. She wandered along the waterfront, then decided to visit the Achilleion, the spectacular palace built by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria, who chose a lovely wooded hill for its location. From the park-like gardens were extensive views including gleaming turquoise sea, the town of Corfu, the Pantocrator Mountain, and the mountains of Albania. Kathy sat down, and, affected by the supreme peace around her, she relaxed both in mind and body. She felt herself in a state of limbo, with nothing solid on which to hold. Nor did she want anything on which to hold; she was strangely content, and free from the terrible anguish which had clung to her since the day her father had died. Someone passing the seat on which she sat called a greeting and she glanced up, managing a smile. The couple moved on. They were from the ship, having spoken to her several times when meeting her on the deck or in the Red Lounge where she would sometimes sit, with a book. She glanced at her watch at last, realizing she had been sitting here for some considerable time. She rose and made her way back to the seafront, and then to the ship, where she had her lunch on the sun deck, partaking of the cold buffet provided there. The food was delicious, but Kathy ate little; she was too emotionally affected now, thinking of her father and of how he had been looking forward to the trip. She thought also of her stepmother, and of the violence of her temper on learning that Kathy had decided to take the cruise. 'It's pure spite,' Natalie had snarled, putting her face objectionably close to Kathy's. 'You don't really want to go, but you've suddenly realized you can rob me of this considerable sum of money!'

Kathy had said nothing at all, preferring not to infuriate the woman any more than was necessary, for it did seem that Natalie in her present mood was decidedly dangerous. Natalie then told Kathy to take everything she owned, as she would not be allowed to enter Manor Lodge once she had left it to go on the cruise. 'But I can't take everything!' protested Kathy, almost in tears. 'Surely I can leave some of my things until I get settled in a place of my own?' Her stepmother was adamant. 'What you don't take now you'll leave here! I'm not having you knocking on my door asking for your belongings! Once you've gone—it's final! I don't ever want to see you again!' Kathy told Bill about this the next time they met at the cafe. His father was not with him that day and Kathy was glad, for try as she would she was quite unable to hold her tears. 'To think—I can't go b-back into my own m-mother's house,' she choked. 'I just c-can't believe it!' Bill was white with anger, but he was sensible enough not to say anything which would further upset Kathy. Instead, he spoke soothingly to her, and reassuringly, telling her to pack all those things which were hers, but which she was not taking on the cruise. 'I'll come and collect them tomorrow evening,' he went on, 'and we'll store them for you at the office. We've a couple of rooms at the back, which as yet we haven't brought into use, so your things can go into one of them.' 'You're so kind to me,' she told him gratefully. 'I shall never be able to thank you enough.' She did not dare to think of the plight she

would have been in had she not met Bill. 'You've taken such a burden from my shoulders.' 'I'm glad,' he returned simply, and then, 'Come, Kathy, what are you having to eat?' That was the last lunch they'd had together. The following evening Bill came, as promised, to collect the things. Kathy would never forget Natalie's surprise, or Carla's look of disbelief. 'I didn't know you had a boy-friend,' she had sneered as soon as Bill had made his departure, with most of Kathy's possessions packed into the boot of his car. "You're a sly one, and no mistake!' 'Who is he—and how long have you known him?' demanded Natalie curiously. 'That,' replied Kathy with dignity, 'can be of no interest to you!' The following morning Kathy left in a taxi for the airport ... and that, she thought as she glanced back, was to be the last she would ever see of her beautiful home. 'Hello, Miss Lindon. How did you like Corfu?' The voice came from Michael Handley, one of her table companions, and Kathy jumped, her reverie broken abruptly. Michael was carrying a tray on which was his buffet lunch; he glanced at the vacant place by Kathy and asked if he could sit down. 'Of course,' she said, moving her own tray to one side of the table. 'I enjoyed Corfu very much. Did you?' 'Great! I'd like to spend a holiday there.'

He sat down, putting his tray on the table. Above them was a bright umbrella, its scalloped edges waving gently in the breeze. 'Did you go far?' Kathy shook her head. 'To the Achilleion. I sat in the garden for most of the time.' Michael glanced curiously at her. 'You like being on your own, don't you?' She looked at him, then at his tray, beside hers on the table. 'Sometimes I do,' she answered with polite diplomacy. He ^smiled; she remembered Bill and began mechanically to compare the two. Bill was fair while Michael was dark; Michael was taller than Bill, and a little older—about twenty-four, Kathy estimated. 'You're very young to be preferring your own company,' Michael Was saying. 'Have you any brothers and sisters?' 'No. I've no relatives at all.' Michael frowned on hearing this. 'No parents?' he said in disbelief, and Kathy shook her head. Picking up a fork, she began to eat her gateau. She had always been sensitive to questions, not caring to answer them when they came from strangers, or were prompted by idle curiosity. Her lashes fluttered and she glanced at him across the table. He seemed to hold his breath for a space before lowering his eyes to the food on his plate. Michael ate in silence for some moments before saying,

'I was also alone this morning; we could have wandered around Corfu together.' Kathy took another slice of the gateau, not knowing what to say to him. She recollected that it had not been like this with Bill—but then the circumstances had been different. At that time she was ready to pour out her troubles to anyone who might have come along and expressed a desire to comfort her. 'Yes,' she, agreed at last, 'we could have wandered around Corfu together.' 'What about Athens? Shall we do that together?' 'I don't know if I want to go ashore.' Going ashore would mean spending money, and she had none to spare. Michael shrugged his shoulders; she thought it was an impatient gesture rather than one of resignation. 'The two at our table, and you and I, could perhaps share a taxi and do a sightseeing tour of the city, ending up at the Acropolis.' He paused, but Kathy did not speak. 'No One should visit Athens without going up on the Acropolis.' 'I know, but there are reasons why I prefer to stay on board.' 'You'll be the only one. Everybody will be going ashore.' 'I expect they will,' was all she said for the moment. After finishing her gateau she excused herself and went to get her coffee. On her return Michael changed the subject, chatting in a friendly way but not again suggesting they should go ashore together.

Several days passed, days of brilliant sunshine, of lazy hours on deck or trips ashore. Kathy often kept to her cabin, not to brood exactly, but it was inevitable that she should be continually thinking about her future, which seemed so bleak that she sometimes felt she did not want to face it. The loneliness frightened her, the sense of insecurity often caused a physical reaction in that her heart would lurch at the very idea of having no home and no job to go to when she returned to England. True, Bill had promised to make sure she had some place to sleep. His cousin would probably have her, he had said, but if not then he would get her fixed up at an hotel. She was filled with gratitude, amazed at his concern for her, a stranger whom he had thought fit to befriend. With the passing of another week she began to wonder about the inquiries he was intending to make. He had promised to let her have the solicitor's verdict and she hoped he would keep his promise. He did. The message came through to the ship just before it was due to dock at Skiathos, a lovely, fairy-tale island of the Sporades group. A gem unspoiled, it nestled amid no less than nine smaller islands and, seen from the ship, these islands appeared to be floating on that shimmering wine-dark sea that belongs to Greece alone. But Kathy stared with unseeing eyes, for the message she had received had filled her with fear and despair. The solicitor had not advised the contesting of the will. 'Aren't you going ashore?' Michael came to the rail and stood by her side. She twisted round and he saw the fear in her eyes. 'Is anything wrong?' he asked in concern. 'I heard your name being called out over the radio. You were asked to go to the Purser's office.' She shook her head, almost impatiently. 'I'm sorry,' she said, 'but I can't explain. No, I'm not going ashore,' she added in reply to his first question.

He left her; she remained by the rail as the ship dropped anchor, watching the tenders taking the passengers ashore. At last she turned away and went down to her cabin, but rest was impossible. Her whole nervous system was affected by this blow she had received. Only now did she realize just how much faith she had placed in Bill and the inquiries he was going to make on her behalf. And now all was lost. Natalie and Carla owned the home which had been in her mother's family for so many years. 'I can't sit here!' she cried, rising from the bed and pacing the small area at the side of it, 'Whatever am I going to do!' Unconsciously she wrung her hands, 'I must get off this ship for a while!' The cabin had become like a prison, and when, on glancing through the porthole and seeing the green hills of Skiathos, so different from the barren beauty of some of the islands at which the Eirene had called, she decided to go ashore after all. Not that it would take her mind off her problems, but at least it would be preferable to sitting in her cabin, feeling like a caged animal. The tender took her ashore and she bought herself a drink at one of the tavernas by the sea. Then she wandered about, scarcely knowing where she was going. She desired to be alone, and as she kept on meeting up with people from the ship, she decided to take a gravelly road up into the hills. She passed little houses whose patios dripped with flowers; she trod unpaved roads flanked by giant cactus or oleanders; she passed imposing white villas whose gardens were bright with hibiscus and bougainvillaea. The sound of bells made her turn, then step aside. A white mule came abreast, then passed on, ridden by a peasant sitting side-saddle. Another mule appeared after a while, also carrying a bell around its neck. Again its rider sat sidesaddle; this time another mule was being led by a rope. All was placid and peaceful, with the sun high in the sky and the countryside green and fertile. A Camberwell Beauty butterfly floated across her vision and settled on a wild rose growing by the roadside, a pair of bee-eaters swooped into a wild fig tree and disappeared among the

foliage. Kathy could not appreciate all this beauty around her, but she knew it was there. Skiathos was one of the most exotic and unspoiled islands in all Greece. At last she stopped, realizing she had tired herself out with the walk. She sat down by the roadside; not a single person came into view. All was silent except for the whirring of cicadas in the silver-grey foliage of the olive trees on the hillside behind her. So tranquil ... and yet such tumult within her -She leant back against the trunk of a tree and closed her eyes. The air was balmy, with a faint breeze to oppose the heat of the sun. Yes ... it was so very tranquil -

She awoke with a start, and sprang to her feet. The sun was lowering rapidly; the first purple shades of dusk stole through the branches of the olive trees. Kathy's heart gave a great lurch as she realized just how long she had been here. The ship was due to sail at four o'clock 'It's gone without me,' she cried, starting to run down the hill. 'It must have done!' All passengers were warned at the beginning of the cruise that the ship could not wait if they were not back on board at sailing time. The harbour came into view, and any slight hope she might have cherished died within her. There was no sign of the Eirene. She looked around, a great fear rising within her. Here she was, alone on a strange island, with scarcely any money in her purse. Most certainly she did not have sufficient to pay for a night in an hotel.

She tried to think, to formulate a plan, but a great infiltration of fear blanked out any possibility of clear vision. Her head ached and a cloud of unshed tears pressed against the backs of her eyes. 'What can I do?' she whispered as she walked along the waterfront, her eyes scanning the darkening sea as if even now she might see the Eirene returning. 'Perhaps the police...' The idea was a vague one; she did not even stop someone to inquire where the police station was. Instead, she wandered on and on, until eventually the sun had gone completely, and the horizon was indistinct. Stars appeared; she had no idea how long she had been walking. She retraced her steps with the intention of returning to the taverna, and the bustle of tourist activity which centred upon it. Scarcely aware of her action, she stepped into the road just as a car came round the bend. Her heart leaping up into her throat, Kathy stopped, but although the driver of the car acted with remarkable promptitude and dexterity, Kathy was hit by the nearside wing and sent staggering back on to the pavement. Losing her balance, she uttered a little cry as her head came into contact with a low wall. 'Oh — my head!' she gasped, endeavouring to get to her feet. A man appeared and within seconds she found herself sitting on the wall, a strong arm supporting her. In the purple glow of twilight she saw a dark, granite-like face, a face with classical Greek features that might have belonged to one of the ancient gods of Olympus, so perfect were the lines, so finely-etched the noble contours. Even in the dim light she saw that the eyes were hard and black as obsidian. The forehead was low, the hair as black as jet. He turned and she saw in profile the out-thrust chin and strong, angular jawline. In all it was a remarkably handsome face, but hard almost to the point of ruthlessness. He turned again, to look into her face. She rioted the lips—full, sensuous, yet firm, matching the rest of his patrician features. Magnificent was an apt adjective to apply to him, she was

later to decide, but for the present she was ready to attend to what he was about to say. 'What on earth made you step out into the road like that?' His voice was low, cultured, and carrying the merest hint of an accent. 'I don't know...' His hands, long and slender, were probing about, feeling for any sign of a serious injury to her head. 'Merely a nasty bump,' he pronounced. 'You've been extremely fortunate. It was a damned silly thing for you to do!' he added sternly. 'I'm very sorry,' she murmured contritely. 'You're English. A tourist?' Kathy shook her head. 'I'm stranded here,' she said, and started to cry. The man frowned at her. 'Stranded?' he repeated. 'I don't understand.' Kathy sought for a handkerchief and dried her eyes, while the man looked on, curiosity in his gaze. After a small hesitation she spoke, telling him what had happened. 'You missed the sailing?' He looked impatiently at her. 'You knew what time the ship was due to leave Skiathos?'

'Yes, of course, but...' She allowed her voice to trail away to silence, feeling foolish at the idea of owning to having fallen asleep by the roadside. 'But—what?' She paused again then said resignedly, 'I fell asleep—on the side of the road, and didn't wake up until dusk.' His frown deepened. 'You came ashore alone?' His eyes flickered over her; it was plain that he was puzzled. 'Yes,' she replied briefly. 'But surely you're not cruising alone? You have your parents with you—or a friend, perhaps?' Kathy paused, then turned impulsively and said, 'Will you help me—tell me what I must do to get back on to the ship?' Her big eyes looked pleadingly into his; she could not know just how helpless she appeared to this man—a man of confidence and savoir vivre, a man so much older than she, for she guessed his age to be about thirty-four or five. He was looking hard at her, into her earnest grey eyes. 'How's that head?' he asked after a space. 'It aches a little—but then it ached before I banged it on the wall,' she was honest enough to admit.

'As long as you're not in need of medical attention,' he said with sudden decision, 'I'll take you along to one of the hotels and get you settled in for tonight. Then I'll get through to the Eirene and arrange for you to fly to Dubrovnik, where you can pick up the ship the day after tomorrow. You won't be able to pick it up at Itea because it docks there tomorrow morning at half past seven, and leaves five hours later.' Kathy stared at him. 'You know where the ship docks?—and what times it leaves?' 'Yes,' he said quietly, 'I do know.' She asked no questions, aware that they would not be answered. He became brisk, telling her to get into the car. She stood up, but paused. .'I can't go to an hotel,' she said. 'I haven't any money.' Another frown creased his low dark forehead. 'You've money on the ship, I presume? I'll pay for the hotel and you can forward it on to me from Dubrovnik.' 'I haven't very much money on the ship -' She broke off, tears again gathering in her eyes. 'I don't think I ought to go to an hotel. Do you think they would give me accommodation at the police station?' 'There's no reason why you shouldn't stay at an hotel. I can lend you the money, both for the hotel and the air fare to Dubrovnik. You can send it on to me when you get back home.' Even before he had finished speaking Kathy was shaking her head.

'I haven't that amount of money,' she said in a choked little voice. 'I can't possibly get into debt—not when I have no means whatsoever of repaying you.' Suddenly he seemed intrigued by her situation, but all he said was, 'You're overwrought, that's obvious. I think you had better come to my home for tonight.' 'Your home?' she faltered nervously, subjecting his hard stern features to a critical examination. 'You have nothing to fear,' was his rather dry assurance. 'I have a manservant and his wife living with me.' Kathy stood in the failing light, colouring at his words. She lowered her long silken lashes in order to hide her expression from his gaze. 'I'm grateful to you,' she returned huskily, and a moment later she was in the car and it was running smoothly along the road. After a while the road wound into the lonely foothills, its headlamps picking out the shadowy trees. A sudden surge of fear swept over Kathy. What had she done—getting into a car with a strange man? And a Greek! 'I want to get out!' she cried impulsively, and half rose from her seat. 'Get out?' He turned swiftly, then looked ahead again as the road was sinuous and narrow. 'What for?' She swallowed, trying to dislodge the little ball of fear that had settled in her throat. 'I shouldn't h-have c-come with y-you,' she faltered, uncaring whether or not he was offended by her fear of him. All she desired at

this moment was to get out of the car. Where she would then go did not seem to matter in the urgency which was besetting her at this crucial time. 'Your fear,' he said caustically, 'is certainly not very flattering to me. I assure you, Miss -' He stopped a moment. 'What's your name?' he asked abruptly. 'Kathy—Kathy Lindon.' 'Well, Miss Lindon, you needn't panic like this. You're quite safe with me.' Reassuring the words even though the tone was cold. Kathy sat back and tried to relax. No more was said during the journey, which was not long, but it was hazardous in parts, while at other times if was most pleasant, winding lazily through olive groves or meandering through a lush green valley. Always the sea was in view, and when at last the car came to a halt Kathy saw that the house of its owner was not very far from the beach. In the bright moonlight the villa stood out, white and shining, with the tranquil Aegean only a few hundred metres from its flower-filled terrace. Despite the feeling of security which her companion's words had given her, a trembling seized Kathy as, after helping her from the car, the man urged her towards the porticoed front entrance of the villa. The door opened immediately; a smiling Greek, swarthy of skin and short of stature, expressed surprise on seeing his master with a girl, but, recovering on the instant, he stood aside for Kathy and the man to enter. Vaguely aware of a high white ceiling and wide arches, of pillars around' which climbed lovely flowering plants, Kathy could not take in anything else as, again urged by her companion, she found herself in a large, tastefully-furnished sitting-room overlooking the sandy bay. Lights from small caiques twinkled out at sea, but apart from these there was no other sign of life. The villa nestled in a setting of jewel-like enchantment, with the olive-clothed hills behind, and the still dark sea to the front.

'Sit down.' The man indicated a chair and Kathy took possession of it, perching herself on the very edge and clasping her hands in front of her. The man stood, towering above her, and she glanced up, looking at him through her long, curling eyelashes. 'Would you like a drink of something?' he asked, and it did seem that there was a hint of kindness in his tone. Kathy said yes, she would like a drink of water. 'Water?' he repeated in some amusement. 'Surely you'd like something a little stronger than that?' 'If I could have a cup of coffee, then—please?' 'Of course.' He rang the bell and the. manservant appeared. His master spoke to him in Greek and he departed at once. 'Would you like to explain, Miss Lindon?' There was a distinct note of curiosity in the man's tone, but a hint of concern as well, Kathy thought. She hesitated, and then, feeling just as she had felt with Bill, she poured out the whole story from beginning to end. 'And now you can understand why I can't accept a loan from you...' Her voice quavered to silence, checked by the pent-up emotion which broke through the restraint she was striving so hard to exert. The man had frowned heavily as she spoke of her father's death and the callousness of her stepmother. Now his dark eyelashes flickered. He appeared to be deep in thought. 'You have no one—not even a distant relative—who could help you?' he said at length, and Kathy shook her head. 'No, I have no relatives at all.'

He frowned again. Kathy recalled how the Greeks revered their parents and knew that he was feeling pity for her in her recent loss. Somehow, her heart warmed to him despite the severity of his features. 'Do you really mean to say that, on your return to England, you have nowhere to go—no home at all?' She bit her lip, unable to speak for a space, so overcome was she with despair. 'There's a young man I met, who will help me to find somewhere...' Her voice trailed away to silence as she thought of Bill, and wondered if he really would be willing to help her. Yes, at first perhaps, but he could not go on indefinitely. 'I feel so—so helpless,' she admitted. 'You see, I've never before been without my father's support.' 'I can understand how you are feeling,' was his surprising rejoinder. 'Here in Greece girls are never sent into the world alone. They go from the security of their parents' house to the safety of their husband's.' Kathy said nothing to this; she was watching his expression, faintly puzzled by his sudden preoccupation, for he was deep in some private thought of his own. Then, quite suddenly, his expression changed and his eyes seemed to come alive. It was as though an idea had come to him—an idea that more than pleased him. Or rather, Kathy thought it was satisfaction she saw on his face. The manservant appeared, quietly knocking on the door before entering with a silver tray on which was a pot of coffee, sugar and cream.

'Thank you, Lakis.' The voice was low and gracious. The manservant smiled at Kathy and withdrew, closing the door softly behind him. 'My name's Kanaris.' The Greek turned to Kathy as he spoke. 'Adamantios Kanaris.' He paused a moment and Kathy mentally repeated his name, surmising that he was called Adam for short. He remained silent as he poured the coffee. He seemed absent-minded, as if his thoughts were fully occupied with a decision newly- made. 'Sugar and cream?' he asked, looking at her but remaining thoughtful. She nodded her head, totally at ease with him now, and filled with wonderment at the peace which had come over her since entering this man's home. She was no longer afraid of him—-on the contrary, she knew a strange sense of safety, as if he would shield her from the dangers of the outside world, just as her father had always shielded her. He handed her her coffee, and pushed a plate of pastries towards her. She glanced gratefully at him, a half-smile trembling on her soft, childish lips. 'You're very kind, Mr Kanaris,' she murmured shyly. 'I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't come along.' He had to smile at this, reminding her of the circumstances under which they had met. Her own smile came through again, but she remained silent, sipping the delicious coffee. She had not had anything since breakfast that morning and she received the refreshments gratefully. When she had finished he looked at her for a long moment and then, right out of the blue, he asked her if she would like to stay on in his household and accept the task of looking after two little English girls aged six and seven.

This offer hit her with stunning effect, the impact depriving her of clear thought for a moment or two. And then she knew the sensation of being rescued from the black depths of fear and despair into which she had fallen on receiving the news from Bill that the contesting of the will would be unwise. Here was an offer of a job and a home all in one! And on this beautiful Greek island which, according to the literature handed out on board the ship, remained quite unspoiled by tourism. What little she herself had seen was delightful—no crowds, no smoke; no traffic to speak of, or people rushing about. She glanced around the lovely room, then allowed her gaze to settle on the man opposite to her, Adamantios Kanaris. Austere features— reminiscent of the stone statues she had seen in the museum at Corfu. A hard man, she decided, but a just one. If she did accept this offer of a job, she would be expected to earn her salary. On the other hand, she knew for sure that she would be treated well, that she would receive both consideration and tolerance from her employer. Two English children—little girls. Why were they here? she wondered, then shrugged inwardly. She would know before very long—if she decided to take the job, that was. If! Already there was no doubt in her mind, even though many questions ran riot there. 'Does it require so much thought?' The quiet voice of her companion brought a quivering smile to her lips. She shook her head at once. 'No, Mr Kanaris, it doesn't.' She met his cool gaze and added shyly, 'I don't know how to express my gratitude. It's like a miracle.' The rising of his hand stopped her. His voice was dry when he spoke, and impersonal. 'I assure you, Miss Lindon, that there's no need for gratitude. I would never have made the offer had it not been to my own advantage to do so.' His voice was edged with a strange inflection; Kathy felt faintly uneasy, but as this was far from a strong sensation she cast it aside. The immediate present was her chief concern, the safety of this man's

home, the security of earning money. As if defining her thoughts Adam Kanaris immediately brought up the question of her salary. The sum he mentioned was in drachmas which, smilingly, he converted for her, his eyes flickering as he noted her start of surprise. 'But that's too much!' she exclaimed before she could stop herself. 'I'm not experienced -' 'You don't need experience to look after two children of that age. They have a governess who comes in for four hours each day—from Monday to Friday, that is. Your job is to care for them during the rest of the time.' She nodded, still curious to know why. two English children were living here, but naturally she refrained from putting questions at this time, fearing it would appear impertinent. Adam Kanaris was speaking again, informing her that dinner would be served in an hour's time. 'I'll get Calliope—she's Lakis's wife—to show you sour room. I suggest you rest for half an hour or so before getting ready for dinner.' He paused, his critical eves running over her clothes. 'I'll get through to the ship at once and have your clothes and any other possessions sent here. They should arrive some time on Wednesday.' 'The day after tomorrow!' she exclaimed. 'That's very quick!' A fleeting smile came to his mouth, as if he were amused by some private joke of his own. 'You'll meet the children in the morning,' he said, rising and pressing the bell. It was Lakis who entered; Adam spoke in Greek and the man's glance went at once to Kathy. He nodded, withdrew, and a moment or two later his wife appeared. About thirty-five years of age, she was plump and dark, with sturdy arms and large, capable

hands. Gold fillings became visible when she smiled; she bowed slightly on being given the order to take Kathy to a bedroom. But she spoke to Adam, and Kathy guessed she was asking which room it was to be. Adam answered, then turning to Kathy, 'You'll be put in one of the guest rooms for the time being, and then we'll find you something which can be converted into a bed-sitting-room. It will be more comfortable if you have your own private apartment.' Kathy had risen; she thanked him, smiled, then followed Calliope from the room.

