Dark Enigma, page 7
'You are unaccustomed to riding in cars, Miss Gordon?' he asked, and she gave him a brief, suspicious look from the corner of her eye before she answered.
'I haven't very often ridden in one,' she admitted. 'Whenever Niki and I went anywhere we usually took a taxi, or sometimes went on the bus.'
'I thought so.' He started up the car and she frowned at him because she was curious and he looked like leaving her so. Then he half turned his head again. 'It is a dangerous practice to put a child into the front seat of a car,' he told her. 'He is much safer in the back.'
'Oh, I see, I didn't realise that.'
'Obviously.' He put the car in gear and as they set off along the deserted road he once again turned those disturbing black eyes on her. 'In my country women do not argue, Miss Gordon,' he said coolly, and Carey caught her breath at the sheer arrogance of him.
'Mr Karamalis, if you think '
T suggest you lean back your head and relax,' Dimitri advised, as if she had not spoken. 'You have had a little too much sun and too much emotional upset this morning and you should take matters easily for an hour or two, eh?'
'Are you suggesting that I'm—overwrought because I object to the way you speak to me?' she demanded, and could scarcely believe the slight curve that showed for a moment at the corners of his mouth.
1 I am suggesting that you learn to adapt to your new environment. Miss Gordon, you will find it so much more easy for you if you d(^ And you have had a little too much sun, also you are overwrought, so why not do as I say and lean back your head?'
Incredibly she found herself doing as he said, for there was an almost hypnotic quality about that deep, quiet voice, and argument had already proved futile with this man. So she sighed and leaned back in her seat, resigned for the moment, but by no means subdued.
CHAPTER FOUR
It was a little over three weeks since she and Niki arrived in Greece, and just lately Carey had found herself having to rethink quite a few hastily formed opinions. Not least of them was Niki's relationship with Dimitri, for there seemed to be a definite rapport between them that was, to her at least, quite unexpected. It pleased her for Niki's sake that he seemed to have taken to the sternest of his three uncles, but on the other hand it left her feeling that she had been ousted from her place as the most important person in his life.
When they lived in England his natural father had taken very little interest in him, seeing him merely as an unfortunate consequence of his affair with Aliki, so that the firm hand of masculine authority was a new experience for him. But one that he was not altogether averse to, judging by his attitude towards Dimitri ever since the day he had lectured him for wandering off on his own. Seeing
how subdued he had been on that occasion, Carey had expected resentment, but instead he seemed to appreciate having a man in charge, and it occurred to her that on the subject of Dimitri, she and Niki no longer saw eye to eye.
Niki liked his grandmother too, which was more understandable, and he had gone off with her quite happily that morning to visit relatives in Athens. Rather at a loss without him, Carey found herself a book and made her way towards the pool, but she hadn't gone more than a few steps from the house when Mitso caught up with her, and guessing what was in his mind, she almost turned back; she was always very wary where Mitso was concerned.
It being Saturday he wasn't required to go to the office in Athens, so he was looking for something to amuse him, and seeing Carey he obviously decided that she was exactly what he was looking for. He approached her smiling broadly and so sure of his welcome that Carey wondered whether there was ever anyone more sure of himself than Mitso.. Yet despite her being on her guard with him her senses still responded, and she believed he was well aware of it; that he banked on it even.
'What are you doing this morning while Mama has taken Nikolas to see Thia Helene?' he asked as he walked along with her, and his hand reached for hers, squeezing it lighdy. 'You have some free time, eh?'
Carey showed him the book she had in her hand. Tm going to sit by the pool and read,' she told him. 'I don't often have the opportunity.'
'And I seldom have the opportunity to see you alone,' Mitso complained in his strongly pedantic English. 'You always have that wretched child with you.'
She never liked his attitude towards Niki, and usually let him see how she felt. 'If you're talking about Niki,' she said, 'your brother pays me to be always with him, and I enjoy looking after him, Mitso.'
