第2章

Mandy was shuffling about within the confines of her seat belt as the plane began its descent over the outskirts of Heraklion. The child was by the window and she looked down, then exclaimed excitedly, 'It's like looking at a lot of little dolls' houses, isn't it?'

'I told you, when we were climbing, that everything looks small when you are high in the air.'

'I know. I looked down when we were leaving London and I saw millions of dolls' houses!'

Laura laughed even though her heart was heavy. Whatever the outcome of this trip to Crete, she, Laura, was going to be hurt-and probably the child, too, for a while. Well, see how it goes, had been a favourite saying of Laura's mother, and that was all that Laura could do. She had managed to get the address of her sister from Vera, who also told Laura that Irene had two small children, a boy and a girl. Irene and Joseph Warburton were not married, as he had not bothered to find out whether his wife was willing to divorce him or not. That she might be dead had obviously not occurred to him. Vera had wanted to know the reason why Laura desired to get in touch with her sister. Laura had merely replied that her mother was dead and she wanted to send on the news to Irene. No mention of Mandy; it had not been necessary, and in any case, Phil had warned Laura to keep silent about the taking of the child without getting in touch with the police. And by this time Laura was in fact becoming perturbed, for she could lose her job if she found herself in trouble with the authorities. What had seemed so simple four and a half years ago now seemed fraught with danger, and Laura could only be glad that any repercussions would affect her and not her mother.

'Laura, when are we going to land?' Mandy's attractive, musical voice broke into Laura's thoughts, and she turned to look into her rosy, freckled face.

'In a few moments-Don't fiddle with your belt. You must keep it on.'

'It wouldn't do any good if we had a crash!'

'You are probably right, but keep it on all the same.'

Mandy twisted about until it was possible for her to kiss Laura's chin. 'I love you for bringing me on this beautiful holiday! I love you more than life!'

Laura blinked and said 'Good lord! Where did you hear that?'

'James Brindle. He's my boyfriend at play school.'

'And where did he hear it, I wonder?'

'His daddy said it to his mummy-Ooh, look! We're nearly landing!'

'I said it would only be minutes.'

'James was in an airplane once and he said it bumped when it landed on the ground. Do you think this one will bump?'

'It won't if the pilot is careful.'

'I think it will bump.'

'And I think it won't.'

'Why?' Mandy lifted her face, her big brown eyes puzzled and curious. 'How do you know it won't bump?'

'Darling, I don't know for sure it won't bump, but airplanes don't usually bump when they land.'

'Not even a little bump?' persisted Mandy, displaying that most attractive grin she had.

'It could bump a little,' conceded Laura, shaking her head and laughing.

'Will we see the driver when we land?'

'The pilot?' Laura nodded and said, 'Yes, we probably shall see him.'

'I want to say thank you because Uncle Phil always says thank you to a taxi-driver-if we sometimes have a taxi when he doesn't have his car. Uncle Phil said you must always say thank you to people if they do something nice for you, and this was a nice ride, wasn't it?'

'Very smooth,' returned Laura, the child's mention of Phil bringing back vividly his reaction when she told him she had been successful in obtaining her sister's address from Vera.

'Don't waste time in writing, Laura dear. Take a trip and go over, taking Mandy with you.'

She had looked at him through misty eyes. 'You're suggesting I take her because you hope I shan't be bringing her back, aren't you?'

'I admit I have that possibility in mind. Laura, it would solve the entire problem if her father took her off your hands. Can't you see this?'

'Irene has two children of her own. Will she want to take another?'

'She should do-'

'But you won't take a child who isn't yours?'

He had frowned then and reminded her of the other problems involved. 'You seem to keep on forgetting them,' he said with growing impatience.

And so Laura felt she must take his advice. In any case, Teresa had been taken ill and was to go into hospital for an operation. Her mother had told Laura that it was unlikely that she would be back at work for some months. Another problem which would be solved if Mandy's father accepted her, Phil was quick to remind Laura.