CHAPTER THREE A GENTLE breeze drifted across the sandy inlet to which Kathy had wandered on her morning stroll. She stood still, watching the sunlight glistening on the sea, and she knew an almost intoxicating lightness of spirit. What an idyllic place this was! —with its warmth and sunshine, its hills and streams, its charming, uninhibited people. With a little sigh of content she found a small boulder and sat down, staring into a tiny rock pool at her feet, her thoughts fluttering sensitively as she allowed her mind to return to that evening, over a week ago, when first she had entered the lovely home of Adam Kanaris. After her rest, and a freshen up, she had come to the dining-room, conducted there by Calliope on the instructions of her master who, immaculate in a white tropical suit that emphasized the burnt-sienna colouring of his skin, had scrutinized her thoughtfully for a long moment before saying, in a surprisingly abrupt tone of voice, 'Come over here and let me take another look at that head of yours.' He spoke as if to a child; she obeyed on the instant, proceeding across the thickly- carpeted floor towards him, and thinking how tall he was, and how aristocratic his bearing. The long slender hands had probed again until, satisfied, Adam had said, 'You've a bump, but it's nothing to worry about. Sit down; dinner will be served directly.' They sat down opposite to one another. For Kathy it was a strange, unreal situation in which she found herself, for so much had happened since the moment she awoke on the roadside and found she had missed the sailing of the ship. The last couple of hours had been a series of dramatic events, culminating in her having emerged from a state of near panic to one of security in so short a time. It was like a

miracle, she kept reminding herself, while running alongside this was a deep wonderment that she could feel so at ease, be so totally without fear of this stranger, this dark and noble Greek who even now appeared inordinately formidable as he sat there, his broad aristocratic shoulders erect, his slender hands holding the knife and fork as he began to eat his fish. The first part of the meal was eaten in silence, with Adam preoccupied and Kathy expectantly waiting to be given some information regarding the children, and the duties which she herself would have to perform. At length this information came, and she learned how the two little girls happened to be here in Skiathos with Adam Kanaris. His sister had recently married an Englishman and the children were his by his first wife who had died four years previously. 'It so happened that, a week after the wedding, Richard, the children's father, received notice that his firm was sending him abroad for six months. His sister would have had the children, but unfortunately her husband is ill and for the next few months he'll require all her attention. So I offered to bring Jennifer and Lucy to live with me here.' 'That was kind of you,' began Kathy, when she was immediately interrupted. 'Not at all. As there was no one else to help out then it was incumbent on me to do so. In Greece we attach supreme importance to duty. You will never see old people in distress in our country, or even put into homes. There is always someone willing to take care of them.' That was wonderful, she thought, but remained silent, and Adam went on to explain how he had managed to obtain the services of the English governess, Grace Haldene.

'She had been employed by an Englishman here who had three boys, but his marriage broke up and he decided to return to England. Miss Haldene was desirous of staying on the island, so both she and I were fortunate.' He paused, and regarded Kathy with a most odd expression. 'And now,' he continued, this time in an expressionless voice, 'I have found you ... so all of my troubles should be over ...' He was again preoccupied, and his last words had seemed to be a murmuring to himself rather than being directly spoken to Kathy. Also, she found something a little strange and puzzling in the word 'should', wondering why he had not said that his troubles were over. It was almost as if there were some consequent factor .which would eventually provide evidence as to whether or not he was to benefit from having befriended Kathy. She frowned to herself, but, unassailed even by the merest tinge of uneasiness, she dismissed these mind-wanderings as fanciful. In any case, her employer was speaking again, and she learned that the children had been staying with a friend of his on the other side of the island, but that they would be returning the following morning. Adam then went on to give Kathy an outline of her duties. 'You will have them until ten o'clock each morning, at which time Miss Haldene will expect them to be in the schoolroom, where they will remain until noon, giving you two hours' free time. From noon till two they will be with you, and then again from four onwards.' Their bedtime was seven o'clock, he went on to add, so Kathy would have all her evenings free. She would also have one day a week entirely free, when Calliope would be responsible for the children during the times when they were not in the schoolroom. 'I trust this is satisfactory to you?' said Adam finally, and Kathy was more than eager to assure him that it was. 'Very good.' Adam's voice was cool, unemotional, and for the rest of the meal he spoke little, so that it was a relief to Kathy when at last it

was over and she was free to go to her room. However, being refreshed by her meal, and feeling easy in mind about her immediate future, she was able to relax and take a stroll in the gardens surrounding the villa. It had been a magical evening, with the tang of the salt breeze sweeping in from the sea to mingle with the elusive drifting perfumes of the garden, and the deep hush broken only by the sound of a nightbird in the tamarisk tree growing at the side of the lawn. In the far distance, a shadowed mass of olive trees cut into the purple arc of the heavens, while to the east a long row of cypress trees stood like sentinels against a sky drenched in starlight. Turning, Kathy had stood for a long moment, gazing at the reflection of the moon on the sea, then, retracing her steps, she made her way back to the villa. The following day she had met the children; there was an instant mutual liking and once again Kathy could not believe her luck. It was inevitable that she would harbour a tinge of anxiety regarding her relationship with the two girls, especially as she had never had anything to do with children. She had naturally wondered about their personalities, and whether or not they would take to her. Within five minutes of the meeting all her doubts were swept away. And she was made doubly confident by her employer's remark, 'I'm sure you'll all get along famously. You're young, and that's important. You can all play together.' Earlier, he had spoken of the accommodation he had arranged for her. She would need to have privacy, he had declared, repeating his intention of having a bedsitting-room made for her.

'I've chosen a room facing the sea,' he continued in his finelymodulated tones. 'And as there's a dressing- room off one side and a bathroom adjoining, it'll be almost like having your own little flat.' He surveyed her for a moment, thoughtfully. 'If there's anything you require which will add to your comfort, then do not hesitate to tell me.' Kathy had assured him that already everything was perfect. 'I can't conceive how I've been so lucky,' she had added shyly. 'When I missed the ship I was desolate.' 'I fully understand,' he returned at once. 'It's easy now for me to see why you missed the ship. The news you had received naturally had an adverse effect on your nerves, creating grave fears about your future. The result was that you scarcely knew what you were doing.' Kathy had stared at him, amazed at his quick and correct grasp of her situation at that time. 'You're right, Mr Kanaris; I was dazed and frightened.' Adam nodded but said nothing to this, and after a moment Kathy added shyly, 'Everything's changed now, and I don't know how to thank you properly -' A lift of his hand silenced her. She noticed an odd inflection in his voice as he said, 'I'm of the opinion, Miss Lindon, that we shall both be equally indebted to one another,' and with that he had left her, and for the next hour or so she had given all her attention to the children. It was the governess who filled in details regarding her employer. Having lived on the island for some time, she knew a great deal about the various wealthy families residing there. To Kathy's surprise

she learned that Adam Kanaris was a shipowner—as were so many wealthy Greeks—and that he owned the cruise fleet to which the Eirene belonged. 'So that was why he knew where she was docking!' Kathy went on to explain to Grace how she had come to be employed by Adam. Grace naturally expressed surprise, but, much to Kathy's relief, she evinced no desire to learn anything more than Kathy had offered voluntarily, and this did not include anything about Kathy's stepmother or her daughter. 'His shipyards stretch for miles,' Grace went on to say. 'You'll see them if ever you go from Athens to Mycenae. Adam Kanaris is a millionaire.' 'He seems young to be so rich,' said Kathy, looking appropriately awed by the information that her employer was a millionaire. 'Inherited from his father. It's said that the old man had the Midas touch; everything he handled turned to gold. Adam Kanaris was only twenty-seven when his father died; that was eight years ago.' Kathy nodded her head; she had already estimated his age at about thirty-five. 'I hope you'll like it here,' Grace said, but a little anxiously. 'There's not much in the way of entertainment during the winter months. You see, Skiathos has only just been discovered as regards tourism. It's still unspoiled, as you must already have noticed?' 'Yes. It'll be a pity if it does become spoiled.' 'I don't believe it will. It's true that a few foreigners have invaded the island, building themselves pretty villas close to the sea or against the hillsides, but on the whole no real damage has been done. The

original inhabitants are in possession still—not like some places where the invading hordes of foreigners have taken over and changed the face of an island from lovely green valleys and hills to stretches of concrete blocks shutting out the sun.' Grace spoke derisively; Kathy warmed to her for her love of natural beauty rather than the monstrosities devised by man in his haste for 'progress'. Kathy herself loved the countryside, the green hills, the trees and flowers and butterflies and birds. She loved the silence, liked to be able to scan a wide expanse of sky unblemished by the serrated outlines of high-rise flats and other buildings. Here on Skiathos, all was so still and quiet, with a solemn grandeur pervading almost every scene that caught the eye. Under the spell of golden sun and tranquil sea all imperatives melted away, all tensions dissolved. Kathy would never have believed, when she left England to embark on the cruise, that she was so soon to be free from care. It was incredible, she thought with a little sigh of contentment as, rising from the boulder where she had been sitting for the past half hour, she prepared to return to the villa. Walking was an aid to thinking, and as she wandered along the sandy shore she continued to muse contentedly on all that had happened to her during the past week. Her job was proving to be most pleasant; already she had established a happy rapport both with the children and their uncle. Between her and the governess—who was eight years her senior—there existed respect and amiability. Friendship was unlikely, since Grace, looking upon her post as a job and nothing more, was always eager to rush off to her own home once her duties in the schoolroom were over. 'I've a nice little villa which I was lucky enough to rent when the owners went to work abroad,' she had told Kathy, 'and I love to potter about in my garden. At present, though, I'm in the process of decorating the whole house, so I'm fully occupied in my spare time.' Her thoughts reverting to her own post of nanny to the children, Kathy marvelled at her smooth adaption to the role given her by

Adam Kanaris. Of course, her position had been made easy by the fact of the girls being somewhat in awe of their uncle, which resulted in their behaviour being good. Lucy, though, was rather a tomboy and certainly could have been a handful had Adam relaxed his stern surveillance. Her sister on the other hand, was of a far gentler disposition, calm of temperament and always anxious to please. Both children possessed remarkable charm of character despite the difference in their personalities. Kathy suspected that Lucy gave Grace a little trouble, simply because she could not bear to be cooped up for any length of time. At four o'clock the children would race out to where Kathy was waiting in the garden for them. 'Thank goodness for that!' Lucy would invariably exclaim. 'There goes Miss Haldene—on her way home! Oh, but I'm glad she doesn't live with us!' 'We're glad you live with us, though,' from Jennifer in quiet and smiling tones. 'What are we going to play today?' Both children could swim, so Kathy would take them into the pool, which was at the bottom of the garden, -sheltered by Judas and tamarisk trees interspersed with poinsettias and the beautiful flame vine. At other times they would play hide-and-seek or perhaps go for a walk on the seashore. Here they would collect shells, or explore the pools or marshes that lay in the low areas behind the beach. One day they surprised a pair of terrapins which had left the water to bask on the bank; on another occasion they had been lucky enough to spot a lovely glossy ibis. On their return they would rush into the livingroom to give their uncle a detailed account of all they had been doing. He would listen, his dark eyes sometimes moving to Kathy, who would colour delicately and wish she could appear more confident and mature. Why she should have wished this she had no idea, but as the days passed she was vaguely conscious that the desire was becoming stronger. Kathy had once mentioned to Grace that she

always felt gauche and unsure of herself when in his company. To her surprise Grace admitted to a similar sensation. 'He's so grand,' Grace had declared. 'You feel you're in the presence of the god Zeus himself!' Kathy laughed, and she laughed now as she recalled the governess's words, which had been uttered with a wry grimace. Glancing at her watch, Kathy immediately put a little more speed into her steps. It was a quarter to twelve; she had been out since just after ten. How the time did fly! She had intended getting back to the villa with time to spare for the writing of a letter to Bill. She had written one, the day following her appointment as nanny to the children. Now she wanted to give him more news, assuring him that she was in a good post and that there was now nothing to worry about. She would be returning to England in a few months' time, of course, but she would have security in the form of money she would have saved. She would also have gained experience with the caring of children, and she cherished the hope that Adam Kanaris would be so pleased with her that he would provide the kind of testimonial which would assist her in finding a post of a similar kind in England. Not that she relished the thought of leaving Skiathos. Already she loved the island, and was under no illusions about the wrench she would experience on leaving it to return to her own country. Like Grace, she could have stayed permanently had it been at all possible—which it was not, of course, and could never be. The villa was already in view and she looked at it from this distance, marvelling at its beauty, at the gleaming white walls and bright blue shutters. Flowers abounded—the showy hibiscus with its brilliant crimson flowers growing' to five inches in diameter, the lovely bird of paradise with its unique blooms breaking open into a glory of orange-red colour and its ultimate shape suggesting a bird's blue-

crested head and beak. Bougainvillaea vines swathed the white marble pillars flanking the wide front entrance of the villa; Judas trees and jacarandas reared their lovely foliage above the roses and lilies and allamandas growing in formal beds beyond the wide velvet lawn fronting the house. The feeling of luxury entered into Kathy as she stared; one had only to take a glance at the Villa Carana to realize that its owner had spent freely in order to attain perfection. He was standing on the patio as she reached the drive, and he watched her approach, his dark eyes taking in the slender, childish figure swinging gracefully despite its immaturity, the set of the head on slightly- curving shoulders, the delectable line of her neck. Unsmilingly he spoke as soon as she had reached the patio steps. 'Have you had a pleasant walk?' 'Yes, thank you.' She knew her voice was stilted and wished she could relax when in his presence. 'Where have you been?' She swung a hand in the direction of the shimmering sea. 'To the beach. It's lovely down there.' Faintly his lips curved. It was not often that he smiled, she recollected, but he was half-smiling now. 'You don't swim in the sea?' 'We've used the pool up till now—the children and I, I mean.' She was still shy, still awkward, although she made a determined effort to appear casual. 'I expect it's because it's more convenient.' 'But not to be compared with the sea.'

'No, I suppose not.' At that moment the children came racing around the side of the villa; they made no pretence of being happy about the lessons they had just had. 'I hated my sums,' said Lucy, her little rosebud mouth tight. 'They were too hard!' 'And I didn't like mine, either. Nor did I like writing about my new doll. I didn't know what to say.' Adam looked down at Lucy, his face unmoving. 'I expect Miss Haldene knows what you should be doing,' he said. 'You are not to complain about your lessons.' Lucy frowned darkly up at him, mischief written all over her chubby, freckled face. 'Our teacher at home let us play all the time.' 'You are not at home now.' 7 didn't play,' from Jennifer primly. 'I was in a higher class than Lucy, you see.' 'You played at first, when you were in Miss Johnson's class!' 'Not all the time.' 'I wish Miss Haldene would let us play.' 'Miss Haldene is here to teach you your lessons,' said Adam sternly. 'If you're not very careful you'll have an extra hour, starting at nine o'clock instead of ten.'

'Oh ... I wouldn't like that!' Lucy tucked her hand into Kathy's, looking up at her, a wide grin on her face. 'Let's go for a walk, shall we?' 'I think you had better let Miss Lindon tidy you up first.' Adam's eyes roved over his younger niece and he frowned at her. 'How is it that your hair's never as tidy as Jennifer's?' 'I always lose my ribbons.' Quite unperturbed, Lucy pulled a bright red ribbon from her pocket. 'It fell off -' 'No, it didn't,' corrected her sister, 'you pulled it off; I saw you!' 'Well, it was nearly falling off. It was loose.' 'I tied it as securely as Jennifer's,' put in Kathy, feeling guilty. 'Are you sure it was loose?' 'Of course it wasn't. Take no notice of her. She tells fibs.' 'I never! It's you what tells fibs!' Having put her hand into her pocket again Lucy pulled out a sticky sweet, frowned at it, then put it back, wiping her fingers on her dress before Kathy could say a word to stop her. 'What a disgusting child you are,' admonished her uncle. 'Now your dress needs changing.' 'Oh, it doesn't matter. Another one'll only get dirty so I might as well keep this one on.' Although exceptionally intelligent for her age, Lucy had no interest whatsoever in her appearance, whereas her sister took extreme pride in herself, .always appearing clean and neat. Tall for her age, Jennifer had a sort of regality about her which was accentuated by the severe style in which she insisted on wearing her hair, brought back from

her face and fastened with a tortoiseshell slide. Lucy, on the other hand, preferred her hair to be loose, and it was on the instructions of Adam that Kathy made her wear a ribbon, tied Alice- band style. At the table there was also a marked difference in the children, with Jennifer taking her food daintily and using her napkin when necessary, and Lucy eating hurriedly and getting food round her mouth and even —at times—on the end of her little snub nose. Grace Haldene made no pretence about her preference for Jennifer who, she maintained, was a far more attractive child than Lucy. Kathy would not agree; already she had decided that she liked them both equally. And Adam, she knew, also liked them both equally.

CHAPTER FOUR THAT evening, after having put the children to bed and then gone to her own apartment, Kathy wrote her letter to Bill and, putting it ready to take downstairs, where she would place it on the hallstand ready for the postman to collect it in the morning along with Adam's letters, she showered and changed into the dress her father had bought her the previous Christmas, for a present. It had almost caused a quarrel, Natalie declaring it had cost at least twice as much money as the present George had given to Carla. Kathy, in tears, had taken the lovely evening gown to her room, not daring to wear it for dinner in case there was more trouble. She had brought it with her on the cruise, and it had arrived at the villa almost a week ago, along with the rest of her clothes, which had been sent from the ship on Adam's instructions. Standing before the mirror to take one final look at herself before going down to join her employer in the dining-room, Kathy became fascinated with the picture she saw. 'I look so different,' she murmured in some wonderment. 'And I'm sure it isn't entirely the dress.' It must be the freedom from anxiety, she decided. The bloom had returned to her cheeks, the sparkle to her eyes. Her hair shone with health, springing on to her bare, sun-tanned shoulders. The dress was really superb and flattering to her slender figure. Of peach and white heavy crepe, with a very full skirt and backless top held up by plaited shoulder straps of the same material, it was a model of supreme perfection. At her throat she wore a double string of pearls, that had belonged to her mother—a family heirloom on which Natalie had not managed to get her greedy hands. On her wrist Kathy wore a plain gold bracelet, a present from her father on her seventeenth birthday. No other adornment, and yet Kathy felt like a lady of noble lineage as

she went from her room and descended the wide staircase into the hall of the villa, the letter in her hand. She was about halfway down when .a door opened and Adam, superlatively dressed in a light grey linen suit and white shirt, came from the room and, hearing the tread on the stairs, turned his head ... then stopped abruptly to stare up at her. There was a tense silence as she herself came to a halt on the bottom stair. She looked into eyes dark and incredulous ... eyes that admired even while they roamed. Kathy swallowed saliva collecting at the back of her tongue; her senses tingled, affected in some strange way she could not even begin to understand. 'Miss Lindon ... you look charming.' Slow and quiet the words, as if they were drawn from him unwillingly. 'Your dress is most becoming.' He was himself at once, cool, collected, confident. 'Thank you, Mr Kanaris,' she murmured shyly. 'It's—it's very kind— kind of you to say s-so.' Sudden amusement transformed his features; it was as if he were diverted by her lack of composure. However, there was the customary edge of impersonal informality to his voice as he said, 'I believe dinner will be delayed for a quarter of an hour or so, owing to some sort of setback in the kitchen. So perhaps you'd like to have a drink first?' The offer being so unexpected, she stared at him in surprise, stared into his carved bronzed features, then met his gaze. His eyes were intense, all-examining; Kathy felt her heartbeats quicken, and the blood seemed to race through her veins. A warmth enveloped her, and she was caught on a tide of excitement which flowed through her

whole being like some heady wine. It was on little breathless accents that she answered him, shyly, and with her beautiful eyes downcast. 'Yes—that would be nice. Th-thank you, Mr Kanaris.' 'We might as well go out on to the patio. What would you like?' She told him, then placed her letter on the table. He glanced at it, noting the name and address on the envelope. 'It's for the postman tomorrow morning,' she explained. Adam nodded, then stood aside, waving a hand to indicate the wide open window which ran at right angles to the front door, and through which he wanted her to pass. 'I'll bring out the drinks directly,' he said, before turning into the dining-room. Kathy stepped through the french window and stood staring across the gardens to the sandy shore and the sea beyond. The sun was setting in a pearl-blue sky, showering the wavelets with fiery crimson so that they took on the aspect of a molten lava flow as they advanced gently towards the shore. Adam came out carrying two glasses, and as she turned her head he stopped, in the same way he had stopped on seeing her coming down the stairs a few moments ago. In the subdued amber light from a lamp hung from a flowerdraped pillar she saw the expression on his face—and wondered greatly at it. For there was a frown between his eyes even while the eyes themselves were filled with admiration. She half-turned from his direct stare and he saw her in exquisite profile, her delicatelymodelled features reminding him of a lovely Greek kore. 'Your drink.' His voice was abrupt, almost curt, his manner that of the employer, cool and polite, no more. 'Thank you, Mr Kanaris.' She came around again, and sat down, vitally aware of him in a way that was entirely new to her and she felt

bewildered, and more than ever unsure of herself. She thought of her stepsister and the confidence she possessed when in the company of the opposite sex. She had never been tongue-tied, nor had she blushed or stammered, or averted her eyes when spoken to by a man. She had laughed at Kathy's diffidence, laughed with derision and contempt. 'Tell me,' said Adam after a short silence, 'are you quite happy in your job?' She looked at him, unable to decide whether he were speaking just for something to say, or whether he really was anxious to know if she were happy and content. 'I love it,' she answered with a smile. 'I still can't believe in my good fortune. I -' As before when she had wanted to thank him she was silenced by a gesture of his hand. 'The children are manageable, then?' he said, totally bypassing her words. 'Miss Haldene sometimes has a complaint about Lucy's behaviour.' 'She never gives me any trouble.' 'If she ever does, then you must tell me.' Adam paused, moving the liquid around in his glass, allowing it to catch the light. 'I want you to stay until the children leave to return to their own home.' She looked swiftly at him, frowning slightly, for there still appeared to be a tinge of anxiety in his tone, anxiety as to whether she was perfectly settled here, in his home. 'I shall not leave until you ask me to,' she told him seriously. 'As you know, I've no home or job to go back to.' It was Adam's turn to frown.

'That is very bad.' He leant back in his chair and surveyed her for a space. 'Tell me some more about that business. I'm afraid that at the time you were speaking of it I was more concerned by something else.' Automatically she nodded her head, recalling her own impression that he was preoccupied, his mind absorbed by some private meditations which occupied it to the exclusion of all else. 'You mean tell you about my stepmother?' 'I'm interested to know how she can rob you of what is rightly yours. In my country this could not possibly happen. And I'm not convinced it can happen in yours. I know of several English people who could proffer advice.' He stopped, waiting for her to repeat the story she had previously related to him. As she progressed she saw his expression change several times, and once or twice he frowned, or shook his head. By the time Kathy had finished speaking his mouth was tight and his eyes burning with wrath. She shivered, aware of a chill creeping along her spine. From the moment of meeting him she had known he could be stern, and even ruthless. Now she felt he would be a most formidable enemy for anyone to make. 'This property, then, had been in your mother's family for many years?' When at length he spoke his voice was harsh-edged and taut. 'Yes; it was originally a much smaller house, which my grandfather renovated and enlarged.' She paused, her soft eyes pensive and sad. 'It's very lovely, Mr Kanaris. I wish you could see it.' Adam had been staring into his glass, but now he transferred his gaze to Kathy.

'I'm sure it is lovely,' he agreed. 'From your description I see a home similar to that of one of my friends, a Mr Leonard Avery who lives in the Cotswolds.' 'You've been to England, then?' 'Of course; many times.' A warm smile lit her eyes. 'Do you like it, Mr Kanaris?' 'Very much.' He put his glass to his mouth and drank. 'Yes,' he said musingly, 'we shall have to see what can be done about that house of yours.' Draining his glass, he leant forward to place it on the table. 'Here in Greece property of that nature is inherited through the female line, because of course we still have the dowry system.' 'Yes, I believe so.' She had been amazed when Grace Haldene told her about this practice. It seemed incredible that couples still allowed their parents to arrange their marriages, having long discussions before as to the dowry. But although the girl brought a house and money to the man she married, this property remained hers, and was later passed on to her daughter to be given once again as a dowry. 'It's a most strange custom,' added Kathy when Adam did not speak. 'One day it'll die out. In the big cities, where girls are now finding their own feet by working in offices and shops, there is a slow change coming about. Couples meet as equals; they fall in love—and this is a good thing.' Her eyelids flickered. 'You don't believe that marriages should be arranged?'

'I do not,' he replied firmly, and changed the subject, reverting to the matter of Kathy's lost inheritance, reiterating his amazement at the injustice which had occurred. 'One of my friends has recently married into an English family who have studied law, both his wife and her two brothers being solicitors, so if there's any chance at all of your regaining what is rightfully yours, they will know how this might be done.' 'It's very kind of you to take the trouble, Mr Kanaris.' 'Not at all. I deplore injustice, and if I can be of assistance in putting right a wrong then that alone will be payment for any trouble I might have been put to in the meantime' Kathy looked gratefully at him. His words were encouraging, as she knew without any doubt at all that he was not speaking idly, knew he was the kind of man who would waste no unnecessary time in suiting action to the promise he had made. A little sigh of contentment escaped her as she leant back comfortably and allowed her pensive gaze to wander towards the far end of the deeply-indented bay where shadows were being woven among the hills before the sun dropped into the sea. She knew a sense of freedom from all anxiety regarding her future, experienced a deep access of peace which seemed limitless both in time and space, as if she would never again be troubled by uncertainty or fear. And as she turned from the immensities of sun-hazed sky and boundless sea, to look at the man in whose presence she sat, she warmed to him, imbued with a profound sense of obligation for all he was doing for her, a stranger whose acquaintance he had made so short a time ago. As if he himself experienced something entirely new, Adam suddenly became alert, looking sharply at her, as if expecting to see something in her expression which would provide a marker with which to solve his sudden puzzlement. But her beautiful face was serene, and a tranquil smile hovered about her lips. The silence

between them became a strange, unfathomable hush, intruded into only by the shrill chirping of cicadas and the rather forlorn braying of a donkey on the lonely darkening hillside. Kathy stirred uneasily, wishing for the appearance of Lakis or his smiling wife to inform them that dinner was now ready to be served. And as if in answer to her wish Lakis did appear, and within a couple of minutes or so Kathy was seated opposite to her employer, enjoying the starter of chicken and orange kebabs. 'That was delicious,' she declared appreciatively, a smile curving her lips. Adam poured her some wine, topping up her glass even though she had taken little more than a few sips. 'Soon,' he said, 'we shall have company.' 'Company?' 'My cousin is coming to live with me.' His jaw was flexed, his eyes frowning. Kathy detected a note of anger in his voice which he had not intended to reveal; she also suspected that the visible indications of anger were also unintentional. Her thoughts gyrated from the idea that he did not particularly like this cousin, to the query as to why in that case he should have him in his home, and then to the rather depressing suspicion that the atmosphere would change and that Adam as she knew him now would be no more. Added to this was the realization that there would be no more of these pleasant dinners, which she enjoyed taking alone with Adam despite the fact of her own lack of confidence. 'When is he coming?' Kathy had to put the question even at the risk of his considering her presumptuous. 'My cousin's a female. Her name is Stella.'