'But not every minute of every day,' Mitso insisted, and
squeezed her hand again. 'This morning while Mama has charge of him you can relax a little. You can spare some time for me, eh?*
The trouble with Mitso was that he was alarmingly persuasive when he put his mind to it, but she had made up her mind what she ought to do, and she determinedly freed her hand. T was rather looking forward to my book, Mitso. 5
His dark eyes seeking to persuade her, Mitso leaned his head down and looked into her face. 'Oh, but surely you would prefer to do something more exciting with your free time. Surely there is somewhere that you have wished to go to; somewhere you would have visited if you had not been obliged to take Nikolas with you?'
It was true, though Carey hesitated to tell him so, for it was evident what he was leading up to, and agreeing to go anywhere with him could set a dangerous precedent, she thought. Til be quite happy with my book,' she insisted, but she felt very unsure how strong her will would prove to be if Mitso put himself out to persuade her.
'You do not like Greece?'
How could she answer that? The Greeks were very proud of their country and did not take kindly to those who belittled it. 'What I've seen of it I've liked very much, 5 she told him cautiously, and Mitso laughed.
'And how much is that? I drove you here from the airport, and you once took a walk with Nikolas, when Dimitri drove you back in his car. You have been nowhere else, have you?'
'No/
She made the admission unwillingly because she knew she would demolish her own argument if she said any more. Often she felt she would like to see some of the ancient beauties of Greece, but allowing Mitso to take her wouldn't be wise at all. With Despina Glezos hovering jealously in the background, and the Karamalis family viewing his bold flirtations with a disapproving eye, Mitso
was the last person she should choose to show her the sights.
'Then you must see more of our country,' he decided. 'You would like to, eh?'
Faced with an outright question, how could she deny it, whatever the dangers? 'Of course I'd love to see the temples and palaces and the wonderful churches, but I'll go sightseeing after I leave here, when I'm on my way home. There's time yet.'
'Of course there is,' Mitso agreed readily. 'But it is not good that you go nowhere now. There is somewhere special you would like to see, eh? The Acropolis perhaps, or the Sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron? I will take you wherever you wish to gof
Carey folded her hands tightly together over the book she held, partly because it kept them out of his reach, but also because it helped to strengthen her resistance. 'It's very kind of you,' she began, 'but I don't think -'
( Ehe!' Mitso exclaimed impatiently. T cannot believe that you are so concerned with what Despina will say because I drive you to see some of the sights! I am anxious only that you should see something of my country, Carey, and there must be something that you have a special longing to see. You have only to tell me and I will drive you there!'
When she felt herself wavering, she clasped her hands more tightly than ever to stiffen her resistance, but Mitso noticed and frowned. Taking the book from her, he threw it down on the garden and grasped both her hands in his, looking down into her face and bringing the added persuasion of his dark eyes to bear. The brief upward glance she gave him was her undoing, and she shook her head even while she described the place she had so often thought of visiting. ,
'There's a little temple of some kind, not very far away. I can see it from my bedroom window, among the trees on the hillside, and it always looks so—I don't know exactly,
I can't describe how it makes me feel. It's quite small and very pretty.'
Mitso's eyes had the gleam of satisfaction as he raised her hands to his lips and he kissed her fingers lightly, laughing softly. 'You choose well, orSos mou, and of course I will drive you there. You should know that also this involves a long walk uphill, yes?'
'It won't take long?' She was still anxious about going with him, and also she was thinking about Madame Karamalis coming back with Niki and learning that she had gone sightseeing with Mitso in her absence.
'It will not take long to get there,' Mitso agreed, and kissed her hands again. Looking directly into her eyes, he smiled. 'But you are not forbidden to leave the house, Carey, no one has told you so, I am sure. Not even Dimitri would dare to issue such an order!'
'Oh no, of course he hasn't!' She made a face, mocking her own feeling where Dimitri was concerned. 'I could go out, I know, it's just that so far I haven't made the effort.'