The plane was coming down smoothly and Laura saw the mountains which Phil had told her about. He had decided to gather a little information so that he could pass it on to Laura. It was an island steeped in mythology, with Zeus, mighty king of all the Greek gods of pagan times, being born on the peak of Mt. Ida; and also here on the island was the Palace of Minos in whose dark depths had dwelt the fierce monster-half bull, half man-born of Pasipha?, who had mated with a bull and whose husband, King Minos, had in his shame taken the Minatour and housed it in what had become known as the Labyrinth. All most interesting, she had told Phil, but her mind was on realities, not mythology and the pagan gods of countless ages past. She was now thinking of the coming meeting with her sister, who did not know anything of this visit, because both Laura and Phil had believed that Irene might just be so ashamed that she would not want to meet her sister, and Laura had had no wish that her visit should be wasted by Irene's persuading her lover to take her away on holiday just until Laura had gone back to England. It was the kind of thing which Laura could easily attribute to her sister, for she had always been a shirker, avoiding the unpleasant no matter at what cost either to herself or others. So now Laura was to arrive, unexpectedly, with the child of the man Irene was living with.

'We've landed,' she heard Mandy exclaim, 'and we didn't bump!'

'Good. I told you we would not.'

'Can I go on the sands as soon as we get off this airplane?'

'No, darling. We have to go to an hotel and unpack our clothes.'

The hotel was in Heraklion, the Florida, which was on the sea. Phil had booked it for them-in fact, mused Laura, he had done everything except travel with them. She had begged him to take some of his leave and accompany them but he had declined. He was saving all his holidays for the prewedding activities of finding a suitable home and furnishing it, and for the honeymoon. Laura had suggested that if they did marry they use her delightful little Mews home for a while, but Phil had been adamant in his decision to be the provider. Laura had spent a great deal of time, money and energy on the imaginative conversion and she did wonder how she would feel if and when the time came for her to leave it.

'I like this lovely room, don't you, Laura?' Mandy was by the window, looking out to the aquamarine sea where gaily painted little ca?ques bobbed about, most of them moored to the jetty.

'Yes, it's very charming.'

'Can I unpack my own clothes?' Mandy turned and her piquant little freckled face was alive with pleasure. 'I want to wear my bikini and go out to the beach!'

'Not today, love. We have things to do.'

'What things?'

'Look, I'll open your suitcase and you can unpack. Put all but your dresses in those two drawers over there. I'll hang your dresses up in the wardrobe with mine.'

'Okay.' For the next few minutes Mandy was fully occupied and so was Laura, watching her as she herself began to unpack what few clothes she had brought. She was not expecting to stay long, and in fact she would have stayed only long enough to find out whether or not Mandy's father would have her, had she been alone. But Mandy expected this to be a holiday, and so Laura had decided to stay for about five or six days.

'What are we going to do when we've unpacked?' Mandy wanted to know as she handed one of her dresses to Laura to hang up.

'Take a stroll around the town.'

'But, the beach-'

'Tomorrow, Mandy. It's already late afternoon, so we shall just have a nice little walk and then come back here for a meal. By that time it will be bed for you, my child. You've had a long day.'

'I know. I couldn't sleep because I was so excited, wasn't I?'

'You woke me at half past six!'

'Here's another dress. I like it most of them all and I gave Uncle Phil a big kiss for buying it for me.'

Laura took it from her, recalling with poignant intensity the occasion of Phil's buying it. Mandy had been ill with measles and was so pale and wan that Phil had asked what could be done to cheer her up.

Mandy had heard, and said with a weak little smile, 'I saw a beautiful dress in that shop that Laura knows…'

Teresa had been there so Phil said he and Laura would go at once and buy the dress. That was the day when Laura knew for sure that Phil would soon propose to her; it was the day when she had taken it for granted that Mandy would soon have a father. Laura and Phil had dined at the Ritz, leaving early because Laura had promised Teresa she would not be late. Phil had been so tender with Mandy, and the child had put her arms about his neck and kissed him, several times. A touching scene and a happy one at that time. Laura would never have believed anyone who said Phil would ever object to taking Mandy into his care. And now he did not want her….

***

It was three hours later that Laura stood by Mandy's bed, staring down at her, sleeping so peacefully even though it was not yet eight o'clock. Yes, it had been a long day for the child. So quiet and unmoving, placid and dreamless, her pretty face totally relaxed. She had no notion of the trouble her coming into the world had caused. A truly beautiful child with an equally beautiful nature. An imp at times and then an angel. Laughter and tears followed one after the other quite often but never sulks or pettish shows of temper. She had a temper, of course. Without one a person had no character. Fortunately Mandy's temper came to the surface only when she was strongly provoked, which was very seldom indeed.