A female... A strange tremor of uneasiness entering into her, Kathy found that her voice was constrained as she asked if this cousin would be living at the villa permanently. It was not until the question was out that she was struck by the idea that it was rather strange for her employer to be speaking to her in so intimate a manner. Gone altogether was the cool impersonal formality which he had adopted towards her right from the start. He looked at her with an odd expression, pausing before answering her question. 'That depends....' he murmured at last, still gazing at her with disconcerting intentness. 'Yes ... it depends.' 'Depends on what?' Kathy asked, her gaze fixed on his tense unsmiling face. 'On the success of a plan I have.' Unmistakably there was a thread of ice running through his finely-timbred voice. 'We shall discuss that plan later.' 'Discuss the plan?' she broke in, astounded at the idea of his discussing anything with her, the shy and diffident English girl whom he had engaged as nanny to his nieces. But instantly on this there intruded the recollection of his implying that he and she might eventually be equally indebted to one another. 'Yes, but meanwhile we shall concern ourselves with this excellent food which my servants have prepared for us.' His tones were now smooth and light, his manner casual as, having finished his kebabs, he placed his knife and fork down on his plate. 'You see, when someone has spent time and trouble in order to oblige another person then it's imperative that these efforts are appreciated. To allow our food to go cold would be an insult to Lakis and his wife.'

'Of course...' Kathy's mind was still occupied by his recent declaration that they would later discuss some plan he had in mind. What that plan was she could not even guess, and, deciding it was totally unprofitable for her to dwell on the matter, she resolved to enjoy the meal. This she did, and when it was over Adam ordered their coffee and liqueurs to be taken out to the patio. 'Come, Miss Lindon,' he said, the shade of a smile on his lips. 'The air's cool and fresh outside, and yet it is warm. You won't require a wrap.' Curious to learn what he was intending to tell her, Kathy promptly made her way to the patio and sat down on the chair drawn out for her by Adam. He remained silent, his eyes directed towards the sea. The great shade had fallen over the island, but the majestic moon, full and incredibly large, hovered over the sea, producing an aspect of unreal grandeur to the dark and tranquil waters of the Aegean. 'It's all rather wonderful,' Kathy just had to say, in order to break the silence which had fallen between Adam and herself as they waited for Lakis to come along with the tray. 'You appear to be very settled?' Kathy managed a smile, but his words had brought to her mind the thought that all this was temporary and that within six months she could be back in England, with this idyllic island no more than a memory which would fade with the passing of time. 'I'm settled in my job, of course,' she told him on a serious note, 'but I'm conscious all the time that the post is not permanent.' Adam said nothing; he turned his head as Lakis appeared, stepping through the french window, both the tray and the liqueurs gleaming as they caught the light from the lantern hanging from the ornate

wrought-iron bracket attached to the wall of the villa. Lakis was smiling and, like his wife, he sported several gold fillings. He spoke in Greek to Adam as he placed the contents of the tray on the table. 'Ejharisto,' said Adam quietly. 'Thelete tipote alo,kirie?' Adam shook his head. 'Afto ine olo, ejharisto. That is all, thank you,' he added in English, for Kathy's benefit, and she guessed at once that the servant had asked Adam if there was anything else he required. Immediately her coffee was in front of her Adam spoke, saying without preamble, 'I have something most important to ask you, Miss Lindon -He stopped and the trace of a smile softened the hard outline of his mouth. 'I shall call you Kathy from now on.' 'Oh ...' Soft colour fused her cheeks, delicately. The way he had pronounced her name, with that hint of an accent which she always found so attractive, made it sound like a gentle caress. 'This—this important th-thing you have to say to me ...?' She looked inquiringly at him, aware that her pulses had quickened. 'I have a plan in mind, as I have already implied.' So cool the tone, so unemotional, and yet Kathy's instinct told her that this was to be a momentous occasion which would be remembered all her life. 'I shall require your full support in the carrying out of this plan.' Kathy opened her eyes wide at him.

'You will?' she echoed in some alarm. Her cup had been half-way to her mouth; now it was poised and she stared at him from over its gold-edged rim. Adam nodded his head—in the most casual manner, she thought. 'It is necessary for you to become engaged to me,' he said. Kathy jumped, spilling the coffee on to the front of her lovely dress. With an exclamation of concern uttered in Greek, Adam was on his feet, bringing his handkerchief into action immediately Kathy had returned the cup to its saucer. 'I'm sorry—it was all my fault.' He was dabbing at the front of her dress ... at the soft and tender outline of one firm small breast. He appeared unconscious of this intimacy, but to Kathy his touch was like an electric shock reverberating through her whole body. Instinctively she edged back, but Adam, continuing in his efforts, only dabbed harder. The colour rose in Kathy's cheeks, and the blood quickened in her veins. Passing through her was a light and urgent sensation, a quivering excitement which left her breathless and bewildered. Her body quivered with a sort of exquisite fear, and she raised her lovely eyes to Adam's face. The hand holding the handkerchief became idle for a brief space as Adam's eyes met hers; she saw a nerve twitch at the side of his throat; she thought his lips moved convulsively, but she could not be sure. 'It's—it's all r-right now,' she faltered, hoping he would not resume his attempts to remove the stain. 'Yes, I believe it is,' he responded in a voice devoid of expression. 'However, your dress will need dry- cleaning. Have it done and pass the bill to me.' 'Oh, no!' she protested. 'It wasn't your fault!'

'I say it was.' So soft the tone, yet imperious and challenging. Kathy knew at once that she must not argue with him. 'Shall I change?' she murmured, desperately wanting to get away for a moment or two, in order to regain her composure. For she was trembling inside, all her nerves tingling as again that sensation of exquisite fear ran through her. Bewildered, she could not at present even begin to analyse her feelings, or try to discover a reason for her present state of excitement. But she did know that she wanted to move—and to keep moving for a space, for to sit still was too much of an effort. 'If you will feel more comfortable then change by all means,' said Adam, a slight smile touching his lips. 'Don't be long, though; we have much to talk about.' Picking up his glass, he turned it in his hand, absently studying the movement of the liquid as he did so. Kathy rose from her chair, murmured an 'excuse me' and left him. Once in her bedroom she closed the door and stood against it, her pulses fluttering, her whole mind and body affected by the happening of a few moments ago. First, Adam's calm assertion that it was necessary for her to become engaged to him, and secondly, her own reaction to the touch of his hand on her body. What was happening to her? Why this agitation within her, this stirring of a new experience, the excitement of an impending adventure? So affected had she been by his touch as he dried her dress that the vital words which had caused it all were temporarily forgotten, fleeing from her mind before the tumult brought about by the nearness of him. She recalled how close his face came to hers; she could still feel the cool freshness of his breath on her cheek. But now she dwelt upon those words, and they suddenly took on a tantalizing aspect which made her impatient to hear more. Moving swiftly towards the wardrobe, Kathy took out a charming blue-green dress and, slipping the other off, she put it over her head. As with the one she had discarded, it would have made her

noticeable even without all her other attributes. But her exquisite figure, the grace with which she walked, the lovely hair and sparkling grey eyes ... all these served to intensify the supreme attraction that was hers. Yet she was completely unaffected, retaining her childlike artlessness where her physical attractions were concerned. Taking a brush, she quickly put her hair to rights, then, picking up the little evening bag containing her handkerchief and a comb, she crossed to the door and, opening it, passed through and descended the stairs. Adam rose from his chair on hearing her approach, and a slight smile touched his lips as she passed in front of him to resume possession of the chair she had just a short while ago vacated. 'Feel better?' inquired Adam conversationally, and she nodded her head. Adam's eyes were on her; she blushed at his intense examination. What was he thinking? Perhaps he was remembering the way he had touched her... Kathy averted her head, too embarrassed by her thoughts to face that cool unsmiling scrutiny. 'Yes, much better, thank you,' she murmured awkwardly. 'I ought not to have sprung it on you like that,' he apologized. 'It came as a shock, naturally.' After a moment she managed to raise her eyes. 'You meant it, though?' 'I never waste time saying things I don't mean.' 'I can't marry you,' she said, marvelling at the steadiness of her tones. 'I haven't asked you to marry me.'

Kathy's eyes widened. 'I don't understand, Mr Kanaris?' 'The engagement's to be a sham—a temporary arrangement -' 'To suit your plan?' The interruption came from some source she could not suppress. To her relief Adam merely smiled and said, with a sort of teasing satire which naturally astounded her—coming as it did from a man who so rarely betrayed any sort of emotion, 'Yes, indeed, to suit my plan.' She said pleadingly, 'If you will explain, Mr Kanaris?' 'I mean to explain,' he said, 'but not everything. It is sufficient that you are given a certain amount of knowledge concerning this plan of mine.' He paused a moment, as if mentally debating just how much he would tell her. 'You will perhaps have gathered that I do not want this cousin of mine to remain with me for very long—in fact,' he added on a grim note, 'it would suit me if she did not come at all.' 'Then why,' inquired Kathy in a bewildered voice, 'are you allowing her to come?' 'Because I have no choice. Her father—my uncle— once saved my sister's life. I asked him what I could do in return, and it was then that he extracted from me the promise that, should his daughter ever be without a home, I would have her to live with me until she herself decided to leave. Once she had left of her own accord, I was absolved from all responsibility regarding her welfare.' Adam's voice was taut, his hand clenched so tightly that the knucklebones shone through the deep bronze of the skin.

'I still don't understand,' said Kathy apologetically when, a long time having elapsed, it seemed he was not intending to tell her more. 'Will your engagement to me make her leave?' she added doubtfully. 'Stella has no need to come to me; she has more than enough money to buy herself a house. She is coming only because she hopes that she and I would marry.' A deep hush descended at his words. He appeared to be so tight with anger that Kathy was reluctant to speak, for fear of bringing down some of that anger upon her own head. If she knew just what to say it would be all right, but she was very much afraid that if she so much as opened her mouth she would in fact say the wrong thing. However, as once again the silence stretched out so long that she became uncomfortable, Kathy ventured to say, 'You are expecting that our engagement will embarrass her, and so she will go away again?' 'I am hoping this, yes.' 'Has she been without a home long? I mean—why hasn't she come to you before?' 'She was living in her husband's home until a month ago.' 'She's married already?' said Kathy, startled. 'Then how -?' 'Her husband died just over a year ago. She was allowed to remain in the family home for twelve months after his death and then, by the terms of a will made by his father, she had to hand it over to a younger son and buy herself a new home from the money which her husband left her. Had she had a son then of course the house would have gone to him, and Stella could have remained in it until he came

of age. But under this will of her father-in-law's the house must stay in the family.' Kathy was shaking her head in bewilderment. 'What makes you think she wants to marry you? Surely, if her husband's been dead only a year, she won't have got over it, even, let alone be thinking of marrying again?' Disbelief edged her voice, and her eyes were staring into his uncomprehendingly. 'It doesn't make sense to me.' 'To you, Kathy, no, it wouldn't—but then you are not Stella. I can assure you that Stella's objective in insisting I keep my promise to her father is solely so that she and I shall be constantly thrown together.' He turned away suddenly; she knew the action was prompted by a desire to conceal his expression from her. 'There's a lot more to it than what you've told me, isn't there?' she said impulsively, aware, too late, that she had spoken her thoughts aloud. Adam turned again, and now there was a sternness on his face which she had never seen before. 'You know enough to understand the situation,' he almost snapped. 'I've no intention of imparting information to you which is unnecessary for your grasping of the plan I have in mind. You and I shall act as if we're very much in love; this, I feel, will prove to Stella that I have no desire to marry her—and she'll leave my home.' 'Act as if—as if we're—in love?' faltered Kathy, quite unable to imagine any demonstrative behaviour on her part. 'I can't -' 'I shall not make it too difficult for you, my dear.' Adam's voice had softened, and an understanding light had entered his eyes. 'You have nothing to fear,' he continued, determined to reassure her. 'It will all be a sham—like the engagement itself.'

'I wish you would tell me more,' she began, then stopped, unwilling to hear that sternness enter his voice again. 'It's unnecessary, as I've already said.' He paused a moment, looking at her. 'I notice that you haven't refused my request,' he added, a curious inflection in his voice. 'No ... I haven't, have I?' she said in some wonderment. It had never entered her head to refuse, and the admission astounded her. It was clear now that, almost from the first, the idea to use her had been with him. This knowledge in no way lessened her high opinion of him. He had done so much for her, had shown her nothing but kindness, and she was obliged to acknowledge that she owed him something in return. 'It's a very strange request,' she had to point out. I don't know if I can carry off the role successfully. For instance, what will Miss Haldene have to say?' At the mention of the governess Adam's straight black brows rose arrogantly. 'And what,' he inquired with brittle hauteur, 'has it to do with her?' Put out of countenance by this high-handedness, Kathy averted her head, aware of the colour rising in her cheeks. 'Well ... nothing, I suppose.' She glanced up at length, into a hard proud face. Her glass was there in front of her and she picked it up, sipping her liqueur. 'I shouldn't have said it.' 'You should not.' 'I'm sorry.'

Adam said nothing and Kathy allowed her thoughts to wander to the time ahead, and she endeavoured to see any adverse consequences of her action in agreeing to Adam's request. But at length she gave up. There was no precedent for the situation and therefore the creation of a picture was impossible. As to whether or not she would agree to Adam's request—well, she was confronted either with acceptance or a return to that shattering sense of insecurity with which she had been stricken when first deciding to take the cruise. For she was sure that, should she refuse his request, Adam would be so disappointed in her that he would wash his hands of her completely, in which case she would not only lose her job, but also the possibility of his helping her to salvage something from the wreck of her lost property. He was speaking, asking if she had made up her mind about, obliging him. She would have liked to make one further attempt to extract a little more information from him, but one glance at his inexorable expression warned her to abandon any ideas of doing so. As he continued to meet her gaze his eyes softened and his mouth relaxed its tightness. Kathy warmed to him suddenly, aware of a quiver of something exceedingly pleasant passing through her. She knew at once that her chief desire was to please him. He waited, very still and silent, for her to speak. 'Yes,' she murmured with a sweet but hesitant smile, 'I'm willing to become engaged to you.' She heard his quick intake of breath and was content. She was helping him; she desired nothing more than the satisfaction of knowing she was doing him a service. 'Thank you, Kathy,' he said after a small pause. 'You have helped me more than you realize.'

A spontaneous smile touched her lips and brought a sparkle to her eyes. Adam looked at her with an odd expression, his eyes riveting themselves on her beautiful face. They moved, to her shoulders, and lower, to the tender curves displayed there. Kathy glanced away, to the enormous silver moon which now hung over the hills at the end of the bay. She had already learned that the Grecian moonlight had a strange unfathomable quality found nowhere else in the world; it was positive, faintly disturbing in its intensity. It reminded Kathy of sunlight gone cold. And yet the air was warm, and inexpressibly soft and sweetly perfumed by the flowers in the garden whose scents were wafted gently towards the patio by the zephyr of a breeze blowing inshore from a sea spangled with starlight. A deep silence hung over the land, a silence faintly disturbing in its intensity. But soon Adam was speaking and Kathy turned her face towards him, deriving a strange access of pleasure from the mere act of looking into his strong noble features. He was so very attractive, and arresting. 'There are still one or two points on which you must be clear, Kathy,' he said. 'For one thing, you must now call me Adam -' He broke off, the corners of his mouth twitching in a smile; he seemed amused by the startled look she gave him, and he showed no surprise when she protested that to call him by his Christian name would be most difficult. 'Because you're my employer, you see,' she added, but a little lamely because she realized full well that she must do as he said. 'Nonsense!' And that was all on this subject as far as he was concerned. The next thing he spoke of was the ring. What kind did she prefer? Bewilderedly she shook her head. He was travelling far too quickly for her, she thought helplessly. 'I don't know ... anything will do.'

'Nonsense,' he said again. 'You must have a ring befitting your position as my fiancée.' 'Can we leave it until tomorrow?' she begged and, seeing her expression, he nodded and said, rather gently, 'Of course we can. But I want you to be wearing it when my cousin arrives, so it must be bought fairly soon.' 'Yes, I understand.' 'Lastly—I must again stress the importance of your acting as if you are very much in love with me -' 'Oh, but I can't!' she was swift to protest. 'How can I?' For the first time she saw a trace of mockery in his eyes. 'I have found, in my experience of women, that they are experts at pretence.' Forgetting that he was her employer, Kathy frowned darkly at him and said severely, 'You have no right to be so critical of my sex! Nor should you take it for granted that I am the same as all other women! Indeed I am not! I have my own personality, which includes my ideals. My father taught me to be honest, and never practise deceit or speciousness -' 'Most commendable,' interrupted Adam a trifle impatiently. 'I am not classing you with the rest, but I feel quite sure you can act the part without much difficulty -' 'How can I pretend to love you, Mr—Mr -' She broke off and again she frowned at him. 'Adam!' she almost snapped, and to her amazement he burst out laughing.

'What a diverting child you are,' he murmured after a small moment of silence during which he seemed to be endeavouring to infect her with his laughter. 'I'm sure I shall be pleased with you.' She said, as the thought occurred to her, 'And you—you will always remember to act as if you love me?'' 'But of course,' was his mild rejoinder. 'It's most important that I should.' She continued to look into his face, dwelling on what he had just said. To have him pretending he loved her.... How strange it would prove to be. And vet ... she knew a sense of anticipation, once again expectant, excited by the idea of a new adventure. Adam was intently watching her and she smiled at him. The night was silent again; its deep peace seemed to reign over them both. Adam smiled briefly, and she knew instinctively that he too was affected by the atmosphere around them. 'It's time we went inside,' he said at length. 'And as for you -' He had risen to his feet as he spoke and now he looked down into her beautiful face. 'You're tired, child. Off you go to bed.' 'Good night,' she said the moment they were inside the villa. 'Good night, Kathy. Sleep well.' 'I hope I shall,' she returned ruefully, 'but I have so much on my mind...'

CHAPTER FIVE THE sunlight, dimmed a little by the curtains, woke Kathy from a deep and restful sleep. She blinked but did not open her eyes wide; she was content to remain in that thoroughly pleasant state between slumber and wakefulness. Gradually, though, her mind transmitted to her consciousness the scene of the previous evening, and a sense of expectation swept through her as she lay, her cheek against the snowwhite pillow, her slender young body stretched out luxuriously beneath the bed covers. Adam's fiancée.... It was only a pose, and so why should this sensation of sheer happiness be taking possession of her? Perhaps it was nothing to do with the 'engagement', but merely the sense of security she was experiencing after the desolation of learning she was without a home. Raising herself, she looked at the little silver-gilt bedside clock. Not yet six o'clock.... Lying down again, she tried to doze, but realizing sleep was to elude, her she slid out of bed and moved across the room, drawing back the curtains and pushing open the window. The thread-like remains of a sea-mist were rapidly dispersed by the heat of the sun; in the grounds of the villa two men were working— Adam's gardeners. Kathy watched them for a moment before transferring her gaze once more to the sea; its waters, limpid and calm, were tinted by the transient, breathtaking colours of early morning sunlight. The hillsides forming the spur that struck out at the end of the bay were hung over by a golden haze, while the sandy bay itself lay placidly unoccupied by any living thing. The whole scene became a draw, a tempting inducement for her to go forth and revel in the joys of nature. Swiftly taking a shower and donning some clothes, she went downstairs and out into the garden. The two men, Argyris and

Kleanthes, stopped work to watch her progress along the gravel path flanking the lawn, smiling at her as she passed. Leaving the garden, she made her way to the shore, inhaling the heady morning air and, as ever, filled with wonderment that she should be here at all. However, intruding into her contentment was the sustained sadness of her father's death. She knew the thought of him would be with her for a long while yet, causing her deep pain and regret that he, like her mother, had been taken so early in life. She walked on, to the edge of the sea where the gentle sway of ,water lapped the shore. The sun, gracefully ascending in a symphony of colour, emphasized the magnitude of sea and sky, the distant line of the horizon, and the loveliness and grandeur of it all. A deep silence enveloped the landscape; Kathy felt she had the whole world to herself. Walking back towards the villa half an hour later, she discerned a figure in the sea. Adam—she knew instinctively that it was he. Unconsciously her pace increased as she saw him swimming strongly towards the shore; she and he would make a certain point at the same moment. His unsmiling face was turned towards her as she came up to him, seconds after he had stepped on to the shore. 'I've been for a stroll,' she vouchsafed shyly. 'It was too beautiful a morning to stay in bed.' Adam's dark eyes flickered over her appreciatively. 'You're very fond of the open spaces, it would seem?' 'I've always liked the outdoors.' She glanced around. 'It's so different on Skiathos,' she said.

'Different?' 'The island's green. We called at several islands before coming to this one, and except for Corfu none was as green as Skiathos. Just look, you have grass growing beneath the trees in the orchards. On most Greek islands the earth is always bare and sandy.' 'One of the great advantages we have over other islands is our adequate supply of water.' Adam stooped to take up a towel he had previously placed on the sands. 'Water, remember, is always one of the most important factors influencing the vegetation of a place. Without water you can't have growth; here on Skiathos —which, incidentally, is called the "green island"— we have thickly-wooded hills, as you have already seen, and the main livelihood of the local community is olives and always has been.' 'Not fishing?' she queried with interest. 'I thought all Greek islanders derived some part of their living from the sea.' 'You could have said fishing once did help, also the building of caiques, those picturesque little boats you see all around the harbour. But now of course tourism is becoming important.' Adam was rubbing himself down with brisk and rhythmic movements and for a moment Kathy watched him, lost in the thought that, one day, Skiathos might become another Rhodes or Mykonos. 'It would be a shame if Skiathos was spoiled,' she murmured presently, and at the genuine regret in her tone Adam stopped towelling himself and looked curiously at her. 'It won't trouble you,' he pointed out. 'You won't be here.' 'No ... but I don't like to think about it becoming so popular that it would be filled with hotels, and so become overcrowded.'

Adam seemed to give a small sigh. 'It's possible, especially as we have seventy beaches and caves round our island, and practically all of them provide safe bathing.' 'Seventy! But Skiathos is only a small island!' 'It has a very indented coastline, though. And added to the attraction is the fact of these lovely sandy bays being cut off from one another by steep and rocky headlands.' He flung the towel over one shoulder and made ready to return to the villa. Automatically Kathy moved towards him and together they began strolling along the shore towards the green, thickly wooded slope occupied by the villa and the beautiful gardens which surrounded it. 'You must tell me about the ring,' Adam reminded her when at length they were on the terrace. 'I shall be flying to Athens today and so shall be able to get it.' She had decided on a diamond and ruby ring, because that was what her mother had had—and which had disappeared immediately on her father's death. Natalie had confiscated it from Kathy's room before Kathy could even suspect her of such mercenary behaviour. After telling Adam what she would like, Kathy had to add, in an apologetic tone of voice, 'It might be too expensive, though, because I know my mother's was. If you think it's going to cost too much -' 'Don't worry, my child,' broke in Adam with a lift of his hand. 'A diamond and ruby ring it shall be.' Two hours later, with the children washed, dressed and fed, Kathy was having an hour with them in the garden before their lessons began at ten o'clock.

'I want to go and explore one of the pools,' said Lucy, glancing up hopefully at Kathy. 'I know you're going to say we haven't enough time, but -' 'That's exactly what I'm going to say,' returned Kathy instantly. 'We can't have you late for your lessons.' 'I don't care if we are!' 'You wouldn't,' from Jennifer primly. 'I want to be early, though, because it's Nature Study and I want to show Miss Haldene the shells I found the day before yesterday.' 'You like being her favourite! She doesn't like me,' went on Lucy in a confiding voice, her big blue eyes raised to those of Kathy. 'She won't let me chew my pencil, but I always chewed it at my school in England.' 'It's a dirty habit—that's what Miss Haldene says.' Jennifer, as usual looking rather superior, also glanced up into Kathy's face. And a smile broke suddenly and Jennifer reached to tuck her hand into that of Kathy. 'Lucy's only young, isn't she?—and that's why she has these peculiar ways.' Kathy had to laugh. 'Where did you hear that expression?' she wanted to know, and was told by Jennifer that Miss Haldene had said Lucy had the most peculiar ways imaginable. 'Do you think I've got peculiar ways?' asked Lucy, the indignation in her voice counterbalanced by the gleam of fun in her eyes. Unwilling to say anything which might cause Miss Haldene annoyance—should it get back to her—Kathy temporized by saying that she, personally, had not known Lucy long enough to be able to

pass an opinion. To her astonishment Jennifer said with a sudden grin, 'You're being tactful, aren't you, Miss Lindon?' 'I expect I am,' admitted Kathy after a pause during which the question had struck her as to how these children were going to react to her engagement to their uncle. Both being so highly intelligent, it was possible that they could be a little puzzled by the suddenness of it all. But when, after the children had been taken to the classroom by their governess, Kathy broached this subject to Adam, he passed it off lightly, assuring Kathy that his nieces would be more excited than curious. 'It's been very clear to me from the first that they have a great liking for you,' he added with a slow smile, 'and in consequence I've no doubt at all that they'll be more vitally interested in the idea of having you for an aunt than anything else.' Kathy frowned at this, saying, as the thought occurred to her, 'Will they still call me Miss Lindon?' Adam lifted one eyebrow a fraction. 'They'll call you Aunt Kathy.' Again she frowned. 'But I'm not their aunt yet -' She broke off, blushing hotly in her confusion. The fact that Adam was regarding her in some considerable amusement did not help in the least. 'What I meant was, I never shall be their aunt, so it seems wrong to let them call me that.' 'They .don't know you're not going to marry me,' began Adam, when Kathy interrupted him.