'Then today you will, eh?'
Much as she rued her own weakness, Carey saw herself with little option now, and she nodded. It was all he needed, and Mitso took her hand, changing direction and leading her along the path that took them to the yard where the cars were garaged, smiling now that he had got his way. It was a surprise to both of them to find someone there ahead of them, and Carey caught her breath when Dimitri raised his head from under the bonnet of the Mercedes he usually drove.
Seeing him messing about with the engine was unexpected too, for she had never seen him as a physical man to that extent, and he looked very much the mechanic as he straightened up, wiping his hands on a rag while he fixed his eyes on her. The steady, unwavering gaze had its customary effect, and she could never remain unmoved by Dimitri, though sometimes she despaired of her own susceptibility, and at times even resented it.
He was very little taller than Mitso and yet he seemed so much more overpowering, and that aura of sensuality about him stunned her senses, making her aware of every little detail about him. A light blue shirt showed off his dark complexion, and she sometimes wondered if he was more self-aware than he appeared, and chose the clothes he wore with the deliberate intention of making the most of his considerable sex-appeal.
The shirt was thin, and when he reached up to close the bonnet of the car the darkness of his body showed through it, the open neck revealing a long vee of brown throat. A pair of old and crumpled fawn slacks still fitted close about his lean waist and hips and stretched over muscular legs as he came striding across the yard to them. And Carey was appalled by the sudden weakness of her own legs.
Mitso had evidently decided that the situation called for bravado, and he spoke up before Dimitri reached them, telling him exactly what he proposed to do and quite bla-tandy defying him to do anything about it. 'I am driving Carey into the country/ he told him. 'She wishes to see the temple of Artemis at Naos Lofos and I have promised to take her.'
Dimitri so obviously disapproved that Carey hastened to make her own position clear too, although he had so far said nothing against the trip. 'I've been wanting to see it for some time,' she told him. 'I can see it from my bedroom window and it looks so pretty up there among the trees. I think I'm entitled to some time off, aren't I, Mr Karamalis? I haven't had any since I came/
It was a direct challenge to him to deny her the trip and Dimitri recognised it as such. His black eyes watched her with that same disturbing steadiness still, and made her realise how aggressive she must have sounded, before he'd even said a word against her going. 'I have no objection at all to you having time off, Miss Gordon,' he confirmed, in a voice that was guaranteed to put her firmly in her place, 'nor do I blame you for wishing to see the
sanctuary of Artemis, it is very beautiful.'
'Thank you.'
The colour was warm in her cheeks because he had managed to make her feel as she did without even raising his voice. 'I should point out, however,' he went on, 'that my brother is expected at the home of his fiancee; it is a regular thing that has gone on ever since they became betrothed. Also the road to Naos Lofos leads past the Villa Glezos and I feel it would be rather—indiscreet in the circumstances for Mitso to be seen driving past with you.'
How neatly he managed to work things around to his way, Carey thought furiously, and knew she hadn't a leg to stand on if she was not to appear as uncaring as Mitso often did about Despina Glezos's feelings. T have to agree,' she said in a small voice that made her disappointment obvious. And she was disappointed, no matter how much persuasion it had taken to get her to agree to the trip.
Mitso looked defiantly sulky, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his slacks and hunching his shoulders. 'It would not have mattered to miss one day,' he complained in the face of his brother's calm acceptance of the situation. 'It was not easy to persuade Carey to come with me, and now that she is anxious to go you ask me to disappoint her.'
'Oh, but it really doesn't matter that much,' Carey insisted. 'I can go any time and see the temple, it isn't very far away after all. I could even take a taxi so far and then walk up the hill, if it comes to that.'
Dimitri was still using the rag to wipe oil from his hands and he did not look at her while he spoke. 'That won't be necessary,' he said, 'and you need not be disappointed, Miss Gordon. If you will give me time to clean up and change, I am free for the next few hours and I will be quite willing to drive you there.'