Moving away from the bed, Laura reached in the wardrobe for a light coat and went silently from the room, having earlier made sure that the hotel provided a child tender who went continuously to those rooms where children were sleeping.

There was a line of cabs outside the hotel and Laura hailed one.

'Take me to this address, please.' She showed him the paper on which the address was printed. Phil had advised her to put up in Heraklion and then take a taxi to the address given her by Vera.

'It's some way out from the city,' Phil had said, 'but from what I have gathered from the map, it won't take too long to get there.'

The taxi-driver scanned the paper by the small light above his head. 'It is about twenty kilomet!' he said, and the cab jerked forward even before Laura had time to close the door. 'You on holiday?' His English was good but spoken quickly and with a very pronounced accent.

'In a way, yes.' He was driving along the north coast and she remembered that about here was a region of great fertility, with olive groves and vineyards. It was spring, and Laura could imagine the flowers and the lush green valley of Knossos. She must visit the Palace of Minos before she went back to England. 'Do you know this place where I am going?' she asked after a long silence.

'Everybody know the magnificent house and estate of Mr. Pavlos Penalis. He grow manys grapes and bananas and olives.'

'Mr. Penalis?' repeated Laura, puzzled. And then, before she allowed the man time to speak, she was adding, 'Oh, he's the owner of an estate where many people are employed, is that it?'

'That is right, madam. Mr. Pavlos has of the manys villas for his workers.'

'And what do these workers do?'

'They look after the grapes and olives. And he has too many peoples in the house and garden as well.'

'Too many?' she began, then realised it was just the man's way of saying that this man Pavlos employed several people in his home. Domestics and probably gardeners. 'Is it a very large estate?' she enquired interestedly.

'The largest on the island, madam. Mr. Pavlos is of the very respected gentlemans, you understand?'

'Yes. He is very wealthy and influential.'

'You go to see one of his workers?'

She had to smile, for it was plain that he had taken it for granted that it could not be this illustrious Pavlos Penalis whom she was visiting.

'Yes, a Mr. Warburton and-and his wife.'

'The Englishman; yes, he work there. He the foreman of the estate.'

'I see. And he lives in one of the villas, obviously?'

'I not know this-"obviously" that you say?'

'Never mind. He lives in a villa in the grounds of the house?'

'Not in the grounds of house. The villas are some way away. I take you, so not for you to worry.' A small pause and then, 'You would like me to stay and take you back to hotel?'

'I think that might be a good idea,' she answered. 'It seems very lonely around here.'

'Lonely yes, but in daytime okay. The sun make everythings look cheerful, no?'

'Yes, I suppose it must be lovely in the sunshine.'

As it was, she could see very little now that they were in the valley, and she lapsed into silence, thinking of the meeting with her sister and the man, Joseph, she was living with. Laura felt her heartbeats increase in speed as the minutes passed and the meeting was drawing closer.

At last the car turned off the road and was entering a narrower one overhung with trees. Soon she saw lights shining in the windows of the villas; the driver swung round a bend and came to a halt before a villa which was in total darkness. Laura's heart sank.

'There isn't anybodys in,' stated the taxi-driver unnecessarily. 'All windows very dark!'

Laura got out all the same and glanced around. This particular villa was larger than all the others-as was fitting for the man in charge, she supposed.

Should she knock at the door? It seemed silly to do so but yet she felt she could not just go away without making absolutely sure there was no one at home.

'It is no good,' said the man as she began to walk up the narrow path. 'Mr. Joseph must have gone on a holiday.'

'You're sure this is his house?' A superfluous question, she thought, a sigh escaping her.

'I know it is the right house, madam.'

'I must find out when they'll be back. Will the people at this other house know, do you think?'

'I ask for you,' he offered, and she stood there until he came back. He was shaking his head.

'They not think Mr. Joseph have gone on holiday. They think he get other job.'

'He's left here? Is there any way of knowing for sure?' There was one way, she realised-the only way, in fact-and that was to see the owner of the estate. 'Drive me to the house of Mr. Penalis, please,' she said and got back into the cab.

'Very good, madam.'

The road seemed to meander through groves of trees and between dark fields before the brilliantly lighted villa came into view. Long and low, it yet bore an air of patrician quality, with its white walls and blue shutters, the flowers climbing up marble columns flanking the wide, impressive entrance. A flight of marble steps led to an oak studded front door.