'It's unfair to them, Mr—I mean—Adam. As you say, they like me and will be happy at the idea of my becoming their aunt. To break off our engagement -' Kathy's voice trailed away to silence as she creased her forehead in thought. 'I expect that's what you have in mind?' she added at last, looking inquiringly at him. 'Something of the sort.' He shrugged his shoulders as if the matter were of little or no importance at the present time. 'We'll cross our bridges as we come to them, shall we?' Kathy was shaking her head, an automatic gesture rather than a negative one. 'I shall hate_ to cause them unhappiness, Adam,' she said in a troubled voice. 'When I was a child I would have broken my heart over something like this.' 'You would?' His dark eyes flickered strangely. He nodded slowly, and said with conviction, 'Yes, I believe you would.' And then his tone changed, becoming brisk. 'However, children today are not so vulnerable as that—especially these two. I can't foresee either of them being troubled overmuch by the breaking of our engagement.' Kathy had to be satisfied, accepting the opinion of her employer in this as in everything else. She could only hope that he was correct in his assumption that neither child would be hurt. 'What are you intending to do now?' he was asking, his quiet voice breaking into her thoughts. 'Nothing in particular. I might go into town for a walk around, or I might write a letter to my friend, just for something to do.' 'This friend ... he's the one you wrote to the other day?' 'Yes, that's right.'

Adam regarded her for a long moment. 'You have a boy-friend back home?' Kathy made no answer for a space. Adam had seen the envelope on her letter to Bill, had read the name and address, she recalled. 'Bill....' she murmured. 'Well, no, he isn't my boyfriend in that way. He's someone I met a short while before I came on the cruise. In fact,' she went on confidingly, 'it was Bill who advised me to take the cruise. I wasn't intending to do so, not with Father having only just died, but Bill thought it was the best thing for me to do in the circumstances—with my stepmother having told me to leave Manor Lodge within a fortnight.' Her voice caught a little at the end and, watching Adam's face, she saw his expression undergo a dramatic change, saw the thread of colour, denoting anger, rising at the side of his mouth. 'I shall dictate a letter to my secretary tomorrow, when I get to Athens. It will be sent off immediately to my lawyer friends in England.' 'Your secretary?' echoed Kathy, for the moment diverted. 'My office is in Athens,' was all he said before reverting to the question of how she was going to spend the next couple of hours until the children were released from the classroom by their governess. 'If you are really at a loose end, and are thinking of going into town to pass away the time, you could do me a favour.' 'Certainly I will,' was her eager response. 'Anything you want of me ...' She tailed off, slowly and rather uncomfortably, because he was smiling in some amusement, and when she sent him an inquiring glance he said, with a quizzical lift of his eyebrows,

'Anything, Kathy?' She coloured, but managed a shaky little laugh for all that. 'You're teasing me,' she accused, wonderment in her tone. 'Which is not very fair—or gentlemanly.' He became businesslike then, explaining what he wanted her to do for him. He had ordered a small painting from the art shop in Skiathos and, a few moments ago, he had received a telephone call telling him it .was ready for collection. 'It's a present for a friend of mine in Athens,' he went on, 'and I thought that if you happened to be going to town you could pick it up for me. It isn't heavy, nor is it very large.' 'I'll collect it,' she smiled, a surge of happiness welling up inside her at the idea of doing him a service. 'If I go at once I can catch the tentwenty bus into Skiathos.' Adam looked at her. 'You're quite sure you really want to go to town? If not, Kathy, it's quite all right. I will try to find time to collect it myself later today, so that I can take it with me tomorrow.' 'It isn't any trouble,' she said. 'I shall enjoy going into town; the harbour there fascinates me.' With most Greek islands the chief town was given the same name as the island itself, and Skiathos was no exception. The bus carried the name, written in Greek, on the front, and as she stepped on to the vehicle the driver turned to smile at her. She had seen him once before when she had gone into town, and it gave her a little access of pleasure that he had remembered her again.

The road following the shore, Kathy gazed from the window on to the shimmering turquoise sea where here and there could be seen the white spray of a speedboat or the bobbing head of a swimmer. One or two bright caiques floated lazily on the water, their owners fishing for the well-known synagrida or barbouni —sea bass and red mullet. Several islands, one with a lovely villa on it, lay close to the island of Skiathos, and Kathy, both romantically minded and with a most imaginative brain, wondered what it would be like to buy a tiny Greek island and build a house upon it. 'The bus rolled along and her thoughts switched to things Grace Haldene had told her about the early foreign settlers on the island. Little more than ten years ago it took a visitor twelve hours by boat from Kymi, or even longer via Chalkis. And on arrival at Skiathos there was no transport other than mule—or one could go from one lovely unspoiled bay to another by boat. 'There was a mule track,' Grace had said, 'and that went from Skiathos village to Koukounaris. This track is now the main road, which was built when it was realized that there were some people genuinely interested in building villas here. Mind you,' continued Grace, 'these first settlers took a great risk, for there was not much in the way of building materials here on the island, nor were there any experienced builders to speak of.' 'It must have been fun, though,' returned Kathy. 'It's the kind of thing that I would like to do.' Grace's eyes had opened wide. 'Do you know how these first people got to their building sites at Kanapitsa Bay?' Kathy shook her head, and Grace went on to tell her that these people would have to take an old fishing boat from Skiathos village, land on the beach at Kanapitsa, then scramble as best they could, up into the bushes of the pine- covered hillside.

'They then probably sat and wondered if that site they had bought would ever be occupied with the house of their dreams!' 'But now we have everything,' said Kathy, feeling it was a happy story—but also wondering whether more and more people would come now that there was a good road and an airport, plus one or two very superior hotels. On another occasion Grace had said a little about her employer, telling Kathy that he owned a villa outside Athens, and that he sometimes stayed there for a month or so. Bringing this to mind now as she sat on the bus, Kathy wondered how long Adam would stay this time. Not a month, she decided, nor even a week, simply because he had his cousin coming to stay with him here on Skiathos. Alighting from the bus at last, Kathy immediately began looking for the art shop, deciding to collect the picture first and then, if she had time, she could spend it in taking a stroll along the waterfront. Adam had described the shop as resembling an attractive old island home. It had the name Archipelago above the door and when presently Kathy entered she stood and gasped in surprise. For attractively set out as if being used as adornments to a home were beautiful works of art from all over Greece—jewellery from Yannina, famous for its exquisite workmanship, pottery from Mytilene, hand-forged copperware from Macedonia and beautiful kaftans from Trikkeri. 'Can I help you?' The voice, speaking in perfect English, brought Kathy round and she found herself looking into the face of one of her own people—or so she at first believed. 'You're English!' she exclaimed delightedly. 'Which part?' But the young lady was shaking her head.

'I'm from New Zealand,' she smiled, tossing back her long dark hair and automatically holding it with one hand. 'New Zealand?' repeated Kathy, responding to her smile. 'Just imagine your coming all that way—to work on this little Greek island.' 'Obviously you haven't been here very long,' returned the girl with a laugh. 'We have people from many far-flung places in the world living and working here.' Kathy merely nodded, then asked for Adam's painting. 'You telephoned this morning, to say it was ready,' she added. 'That's right.' The girl's expression changed; she stared at Kathy in some curiosity. 'You must be the young lady who's come to look after Mr Kanaris's two little nieces?' 'Yes, I am.' Kathy did not bother to inquire how she knew this; she had already learned that on so small an island everyone soon got to know everyone else's business. The girl had turned away, and within a few seconds the painting was produced. Kathy stared at it for a long moment, admiring the very clever way the artist had portrayed the smaller of the two harbours of Skiathos, with its row of shops and tavernas, the quay itself with the picturesque caiques moored to the side, and the nets hung out to dry. Dazzling white houses climbed the rolling hillsides, their red roofs contrasting with the dark-green foliage of pine trees or the silvergreen of the olive groves. 'You like it?' The girl's eyes moved from the painting to Kathy's interested face. 'It's most attractive, don't you think?'

'Yes, I do.' Her eyes darting to the bottom left-hand corner, she exclaimed in surprise, 'Paul Daley—it was painted by an Englishman!' 'Yes, that's right. Mr Daley lives here, on Skiathos. He rents a tiny villa up on the hillside above Troulos Bay. He came here to get away from it all, and tries to eke out a living from his paintings, which I sell for him if I can.' The girl began packing up the picture. 'This is the third one Mr Kanaris has bought, and it seems to me that he's trying to help Paul Daley, because if he doesn't earn enough he'll have to leave the island and return to England.' 'It's very kind of Mr Kanaris.' 'He has a reputation for kindness.' 'He has?' The girl nodded her head. 'He'll give assistance to anyone who really deserves it.' The girl took some string and put it round the parcel she had so neatly made. 'But if anyone crosses him I'm told he can be absolutely ruthless.' That much Kathy had already decided, and she was thinking about it long after she had left the art shop, the parcel tucked under her arm. Yes, she could sense a ruthlessness about Adam; it seemed to tie up with his air of superiority and the cool impersonal air he so often adopted, both with her and with Grace Haldene. 'But I think he's wonderful for all that,' whispered Kathy to herself as she took her stroll along the waterfront, revelling in the warmth of the sun as it caressed her bare arms and legs. A little side lane tempted and she turned into it; a mule with its owner sitting sidesaddle came clip-clopping towards her, the bell on its neck

providing music which contrasted with the whirr of cicadas drifting over the balmy air from a grove of orange trees on the other side of the lane. Glancing at her watch, Kathy turned and retraced her steps; reaching the waterfront again she stopped at the cafeneion and ordered herself a cup of coffee. The smiling Greek waiter brought it to her as she sat at a pavement table watching the people—natives and tourists— strolling up and down the paralia. Very old ladies clad in severe black looked strange beside bronzed young tourists wearing bikinis. At the table next to Kathy's a young Greek, clicking his worrybeads, would invariably allow his eyes to follow these young beau ties, but with equal interest his eyes would return to Kathy. He smiled at her from time to time, his expression half doubtful, half optimistic. He had ordered ouzo, which arrived with a meze of anchovies, cucumber, grilled octopus and tomatoes. He said 'Hello, you English?' as she rose to go. She smiled and nodded and passed on, hoping he would not follow her but rehearsing what she would say to him if he did. She must be able to convince him she had no interest in him, but at the same time she must not offend him in any way. Reaching the bus stop she turned her head. The young man was nowhere in sight. Adam was not about on her arrival back at the villa; in any case, she only just had time to deposit the painting on the hall table before the children came bounding from the schoolroom. 'Miss Haldene's going to have her lunch with us!' pouted Lucy, thumbing over her shoulder to the room from which she and her sister had just emerged. 'She's forgot her sandwiches, so she can't go into her little arbour where she usually goes—to get away from us for a while!' 'It's not forgot,' put in Jennifer mildly, 'it's forgotten.'

Her sister frowned darkly at her. 'How do you know?' she demanded belligerently. 'It's only what Miss Haldene says—and. she doesn't know everything!' 'If Miss Haldene says it's right then it's right,' from Kathy, seeing the glance of inquiry which Lucy shot at her. 'Come, you must wash your hands and faces ready for lunch.' A quarter of an hour later they were sitting at the table which had been laid on the patio, Grace explaining why she had deviated from her normal practice of taking her lunch in the peace and privacy of the little arbour. 'Yes,' returned Kathy, 'Lucy has already told me you had forgotten your sandwiches.' 'What have you been doing this morning?' Lucy wanted to know of Kathy. 'Ugh! I don't like this soup! It's got onions in it!' 'Eat it I' commanded Grace. 'Onions are good for you!' Kathy stared at her, a hint of anger rising at this high-handed way of taking over. During all out-of- school hours the children were in her charge, not that of the governess. However, unwilling to cause unpleasantness, Kathy let that go, but when Grace actually gave Lucy a slap for spilling a drop of her soup on the tablecloth it was too much even for Kathy's gentle and obliging nature. 'Please leave her to me,' she said. 'After all, the children are in my charge during their lunch break.' Grace shrugged her shoulders. 'No need to take it the wrong way,' she said shortly. 'You're so young, and it's also obvious that you're not very experienced regarding the

care of children. I don't know if you've had any previous experience ... ?' A question in the pause, but Kathy offered no information and Grace added at length, 'Lucy requires a firm hand, a good deal of discipline -' 'You don't like me, that's why I'm naughty with you! Miss Lindon likes me, so I'm good for her.' She gave Kathy a broad smile. 'You didn't tell me what you've been doing this morning, Miss Lindon?' 'I've been into town.' 'What for?' 'Your uncle asked me to collect something for him.' 'What was it?' 'You ask too many questions,' interposed Jennifer. 'Don't tell her, Miss Lindon.' 'Why not?' said Kathy, feeling sorry for Lucy, who seemed to have two against her and only one for her. 'It was a painting,' she added, smiling at the child. 'From the art shop?' It was Grace who spoke. 'Paul's, I expect?' 'Yes, that's right. Do you know Mr Daley?' 'Very well.' 'He's a very clever artist.' 'He must be good for Mr Kanaris to have taken an interest in him.' 'He's bought three paintings up till now.'

Grace nodded her head as if she already knew this. Kathy wondered how she came to know so much about Adam, because he was most reserved and much as the people of the island gossiped about others, Kathy was disinclined to believe that much was known about her employer's private life and activities. However, Grace did know a little, and as the conversation progressed from one small item to another Kathy learned that Adam was accustomed to working at home some of the time, in the study which adjoined his bedroom suite, and in Athens for about a week to ten days each month. 'He's off tomorrow, he tells me,' Grace went on. 'But he'll not be staying. Perhaps he's told you about his cousin coming to live here?' she added after a pause. 'Yes, he has told me,' responded Kathy, thinking of her impending engagement and wondering what this girl would have to say. Kathy hoped she would not be called upon to answer too many questions about her engagement. That both Grace, and this cousin of Adam's, were going to be astounded was an indisputable fact, but as she pondered over this Kathy found her anxiety abating rather than increasing. For she felt sure that Adam would devise some way of making her path smooth for her. 'This cousin,' Grace was saying, softly so that the children would not catch her words above their own chatter, 'is supposed to be a rare beauty. I can't think why she should want to come to a place like Skiathos ... unless the draw is our employer, Mr Kanaris himself!' 'Wh-what do you mean?' queried Kathy, aware that Grace would expect some sort of response from her. 'It wouldn't surprise me if they got together.' Kathy decided it was prudent to say nothing, and as it happened Jennifer came to her rescue, saying she was not feeling well.

'The meat's too—too fat,' she said with a gulp which forced Kathy to rise swiftly to her feet and take the child away from the table. Grace Haldene frowned as her eyes followed them. 'How revolting! Why did I forget my sandwiches? I'll take good care I don't do so again!'

CHAPTER SIX THE ring was on her finger and she could not take her eyes off it. Her mother's engagement ring had been lovely; this was exquisite. At last she looked up, into the dark unfathomable eyes of her employer, and she could not help wondering if, one day, this beautiful ring would be given to the woman he loved. That it would be taken from her once its purpose was served she could not doubt, since it was far too costly to be left with her as a gift. 'I feel strange,' she faltered, feeling totally committed to some conspiracy which, in a test, would leave her wanting. 'I'm wondering what Miss Haldene will think—I mean, I shan't know what to say to her when she sees my—the ring.' 'Miss Haldene already knows that we're engaged,' was Adam's cool rejoinder, and Kathy gave a start, so surprised was she by this news. 'She does?' 'I told her just before she left this afternoon.' It was now almost eight o'clock and Adam had given Kathy the ring when she came down for dinner. 'What did she say?' asked Kathy, her mind naturally switching to what Grace had said about the possibility of a romance between Adam and his cousin. 'She expressed surprise,' he answered casually. 'She can't believe we're in love.' 'She will do, eventually.'

'Adam,' said Kathy earnestly, 'I feel she's going to suspect something.' 'Such as?' 'You're so casual about it all,' she returned with a hint of pique. 'It's all so sudden that it doesn't ring true!' 'Love at first sight, my dear,' he said, eyeing her in some amusement. 'It isn't as if you're not very beautiful -' 'Oh, but—no, I'm not!' she broke in to protest. 'In any case, even if I were, this engagement is too sudden.' 'I happen to be a man who makes up his mind quickly.' Impatiently she looked at him, her mouth a little fight, and severe. His eyes kindled, humour in their depths. 'Even if you had fallen in love with me at first sight, you wouldn't have given me a ring as quickly as this!' 'How enchanting you are when you're angry,' said Adam, diverted. 'I wonder what you're like when you're furious.' Her impatience grew. 'You haven't commented on what I've been saying,' she reminded him, trying to remember that he was still her employer and therefore she must treat him with respect. 'About my not giving you a ring as quickly as this?' 'Yes.'

'I've just said, I'm a man who makes up his mind quickly. Of course I would buy you a ring at once. It's the thing to do once the proposal of marriage has been accepted,' he added, laughing at her asperity. But then he became serious, assuring her she had nothing at all to worry about, since Miss Haldene would not ask her questions, not now that she was the fiancée of the man who employed her as governess to his charges. 'It would be most impertinent of her to do so,' went on Adam quietly. 'And Miss Haldene does happen to be one of those people who respect their employers.' He paused a moment, regarding her with what appeared to be an entirely new interest. 'You've risen from her equal to her superior——' 'No, Adam,' protested Kathy, faintly distressed. 'I don't like the idea of being anyone's superior.' 'Perhaps you don't,' he returned almost gently, 'nevertheless, you will from now on be regarded very differently from the way you were regarded before. You're no longer a servant but my future wife, and in consequence you have risen socially.' Again he paused. 'I shall expect you to remember your position, Kathy,' he resumed, still in that gentle tone. 'It's fortunate that you have not made any friends here. From now on my friends will be your friends. I hope you will like them.' 'Adam,' she said a little fearfully, 'I had no idea, when I agreed to be engaged to you, that it would entail all this. I'm just the children's nanny, after all.' Already Adam was shaking his head. 'I have employed an extra helper in the house. Calliope looked to them before you came, and she will do so again. You can take them for walks if you like, or play with them here in the garden, but you are no longer a servant in my house.' So dignified his manner, so firm

his tone. Kathy saw at once that her role of fiancée to this millionaire shipowner was going to bring about a dramatic change in her life. 'I don't know why I didn't think of it before,' she murmured, looking up at him like a frightened child. He was so tall above her, so aristocratic and arresting. She felt small and helpless ... and totally in his power. 'Think of what, Kathy?' She swallowed hard. 'The great change,' she replied, aware that this was not too clear, but convinced he would understand, which of course he did. 'You could hardly become engaged to me without a very important change taking place in your life,' he said reasonably. 'It's obvious that you did not consider this aspect, but I assure you it isn't important. Just be yourself, Kathy, and everything will be fine.' 'You have faith in me,' she said in a troubled tone. 'And I'm frightened of letting you down.' Again she stared at him, up into his eyes, her own rather too bright, as though she might burst into tears at any moment. Understandingly Adam put a comforting hand upon her shoulder. She felt its warmth, its strength, and again she knew a pleasant stirring of her senses. She was calmer all at once, and a smile fluttered to her lips. 'I'll try not to let you down, Adam,' she said huskily, 'but please don't be angry if ever I do.' He shook his head. 'I won't be angry,' he promised. She wanted to ask him about his cousin, but she could not find a suitable opening. In any case, at dinner he chatted so pleasantly to

her, deliberately trying to put her entirely at her ease, that she preferred not to think about Stella, but to enjoy the meal, and Adam's company. And afterwards they took their coffee and liqueurs on the patio, in the cool of the evening, with the tang of the sea and the perfumes of the garden and hills beyond blending together to fill the air with something potent, and almost intoxicating. Kathy, lost in the magic and wonder of this new environment, felt dazed but happy, bewildered but strangely content. It was all unreal, but at the same time so much was tangible—Adam's immaculately-attired figure, there before her, reclining luxuriously in the beautifully upholstered rattan chair. Yes, he was real, tangible ... and compelling.... Kathy felt suddenly drawn to him; she had a desire to move ... to be closer to him ... to come into physical contact with his body... 'What are you thinking, my child?' he queried when on reaching up to snap on an extra light he noticed her expression. 'You appear to be in a reminiscent mood?' She managed to laugh, much to her astonishment. 'It was nothing,' she answered, picking up her coffee cup—just for something to do. 'Isn't it lovely out here?' she asked—just for something to say. Adam laughed at her, but seemed puzzled. 'You're something of an enigma, Kathy. I find difficulty in understanding you.' 'In what way?' He paused a moment, and a frown appeared on his forehead. 'I'd very much like to know what goes on in that lovely head of yours.'

She could not help wondering what his reaction would-be were she to reveal what she had been thinking. 'When is your cousin coming?' she asked, much later when, having finished their coffee and liqueurs, Adam said he intended taking a stroll around the grounds and he invited Kathy to accompany him. So relaxed was he with her, having dropped his customary cool impersonal mien, that she had been emboldened to put the question to him at last. 'The day after tomorrow,' he replied. 'I was informed by letter that she would be with me tomorrow afternoon, but have since received a telegram saying she's been delayed. She'll be here on Friday about noon.' Kathy felt her heartbeats increase in speed. 'I'm going to feel most awkward, Adam.' 'You have my full support,' he returned imperturbably. 'Yes....' 'You worry too much, my dear.' 'I shall be very glad when the first meeting is over.' 'My cousin is not likely to cause you any discomfiture,' Adam returned confidently. 'Her pride won't allow her to say much.' No more was said about Stella, and as they strolled in the silence and solitude of the garden, with the sea gleaming before them, still and smooth, like glass, Kathy was once again carried to heights unknown, swept to a strange realm where she floundered, having nothing to cling to. She knew a sudden fear—that of insecurity, but it was not the insecurity she had known before—that of lacking material

support—but that insecure feeling of being cast into the unknown, where nothing was concrete. She supposed she was afraid of this Stella simply because she could not picture what she was like; a nebulous figure was always a little alarming, until it took shape. She was also afraid of doing the wrong thing, of letting Adam down; she was afraid of meeting his friends, of going into town to be stared at with a new respect, because she was now someone important. She was even afraid of the children, because she felt she was letting them down, and so one day they would despise her—when they were older, that was, and realized just how she had deceived them. A little sigh escaped her involuntarily and Adam stopped, much to her dismay, and wanted to know what was wrong. She decided to be honest with him. 'I'm unhappy, Adam,' she said, her voice quivering like that of a child who is unsure of itself. 'Unhappy?' Gently he lifted her face, so that- he could examine it even in the dim light given off by a moon half hidden in cloud. 'Your father, Kathy? You're thinking of him?' 'No,' she replied, 'it was not him.' 'What, then?' She stared into his face, her lips slightly parted, but not in a smile. 'It's all so new to me,' she quavered. 'I feel—inadequate.' Pleading her tones, and subconsciously she lifted her hands, palms upwards, in a little gesture that could have been described as one of supplication. Adam stared down at them and frowned. 'How can I comfort you?' he said unexpectedly. 'You're so young, my dear, and you've been through so much during the past few weeks.'

He paused; conscious as she was of the touch of his hand as it cupped her chin, she trembled with the deep yearning of desire ... desire to lean forward and seek the sanctuary of his breast, to rest her head upon. What bliss! She knew it would be bliss, had no doubts of the comfort she would derive. 'Adam,' she said, and started to cry. And then he drew her close, cradling her head in the place she wanted it to be cradled. And he bent his own head, to touch her cheek with his lips. It was the kiss of a parent for his child; Kathy recognized it at once, for her father had so often kissed her like that. He had held her in this way—oh, so many, many times after her mother's death when it seemed her burden was too much for her to bear. At length she moved, lifting her head to look into Adam's eyes. 'Thank you,' she said simply. 'You remind me of my father.' 'I do?' No hint of sardonic amusement, as she might have expected, just an expressionless tone and an almost imperceptible tightening of his arm about her. She put her head back against his breast. 'Yes,' she said, and her sweet young voice was muffled because she was filled with emotion and because her lips were too close to his smooth white shirt. One of her hands rested against his coat; she moved her fingers and felt the gloss of a silk lapel. 'My father held me like this when Mother died. I think he derived comfort, too, from holding me.' She murmured something else, her mind taking wing so that she was once again with her father, speaking to him in broken, husky tones, asking him how she was ever going to be able to laugh again. 'And now he too has gone.' She spoke her thoughts aloud, without knowing it. 'You poor child.' So soft the voice, so gentle and compassionate.