Carey looked up swiftly, for the softness of persuasion in his voice was unmistakable and brought an urgent flutter to her heartbeat. Mitso, in contrast, spoke with the harsh-
ness of anger, and his eyes blazed as he saw himself being out-manoeuvred. It could not be very often it happened, Carey guessed, and he resented it bitterly.
'Epiphf he swore. 'Why should Carey wish to go with you?'
His head slightly back, Dimitri looked at him from below heavy lids, his black eyes challenging. 'You think she will be disappointed?' he suggested, and a faint curve on his wide mouth suggested it was very unlikely. 'You will admit, Mitso, that I am better informed on such matters as the ancient temples than you are, hmm?'
'History!' Mitso jeered, and Dimitri immediately took him up on it, his eyes gleaming.
'Is that not the customary reason for visiting ancient temples?' he asked coolly, and Mitso swore quietly but virulently in his own tongue.
To Carey it was incredible that they should be arguing over which of them should take her, and she listened to them in growing wonder. It was true she would have enjoyed going with Mitso, but she had no doubt that looking at the ruined temple would not have been the main attraction as far as he was concerned. But the thought of going with Dimitri brought a different kind of anticipation altogether, and one that set her whole body throbbing with expectation.
His eyes were turned on her again, heavy-lidded and frankly persuasive. 'Do you still wish to go, Miss Gordon?' he asked, and she nodded unhesitatingly.
'If you have the time,' she said, and Dimitri nodded gravely.
'I will not be very long.'
Mitso, out-manoeuvred and furious about it, turned from them and went striding off back the way they had come, with his hands still in his pockets and his shoulders hunched. Carey as she watched him go felt just a twinge of conscience about him, and heaven knew what was going on behind Dimitri's dark, enigmatic gaze as he followed
his brother's thrusting progress through the shrubbery.
'Will you wait here for me or come back to the house?'
His voice brought her back to earth, and Carey felt the colour once more flood into her face as she looked up at him briefly. T—I think I'll wait here,' she said. 'And please don't hurry on my account.'
He smiled faintly as he turned and hurled the rag he had been using in through the garage door. 'Of course I will,' he said, and Carey took note of the unmistakable satisfaction in his manner.
He must be accustomed to victory, but to Carey there was something very satisfying about the fact that he seemed so pleased about this particular victory.
Carey had so often seen the temple from her window and found something quite beautiful in its slender columns glimpsed at on a wooded hillside. To have caught only glimpses of it teased the senses, and she could not wait to see it close to and in its entirety.
But the drive there made her realise how much farther away it was than it looked from her window, and the end of the drive was by no means the end of the trip. As Mitso had warned her, there was still a long climb up the wooded hillside, but that proved to be much more pleasurable than she expected, for the trees did a lot to keep the heat of the sun at bay, and the ground smelled richly of dead leaves and the cool aroma of earth.
There was a clearing above them and for the last few yards Dimitri lent her a hand, his strong fingers curving into her flesh and adding to the wild, erratic beating of her heart. Even under the trees it was warm and she was glad of the thin blue cotton dress she was wearing, for it had no sleeves and the scooped neck allowed the ever-present wind to her skin.
'We are almost there.'
She turned her head when he spoke and contented herself with a nod because she was so breathless, and she
noticed that he had opened the neck of his shirt still further, until the edges fluttered in the wind, cooling not only his chest but a glimpse of hard, flat stomach as well. There was something infinitely exciting about climbing a wooded hillside with someone as earthily masculine as Dimitri, and the flush on her cheeks wasn't entirely due to the heat.
'Be careful, there are some fallen pillars in the grass.'
They had arrived at a small grass-grown plateau at the summit of the hill, and she stood for a second breathing hard and looking at the temple for the first time without an obscuring screen of trees about it. It was less perfectly preserved than it appeared from a distance, but it was still beautiful, and Carey thrilled to its honey-coloured columns and tiled floor, despite the fact that most of the tiles were broken and barely recognisable.