'I ring the bell for you!' The man, whom she could now see more clearly by the floodlights coming from various points of the roof, was dark and stocky, and his smile revealed several bright gold fillings.

'Thank you.' She followed him up the steps, and the next moment the door was opened by a dark Greek, immaculately clad in a black suit and white shirt. Laura thought he must be a sort of butler, and this idea was strengthened when he spoke in very good English in answer to her query and then bade her enter, and said he would tell his master she wanted to see him.

She could smell food and realised she might have come while Mr. Penalis was having his dinner.

'Will you please come this way, madam?' The butler gestured and she followed him along the wide, flower-draped hall to a door about halfway down. 'Your name, please?' he asked and she gave it to him. Then she was alone with the master of the house, and she just stood there in amazement for he was vastly different in appearance from any other Greek she had seen since arriving on the island several hours ago. This man was tall and fair-haired, with Nordic features and blue eyes. He mustn't be Greek, was her first thought, but then she remembered his name, which was certainly Greek.

'Can I help you, Miss Hudson?' he enquired in excellent English which carried the merest hint of an accent.

'I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Penalis, but I'm looking for a Mr. Warburton. I've come from England especially to talk with him. Has he left your employ?' She felt mesmerised, not only because he was so different from what she expected but also because he was the most impressive and handsome man she had ever set her eyes on. She became aware of an unfathomable tug of emotion as she continued to stare at him, noticing the bronzed skin and metallic glint in the blue eyes, the inflexible jawline, the strong determined chin below a sensuous, uncompromising mouth. His features on the whole had an aquiline quality which strengthened the impression of arrogance and superiority. Her eyes moved to scan the lithe, perfectly proportioned figure, and she was not deceived by its slenderness; there was a spate of latent power and strength in a tensed and sinewed body like that, she decided. He was standing in the middle of the room, impeccably clad in a casual suit of beige linen and a snow-white shirt which contrasted in stark distinction with his Arab-dark skin. So unusual, she thought, to have fair hair and yet be so brown. She guessed, though, that the colour of his skin was the result of the climate rather than racial elements. He obviously led an outdoor life.

'Joseph Warburton!' The sharpness of the deep, vibrant voice startled Laura in a way that caused her nerves to tingle. 'You're a friend of his?'

'His-wife is my sister.' She watched closely for his reaction and saw the blue eyes become shuttered. 'Is something wrong?'

'Your sister…?' Quieter tones now but again Laura felt a disturbance of nerves. The man's eyes swept Laura from head to foot, then settled on her face in a long, all-examining scrutiny. She supposed he was searching for a likeness but there never had been one.

'Yes, she came to Greece with Joseph Warburton almost five years ago and I want to speak to her.'

The man's eyes flickered as their owner said, 'It was Joseph you mentioned, whom you said you wanted to speak to.' He paused but only for a second. 'Do you mean to say you haven't seen your sister for five years?'

Laura bit her lip, not having the least desire to go into personal details with this man but, having come here, she supposed she would, out of politeness, have to answer some of his questions. However, he was at the moment sweeping a negligent hand and inviting her to sit down. He then asked if she would like some refreshment.

'I'll have a dry martini, if I may,' she answered, noticing the languid quality about his movements as he went towards a cocktail cabinet. From the depth of a most comfortable armchair she glanced around, absorbing with an experienced, appreciative eye the atmosphere of elegance and good taste that characterised the large, wide-windowed room. The carpet was amber-rose, with matching drapes that reached the floor; the ceiling was decorated with fine gold leaf, the walls hung with gold and crimson embossed paper. The furniture was antique, some French, some Queen Anne. On occasional tables delicate figure groups in Chelsea and Worcester porcelain were subtly illuminated by lights invisible to the eye. There was a white marble fireplace with brass andirons and above it an El Greco painting. The sofa, which Pavlos Penalis moved over to after placing her drink on a small table at her elbow, was covered with French tapestry and matched the four large armchairs scattered about the room in casual good taste, one of which was occupied by Laura. Wealth and judicious planning had combined to produce a room of exquisite charm and character, and Laura very naturally concluded that a woman's hand had been involved-and, therefore, that Pavlos Penalis was married.

'Now,' he said when she did not speak, 'perhaps you will tell me a little about this business. From what I gather you have come from England to find your sister whom you haven't seen for five years.' He paused fractionally. 'Or was it the man she was living with you wanted to see?'