'I love you,' said Kathy, finding an even more comfortable place for her head, in the crook of his arm. 'You're so very kind to me, Adam, and that's why I love you.' No emotion in her tones; she was stating a fact. She loved Adam in the same way she had loved her father. 'Come, my child,' he was saying presently. 'Come back to the house, and go up to bed. You're very tired, aren't you?' She nodded against him, unable to come away from the comfort which his nearness afforded her. It was only afterwards that she was to blush over this scene. For the present, she saw nothing to trouble her head about in making use of his chest, and the crook of his arm. 'Yes, Adam, I'm very tired.' But still she did not move, and after a moment of hesitation Adam lifted her off her feet and with long and easy strides, he carried her back to the house.

As Adam predicted, there were no questions from Grace Haldene regarding Kathy's engagement. Without any apparent curiosity to speak of, Grace looked at the ring, gave a little gasp of appreciation, and then expressed the wish that Kathy would be very happy. How false the situation, thought Kathy, but to her own surprise she was able to act as though everything were quite normal. In fact, last night's scene in the garden was causing her more embarrassment than anything else. What had Adam thought about it? At breakfast— which she took with him before getting the children up—he had been his usual self, politely asking how she had slept, and showing interest in what she would be doing that day. 'You're free now, remember,' he added with a smile, 'so there's no need for you to feel you must be on duty any more. You'll have to see

to the children this morning, of course, because Calliope can't be at liberty to do so until Agni arrives later this morning.' 'I don't know what I shall do,' replied Kathy, uncertainty in her tones. 'I'm afraid I'll feel very much at a loose end, having nothing to do.' 'Tell me,' he said, picking up the toast-rack and holding it out to her, 'how did you spend your time at home, in England?' 'Before Father remarried I had my week-ends with him, either in the garden or else we might go Out somewhere together, in the car. During the week I was at school. I didn't leave school until a few months ago,' she added, and a swift smile touched his lips. 'Of course ... I forgot, for the moment, that you're little more than a schoolgirl.' He had not forgotten last night, though. He had been so kind, so understanding, treating her like a child who desperately needed comfort and reassurance. What a wonderful person he was—helping everyone who was in need of help. He had taken the children so that his sister and her husband could go off with peaceful minds, knowing the little girls would be well cared for. He had bought paintings from the struggling young artist, Paul Daley, so helping him to remain on the island which he had come to love. He had taken on Kathy herself, providing for her by giving her a home and a job. The fact that he had conceived the idea of using her for some purpose of his own made no difference; he had given generously and there was nothing she would not do for him in return. Kathy was musing on his inquiry at the breakfast table when, after looking at her ring, Grace had said, in a faintly petulant tone,

'I suppose you'll be handing your job of nanny over to someone else? I envy you, for there's nothing I would like better than to give up my job and be a lady of leisure.' She had gone on to murmur something about her folly in choosing a teaching career, and then she turned and Kathy watched her enter the classroom where Jennifer and Lucy were already waiting for her. 'If only Grace knew the truth,' said Kathy to herself, 'she wouldn't be so envious of me. Oh, well, one day she'll know that the engagement is broken.' At one o'clock the following day Kathy was being introduced to Stella who, staggered by Adam's words as he mentioned his 'fiancée', could only stare for a full thirty seconds or so, reduced to silence by the unexpected news of his engagement. Lifting wide, frank eyes to his, Kathy saw on Adam's face a mingling of triumph and contempt, neither of which she could understand. But of course, she recalled, there was much more to it than what she had been told by Adam; he himself had said that he had no intention of supplying her with information which was not necessary for her to know. And it was what she did not know that was causing Adam to exhibit this triumph and contempt... Glancing covertly at the face of this indescribably beautiful girl, Kathy read arrogance in the lines, coldness in the eyes ... but disappointment also, which made it quite clear that she herself had cherished hopes of becoming Adam's wife. Would she now decide to leave? For some reason she could not explain, Kathy was convinced that Stella would remain at the Villa Carana for some considerable time.

'I could be wrong,' she told herself, 'but I feel she might eventually begin to suspect that this engagement isn't genuine, and in that case she will stay— just to see what happens.' With her eyes still on the girl's face Kathy saw the tightness of her mouth, the way the jawline seemed to have flexed—in the same way Adam's flexed at times. Stella looked at Kathy, a half-sneer on her lips. The low forehead was furrowed in a frown which brought the expertly-pencilled eyebrows together. Kathy's eyes became lowered, escaping from that piercing examination. She saw the girl put down a hand to smooth an imaginary crease from the superbly-cut dress she wore. 'Your ... fiancée,' murmured Stella at last. 'I'm happy to make your acquaintance.' The voice became steady; the girl had swiftly regained her composure. 'This is so great a surprise, Adam, that I was quite speechless at first.' Her big dark eyes looked into his, an odd expression in their depths. 'Since when have you been betrothed to this—child?' Kathy's colour rose; she sent the girl a darkling glance, but she did not speak. It was not her place to do so, since Stella had addressed her cousin, not his fiancée. 'We became engaged quite recently,' was Adam's noncommittal reply. 'It must have been recently, for the girl can't be much more than sixteen.' 'I've seventeen,' retorted Kathy impulsively. 'So old as that?' the arched brows rose a fraction and the eyes beneath them glinted with humour. 'I'd never have thought it -' She was allowed to go no further, Adam interrupting to say coldly,

'You must be tired after your long journey, Stella. Perhaps you would like to rest? I'll have Agni show you to your room.' Her dark eyes flickered to his, plainly revealing anger at his snub. 'Lunch? Surely you haven't had it?' 'No, and you are welcome to join us; it was just that I thought you might prefer to be shown your room at once.' 'And rest?' The brows rose again. 'Can it be that you don't want me to join you and—and your fiancée for lunch?' 'Join us by all means, Stella,' he said, but Kathy, her eyes upon his face, saw the muscles around his mouth contract, as if he were inwardly angry. 'Then I'll do just that,' rejoined Stella smoothly. 'I'd certainly like to go to my room for a few minutes, though.' When she had gone, escorted by Agni, Kathy turned to Adam and said in troubled tones, 'It's going to be a very awkward situation for us all.' His eyes were vacant for a few seconds. 'But one which we shall handle very well,' was his half-amused, halfgrim rejoinder. 'It could be most interesting.' 'I don't think your cousin will go away just yet,' ventured Kathy. 'It wouldn't surprise me if she begins to suspect that I'm not really your fiancée.' 'We shall convince her, by our attitude towards one another,' he began, then stopped, his glance going over Kathy's head to the

balustraded balcony which formed the landing off which were the bedrooms. 'Sweetheart, you look so adorable that I must kiss you,' and before Kathy could even take this in she was swept into his arms and kissed passionately on the lips. 'Oh...' Bewilderedly she turned her head, her whole mind and body affected by this dramatic and totally unexpected action. Stella was on the landing, staring down into the hall below. 'Sorry, darling,' he laughed, tenderly touching Kathy's flushed cheek, 'I didn't know we were being watched.' Kathy was trembling all over, and she could still feel the contact of his mouth on hers. It was her first kiss; it left her breathless ... and slightly intoxicated. Her eyes were lowered, for she was too shy to lift them to his face. Relief flooded over her when Lakis came from the kitchen to inform his master that lunch was ready to be served.

A week passed uneventfully, but Kathy, now with very little to do, was not too happy.' True, she enjoyed her wanderings into the hills and along the seashore, but she would have preferred to have retained her post as nanny to the children. 'It wasn't possible,' said Adam a trifle impatiently when Kathy mentioned this to him. 'I don't know why you're complaining, child. You have your salary still, and you never seem to become bored at all?' This latter was a question rather than a statement, but one which he did not give her the opportunity of answering as he added, 'I've heard from England, by the way, and although my friend's brother-inlaw has not committed himself he is going to oblige me by going into the matter of your contesting the will made by your father.'

'It's very kind of you to take the trouble,' she said in grateful tones. 'It will be marvellous if I can claim some part of the estate, for then I shall be able to buy myself a little cottage somewhere.' 'Have you thought about what kind of job you will do?' Kathy nodded, telling him of her idea of finding a post where she would be with children. 'I had hoped that you would give me a testimonial,' she added, looking up at him with her limpid grey eyes. 'But I haven't had much experience, have I?' An amused smile touched the hard outline of his lips. 'You've had practically none at all -' 'Oh, that's not true! I did look after them for....' Her voice trailed off as Stella came from the house to the patio where Kathy and Adam were sitting, under the shade of a lush green vine. 'I hope I'm not intruding,' said Stella in suave and faintly sarcastic tones. 'Not at all.' Adam's tones were cool, but not unfriendly; he stood up and gave Stella his chair, then fetched himself another. 'What have you been doing with yourself all the morning?' he inquired with studied politeness when he was again seated. 'Reading in my room.' Stella crossed her shapely legs and glanced at the two tall tumblers on the table. 'Would you care for a drink of lemonade?' 'Thank you, Adam; yes, I would.'

He clapped his hands for Lakis; a few minutes later Stella's drink arrived. Taking up the glass, she put it to her lips, her dark eyes fixed on her cousin's impassive face. 'When,' she inquired, 'is the wedding to be?' Kathy's heart gave a little jerk, but she did have the sense to keep her eyes veiled, for she knew for sure that, should she look at Stella, she would give something away. A hush had fallen at Stella's words. When at length Adam spoke his voice was cool and guarded. 'We haven't yet fixed the date.' Another silence. 'I assume you won't want to wait long ... not knowing you.' It was a strange inflection which she inserted into her voice; it was as though a memory had floated into her mind and stayed there. A frown touched Kathy's brow. It almost seemed that Stella was reminding Adam of something—something that had happened in the past. With a swift glance at him Kathy saw that he too was frowning, but his was no frown of puzzlement like that of his fiancée. No, it was a frown caused by swiftly-rising anger. So I'm correct in my assumption, decided Kathy. She was reminding him of something that has happened in the past. 'Kathy is young,' said Adam presently, 'so we shall wait about a year or so.' 'A year, eh?' thoughtfully as, staring into the glass she held Stella tapped it at the same time, with one long scarlet fingernail. 'A year...' 'Why do you ask?' Adam wanted to know, his eyes narrowed and piercing.

His cousin shrugged her elegant shoulders carelessly. 'I'd like to stay until after the wedding, that's all,' she replied, and there was now no mistaking the challenge that looked out of her eyes. So she had guessed that it was all a sham, Kathy thought, her eyes darting to those of her fiancée. She encountered an expressionless mask; his voice was equally devoid of expression as he said, 'You must stay as long as you wish, Stella. After all, I did make that promise to your father.' Her dark eyes were still challenging. 'Yes, Adam,' she returned softly and slowly, 'you did make that promise to my father.'

CHAPTER SEVEN FOR the next few days Kathy watched Stella carefully, looking for some sign that she had been correct in her conclusion about the girl's having guessed that the engagement was all a sham. When no evidence appeared Kathy began to wonder if she had been mistaken, and she at last allowed her fears to die. In any case, she was to have other things to think about, one being the latest news from Adam's friend in England, and the other the coming visit to Athens where, her fiancée told her, she would meet some of his friends. 'I'm afraid,' she faltered on hearing this. 'They'll be so sophisticated, and—and older than I.' 'Most of them are older, certainly, but not all. And as for their being sophisticated—well, my dear, I assure you you'll be perfectly at home with them within minutes of being introduced.' So confident was he that Kathy accepted his word, telling herself that, were there the slightest risk of her subjecting him to embarrassment, then he would not be taking her with him to Athens. 'I must admit I'm excited about going to the capital,' she told him enthusiastically. 'We docked at the Piraeus and went sightseeing, but it wasn't long enough.' 'We shall be going again next month, so you'll have time to wander at will.' Adam had then gone on to the subject of Manor Lodge, telling her that a second letter had arrived even before he had answered the first. 'My friend's brother-in-law's been doing the investigating and in his opinion you have a fair chance of claiming part of the estate. He's amazed that any solicitor advised against contesting the will.' 'It was a solicitor approached by my friend Bill,' Kathy told him. 'I don't think he was entirely to blame because he didn't know all the details.'

'You mean, you didn't tell this Bill as much as you told me?' 'I did tell him about the property being in my mother's family for so long, but perhaps I left some out. I don't know. You see, Adam, I was distracted at the time and I suppose everything I said was a little disjointed.' Adam nodded understandingly, his mouth pursed. 'I'm glad I found you, Kathy,' he said, and she smiled up at him, aware that he really meant it—and not because he had wanted to use her, but because he had been able to offer her help when she needed it. 'And I'm glad I found you,' she responded, still smiling. 'As I said before, you're like my father.' 'You just go on regarding me as a father, Kathy. If it affords you a sense of security then I am satisfied.' They were in the garden, standing by the swimming- pool, watching the two little girls playing in the water, and before Kathy had time to say anything to this Lucy was calling out, imperiously telling them to watch her jump in off the lowest diving-board. 'Jennifer can't do it! She's frightened!' Lucy was swimming towards her sister, intending to drive her towards the board. 'Leave her,' said Adam. 'No! She shouldn't be scared -' 'I said, leave her alone!' His younger niece looked at him, pouted, then turned and swam away.

'That one,' he said grimly, 'is in for a spanking before she's very much older.' 'There's no real harm in her, Adam,' said Kathy urgently. 'Her nature's very different from that of Jennifer, that's all.' Adam turned to glance down at her. 'You always make excuses for her. Miss Haldene, now, keeps her in her place.' Kathy changed the subject, bringing up something which had been puzzling her for a little while: the lack of curiosity on Stella's part. 'I expected she would ask me questions about myself,' continued Kathy, 'but she hasn't asked me one.' Faintly he smiled. 'I have already told her all that is necessary. She naturally asked me questions about you—how you came to be here, and how we had come to meet -' 'You told her I was stranded on the island?' 'I told her you'd missed the ship, yes.' 'And that you'd engaged me as nanny for the children?' 'Of course.' Kathy looked shyly at him. 'And—and—then ?' His smile deepened.

'I said we'd fallen in love almost at once,' replied Adam calmly. Confused, Kathy fell silent a moment. 'I still think it's strange that she's never questioned me,' she said at last. 'It's simple.' Adam's voice was grim all at once. 'I wasn't having you troubled, so I warned her—in no uncertain terms—not to ask you questions.' Adam paused, eyes glinting. 'Stella knows me well enough to be sure I'll not have either orders or requests ignored.' 'But she must be curious about my background,' persisted Kathy. 'Didn't she wonder how I could just stay here, instead of going home?' 'She knows you have no relatives.' 'But surely she wants to know more about me.' At this Adam's whole manner became one of cold arrogance. 'Perhaps she does,' he said, 'but that doesn't say her curiosity is to be satisfied. Who you are or what you are is not her business, and what she has already been told is all she shall be told!' 'I'm sorry,' murmured Kathy. 'I didn't want to make you angry.' 'If by any chance she should question you, then you must let me know at once—but I'm confident that she won't dare to go against my wishes.' The children came from the pool and automatically Kathy took up one towel from a nearby seat and Adam took the other.

'Ooh ... that's nice and warm!' Lucy twisted round as her uncle began rubbing her down. 'I think it's getting too cold to go in the pool any more!' 'It's autumn now,' from Jennifer quietly. 'Uncle Adam, how long is it till my daddy and new mummy come back?' 'Four months or thereabouts.' Lifting Lucy on to the seat, he began to dry her legs. 'Why do you ask, Jennifer? Don't you like being here, on Skiathos?' 'Of course we do!' from Lucy eagerly. 'It's lovely -' 'I was speaking to your sister,' broke in Adam sternly. 'Yes, I like being here, Uncle Adam, but I wish my daddy was here with us.' 'And our new mummy!' 'Yes....' A small hesitation and then, 'We don't know her very well yet, though.' Kathy's glance went to Adam. He seemed to nod his head slightly. 'It's a little unfortunate that your new mummy had to go away so soon,' he said gently. 'But when she comes back, with your daddy, you'll have plenty of time to get to know her—and to love her, for I'm very sure you will love her,' he added with a smile. 'She likes me,' from Lucy with a little, toss of her head. 'I wish she'd come back soon so that we didn't have to have Miss Haldene teaching us!'

'Sometimes Miss Haldene's very nice,' said Jennifer, standing very still for Kathy to dry her legs. 'But I didn't like the sums she gave us today.' 'They were too hard!' 'And there were too many.' 'She wanted to read her book, that was why she gave us two whole pages of sums!' 'It wasn't a book; it was a magazine.' 'Well, it doesn't matter what it was! She was so interested in it that she never saw me eat that big bar of chocolate.' 'She would have known you'd had it if I hadn't told you to wipe it off your mouth and chin—and nose,' added Jennifer for good measure, lifting her head now to give Kathy a twinkling smile. Kathy responded, for it was always an occasion when that gleam of fun looked out from Jennifer's serious hazel eyes. 'How did you come to have a large bar of chocolate?' demanded Adam, lifting her down again and throwing the towel around her shoulders. 'I bought it when I was out with Agni. She went to talk to Them— Themis -Oh, what funny names they have here!' 'Themistocles, her brother,' said Adam. 'He keeps the bread shop on the harbour.' 'That's right. She bought us some funny buns with seeds on top. They were nice and warm!'

'She means the buns were nice to eat, and still warm from the oven,' explained Jennifer, and received a disparaging glance from her sister, who would most certainly have pulled out her tongue at her had they been alone. 'You do know it's wrong to eat chocolate in the classroom?' Adam looked down at his niece with a stern expression on his face. But there was a glimmer of amused tolerance in his eyes as well and for a moment Kathy tried to picture him with children of his own. What a wonderfully understanding father he would make, she decided. He would be stern, no doubt of that, but never so strict that his children would go in any great awe of him. Respect he would command, and implicit obedience, but he would be his children's friend rather than a dictatorial parent. 'I was hungry!'' 'You're always hungry,' said Jennifer. 'You spoil your meals by eating in between them.' Lucy put her hands on her hips, letting the towel fall to the ground as she did so. 'If you don't eat your chocolate and sweets in between meals, then when can you eat them?' she demanded frowningly. Jennifer pondered this and, unable to come up with an answer, she shrugged and said she never ate many sweets anyway. 'That got you!' exclaimed Lucy triumphantly. 'You don't know what to say, do you?' 'Come,' interposed Adam quietly, 'it's time you were indoors. Go along to Calliope and let her wash and dress you.' 'Wash!' Lucy stared up at him. 'We don't need a wash!'

'You should always have a shower when you've been swimming,' said Jennifer, picking up Lucy's towel for her. 'I'll race you to the back door!' and like a shot she was gone, her long slender legs carrying her far more swiftly than Lucy's could carry her. 'It's not fair—I should have had a start....' The voice faded; Kathy looked at Adam and they both laughed. 'My sister's taken something on,' he remarked with a grimace. 'Well, that's what comes of falling in love. Don't you do it, child, for no matter how you look at it, it entails a lot of effort in the end.' 'Children, you mean?' The words were out almost before she realized it. 'You would like to have children?' 'Of course. Two girls.' 'Girls?' Adam raised his eyebrows. 'Then don't marry a Greek; we always want sons.' 'I believe you do, but if you had a little girl, and she was perfect, you wouldn't mind at all.' 'What makes you so sure?' 'You're that kind of person.' Adam seemed amused. He said after a pause, 'It would appear that you've been endeavouring to analyse my personality?' 'It's far too complex for me to be able to do so.'

How brave she was with him these days! It was almost as if she really felt herself to be engaged to him - But no. He was like her father. Hadn't she told herself so on more than one occasion? But what of those strange stirrings she had experienced? Those had never come to her before—nor anything like them, in her relationship with her father. 'Too complex?' Adam was evincing some surprise. 'What makes you say that?' he wanted to know. 'You're kind, basically, and always help people who are in need, but you sometimes seem hard, as if you could be—well—not cruel, exactly, but -' She broke off, flustered and contrite. 'I shouldn't have used the word cruel, Adam,' she apologized. 'It's just that I can't explain what I mean.' She looked up into his set face, and her lips quivered because she felt she had hurt him, and annoyed him as well, and because she was sure he was considering her impertinent in speaking to him in that kind of way. His face remained set, but his eyes moved suddenly and, turning her head, Kathy saw Stella approaching across the lawn. Adam took Kathy's hand in his and began to move away from the pool; she fell into step beside him, her pulses racing at the nearness of him as they walked, and at the touch of his fingers as they curled around hers. Stella's eyes were fixed upon their hands, and Kathy saw a frown on the girl's low brow. But she was smiling as she came up to them. And as always she began by saying, 'I hope I'm not intruding?' Adam shook his head. 'Not at all. Kathy and I are just going back to the house.'

'I don't like complaining, Adam,' said Stella, 'but that child, Lucy, is becoming a nuisance at times. She ran into me just now and as I had a vase of flowers in my hand, which I had just filled to take up to my room, I got the water all over my dress. I've had to change.' Automatically Kathy looked at the dress. Exquisitely cut, it fitted her slender figure to perfection. 'I'm sorry about that,' said Adam. 'I'll have a word with her about it later.' 'She ought to be punished!' 'It was an accident,' interposed Kathy indignantly. 'Lucy wouldn't do a thing like that on purpose.' 'No?' Stella raised her eyebrows sceptically. 'I rather think that she did do it on purpose. She never even apologized and when I admonished her she merely sniffed and ran away.' Kathy could imagine the scene, and she supposed it was very wrong of Lucy to sniff, but on the other hand, the child sensed she was disliked by Stella and it was natural that she should retaliate. Adam said nothing, retaining an expression of cool hauteur, and it was in silence that the three walked back to the villa. 'What's wrong with Adam these days?' Stella was saying to Kathy half an hour before dinner when Kathy having dressed early with the intention of enjoying a quiet interlude on the patio, watching the sunset, she came and took a seat opposite to her. Stella looked immaculate in copper-coloured velvet; fitting tightly round every curve, the dress might have grown on her, thought Kathy. Her hair, too, was without fault, beautifully coiffured and shining, with a diamond clip holding it to one side of her temple. 'He never used to

be so unapproachable.' She looked hard at Kathy. 'He doesn't appear to be too happy, somehow.' 'But of course he's happy,' retorted Kathy, feeling the girl's words were an insult to herself. 'I can't think why you should say a thing like that.' 'You didn't know him when he was younger...' Stella's voice trailed; she was reminiscing, for her eyes had become vacant. She was recalling something from the past, and Kathy with quick perception knew it was the same memory she had recaptured on the day of her arrival, when she had met Adam again after several years of separation. It was nine years, to be exact, for Adam had mentioned this to Kathy one day when he was speaking about his cousin. Nine years - What had happened nine years ago that could bring this look to Stella's eyes? It was a sort of yearning ... and a deep regret. 'No,' said Kathy in a very low voice, because she had to break this reverie of Stella's—had to stop her dwelling on something that had once taken place between her and Adam. 'I didn't know him then; but now I know him well, and I'm very sure he's happy.' The girl looked pityingly at her. 'The wish is father to the thought, I believe?' 'You mean—I know he isn't happy, but I want him to be?' 'I wouldn't be so undiplomatic as that, my dear,' replied Stella condescendingly. 'I expect my cousin knows what he's doing.' Kathy's eyes took on a brittle expression. 'If you're so troubled about his state of mind, then why don't you have a word with him about it?' And, remembering what Adam had said about warning Stella not to ask Kathy any pertinent questions, she

added, pretending to be accommodating, 'Perhaps you'd like me to tell him of your concern?' 'No—no, indeed I would not!' 'But why?' queried Kathy innocently. 'Because there's no need. If he's got something on his mind then he'll probably tell me about it eventually.' 'Tell you?' Kathy's expression was brittle again. 'But surely I'm the one in whom he'll confide?' Where, she was asking herself in some wonderment, had this self-confidence come from? With her stepmother and her daughter she had never been able to assert herself. But perhaps this was owing to her determination not to let her father see what was happening, and just how badly she was being treated by those two whom he had brought into Manor Lodge. 'You're about as arrogant as he is!' snapped Stella, opening her handbag and taking out a gold cigarette case and matching lighter. 'Are you trying to pick a quarrel with me?' Kathy was frowning heavily, annoyed at having her few quiet moments taken up by this dissension. 'I should have said that it's you who are trying to pick a quarrel!' Stella withdrew a long, gold-tipped cigarette and lit it, inhaling deeply before blowing out the smoke in Kathy's direction. 'Obviously Adam has never seen this side of your nature.' How to keep her temper? Kathy wanted to tell the girl just what she thought about her, but she desisted, not wishing to do anything that might displease Adam. 'I think I must go in now,' was all she said. 'It's a little chilly out here.'

Stella drummed with her fingers on the arm of her chair, while with the other hand she put the cigarette once again to her lips. Kathy rose, and stood for a few seconds, feeling uncomfortable and wondering if she ought to remain with the girl, instead of making her cool departure like this. However, the girl herself solved the problem for her by saying, 'I don't find it chilly, but as you obviously do then go in by all means,' and with a rudeness which staggered Kathy she swung right round in her chair so that her back was turned towards her.

Adam's house near Athens was older than the villa, but equally attractive, with its mature gardens, its stone arches leading to shady courtyards where hibiscus and the bougainvillaea vine splashed their glorious colours against a background of neatly-trimmed cypresses and other ornamental trees. They arrived during the afternoon, and Adam took her out to dinner that evening where, in the Plaka, they sat beneath palms and vines in the outdoor restaurant where he was obviously well known because no less than three white-coated waiters smilingly greeted him, coming forward to take him and Kathy to their table, to pull 'out chairs, to open napkins and to speak to Adam in Greek, to which he smilingly answered, in English, 'I'm fine, thank you, Vangeli—Petros—Mitsos. Yes, I'm in Athens on business—but a little pleasure must also come in, eh?' His voice was totally different from anything Kathy had previously heard; he was less stiff and reserved, less arrogant in his manner.