Laura coloured at the knowledge that he knew her sister wasn't married to Joseph Warburton, by whom she had two children.

'It's over four and a half years-Mr. Penalis, I sense a mystery. I've been to the villa where they were supposed to live and it looked deserted. The taxi-driver made some enquiries for me and the people seemed to think that Mr. Warburton had left your employ.'

'Yes, he has.'

'Then where are they? I must find them. It's urgent!' She had no idea just how desperate she appeared to the man sitting there… or how attractive….

'I have no idea where either of them is,' he began apologetically. 'I'm afraid I have some disturbing news for you, Miss Hudson. Your sister went off with another man a couple of weeks ago-left her children with their father-'

'Oh, not again!' The exclamation escaped before Laura could suppress it and she saw the man's brows lift and a sneer of contempt twist his mouth.

'It's the second time, then?'

'No-well, she wasn't married when she went off with Joseph Warburton, but he was.' She picked up her glass, while her other hand was pushed through her hair. To have come all this way and then not to find Mandy's father… 'How can I find them?' she asked desperately. 'You say my sister went off, but surely you have some idea where she is-' She broke off, noticing his puzzlement, and after only a small hesitation she told him everything. Although she made her narrative as short as possible, she saw his expression change repeatedly, and when she stopped speaking there was a heavy frown on his brow.

Before he could speak there was a gentle knock on the door, and the same manservant who had admitted Laura said respectfully, 'Mr. Pavlos, your dinner is ready to be served.'

'Tell George to keep it hot for a while.'

'He said to tell you, Mr. Pavlos, that it is not the meal to be kept hot without it spoiling.' His eyes went fleetingly to Laura and a half smile touched his lips. She responded, admiring his graciousness in speaking English.

'I see…' He glanced at Laura questioningly. 'Have you had your dinner?'

'I-I…' A kind of elation swept through her at the idea of a man like this inviting her to dine with him, for that was what he was doing. Where were his wife, his family? Perhaps he was a bachelor, but she could not imagine a man as attractive as he managing to remain a bachelor, for she had already guessed he must be around thirty years of age.

'You said there was a minder for children left in the hotel?'

She nodded. 'Yes, that's right.' She looked at him, immaculate and obviously dressed for dinner, even if casually so, whereas she was in a blouse and skirt beneath her coat, and both were still creased from being in her suitcase since early that morning. 'I haven't really eaten,' she found herself saying. 'I had a snack with Mandy at about half past six.'

'Then you must stay here and eat.' He turned to the man waiting respectfully by the door. 'Another cover, Marco. I expect George will have cooked far too much for one-he usually does.'

'Yes, Mr. Pavlos.' The man departed silently just as Laura remembered the taxi waiting on the forecourt. She mentioned it, looking troubled because if she dismissed it she would not know how to get back to the hotel.

'Don't worry, I'll have him sent away-' He flicked an imperious hand to prevent the interruption Laura was about to make. 'He'll be paid his due, and then I will have one of my servants drive you back in my car. You're at the Florida, I think you said?'

'Yes, that's right.'

He walked over to a bell-rope and tugged it gently. Marco returned and was told to dismiss the taxi.

'Give the man his full fare back into the city,' he added and again flicked a hand-impatiently this time-when Laura opened her mouth to thank him. He then paused a moment as if waiting for the door to close behind his manservant, yet also he appeared to be frowningly searching for words. He shook his head. 'There is no way of breaking this gently to you, Miss Hudson,' he said with a hint of regret in his vibrant voice. 'Your sister went off with a Greek whose wife is the daughter of one of the most powerful and prominent men on this island. He and his family originate from the deep Mani, where the vendetta still prevails just as it does here in one or two of the remote mountain villages where little has changed in centuries. Crete and the Mani are the only two places in Greece where the vendetta plays a part in people's lives.' He stopped and frowned as if at some secret thought, and Laura, her heart pounding unnaturally against her ribs, spoke before he could continue.

'The vendetta?' Shivers sped along her spine, for the very word conjured up visions of dark deeds and fearsome, near-pagan customs. 'What are you trying to tell me, Mr. Penalis?' Her voice was cracked and edged with fear, a circumstance that did not go unnoticed by her companion. 'You must know that what you've just said has made me feel greatly perturbed about my sister. I know I came here to Crete primarily to find Mr. Warburton, but now-well, the whole situation is different from what I had expected. I sense that you know my sister is in danger-grave danger. This vendetta you mention-I had never heard of it until now but I have been told that the Cretans were a…' Her voice trailed to the silence of confusion and colour leapt to her cheeks.