'Can we have Greek food?' Kathy looked at Adam across the table, her face flushed with pleasure at being here with him, dining out in this delightful garden restaurant. 'Of course.' Adam was looking at the menu, while Petros stood at a respectable distance, a snow-white cloth over one arm, his dark eyes fixed with open admiration on Kathy's animated face. They started off with peponi, then went on to fish and stuffed vine leaves, partaking in between of the excellent salad of tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and fruit. Then there came the souvlaki— skewered lamb cooked over a charcoal grill and flavoured with thyme and other herbs. Fetta cheese, fruit and yoghurt came next, and all were washed down with a variety of wines chosen with the greatest care by Adam in consultation with the wine waiter. Bouzouki music was being played all the time by the gaily-costumed Greek musicians on the platform close to where Kathy and Adam were sitting. Half-way through the meal a troupe of Greek dancers came on and with intense solemnity waited for the musical cue. The chief one, a tall, ferocious-featured youth, leapt and rocketed in a kind of abandoned ecstasy, his slender body soon dripping with sweat. Linked to the other three by a large white handkerchief, he was assisted all the time in his flight-like jumps into the air, his companions twisting and turning in rhythmic movements even while they assisted him in his lithe, primal gyrations. Later, someone sang a love-song in Greek, then was joined by two others who sang more spirited songs. Adam's amused eyes found Kathy's several times, and she coloured daintily, fully aware that the reason for his amusement was the way she was staring, wide-eyed, at all that was going on, up there, on the platform. A woman came to their table, selling flowers. Adam bought a rose and put it in Kathy's hair, just above her temple.

'It is good,' laughed Mitsos. 'Poli halo!' 'Very becoming,' murmured Adam, the most odd inflection in his voice. He seemed suddenly to be intrigued with her, unable to withdraw his gaze. She fluttered him a timid smile, totally unaware of her own beauty as she sat there, the rose enhancing the cloud-like mass of hair falling' about her shoulders. There was something arresting about her at this moment, an ethereal quality which was as elusive as it was seductive. Adam swallowed; she noticed a nerve twitch at the side of his mouth, and wondered at it, for he had always struck her as a man who had solid command of his emotions. Yet at this moment he appeared to be out of his depth, as if something had affected him deeply. Could it have been the dancing? she wondered, recalling the quivering ecstasy of those men performing on the stage. Or perhaps it was the love song, the words of which she was unable to understand. Did they remind him of something? Surely he had in the past had one or two love affairs. Yes, she was sure he had, for weren't the Greeks known to be the most amorous people in the world? 'My child,' said Adam, breaking into her musings, 'what are you thinking about?' She uttered a little laugh and said, 'Nothing important, Adam.' His dark eyes never left her face. 'I am not convinced,' he said, but to her relief he allowed the matter to drop. At last it was time to leave, as Adam had promised to take her up to the top of Lykabettus to view the whole panorama of the city from that great height.

'Kali nikta,' said Mitsos and Vangeli together as Adam and Kathy rose to go. 'Good night,' said Petros with a special smile for Kathy. 'Kali nikta,' returned Adam, while Kathy said a shy and quiet, 'Good night, and thank you very much.' On their way out they passed under an arbour dripping with flowers. Reaching up, Adam snapped one off and gave it to Kathy. She took it, holding it as if it were a priceless jewel. 'Thank you, Adam,' she smiled, thinking that she would press the flower, and keep it for ever. He merely smiled at her thanks and, taking her arm, steered her through the chattering throng which milled about the Plaka, and hailed a taxi. This took them so far, then they alighted and took the funicular for the rest of the way. Kathy did not know what to expect, and she just gasped disbelievingly when, at the top, she stood beside Adam and looked at the fantastic spread of lights below. 'Oh,' she breathed, 'there must be millions and millions of them!' 'Pretty, isn't it?' 'It's beautiful! The different colours -' She swung about, her slim young body turning a full circle. Lights flickered in every direction, forming one vast radius of incandescent colour. 'I can't describe it!' she added, a trifle overcome with the magnitude of it all. For the furthest lights must be miles and miles away.

It was well past midnight when at last they arrived home. Helios, the manservant, was still up and he had the door open even before they reached the topmost step. 'Efharisto, Helios,' said Adam graciously, then added, 'You could have gone to bed. I have my key.' 'I wait for you,' said the man in broken English, following his master's lead and speaking so that Kathy could understand him. 'You want something to drink?' Adam shook his head, but turned inquiringly to Kathy. 'No, thank you. I've had a wonderful meal, and the wine was delicious.' 'And heady,' returned Adam shrewdly, his eyes on her flushed cheeks. 'You'll sleep heavily, I'm afraid.' -'The party for tomorrow,' Helios was saying, 'it is all arranged. We have everything ready for your guests.' 'Efharisto—thank you, Helios.' 'A party,' echoed Kathy a moment later when Helios had gone. 'Tomorrow?' He nodded. 'Just a small one.' 'I shall be scared.' 'Nothing of the sort! What is there to be scared about?' 'Meeting new people, Adam,' she answered uneasily.

'I've already said, you worry too much, my child.' 'We never had parties at home—not after Mother died,' she added, a catch in her voice. 'No one is going to say anything to make you uncomfortable. On the contrary, you're going to be the centre of interest,' he added with a sort of grim humour, 'since all my friends have come to regard me as a confirmed bachelor. This engagement's going to be a nine days' wonder.' 'And when it's broken?' she could not help saying, looking up into his face in order to note his reaction to this. Not a muscle moved as he replied, 'We've decided to cross our bridges as we come to them, if you remember?' She said nothing, but continued to look up into his handsome face. The light in the hall was dim, coming as it did from a single tall standard lamp fashioned from jade. The shade was a colour between coral and peach, and the play of this light on her alabaster skin seemed to accentuate the liquid beauty of her eyes. Adam looked down, his whole attention caught by the enchanting picture she made. The moment became tense, electrifying. Kathy stirred uneasily under his unmoving gaze, her nerves doing strange things, things she did not understand. 'I'd better be going to bed,' she stammered, glancing away to where a magnificent Spanish chest of tooled leather stood in one corner of the hall. 'It's—it's getting v-very late.' 'Yes, you're right, it is very late.' He was close beside her, but he moved closer, and as she lifted her head he put out his hands and gently took her face between them. 'You're a charming child, Kathy,'

he said and, bending, he lightly kissed the top of her head. 'Sleep well, my dear, and remember there's no need to get up early in the morning. If you want your breakfast in bed then merely ring the bell. Iphigenia will come to you at once.' 'Thank you,' she smiled, wondering why her heart was racing and her pulses all awry. And she wondered also why she was no longer regarding Adam in the light of a father.

CHAPTER EIGHT THREE days later they were back in Skiathos, Kathy having met several of Adam's friends at the dinner party he had given. 'I'm proud of you, Kathy,' he had said when it was all over and the last of the guests had gone. 'You were a great success.' 'There were all so nice to me; I didn't feel in the least strange, or frightened.' 'I did say there was nothing to fear,' he reminded her gently. 'You had my support, but in fact, you did not really need it.' Rosily she blushed, happy that he was pleased with her. 'It's kind of you to say so, Adam.' The following day she had been left on her own, Adam having gone off early to his office in the city. She wandered about the crowded streets, had coffee under the trees in the square, strolled up through the Plaka to the Acropolis, then down again to the Roman ruins, and by the time she arrived back at Adam's house she was thoroughly tired, but happy. That evening Adam had again taken her out; this time to a plush hotel in the centre of the city. 'You're attracting all eyes,' he had said, an odd inflection in his voice. 'You're very beautiful, my child.' My child -Somehow, the words grated and she had frowned. Why should she now resent what she had so recently been so happy about? She was thinking of this when, arriving back in Skiathos in the evening, she stood by her bedroom window, staring out over the gardens to the shore and the sea beyond. Something was happening to her, something which brought intense pleasure and yet, paradoxically, it brought fear as well.

'I feel so ... restless,' she murmured softly. 'It's as though I'm caught in some sort of spell.' She tried to shake off this sensation of restlessness, and managed to concentrate for a few moments on the scene before her. The whole garden had captured the glory of the sunset, stealing the crimson glow of the sky, and spreading it over the lawns and shrubberies and flower borders. In the perivoli lemon and orange trees dangled their ripe fruits like fairy lanterns; carob trees with their long sweet pods of polished black became sharp-edged against the rosy sky. Opening the window, Kathy stepped out on to the balcony and leant forward, pressing the palms of her hands against the ornate wrought-iron balustrade. The gentle, scent- filled breeze blowing in from the sea caressed her face and she lifted her head high, in order to feel the pure cool air upon her throat. What a glorious evening it was! She glanced up, into the vast vault of the sky where, a myriad shades of orange, gold and bronze flecked the scudding clouds, tinting their edges with colour. She looked at the sea, its tranquil surface dappled with the translucent glory of the reflections showered down upon it from the sunset sky. All was so silent; she felt the breeze grow weaker until it was a mere zephyr on her cheeks. Her pensive eyes wandered to the garden again and her attention was caught by the dark palm fronds silhouetted against the background of a low hill bathed in subtle shades of purple and pearl. The sun was now sinking rapidly before her eyes, its fiery rays shooting out in a half circle above the horizon. She caught her breath at the sheer wonder and beauty of it all as for a brief space every colour around her became sharp and pure and vivid, enhanced by the strange quality of light which had settled on the garden. It was rather like a cold lilac, born of the sunset and yet escaping from it so that it was no longer any part of it at all. But the crimson glow was still there, in the distance, showering the horizon and the sea beneath it. Then suddenly the great sphere was gone, and the gold dappling the landscape turned to palest yellow before melting away into the purple

shades of twilight. Kathy gave a deep sigh of satisfaction as she turned back into her room. What a fortunate girl she was—to be able to witness a spectacle like that! Her thoughts automatically flew to Adam, who had made it all possible, and a tender smile hovered on her lips. Did he know just how much he had helped her? she wondered as she made her way to the dressing-room. Did he have any idea at all how deep was her gratitude? She sang as she took her bath, but beneath her carefree exterior was that feeling of restlessness, which itself created another sensation, that of unease and fear. But of what was she afraid? Her life was running smoothly at present, and she was sure that the future would present no major problems because, even if Adam had no success in helping her to regain some portion of what had been hers, she felt convinced he would have these friends of his help her to find a job and a home. Strange how much she trusted him to take care of her, strange that she should be so confident of his support, and his understanding. Wearing a charming but simple dress of embroidered cotton, white with a low-cut neckline, nipped-in waist and a full skirt, she looked absurdly young as she walked down the stairs, one hand touching the rail, but lightly. Stella came from a room and stopped abruptly at the foot of the stairs, her dark eyes narrowing as they flickered over Kathy's figure. 'Have you seen Adam?' she inquired, moving to one side as Kathy reached the bottom of the. stairs. The girl's eyes were now on her face, their expression unreadable. 'Not since we arrived back from Athens. I expect he's in his room, changing for dinner.' Her hand was still resting on the banister rail, and now Stella's eyes moved to it, and to the lovely ring gleaming on Kathy's finger. Stella seemed to draw in her breath sharply, and for a

second or two she was lost in reflection. Even yet again Kathy had the impression that the girl was recapturing a memory. 'I want to give him a telephone message that came through yesterday.' 'He'll be down directly, I should think.' Kathy glanced over to the wall clock and added, 'There's only a quarter of an hour to go until dinner time.' Stella moved away, towards the open door, while Kathy decided to go to the sitting-room. She usually went out to the patio, but as Stella was obviously making that her objective, Kathy preferred to give the patio a miss. Adam came into the sitting-room within five minutes and she told him that Stella had a message for him. 'She has?' with a slight frown. 'I'll go and find her.' 'I think she's on the front patio.' 'Thank you, Kathy.' He left her and when he returned there was a thoughtful, faintly satisfied expression on his face. Later that evening he was called to the telephone and he went to his study, leaving Kathy and Stella together in the sitting-room. 'Mysteriouser and mysteriouser,' commented the Greek girl in a halfsneering tone of voice. 'Adam's become like a clam these days.' 'I'm afraid,' said Kathy in a cold voice, 'that I don't know what you're talking about.' 'That telephone call that's just come to him. It's something to do with the message I received, and gave him.' A pause, while Stella regarded

Kathy with a curious stare. 'Have you no idea what it's all about?' she asked, and now her manner was almost friendly. Kathy saw at once that she was endeavouring to extract information from her. 'After all, you're his fiancée....' The girl stopped, slowly, and, it seemed to Kathy, a sort of spasm passed over her face when she mentioned the word fiancée. However, she soon recovered and went on, 'So you ought to be in his confidence.' 'If it's a business matter then I wouldn't be in his confidence,' Kathy was quick to point out. 'It wouldn't be much use his talking to me about things I don't understand.' 'It's nothing to do with his business. I asked the man this.' 'You did?' 'Of course. I offered to give Adam a message. But the man was as close as Adam himself and all he would say was that I must tell Adam to ring a number which I wrote down. This man said that Adam would understand what to do. The number—one, eight, five, four— might have been anywhere in the world. I pointed this out, but the man just repeated that Adam would understand. I got the impression that it was a very long-distance call.' Stella paused, her dark eyes fixed on Kathy's face, and it was plain that she searched for some evidence that Kathy understood what this was all about. On noting no change of expression Stella sighed, then frowned heavily before going on to say that there was certainly something strange about the man's refusal to give a fuller message. 'I even gained the impression that he'd been warned—about me,' ended Stella, but she stopped rather abruptly and Kathy gained the impression that the girl already regretted this confession. Kathy, filled with curiosity and interest, could not resist saying, 'What reason have you for coming to a conclusion like that?'

Stella hesitated, her frown returning. She spoke with a certain reluctance when eventually she said, 'I felt that Adam had been expecting a message, that he had either written to this man or phoned him, saying that if ever I answered the phone he was not to divulge anything at all.' It was Kathy's turn to frown, and her voice was as puzzled as her expression when she spoke. 'Why should Adam do that? He would have to give the man your name,' she added, and Stella nodded her head instantly. 'I mentioned my name when I answered, thinking it was a call from a trader or something. It was so clear at first; it was only after a moment or two that I got the impression of great distance.' Again she paused. 'Yes, I'm very sure that Adam had given this man my name -' The girl's eyes became reflective; Kathy had the strange idea that the man—this great friend of Adam's—knew Stella personally, and did not particularly like her. She was also convinced now that Stella was correct in her conclusion that the man had been told by Adam not to divulge anything to Stella if ever she should answer a telephone call of his. Before Kathy could ponder this any more the door opened and Adam entered. Holding the door, he looked at his cousin and said curtly, 'Do you mind leaving us, Stella? I have something of a private nature to discuss with Kathy.' Stella's eyes burned; she seemed to become so furiously angry that she could not for the moment bring herself to speak. When she did, however, her voice gave no indication of any anger which might be raging within her.

'Of course.' She rose at once, gracefully, and walked to the door. Once there, standing very close to Adam, she looked up into his dark face. Something seemed to pass between them during that tense, electric moment 'before, with what appeared to be a shrug of resignation, Stella glided gracefully past her cousin who, without waiting to see if she would turn her head, closed the door and, swinging round, came with a lithe and springing tread towards the chair where Kathy was sitting. 'It would seem,' he said immediately, and with no small measure of satisfaction, 'that we've set things in motion. Your stepmother and her daughter want to come over here and talk to you -' 'Natalie!' Kathy half rose from her chair, so staggered was she by the news imparted to her. 'I don't understand? Was it she who telephoned just now -? No, it couldn't have been; she doesn't know where I am -' She stared at him, shaking her head in bewilderment. 'I don't understand,' she said again. Adam frowned, troubled by her obvious distress. He said, very gently, 'I'd better begin at the beginning,' and he sat down then, and stretched out his long legs in front of him. 'While we were away that friend of mine telephoned from his home in England. I had previously warned him not to give away any information should my cousin ever answer the phone when he rang -' 'Does he know Stella?' interrupted Kathy, diverted for a space as she thought of the conversation with Stella and her own impression that the man who phoned knew Adam's cousin personally. Adam's mouth had gone tight suddenly, and his voice was harsh when he answered, 'Yes; he got to know her some years ago—through me.' And then he seemed puzzled by the question, as if its significance had just

penetrated through the more important matter which was obviously occupying most of his thoughts. 'Why did you ask, Kathy?' She hesitated, wishing she had held her tongue, not only because she was now floundering in search of an answer, but also because she was anxious to have him continue with what he had been saying. 'I somehow got that impression, from something she said just now, while you were on the telephone -' She shrugged her shoulders. 'I'll tell you about it some other time, Adam. Please tell me about Natalie. I shouldn't have interrupted you like that.' Although still faintly puzzled, he continued, saying that his friend had been most guarded, merely giving Stella a number, which Adam would instantly recognise as being his Hampshire home number, and asked her to tell Adam to contact him as soon as possible. 'That was the message Stella gave me earlier on, just before dinner.' Adam paused, a sort of grim amusement on his face. 'She was fired with curiosity,' he said with a short laugh. 'Poor, poor Stella ... she is her own worst enemy...' He tailed off; Kathy sat in silence, aware that he was miles from her, and from this room even. She knew without any doubt at all that he was with Stella ... re-living some scene from the past. Eventually he came from his reverie and continued as if nothing had interrupted his story. 'I got in touch with the operator and my call came through just now. David—my friend—had heard from his brother-in-law, a Mr Fulton, the man who is doing all the work on your case, to the effect that Mr Fulton had decided to inform your stepmother of your intention to contest the will.' Adam paused, while Kathy continued to stare at him, appalled at the idea of her stepmother coming here, to Skiathos.

'Does Natalie know how I come to be here?' 'I believe Mr Fulton gave her a small amount of information.' 'He didn't waste much time in getting in touch with her.' 'I made it very plain that the matter was urgent,' responded Adam calmly. 'You want this settled before you return to England, if that's at all possible.' He went on to tell her that, obviously falling into a panic on hearing about the possibility of the will's being contested, Natalie had immediately rung Mr Fulton, asking him for Kathy's address. 'He didn't give it to her, of course, but he did tell her that you were living abroad and that if she wanted to visit you she would be letting herself in for a long journey. Mr Fulton told my friend what had transpired and David was to contact me and ask if you wanted your stepmother to visit you. Apparently she doesn't mind the expense of the journey -' 'No!' interrupted Kathy desperately. 'No, Adam! I don't want her to come here!' 'But, my child -' 'No, I say! Oh, Adam, you have no idea how horrid she is with me! She'll b-bully m-me and—and...' Kathy's voice came to a tremulous stop, and once again she half rose from her chair, so agitated had she become. But she sank down again, feeling foolish because she .was making a scene which she felt sure Adam would dislike excessively. He was looking at her, and it did seem that he had the greatest difficulty in not coming over to her ... perhaps to comfort her, she thought, and wished he would, because she needed that particular kind of comfort that he alone was able to give to her. 'Please don't let her come here,' she begged. 'I'm no match for her, Adam, and I know she'll bully me...' Once again her words trailed off to a stop, but this time it was Adam's expression that had brought her voice to silence.

'No one,' he told her quietly, 'will bully you—not while you're in my care. Now, it would appear that your stepmother is most anxious to settle this matter out of court. As both I myself and the solicitor who is acting for you are of the same opinion, I feel we should have your stepmother over here and see what we can do in the way of reaching an amicable agreement.' Kathy was shaking her head. 'I d-don't w-want her to c-come, Adam,' she quivered, her big eyes pleading, and far too bright for his peace of mind. The child would burst into tears in a moment, he thought. 'Can't Mr Fulton carry on?—I mean, surely the settlement can be arranged without my having to meet my stepmother?' 'Kathy,' said Adam, rising from his chair and reaching for her hand, 'you are not to work yourself up in this manner. I am here to protect you. Do you not understand this?' His voice sharpened pointedly, and although she saw kindness and reassurance in his eyes she noted a sternness too, warning her that a continued show of fear on her part would only anger him. But, suddenly, she had no fear! It fell from her like a cloak discarded, leaving her lighter both in mind and body. What had she to fear, with Adam around? 'Yes, Adam,' she said in a low voice, 'I do understand.' He said nothing for a space, but instead he pulled her gently to her feet so that she came up beside him, close—and intimate. An exciting emotion seized her, some sensation she failed utterly to comprehend. It was something between an exquisite yearning and a warm but ever-illusive rapture. Adam bent his head, and as she stared up into his dark face, her lovely lips parted, he pressed his mouth to hers. She stood, silent and unmoving, her heart throbbing wildly, stimulated by the contact of his lips on hers.

'Then please remember that you understand,' he said presently, just as if nothing had happened to interrupt their conversation. 'You won't be left alone with this woman; I shall be there while the discussions are going on. I can assure you, my child, that this Natalie will have no opportunity whatsoever of causing you any distress.' With this promise he released her, moving away. Kathy automatically put a finger to her mouth; his kiss was still there, gentle and warm. She glanced up, caught by the awareness of Adam looking towards the window. It was closed ... but Stella was outside, looking out over the sea, her profile towards the room. Had she been there all the time—watching the room, perhaps, and the occupants within? Yes, Kathy was sure she had beep watching, that she had only just turned her head the other way. And this meant that Adam's kiss was for her benefit.... 'Why should I suppose it was for any other reason?' Kathy whispered to herself. 'Why should I think, for one moment, that it was meant— that Adam kissed me because he wanted to do so?' More important, why should she wish that it had been meant... ? 'Are you writing to your friend to say that Natalie can come?' she asked after a while. 'No, I shall telephone. As I've said, this settlement must be finalized before you return to your own country. You'll then have money to buy yourself a house.' 'I won't get Manor Lodge, of course?' Adam was frowning; he seemed angry that he had to answer, 'From what my friend said on the telephone the wife has the first claim on the matrimonial home—so Mr Fulton maintains, and he

should know. However, if we can get you some compensation in the form of capital it will suffice—providing the amount is, in my opinion, sufficient,' he added on a grim note. 'I rather think your stepmother's in for a shock, believing she has only you to deal with. She'll probably be happily convincing herself that she can fob you off with a couple of thousand pounds or so.' Kathy's eyes flickered. 'You want more than that for me?' Two thousand pounds would more than suffice to afford her some security, she thought, scarcely able to repress a shudder at the memory of being cast out with nothing except a few items of jewellery—and her clothes, of course. As for the jewellery—it was worth a small sum, it was true, but as its value was sentimental she would have been most reluctant to sell it. 'A great deal more,' from Adam tautly. 'Your stepmother doesn't yet know it, but she's going to have to mortgage Manor Lodge in order to compensate you. I shall accept nothing less than half of the whole estate.' So firm the tones, so threatening that expression in his eyes. Kathy looked at him with confidence and gratitude, a sweet smile parting her lips. Adam responded; the smile was reflected in his eyes, dissolving the hardness so that there was a dramatic change in his expression. A quiet moment ensued, a tense moment and yet not awkward. Kathy's mind went back to the time, not so very long ago, when she had no hope at all of putting up a fight against her stepmother's greed. Since then so many changes had taken place in her life, her mind having to cope with so many new and unexpected incidents crowding in, and such bewildering emotions as well. These latter had become the most troublesome, and she did wonder if there was any concrete connection between them and the fact that Adam was rarely out of her thoughts.

The silence between them was brought to an end by Adam, saying quietly that he was thinking of taking a walk along the shore, and inviting her to come with him. 'Of course,' she returned at once. 'Shall I need a coat?' Adam nodded his head. 'The nights are beginning to get chilly now, Kathy, so you mustn't keep on running about in this flimsy attire as you have been doing.' The firm imperious tone was tempered by an underlying softness— and anxiety. Kathy felt a pleasurable warmth envelop her; she felt so safe and secure—she knew that someone cared. They strolled to the shore, under a canopy of colossal stone pines, then continued until Koukounaries Bay was reached. 'It's so spectacular,' breathed Kathy when for a moment Adam stopped, to survey the magnificent view of sandy beach and greenclad hills rising to the back of it. On these hills lights could be seen, here and there, evidence of some luxury villa situated there. 'Koukounaries must be the loveliest bay in Skiathos!' 'It's the most beautiful in all Greece,' he responded, turning his head to glance down at her. Her face was in shadow, mysterious and tantalizing. With a sort of compulsive movement Adam put a hand under her chin and brought her face into the light of the moon. Ethereal, childish, it seemed to hold his gaze as if by some unfathomable magnetism. With another compulsive gesture he bent to kiss her full on the lips. 'What an entrancing child you are,' he murmured, taking her hand in his and beginning to walk on again, this time far more briskly than before.

Kathy was dumb. As he had begun to bend his head a look of eager expectancy had entered her eyes, and she had suddenly become strung up to a pitch of nervous excitement and anticipation of some delightful new pleasure. Now, she was drained of all emotion except that of bitter disappointment and loss. He was so far away from her, after being so close; he was impersonal after a sweet moment of intimacy; he was like a father ... after having been a lover... A lover? Kathy almost tripped up, so staggering was the truth which at last had struck her. Adam her lover ... her husband. Her breath caught, forming an air pocket in her throat so that it choked her, painfully. What wild imaginings were these?—that she could see herself as the wife of so distinguished and important a-man as Adam Kanaris? When he married it would be to some shipowner's daughter, or perhaps he would choose the daughter of some other wealthy Greek—an hotel owner, or a man with vast citrus orchards or olive groves. Certainly he would never consider marriage to a little English girl whose dowry—even if she were successful and received half of her father's estate— would be a mere pittance beside the fortune he would receive from a Greek bride. 'How would you like to have a drink at one of the tavernas here?' Adam's unemotional voice broke with almost painful harshness into her thoughts and she turned her head. He had spoken with his customary quietness, she realized, and not with any trace of harshness at all. It was just that the coolness in his voice had hurt, with an almost physical intensity that had penetrated deeply into her heart. What a hopeless position in which to find herself!—loving this man who regarded her as a daughter, a man who, because she needed help, was more than willing to give that help, in the same way as he had extended help to others who had been in need of it. 'If we're lucky we'll see some Greek dancing.' He smiled down at her in the moonlight. 'The local lads enjoy entertaining the tourists, and I think you will enjoy being entertained.'

Automatically she nodded her head, her thoughts still on the revelation that had come to her with such shattering impact. 'Yes,' she murmured, her voice almost indistinct. 'Yes, Adam, I would very much like to have a drink in one of the tavernas.' 'Are you all right?' he inquired in some concern. 'If you're tired, child, then say so and we'll turn back and you can go to bed.' Child! Bed! He would never have said these things to a girl like Stella. There were two patches of brilliant colour on her cheeks as she said, in taut and choking accents, 'No, of course I'm not tired! Nor am I a child! Anyone would think I was about five years of age!' Staggered, Adam came to an abrupt halt. They were still on the gently-shelving beach, some little distance from the gay lights and music coming from the nearest taverna. There was no one about, all the tourists being either in the tavernas or in the new Skiathos Palace Hotel on the hillside. 'What is this?' he demanded sternly, his eyes searching and uncomprehending. 'Are you ill?' The little spark of fight having already gone out of her, Kathy hung her head, ashamed of speaking to her dear benefactor like that. 'No,' she whispered contritely, 'I'm f-fine.' But the tears were very close, and Adam with his swift perception saw this. Misunderstanding the reason for her agitation, he said soothingly, closing his long lean fingers more tightly and protectingly on her small cold hand, 'Kathy dear, you mustn't harbour this fear of meeting your stepmother and her daughter. They might have treated you badly in

the past, when you were alone and unprotected. You are far from being alone and unprotected now. You have me. And I can assure you that you won't at any time find yourself alone with either of those two. They'll be staying at one of the hotels; they'll have to make an appointment to see you, and when they do see you it will be in my presence -' 'My stepmother will resent your interference, Adam,' broke in Kathy involuntarily. 'She's very arrogant and she'll not hesitate to ask what authority you have...' Her voice trailed away, for Adam had brought up her hand and was gently tapping her engagement ring. 'As your future husband,' he said slowly, 'I have all the authority in the world.' Imperious the tone, and masterful. Kathy had no further doubts about his dealing with her stepmother. But his words had another ring—at least, to her ears. They could almost have come from a man who was genuinely engaged to her... Breathlessly she said, 'You're going to be so convincing that they're sure to believe we're really engaged.' 'Why should they doubt it?' he said carelessly, having missed completely the subtle but significant question contained in Kathy's words. She sagged, chiding herself for the absurd flash of hope that had prompted her to voice the wish that, lay within her heart. Adam regarded himself as her protector, and nothing more. The taverna which he chose was on the waterfront, an outdoor cafe with bright tablecloths and candles set in multi-coloured jars. Palms waved here and there, and a thickly-threaded vine covered a roof trellis, forming a shade from the afternoon sun. At present stars could be seen, twinkling through the rich green foliage; and the huge

bunches of grapes hung temptingly down, but were untouched by the customers, all of whom seemed to realize that this delectable fruit was not for plundering. Adam ordered ouzo for himself and recommended Kathy to have a Petraki Special, the formula being a small amount of koniak, ice, the juice of a lemon, and all topped up with gazoza. 'Do you like it?' he was asking a short while later. Kathy nodded. 'It's lovely!' 'It's a nice long drink, with a bite, but not strong enough to do you any harm.' 'There's no fear of my getting tipsy, you mean?' She was talking quickly, finding ease from her dejection by indulging in light conversation. 'I've never been tipsy, but Father used to say it's a rather pleasant feeling.' Adam's eyes narrowed a little. 'Pleasant it might be, but the feeling's not for you, my child.' My child again! Kathy chose to forget it. The present interlude was too enjoyable to have it spoiled, she decided. Having secretly admitted that she loved her benefactor, she saw no gain in losing moments which could become precious memories in the years ahead. She was here, in his company, at this moment—and it was only this moment that mattered. Adam would keep her until his cousin left the Villa Carana, so these months were hers, to cherish and to use for gathering sweet and lasting memories.

'Here come the dancers!' She pointed automatically, to the two young Greeks who, dressed in the local costume, came forward on to a space that had been previously prepared, in the centre of the array of tables. The bouzouki music began and the men stood, waiting to leap into the first steps of the dance. 'It always looks so easy,' laughed Kathy, 'but I know it isn't.' Adam said nothing; his eyes were on the men who, with all the nonchalance of professionals, danced as if they had been born to it. 'Another drink?' It was a smiling Greek waiter who spoke, standing at Kathy's elbow, a tray in his hand. 'The same again?' Kathy's glass was not quite empty. After a small hesitation she said she would like another, but she glanced doubtfully at Adam, half expecting him to refuse to let her have one. But to her surprise he nodded, and another Petraki Special was brought, and along with it another large meze even though the first one, which had accompanied Adam's ouzo, was by no means finished. Kathy picked up her fork and helped herself to some of the small titbits, but a little later Adam said she must try the delicious speciality, loukoumades, beckoning to the waiter as he spoke. 'I'm not hungry,' protested Kathy. 'I had a good dinner, and now I've been eating all sorts of things- tomatoes, radishes and cucumber, and all kinds of fish and cheese!' 'You don't have to be hungry to enjoy loukoumades,' he assured her with a smile—the smile of a father who was pampering his small daughter by buying her goodies, she thought. However, once again she threw off her dejection and she soon had to admit that the loukoumades really were delicious.

'They're like doughnuts, but crisper,' she said. They were sprinkled with cinnamon and swimming in honey, and they were served to her piping hot. 'I believe I shall become very partial to these,' she added a little wryly. 'Most people do, but they're far too sweet for me.' The dancers finished and retired; several couples took the floor and danced. Kathy, disappointed that the Greek music had been replaced by ordinary dance music, asked Adam why this had been done. 'When you come to Greece for a holiday you naturally expect to hear Greek music,' she said reasonably, but Adam was' shaking his head. 'You might want Greek music all the time, but the average tourist usually wants to dance to tunes he hears at home.' 'Oh, but that's silly!' Adam laughed; she had not seen him laugh often and she stared, a ripple of pleasure running through her at the handsomeness of his features. Little lines had been created, and ran from the corners of his eyes right out to his dark temples. And his eyes themselves were almost gay. She said, trying to adopt a more mature attitude, 'You look very content, Adam—as if you're really enjoying this evening.' 'But of course I'm enjoying it,' he returned, faintly puzzled by her words. 'The pleasant atmosphere, the music and dancing, and the company of so pretty and charming a child as yourself—I couldn't do anything else but enjoy it.' 'No...' She looked away, afraid he might read what was in her eyes. She picked up her glass and took a long drink, then placed it on the

table again. She said, again endeavouring to be more mature, 'I'm not a child, Adam..' He looked at her, a flicker of amused tolerance in his eyes. 'That's the second time tonight you've told me that. I must try to remember it.' 'You look upon me as a child, though?' 'You are a child, Kathy,' he replied gently. And he added, in the same gentle tones, 'Don't grow up too quickly, dear. You're so enchanting as you are. Stay like this as long as you can.' And without giving her an opportunity of saying anything to this he told her to finish her drink, as it was time they were going. 'It's very late,' he added. 'You'll be lying in bed until lunch time tomorrow, I'm thinking.'

CHAPTER NINE KATHY stood alone on the terrace and stared out over the garden to the Aegean Sea. It was a peaceful, romantic scene, with the moon's reflected light forming a rippling ribbon on the waters, and the numerous little caiques with their twin lamps shining, gliding slowly, the men on board ready to cast nets or spear an unwary octopus, which, lured by the lights, ventured too close to the boat. She turned her head, aware of someone else's presence; Stella came up to her, clad in a black velvet evening gown that revealed an expanse of white shoulders and dipped at the front to depths which to Kathy were most embarrassing. 'All by yourself?' Stella's mouth twisted into something between derision and a sneer. 'Where's the ardent lover taken himself off to?' 'He's in Athens on business,' replied Kathy in cold and acid tones. She and Stella had now come to that point where neither made any attempt to be gracious to the other. Civility was often difficult enough for Kathy, but she did make an attempt to practise it, whereas Stella was often curt to the point of rudeness. 'I expect him back very late tonight.' She knew he would be back, simply because Natalie and Carla were coming to the. villa on the following morning at ten o'clock. When he had said he would have to go to Athens and could not be back before about half-past ten or eleven o'clock on the night before their visit, Kathy had evinced some considerable nervousness, fearing he might be delayed. Impatient of this nervousness, Adam had shown her a totally different side to his nature, and one that caused her exceeding embarrassment and discomfiture. 'If I see that troubled look on your face again,' he had said in firm decisive tones, 'I shall be forced to put you over my knee and spank some sense into you!' Colour had flooded her cheeks, and she would have turned from him, hoping to hide her embarrassment, but a

proprietorial hand had taken her chin in its grip and she was forced to look up into his hard and rather frightening gaze. 'You're being absurd! I've told you I shall be present at all times when they are with you! Now, are you going to obey me, and stop this nonsense, or must I carry out my threat? I mean what I say, Kathy. You've tried my patience to the limit this past couple of days! I have to go to Athens; it's imperative that I do. But I have promised to be back in time for the, interview and I shall keep that promise !' He had released her, but she trembled at his expression, half afraid he would take her by the shoulders and shake her. 'I'm sorry, Adam,' she quavered, still troubled that something would delay him, but not now daring to let him see this. 'Please don't be angry.' 'I already am angry! Obviously you have no trust hi my word. You believe I'm not sincere?' She blinked, this aspect not having for one moment occurred to her. 'Oh, no! How can you think such a thing? Of course I trust your word!' 'In that case,' he returned coldly, 'you'll not be worrying any more about having to face those two on your own!' 'No—I won't,' she agreed in a low voice. Adam had left her then, and she had gone to her room and had a little weep, desperately unhappy at this, the first real coldness he had shown towards her. However, before he departed for Athens he had lifted her face and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

'Be a good girl while I'm away,' he had said, 'and don't allow Stella to trouble you. I know you and she don't get along—which is only to be expected,' he added almost to himself, while his eyes fleetingly took on a pensive look. 'However, you should be able to keep your distance without much difficulty.' 'I shall not be in for dinner this evening.' Stella was speaking again; she had taken possession of a rustic seat on the terrace, under a jacaranda tree, and she crossed her legs luxuriously as she leant back, slowly blowing out the smoke she had just inhaled. The cigarette glowed in the semi-darkness; Kathy caught the waft of the long spiral of blue smoke in her nostrils and sneezed. 'Some friends are calling for me in a few minutes' time.' 'You have friends on the island?' Kathy looked curiously at her. 'They're on holiday. They're staying at the Xenia Hotel.' 'The -?' Kathy stopped abruptly, almost clapping a hand to her mouth. Her stepmother and Carla were staying there; they were supposed to be arriving at about eight o'clock this evening, having flown from England to Athens and then on to Skiathos. 'Why so surprised?' Stella asked, frowning in puzzlement. Kathy managed a careless shrug of her shoulders. 'Nothing—nothing at all.' 'There was something,' persisted Stella, looking sharply at her. 'It isn't important.' Stella had turned her head to stare at her with cold reproof, but Kathy looked out to sea with studied indifference. She had made a slip and, should Stella by any chance get into conversation this evening with

the two new arrivals from England then she would instantly understand what was on Kathy's mind. However, if Stella was merely being taken to dinner by her own friends then it was most unlikely that she would have an opportunity of becoming engaged in conversation with other guests staying at the hotel. Stella stood up after a while, having glanced several times at the diamond-studded cocktail watch she wore on her wrist. Her figure was superb; Kathy would never have said otherwise. And as she stood, tall and straight, her white shoulders gleaming in the moonlight, she was an arresting figure and, not for the first time, Kathy wondered why Adam had never become interested in her as a woman. Perhaps, she thought, he did not care for the idea of marrying a widow—even so beautiful a widow as his cousin. The girl moved, then stood still again, as if listening for the sound of the car which would come for her. There was something imperial about the set of her head and the sloping lines of her shoulders, but there was arrogance as well, and disdain as, conscious of Kathy's stare, she brought her head round with slow precision and met her gaze. Stella's eyes widened, slowly, while her mouth compressed. Kathy looked away, hot and embarrassed by this marked unfriendliness and contempt. 'I think I hear the car.' Stella lifted her gown with a movement of smooth elegance. 'I've left my wrap in the hall, so I'll go and collect it.' And without even adding a 'good night' Stella glided gracefully away and was lost to view as she entered the house. Kathy stood long enough to watch the rear lights of the car disappearing among the trees at the end of the drive and then she too went into the house, to take dinner alone in the atmosphere of flowers and candlelight, silver and crystal glass.

True to his promise Adam returned that night, arriving just before eleven o'clock. 'Oh, Adam,' she said involuntarily, 'I have missed you!' His eyes flickered with an odd expression before settling on her face, noting the wistful eyes, the tremulous movement of the lips. What he did not know was the effect his presence had upon her, that she was caught in a net of emotion, thrilling in every nerve at being with him again. 'Anyone would think I'd been away a month,' he said in teasing tones. And then, more seriously, 'What have you been doing with yourself?' 'I played with the children now and then, but Calliope is very possessive, I'm afraid, and she doesn't seem to want them out of her sight.' 'It's not possessiveness as much as respect for you, my dear. To Calliope it is not at all the correct thing for her master's future wife to be looking after children as if she were a servant.' He changed the subject without affording her time to say anything to this. 'Has Stella gone to bed?' 'No, she's gone to dine with some friends who are staying at the Xenia Hotel.' Kathy watched for his reaction and saw that he remained totally untroubled. 'She might just get into conversation with my stepmother,' she added quietly. Adam, having discarded his overcoat, put it on a chair and rang the bell for Lakis. 'She might,' he agreed, nodding his head slightly. 'But it's hardly likely that your stepmother's going to confide anything to a stranger.'

He looked interrogatively at her. 'This has been troubling you, I take it?' 'I must admit I felt a trifle uneasy when Stella said she was going to the Xenia Hotel, knowing as I did that my stepmother will be arriving there this evening.' 'I shouldn't let it worry you,' said Adam casually, transferring his gaze when Lakis knocked, and entered the room. He picked up the coat, and the briefcase which Adam had put down by the door. 'You want something to eat, Mr Adam?' 'Just a sandwich, Lakis, and some black coffee.' 'Yes, I will bring these at once.' But he waited, because Adam was looking at Kathy. 'Do you want anything?' asked Adam. 'A nice hot milk drink?' 'Of the kind you would give to a child to help it to sleep?' she said, but to herself, and she wondered what Adam would say if she asked for a double brandy. Her thoughts actually bringing a smile to her lips, Adam raised his eyebrows and inquired suavely, 'What have I said that you find so amusing, child?' 'Nothing,' she answered briefly. He looked hard at her, his eyes faintly narrowed. 'Do you want a drink?' he repeated tersely, and with a glance at his servant, who was waiting patiently for her to say what she would like.

'Yes, please; I'll have a white coffee.' They sat together in the sitting-room, talking casually, but for Kathy it was an intimate interlude, and a happy one. For Adam was here, and judging by the way he lingered on long after his refreshments were gone, she decided he must be as content in her company as she was in his. And when at last he did move he stood up and, reaching for her eager hand, he brought her up beside him. 'Good night, my dear,' he said gently, and touched her lips with his. 'Good night, Adam.' His kiss had brought enchanting colour to her cheeks, and her eyes were dreamy. Adam stared down into her face, his gaze unfathomable. A nerve pulsed in his throat; his lips began to move and it seemed he would break the intense hush that had fallen on the room. But then he turned away from her, crossing the thick carpet to open the door for her. 'Sleep well, my child,' he said almost curtly. 'Tomorrow is an important day for you—and unless I am very much mistaken it will be a profitable one.' His tone had changed and a grim thread of determination ran through it. She thought: Adam will never be able to give me what I really want, but he will not fail to ensure that justice is done.

Promptly at ten the car arrived, crunching to a halt at the imposing front entrance of the villa. Kathy, standing with Adam on the flowerdraped patio, watched the car from the moment it appeared at the far end of the drive, and now she felt her heart give an uncomfortable jerk as she saw the two women get out. Natalie, dressed in the height of fashion, opened an expensive crocodile skin handbag and drew forth some paper money which she handed to the taxi-driver. Carla was standing aside, staring in what could only be described as

wonderment at the stately white villa with its pillared facade, its marble steps, its flower- draped verandahs. Her eyes moved to the delightfully laid-out gardens which formed the immediate setting, but then they wandered all around, to the green hills, the two spurs of the golden bay, and then to the shimmering turquoise sea where, not far from the shore, several little caiques bobbed about, their blue and red and green hulls reflected in the water. It was a peaceful scene, and an idyllic one. Kathy could not help wondering what the girl's thoughts were at this moment. Carla glanced up, and saw the two people standing there, but Lakis was already at the front door and Carla had time only for a fleeting glance before she entered the hall of the villa. She and her mother were shown into the sitting-room, and it was there that they were introduced to Adam—after he had deliberately kept them waiting for almost ten minutes. 'Your—fiancé!' gasped Carla before she could stop herself. 'You're engaged?' She was not looking at Kathy, however, but up into the dark and handsome face of Adam, and the expression in her eyes could only be described as one of envy. 'I must say that I'm as amazed as Carla that you should be engaged.' Natalie's eyes were narrowed and hard as steel. Kathy, watching Adam, saw the deep contempt written on his face, and Natalie saw it too. She said haughtily, 'However, as our business is private, Kathy, I must request you to let us conduct it alone.' A glint of ice entered Adam's eyes; he was angered, but he did not show it, his voice being cool and calm as he said, 'As Kathy's future husband I am naturally involved in this business -' 'Involved, Mr Kanaris ... or merely interested?'

Kathy caught her breath at the implication. She spoke involuntarily, indignation causing her to forget all she had been told by Adam, the most important of which was to leave the talking to him. 'You're suggesting that Adam is interested in the money?' Automatically she swept a hand, embracing the luxurious contents of the room. 'Does it look as though he would be!' 'If we can sit down,' intervened Adam in his quiet, finely-timbred tones, 'this business can possibly be conducted speedily. Mrs Lindon, please take a seat on the couch—your daughter also.' With a haughty, aristocratic motion of a hand he indicated the couch, which was situated so that anyone sitting on it would be facing the full glare of the light. 'I'll sit down, yes,' snapped the woman, 'but I shall not discuss business until Kathy and I can do so in private!' Adam raised both hands now, in a gesture which checked the progress of both Natalie and her daughter as they were about to make their way to the couch. 'In that case, Mrs Lindon, there is no point in your remaining here, in my house. As Kathy's guardian I am not willing to leave her alone in your company. I'll ring for my manservant, who will show you out.' 'Mother,' broke in Carla, speaking urgently, 'we've come all this way in order to settle the matter, so it's no use adopting this kind o£ attitude.' She turned to Adam. But she did not speak for a long moment; she was too absorbed in an examination of his arresting figure, his handsome, classical features, his intensely dark eyes and hair. She seemed to catch her breath, and her mouth moved convulsively. Kathy recalled how she had always had a way with men, and how they had invariably been attracted by her beauty and poise. Kathy had always felt like a little country wench in

comparison. But now—now there was no doubt at all that Carla was wild with envy that her shy and despised little stepsister had found herself so desirable and wealthy a husband. One day, thought Kathy, Carla would probably learn that the marriage had not taken place, but for the present Kathy was not troubled by anything; she was basking in the sunlight, outshining Carla for the time since they had met. She would not have been human had she not been enjoying this situation. 'Mr Kanaris,' said Carla at last, 'as you seem to know all about this matter we're here to settle, then stay by all means.' His eyes glinted, roaming with arrogant contempt over Carla's face. She coloured, put out, but angry as well. 'I intend to stay,' he told her coldly. 'I thought I had made that clear at the outset?' Natalie shifted uncomfortably but sent a glowering glance in her stepdaughter's direction. At length she drew a breath and said resignedly, 'Let us get it over and done with, then!' Inclining his head, Adam again indicated the couch; the two sat down. Then, drawing out a chair for Kathy, close to the table at which he himself was intending to sit, he touched her shoulder reassuringly as she sat down. When he himself was seated he drew towards him a writing pad and picked up a pen. 'And now...he began, and continued to talk for about five minutes, after which he looked at his visitors questioningly. They were both staring at him as if in a trance. Natalie was the first to break the silence, her voice throaty, her face red with fury and disbelief. 'You must be mad to demand so much! You don't seem to understand that I, as his wife, have first claim on the estate of this girl's father! I

am willing to give her something, but certainly not half of the estate! What about my own daughter? Am I supposed to reduce her to poverty by giving away her share to my stepdaughter?' Ice looked out from Adam's eyes. Kathy shivered, and for the first time began to wonder if being married to him would be one wide bed of roses. There was a ruthlessness about him now, and she suddenly recalled having discovered this before. 'I am demanding for Kathy only what she is legally entitled to -' 'Legally!' interrupted Carla in high-pitched tones. 'I should have thought, legally, she is not entitled to anything!' 'Then why,' queried Adam promptly, 'did you take the trouble to come here at all?' Put out by this, Carla subsided, leaving her mother to answer Adam's question. 'We thought that Kathy should have something, so we decided to come to talk the matter over with her.' Adam's mouth twisted with contempt. 'You came here, Mrs Lindon, because you are hoping to avoid a court case. After all, a court case will be costly—and as you have the entire fortune, then inevitably the entire cost of the court proceedings will come from you.' Natalie coloured, and her mouth tightened savagely. The money was like a god to her and the very mention of losing some of it had enraged her.

'Shall we try to reach an agreement?' she flashed, then added instantly, 'And let us speak of a sum which is sensible—not half of the estate!' Adam was writing, slowly and—to Natalie at least— with maddening deliberation. His expression was taut, but there was a composure about him which should have convinced Natalie that she fought a losing battle. 'I cannot help feeling, Mrs Lindon,' he said at last, glancing up casually from his note pad, 'that you haven't yet accepted that your stepdaughter is under my protection. You are now dealing with me, not a seventeen-year-old child. Either you agree to handing over half the estate or you resign yourself to the court case.' Silence. Kathy, conscious of venomous glances being directed at her from both the women on the couch, looked down at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. But there was a calmness about her which amazed her, for although she had had every confidence in Adam's ability to handle Natalie and her daughter, she had inevitably experienced a degree of trepidation concerning this morning's visit. 'I should have to mortgage my home!' from Natalie with a glowering stare for Adam. 'And this I do not intend doing!' Calmly he inclined his head; he dropped the pen on to the table and stood up. 'You will be hearing from Kathy's solicitor,' he told her quietly and, without even waiting to see how she had taken this, he went to the door, opened it and stood to one side. 'Good morning, Mrs Lindon.' Lakis was in the hall and Adam beckoned him. 'Show these two ladies to the front door,' he said.

Both women had risen to their feet; both were crimson with fury, but on Natalie's face there was bitter hatred also, and a sort of resigned frustration. 'We've not made any headway at all,' she said in rasping tones. 'You're unreasonable, Mr Kanaris! If I could speak to my stepdaughter alone -' 'Not a chance, Mrs Lindon.' She stood, undecided, looking from Adam to her daughter. 'We can't do it,' she said to Carla, and at the catch of tears in her voice Kathy could almost have intervened, to tell Adam that she was quite willing to accept much less than a half share. But on glancing at him and noting his firm implacable countenance she refrained from opening her mouth at all. 'We'd be ruined!' 'You'd have the same as Kathy,' Adam pointed out. 'Your greed, Mrs Lindon, appals me. You must know, in your heart, that you are robbing this child of what is rightly hers? Had her mother foreseen what was to come she would most certainly have left everything to her daughter, and not to her husband. In that event, Mrs Lindon, you and this daughter of yours -' Here he flicked a disparaging hand in Carla's direction, causing that young lady to squirm and at the same time send him a vicious glance. 'You would have received nothing except what your husband happened to have of his own,' continued Adam. 'I still believe I'm entitled to the lion's share of this estate!' 'Very well. We shall let the court decide. Lakis— open the front door!'