The man sitting opposite seemed deeply amused, quirking her a glance as he finished for her, '"… a wild lot, ready to fight to the last breath for a cause, who are cruel to their enemies and who have always had a personal contempt for death."' A low laugh escaped him as he added, 'I am quoting, as you presumably know?'

'Phil-the gentleman who wants to marry me-has read up a few details about Crete and the people, and he passed them on to me.'

'We were a wild lot once,' he murmured as if speaking to himself. 'We had to be, or go under. We've been a prey to invaders for more than a thousand years, and as a result we're a tough nation. We didn't always belong to Greece, remember.'

Laura made no comment on that but asked if the vendetta really did exist.

'In the remote places, yes. I have already said so, Miss Hudson.'

Laura felt her heart begin to throb painfully again. 'In what way can it affect my sister?' she asked fearfully and saw a swift frown touch his forehead. When he spoke it was plain that he was being guarded in what he revealed to her.

'The idea of the vendetta is revenge for an injury done to a person. At one time murder was by no means out of the ordinary, but such strong measures are rarely indulged in today. With your sister-well, it's impossible to predict what will happen if and when her whereabouts are known. At present no one seems to know where the couple are; they might have left Crete or they might be in hiding, living under assumed names. The latter seems more than likely.'

'How stupid of Irene!' Laura was more angry now than fearful. 'Had she no idea what risks she was running?'

The Greek shrugged his shoulders. 'Love, Miss Hudson,' he commented briefly, and she coloured and looked away because of the mocking amusement of his glance and because she knew he was thinking of her own love affair and mocking that too.

'My sister has obviously left herself open to some form of reprisal,' Laura stated after a while. 'Is there anything I can do to help her?'

'Nothing, when you don't know where she is.' Leaning forward in his chair, Paul took up his glass and put it to his lips. 'If I were you,' he advised, 'I'd concentrate on what you came for-finding the father of this child you want to get rid of.'

'I don't want to get rid of her,' she protested, anger bringing colour to her cheeks, which he noticed, and lifted an arrogant eyebrow. 'Can we get back to the question of my sister, please? I'm not leaving her to her fate, as you seem to be suggesting.'

His blue eyes narrowed. 'The affair, Miss Hudson,' he began tersely, 'has little or nothing to do with me. I merely advised.' He shrugged his shoulders indifferently. 'Take the advice or leave it. I assure you it is immaterial to me what you decide to do.'

Laura bit her lip, conscious of having vexed him-this when she needed his help, desperately, for she had no one else to turn to. If only Phil had come with her! How she longed for his assistance, his smooth and logical method of tackling problems. She looked at the Greek, saw the taut jaw, and felt an apology would be wise.

'I'm sorry if I appeared sharp, Mr. Penalis. I've only the worry as an excuse.' Her eyes were wide and limpid as they met his, and the hand holding the glass was shaking. 'I-I don't know where to begin.'

He was frowning thoughtfully and several seconds elapsed before he said, 'You could go to the police, of course, but I might as well warn you that, should they act, and find your sister, then her safety would certainly be at stake. You have to keep in mind that at this very moment there are people looking for your sister and the man she has run off with… people whose sole interest in their whereabouts is revenge.'

Laura's heart gave a lurch and all colour drained from her face. 'You-frighten me,' she stammered. 'Surely I-I can do something!'

'I'm sorry if I frighten you, Miss Hudson.' He stopped and stared directly at her. 'If you haven't had any communication with your sister in over four and a half years, then frankly, I don't understand your anxiety.'

'You mean…' She stared and frowned. 'You're suggesting that, because we've never been close, I should abandon her-just shrug my shoulders and leave her to her fate?' Laura's eyes were disbelieving.

'There happens to be one thing you have overlooked. Your sister would not thank you for any investigations you might make which could result in her being vulnerable to these people of whom I've just spoken. At present she's reasonably safe, because she and this man are in hiding, but woe betide them both if ever the brothers Gavezas get hold of them.'

'Gavezas? These are the-well, the avengers?'