The two departed. Kathy turned to Adam, bewilderment in her lovely eyes. 'I could manage with much less,' she said. 'But you're not going to.' A smile hovered on Adam's lips. 'Your stepmother will be back,' he said with confidence. 'Give her time to think about it and she'll be more than willing to settle out of court.' And he was right. Natalie contacted him the following day, almost hysterical with fury and frustration, but quite ready to capitulate. Half!' she cried in a frenzy. 'I'll have to mortgage the property! And I'd planned to spend some of my capital on renovations, but half of that's going to her, as well!' No answer came to her from Adam and she continued, 'I'll have to go out to work to repay the mortgage loan!' 'That should not be any hardship, Mrs Lindon. I expect you were a working woman before you landed the rich, and foolish, Mr Lindon.' He had gone on to tell her that she had done a very wise thing in agreeing to pay. 'Had you let this matter go to court you could have lost much more. And without any doubt at all the entire costs of the case would have come from you. Consider yourself lucky, Mrs Lindon, and count your blessings. By the way, I shall expect this business to be settled without delay. Mr Fulton will be arranging for an immediate valuation of the property, its entire contents, and any other assets including all monies in banks.' Lakis had shown her out and when Kathy arrived at the villa after having been to town to do some shopping, the good news was conveyed to her by Adam.

'Oh, but you are good to me!' she exclaimed and, without even thinking about what she was doing, she flung her arms around him and, raising herself up on tiptoe, she kissed him on the lips.

CHAPTER TEN IT was ten minutes past four and Lucy, having escaped the vigilant eye of Calliope, had raced across the garden to where she had seen Kathy strolling towards the gate. 'Are you going for a walk?' she wanted to know, and Kathy nodded her head, her eyes wandering towards the house. 'Can I come with you?' 'Where is Calliope?' 'I ran away from her! She doesn't know where I am!' 'Then you can go back. You know very well that your uncle will be cross with you for running off without telling her where you were going.' 'I want to go and explore a pool, like we used to.' 'Then go and ask Calliope if you may.' 'All right. But wait for me, won't you?' 'Of course. Doesn't Jennifer want to come as well?' 'No; she wants to read her book.' Lucy ran off, Kathy smiling as she watched her. It was seldom now that she had the opportunity of spending time with the children, and she hoped Calliope would not stop Lucy coming for a walk with her. She need not have worried; within a couple of minutes the child was racing back and, having reached her, she said breathlessly, 'I can come with you—but I have to be good!'

'I expect you will be,' laughed Kathy, taking the little hand that was being extended to her. 'Where would you like to go?' 'That pool where we saw those lovely birds!' 'Very well. But you have to be very quiet or they won't come to drink.' 'I'll be quiet. I want to see the herons again, and the sandpipers.' They wandered through the gate and on to the un- paved road; after a little while they were in the low- lying land, walking through a region of maquis, the wild scrub found on many Mediterranean islands. 'There's the pool,' whispered Lucy at last. 'Mind, now, don't tread on a dead twig!' 'And don't you begin talking,' returned Kathy. 'They'll hear you even if you whisper.' Drawing closer to the pool, they stood for a while, then settled down among some bushes. Time passed, but the birds were not to be seen, and at length Lucy, tired of doing nothing, got up and said she wanted to go to another pool. 'There isn't time,' said Kathy, glancing at her watch. 'Calliope will be wanting to give you your tea.' 'Oh, all right!' Lucy sat down again, her eyes on the pool. All was silent for a moment or two and then, breaking into the silence, came the swish of wings and a heron came down, to rest on the edge of the pool where, standing on one long slender leg, it began preening itself. Delighted, Lucy could not keep still; she had to rise to her feet in order to see more and the heron, lifting its head swiftly, rose on its wings and flew away.

'Oh!' cried Lucy in deep disappointment. 'Why did it do that?' Kathy had to laugh. 'Because you scared it, you chump!' 'I only stood up. I didn't talk!' 'Never mind; we can come again. In any case, we'd have had to move in a few minutes,' she added with another glance at her wrist-watch. Stella was on the terrace when they returned to the garden. She stared strangely at Kathy, and something in that stare caused Kathy's pulse to quicken. But the girl said nothing, merely pulling on her cigarette and turning a rather bored face to the sea. At dinner time that evening Stella seemed to have something on her mind, something which was affording her a great measure of satisfaction. Adam, unsmiling as usual when in her company, spoke to Kathy now and then, but no real conversation took place. 'I shall be moving more of my belongings in next week,' said Stella just before the end of the meal. 'I expect you can let me have an extra room?' Adam seemed to give a slight start, but recovered his composure so quickly that it was scarcely noticeable. 'Moving some more of your things in? You surprise me, Stella.' 'I expected to,' was her rather satisfied rejoinder. A pause followed; Kathy surmised that Adam was endeavouring to find, a reason for this move of his cousin's. 'What are these things?' he inquired at last.

'Furniture mainly -' 'Furniture,' he frowned. 'If I'm to make this my permanent home, Adam, then I naturally desire to surround myself with my own possessions.' Silence. Kathy felt her breath catch, and then she heard Adam say, in a voice of steel, 'I'm afraid there isn't any room for your furniture, Stella.' Her dark eyes opened. 'That promise to my father -' 'Did not include anything about providing storage room for your furniture.' 'If I'm to live here permanently, Adam, I must have my things around me! That's not unreasonable, and if the possibility of your refusing me this had occurred to my father then I'm sure he would have extracted a further promise from you.' Adam's eyes glinted and his nostrils flared. He had been about to accept fruit from the silver basket being presented to him by Lakis, but he waved the man away. 'I hope you haven't already arranged for this stuff to be shipped to Skiathos, Stella,' he said in smouldering tones, 'because if you have, then you've put yourself to unnecessary expense, since it will not enter my house.' 'The stuff has already been shipped and is on its way.' Defiance edged her tones, but somehow Kathy felt sure the girl was lying when she said that the furniture was on its way to Skiathos. She

glanced at Adam, but his expression was unfathomable. Had he too guessed that Stella was lying? 'You're fighting a losing battle,' he told his cousin, and now a softness had edged his voice. Stella's eyelashes flickered; she glanced in Kathy's direction and then away again. 'I don't understand you,' she said, and her cousin actually gave a short laugh. 'You understand me well enough,' he said. Having finished her meal, and feeling decidedly uncomfortable as a witness of this unfriendly scene, Kathy looked at Adam and asked if she might leave them. He hesitated a moment, then nodded his head. 'I'll be with you in a little while, darling,' he said, giving her a tender smile which had the effect of creating a warm little thrill within her. Darling... The word flowed gently through her brain as she made her way through the hall to the front door and, opening it, stepped out into the clear cool air of an autumn night. Darling... He usually employed the term when Stella was around and Kathy had often wondered whether it would sound any different were it really meant. She would never know, she thought, and suddenly a deep dejection enveloped her. She saw the time when she would be leaving— and Stella staying behind, with Adam. Just the two of them after the children had also departed. Surely Stella would win in the end. A deep sigh escaping her, Kathy found a little rustic bower and sat down, peering at the starlit sea through the gently-moving foliage of the trees. Her thoughts strayed to Bill, who had written twice but no more. He was relieved to know that she was in a good post, and had a

home into the bargain. He was sorry he could not do anything for her as regards the contesting of the will. However, they must remain friends, and on her return she must contact him and, if she needed help in finding a job, and a flat, he would be only too willing to help her. 'Your island sounds fabulous,' he had written in his final paragraph. 'I only wish I could visit you, but you say you'll not be there more than a few months. I'm glad my advice about your taking the cruise had such advantageous results. See you on your return.' And he had signed it, 'Very sincerely yours, Bill.' Most certainly she would contact him on her return, and how surprised he would be on learning of her success in claiming half the estate of her father! She would seek his help and advice about buying a house. As for a job—well, there would be no urgency now, since there would be plenty of money over, money which, Adam had said, could be invested to bring her a fairly comfortable income. Later, though, thought Kathy, she would find some occupation—she would have to, if only to keep her mind from Adam, and her own foolishness in falling in love with him. Would he and she keep in touch? She rather thought that he would very soon tire of writing letters to her. That was, if he ever started a correspondence with her, which was exceedingly doubtful. He had done a great deal for her, and could do no more about assistance. And so it was reasonable to assume that, once she left his home and returned to her own country, he would not be particularly interested in her activities. But for her he would remain for ever her dear benefactor; never would she forget to be grateful for what he had done, or for the affection and comfort he had afforded her whenever he saw that she was feeling lost or unhappy.

'It's no wonder I love him,' she murmured, a little catch of hopelessness in her whispered words. 'He's so good and kind and understanding.' A sound brought her head up; two figures were silhouetted against the lights of the sitting-room window. She heard Stella's voice, but the words were indistinct. The figures drew closer. Kathy held her breath, some wild and cruel thought telling her that in a moment she would see the figures come close ... in an embrace. They had resolved their differences and were now friends. Friends ... ? Or sweethearts? 'You loved me once, Adam -' 'I told you not to follow me! Can't you see that I despise you?' 'You're merely trying to convince yourself that your love for me is dead! But if it was then you'd have married long before now. Nine years, Adam, since we were engaged to be married. All right, I made a mistake in giving you up -' 'You threw me over for a wealthier man! At that time I hadn't come into my father's money. In any case, my father didn't approve of you and you were afraid he wouldn't leave it to me anyway! No, Stella, you can't wipe that out by coming here and saying you're sorry.' Kathy, aware that the two were very close, shrank back in her seat and tried to merge with the foliage of the lower trees and bushes. Would they pass on, or would they just stand about, as they appeared to be doing at this moment. 'This engagement -' Stella's voice held amusement and derision as she added, 'A sham! I suspected it from the first, but was clever enough to keep my suspicions hidden. But I watched, and I found my suspicions being strengthened. I tried to move you to some sort of

action by saying I'd stay for the wedding, but with your customary lack of emotion you remained totally unruffled. It was when -' 'Stella,' broke in Adam in tones which, like hers, were very quiet, 'I must ask you to leave me. I wish to be alone.' 'Not with your—fiancée?' Again amusement tinged the girl's soft voice. 'She's only a child to you, Adam, and you treat her like one. Why, she herself looks upon you as a father.' A pause and then, 'If you're honest you won't deny it. She does look upon you as a father.' No answer; Adam could not deny this because he believed it to be true. 'As I was about to say when you interrupted,' continued Stella, whose perfume wafted towards Kathy's nostrils even though the girl was, like Adam, out of sight, 'it was when I happened—by the greatest chance—to meet those two women in the Xenia Hotel that I had definite proof that the engagement was a sham, entered into just to fool me.' Adam said, as if he was forced to put the question, 'What did this Mrs Lindon tell you -? I know you were speaking about her just now, but you merely said that on getting into conversation with her you realized I was not intending to marry Kathy.' 'Well, I met these friends of mine and we went into the bar for drinks. These two were there, having just arrived on the boat. Someone came—a porter, I think —and mentioned the name Lindon. Well, it was just too much of a coincidence for me not to engage this woman in conversation, since I knew we had one Lindon on the island already—this girl you had thought fit to befriend. The woman was not too sociable and it was the daughter who mentioned that they were here to do some business with a Miss Kathy Lindon, and she asked me how she might find the Villa Carana -' 'Did you say you lived in the same house as Kathy?'

'Of course not. I didn't want her to go telling you and the child I'd been speaking to her.' Kathy was still holding her breath, afraid of revealing her presence. She wished now she had made her escape at first, immediately the two had come within hearing distance. Stella was speaking again, but so very quietly that Kathy did not catch her words, but she gathered she was merely adding to what she had already said—about not wanting either Adam or Kathy to know she had been speaking to Natalie. Kathy wondered if Adam was—like Kathy herself— recalling Kathy's anxiety that the two might by some chance have met at the hotel. Adam had been casual, never realizing, of course, that the result of such a meeting could have such dire repercussions. Kathy could catch Stella's words again; the girl was actually confessing to having listened to what went on when Natalie and Carla made their first visit to the villa. 'You listened!' from Adam with harsh disgust. 'What kind of a woman are you?' 'All's fair in love, Adam,' replied Stella, and now her voice was a soft caress ... and a plea. 'I still love you—oh, yes, I humble myself to tell you, but you're hard and cruel, Adam! You won't humble yourself— not yet—because you're still bitter and hurt. But I know you still love me, nevertheless -' 'Go on with what you were saying!' he snapped. 'I am not interested in -all that sentimental rubbish!' 'Good,' thought Kathy. 'Good for you, Adam! Don't have her—she isn't worthy of you.' 'Well, as I've indicated, being aware that they had come all the way to Skiathos to talk business with Kathy, I naturally felt curious to learn

what that business was. So I watched for them arriving, then, when I knew which room you were all in, I went on to the verandah—it's fortunate you have verandahs to every room, isn't it?' added Stella sweetly, and Kathy did wonder what was Adam's expression at this moment. He would look like murder, she thought, scarcely able to repress a shudder. 'Carry on!' commanded Adam, and even in the quietness of his tone there was a harsh contemptuous note. 'The moment I realized that you were fighting for an inheritance of which Kathy had apparently been robbed, I knew at once that she wasn't to be your wife -' 'And why were you so sure?' An odd inflection in his voice now, and Kathy frowned a little, for somehow she felt that, could she read his expression at this moment, she would discover something of great importance. 'Why?' Stella gave a short laugh. 'Simply because, Adam, you're not the one to go to all that trouble for an amount of money that would, beside your millions, be a mere pittance. Kathy as your wife would have everything she wanted, and more. So why, I asked myself, had you gone to the trouble of forcing her stepmother to hand over some of her husband's money to the girl? The answer wasn't very difficult, now, was it? The money was for Kathy's future security.' A silence ensued and after a while Kathy began to wonder if they had gone and she had not heard their footsteps on the grass. But just as she was deciding to risk taking a peep, Adam spoke. 'And so, because of these conclusions, you decided to hold a gun at my head by saying that you were moving furniture into my house?'

'I'm going to settle in, seeing that you're definitely not going to marry this child.' 'You were lying when you said the furniture was on its way.' A statement, and a small silence followed. 'It's all packed, and ready. They're things I treasure.' 'Packed it must be, since it's had to be moved from your late husband's home.' 'It's coming here, Adam.' Another silence and then, 'If I had been going to marry Kathy—what then?' 'I suppose I should have had no alternative than to leave your house -' She stopped suddenly, and Kathy actually heard her catch her breath. 'You'd—you'd marry her—just to spite me?' No answer. Kathy felt her heart rise right up into her throat. Adam marry her! But only to spite his cousin... 'Yes! I see that you would marry her!' No longer was Stella's voice quiet. 'You fool, Adam, to think of marrying her when you love me -' 'I do not love you!' 'I as a woman know that you do. You worshipped me -' 'When I was twenty-six. Nine-years ago! Do you think that I could possibly feel the same today?' 'You've never married, Adam.' 'And so you believe I've been waiting for you?' The sneer in his voice was more than evident.

'I know you love me still.' So confident the ring in Stella's voice, so silent the interlude which followed. Something seemed to die within Kathy's heart. She felt sure that Stella was right, that Adam did still love her—for why else could she speak so confidently? Why would she have come in the first place if she had not been optimistic of bringing about a reconciliation? Adam had—in order to protect himself—used Kathy, shamming an engagement in the hope that Stella would leave in haste. His plans had gone all awry, simply because Stella had not been deceived. Her suspicions having early been aroused, she had watched, as she confessed. Then fate had aided her in the most unforeseen manner: she had come into contact with Natalie, and although nothing more than a few casual words had been exchanged, Stella had heard sufficient to make her realize that it would be well worth her while to listen in to what transpired during the visit of Natalie to the Villa Carana. And so she had astutely guessed the truth—that Adam had used Kathy and that the engagement meant nothing at all. What now? Would the past hurt be forgotten by Adam? He had once worshipped her, Stella had asserted ... and Adam had all but admitted it. Stella was beautiful; she was poised and arresting. She was not a child.... She was a sophisticated woman who would, from the social aspect, make Adam an eminently suitable wife. The heavy silence had ceased some moments ago, Kathy suddenly realized, but so absorbed had she been in her own reflections that the content of the words being spoken by those two just there had not registered. Now, however, she was alert again, but the couple were moving away and she caught only the first part of what Adam was saying, 'All right, then. If you must have the truth, I love... '

The voice faded, and Kathy, her whole body suddenly drained of feeling, sat very still, aware of a sensation like that of iced water being poured on her bare back. She shivered, but presently was able to rise; her legs were shaky and she felt almost physically ill. Adam had at last been driven to admitting that he loved his cousin. He would marry her ... and send Kathy away. He no longer needed her, either to care for the children or to aid him in a deception.

She had gone to her room, for although Adam had said he would be with her later she did not suppose he was even remembering that promise, so absorbed would he be with Stella. And so she was astonished when, a few minutes after entering the room, a gentle knock sounded on the door and she heard Adam's voice saying, 'Kathy, are you there?' 'Yes.' A terrible spasm shot through her, leaving her shaking visibly. He was going to tell her everything— that he was once engaged to Stella, that he still loved her. He would then say, apologetically, that he no longer needed Kathy, and that, as he was going to marry Stella, he thought it would be best if she, Kathy, made early arrangements to leave the island. 'What's wrong? Can I come in?' She had no excuse for not seeing him, and even though she had no wish to hear what he had to say, she knew she would have to hear it some time.

'I'll come out,' she said, and opened the door. He stood there, immaculate and cool as ever, nothing in his expression that would tell her anything at all. 'I said I'd be with you later, I'm sorry I was so long, but I was delayed. Come, we'll take our usual little stroll round the garden.' So he was intending to take her outside before telling her. He knew how she loved the garden at night, when the air was fresh and the heavens filled with stars. 'Very well,' she complied, but at the little catch of desolation in her voice he stopped and, taking her chin in his hand, he forced her to look into his face. Her mouth trembled convulsively, and a sudden brightness entered her eyes. Adam frowned, nonplussed. 'What is it, child?' He sounded anxious, she thought. 'Are you feeling off-colour?' 'No, I'm all right.' 'Get a coat; it's late and so it will be a little chilly.' She brought it and stood while he helped her on with it. She felt his arms close to her, his hands touching her shoulders. Tears filled her eyes and she kept her head averted until they had come down and entered the garden. 'You were right; it is chilly.' She had felt cold before, when she was out there, listening to what was passing between Adam and his cousin, but now she was colder still. Adam stopped at once. 'We'll go back,' he said, and turned, taking her hand in his as he did so. 'I have something to say to you, Kathy, and it's important. I wanted to say it here, in the garden which you love so much, but I'm not having you staying out here if you're cold.'

'I don't mind,' she returned flatly. 'Tell me, Adam, and get it over and done with.' 'Get -!' He stared as if he couldn't quite believe his ears. 'What did you say?' Wearily she repeated, 'Tell me, and get it over and done with.' His dark eyes narrowed. 'It would appear,' he said, a chill entering his tone, 'that you have some idea of what I am going to say?' She nodded her head. 'Yes,' she returned briefly. He gave an exasperated sigh. 'What on earth's the matter with you, Kathy? You're cold, you say, so we'll go inside, but as for this—this mood you're in -' 'It isn't a mood, Adam,' she broke in, distressed at the idea of his becoming angry with her. 'And as for being cold—I'm not terribly cold.' 'Nevertheless, we'll go into the house,' he decided, and within a couple of minutes he was taking her coat from her and laying it over a chair. Lakis had earlier set a light to some pine logs and they were sending a rosy glow flickering around the room. 'Sit here.' His voice had become gentle, his hand was almost tender as he put her into a big armchair by the fire. Taking possession of the one on the other side of the hearth, he looked across at her for a long moment before speaking.

'Something's happened,' he said, keeping his eyes fixed on hers. 'I can't even begin to guess what it is— in fact, it seems impossible that anything could have happened since you left the dinner table.' Here he paused, offering her an opportunity of explaining. Kathy decided to take it, feeling it would save him a good deal of time and trouble. 'I overheard everything you and Stella were saying to one another, out there, in the garden.' She went on to tell him that she fully understood that he would wish her to leave, seeing that he was in love with his cousin, after having been engaged to her so long ago. 'I'll—I'll go as s-soon as I c-can,' she ended, choking back the persistent tears that had settled in a cloud behind her eyes. 'I—I want to—to thank you, though, dearest Adam, for—for all you've d-done f-for me...' Her voice trailed away to silence as she saw the expression that had come to his eyes. 'So that's what's wrong? Tell me, how did you come to be listening? I ask because eavesdropping appears to have become a habit with the females around here.' She knew to what he alluded. Stella had openly admitted to listening in to the discussion going on in the sitting-room that morning. What surprised Kathy now was the disparaging manner in which he had spoken. If he loved Stella 'Kathy,' he broke in, and now a stern inflection edged his voice, 'I asked you a question!' She explained about being in the bower. 'I realized I should have moved,' she added. 'But by then I felt it was too late, because you'd both been speaking for a little while.'

'So you heard everything... ' he murmured, going back to what she had told him at first. 'And you fully understand that I want you to leave?' 'That's right,' she answered huskily. Another intake of his breath denoting exasperation. But he did not speak for a while, merely keeping his dark eyes upon her face, a face of exquisite beauty— young, unblemished, with clear alabaster skin through which, at the temples, blue veins stood out, enhancing a picture already made more breathtaking by the tender caresses of the firelight. 'You said you'd heard me say I was in love with my cousin,' he said at last, and although it cost her much, Kathy did manage to say, 'Yes, Adam, I heard you say you loved her.' A shuddering sigh followed the words and, unwilling to have her suffer any more, Adam rose swiftly from his chair, took a couple of lithe steps, reached for her hand and drew her into his embrace. Her quivering lips parted, to voice a protest, but they were instantly claimed, and held for a long, long moment before, drawing his mouth from hers, he put her at arm's length, shook his head admonishingly and said, 'I ought to spank you for spoiling my carefully-prepared scene!' 'That was not a fatherly kiss,' she quivered, cutting in between his own words. 'It wasn't meant to be!' was his grim retort. 'But—but -' She stared at him, into eyes that were tender despite their grimness. 'What about Stella?' 'What about her?'

'You love her -' 'I knew I would end up by giving you a shake,' and he instantly put his threat into action. She took hold of the lapels of his coat and hung on, and when presently he had given her enough she was half laughing, half crying. But the tears were the result of heightened emotions, not pain. 'There's been some mistake,' she murmured huskily. 'It must be me you love.' 'Kathy ... child, I give up!' 'Oh, do you, Adam?' 'Tell me exactly what you heard?' She told him, then looked sheepishly into his face. 'The word I missed wasn't "Stella", was it?' 'It was "Kathy", you know that now:' 'I thought you looked upon me as a daughter.' 'And I believed you looked upon me as a father ... until a short while ago. You gave yourself away, my darling, but even if you hadn't I was going to ask you to marry me—out there, in the garden,' he added pointedly, just to remind her of his earlier statement about her spoiling his carefully-prepared scene. 'I'm sorry, Adam. But you must admit it's pleasant here, in the firelight?' A tender smile curved his lips.

'Very pleasant, my love.' 'I can't quite take it in yet,' she said, and snuggled near to his breast as if for reassurance. He held her close, aware of her racing heartbeats and wondering if his own were racing in a similar manner. 'When did you know you loved me, Adam?' she questioned at last, lifting her head to look at him. 'I don't really know. There have been—for me— many tender moments, and I have admitted to myself that to see you leave Skiathos would be a wrench that was going to leave a void in my life that would be impossible to fill. When I spoke those words tonight— the words of which you heard all except the vital one at the end— they were the truth, as I told Stella. I'm sorry you were so hurt by missing that word, my love.' 'You were moving away—and in any case, it seemed to fit—-that you must love her-—or so it seemed to me, sitting there, listening to it all.' 'Nonsense! It didn't fit in at all. I scarcely spoke a civil word to her!' 'Well, you see, I missed some of it,' she confessed. 'A vital part, obviously, when she was persisting in her challenge -' He stopped, then said impatiently, 'What does it matter? We have other things to talk about, much more interesting than Stella.' But Kathy had to ask where the girl was at this moment. 'Gone up to bed—or probably to pack. She's leaving tomorrow afternoon on the Thira, which will take her to Athens.'

'So much is explained,' Kathy was murmuring some time later when, sitting on her dear benefactor's knee, the firelight glow on her lovely face, she leaned from him a little so as to give him a happy smile. 'There were times, you see, when Stella seemed to be re-living some past memory...' She tailed off, then said, 'I'm sorry, Adam, I do remember you said we wouldn't talk about her again.' 'I do realize that you must have been extremely puzzled, my darling, but in the beginning, I saw no advantage in taking you completely into my confidence -—in any case, my engagement to Stella was not a thing I wanted to talk about.' Kathy said nothing and after a while he broached the subject of her inheritance. 'I'll have it invested for you, dear, and this will mean you'll have some money of your very own. I shall give you everything, beloved, but it will be nice for you to have your own, don't you think?' She nodded and smiled. It was just like Adam to understand that when it came to birthdays and Christmas and anniversaries she might like to have the added pleasure of knowing she really had bought him presents out of her own money, and not from the allowance he himself gave to her. Adam's arms were tight about her; he drew her head down, taking her lips in a passionate kiss that left her flushed and breathless. She was very shy suddenly, but she was no longer a child. 'When will you marry me, my love?' he asked, and Kathy, her beautiful eyes filled with mischievous laughter, reminded him that he had not yet proposed to her, so she could scarcely fix a date. He gave her a little shake, then tugged her hair, just for good measure. 'And whose fault is that?' he demanded. 'I had the scene all set in my mind—the garden—there wasn't a full moon, granted, but I wasn't intending to wait for that! Yes, the garden, the breeze blowing in

from the sea, the stars -Oh, never mind! Will you marry me, my dearest Kathy—soon?' A happy laugh escaped her. 'But of course, dearest Adam—just whenever you like!' she said, contentedly nestling her head against his breast, but turning her face up to his, eagerly inviting his kiss.