'Would-be avengers, yes. Their father's formidable enough but his two sons are held in awe on this part of the island, where they rule their estate with little consideration for those who work for them. However, don't let me mislead you. The family are not barbarians. They are what they are-believers in the vendetta, that is, an eye for an eye.'

'Have they been revenged on people before?' enquired Laura, diverted for the moment by her interest in what she was learning.

'To my knowledge no one has been foolish enough to run any risks,' was his grim rejoinder as he rose from his chair to refill his glass. He had glanced at hers first and found its contents little different from when he had given her the drink. 'Getting back to your original reason for being here,' he said over his shoulder, 'I should take my advice and concentrate on finding the child's father. That appears to be the more pressing business as far as I can see.'

She stared at his broad back, her face white, her eyes shadowed with fear. Irene had never been brave, and any kind of pain had driven her crazy. If she were to find herself in the clutches of these men, she would die of fear before they even touched her.

The Greek turned, his eyes all-discerning as they flicked over her, taking in everything else besides her expression and the uncontrolled quiver of her lips.

'If I could get the police to smuggle her out of the country,' she began, but stopped on noting his expression.

'Aren't you taking a lot for granted?' he put in quietly. 'You've said enough to convince me that your sister can be obstinate, and obviously she's wilful. Is she going to leave the country just because you say she must?'

'Does she know the danger she's in?'

'I should think she has some idea. The man she's run off with certainly will be aware of the reprisals which could take place, but whether he's told your sister of it is something neither you nor I can guess.'

'I'll bet he hasn't.' Laura's voice was emphatic. 'Irene's always been…' She tailed off, looking for the word she wanted. Her companion proffered the word she had almost used before stopping herself.

'A coward?' A sneer lifted one corner of his mouth. 'She seems a thoroughly unlikable woman and I can't see why you should be troubling yourself about her. Yes, leave her to her fate is my recommendation. Concentrate on what you came here for-'

'How can I?' she broke in desperately. 'My sister's in danger!'

'I reckon she'll be wily enough to escape,' he returned indifferently.

'In any case,' went on Laura, bypassing what he had said, 'how can I begin looking for Mandy's father when I have Mandy herself to look after? I'd promised to give her a holiday whichever way things went-that is, whether or not her father was willing to have her. She was expecting to go on to the beach and-and play….' Tears filled her eyes and her throat felt blocked. She swallowed convulsively, lips trembling. And when she eventually glanced up it was to see the most odd expression on her companion's face. His eyes were focused on her; he seemed to be profoundly moved now and she could only stare, bewildered and-for some inexplicable reason-faintly uneasy.

She said, without knowing why, 'Do you like this Gavezas family?'

'I have business dealings with the father-Spiros. Yes, I like him-'

'The sons, though?' she cut in urgently.

'I'd not trust either of them in a case like the one you are concerned by. They could be merciless.'

'You're not sparing me, are you?'

'I never believe in deliberately misleading people, or in keeping them in ignorance of something they ought to know.' Again he was indifferent. She watched his fingers-lean long fingers-moving lightly on the stem of his glass. She wondered if he were becoming bored and was regretting his invitation for her to stay for dinner. Her first instinct was to say she would leave at once, but she needed his help. She had to do something about saving Irene from her own folly.

'There's some way you can help me,' she began. 'This man's wife-can she give me a clue to where her husband might have gone?'

His brows lifted a fraction. 'My dear girl,' he said with a hint of asperity, 'if Giorgia knew, she'd most certainly tell her brothers.'

Laura looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. 'To be so helpless…' she murmured.

'You ought to resign yourself that there isn't anything you can possibly do. Your sister could be anywhere; you don't even know if she's on this island.'

'You seem to think she is.'

'Did I give that impression? Well, I'm as ignorant as you, so if I did give the impression that I believed she was still here, then it was unintentional.' He put his glass to his lips, then took it away again without taking a drink. He was thoughtful again, and shaking his head. 'It's very clear to me, Miss Hudson, that you've plenty of troubles of your own without involving yourself in any more. You've said you can't look for Joseph because you have his child on your hands.'

'That's right.' Tears were close but she knew she would feel exceedingly foolish if she allowed this man to see her indulge in the feminine weakness of crying.

'We shall have to think of something,' he decided, but as his manservant appeared to tell him dinner was ready, Laura had to contain her impatience for a little while.