All The Fire Page 15

  Dimitri nodded consideringly. ‘It was an inspired idea, was it not? Bringing your fiancé out here?’

  Joanne was uneasy again. ‘Whose idea was it?’ she inquired, with some misgivings.

  Dimitri frowned. ‘Your father’s, of course.’

  Joanne drank some of the lager, running her tongue over her upper lip afterwards. ‘I thought - you might have had something to do with it,’ she murmured tentatively.

  ‘Me?’ Dimitri sounded almost amused. ‘Why should I instigate such a thing? What possible interest could your platonic little love affair have for me?’

  Joanne glared at him bitterly, despising the power he had to hurt her. She wanted to lash out at him for deliberately using sarcasm to belittle her. But the swish of wheels across the hall brought her abruptly to her senses, and with an immense effort of will-power she brought a smile to her features and went to greet her father. Matthieu looked warmly at her, taking one of her hands in both of his and squeezing it. Then he looked up at Dimitri with obvious pleasure.

  ‘So - you came,’ he said, with satisfaction. ‘Constantine told me you were leaving tomorrow.’

  Dimitri nodded. ‘That’s right,’ he agreed, stubbing out his cheroot in an ashtray. ‘There has been some trouble with this new vaccine I was telling you about. We’ll have to investigate the processing conditions. It worked perfectly soundly in laboratory tests.’

  Matthieu listened with interest. ‘And what about this appointment?’ he queried. ‘At the research laboratory at the university? Will you accept it?’

  Dimitri glanced in Joanne’s direction and then, as though not wishing to talk about himself, he shrugged, and said lightly: ‘I’m sure this conversation is of little interest to your daughter.’

  Matthieu frowned. ‘Don’t be absurd! Of course she’s interested, as I am. It is not every day a friend of ours is offered a research fellowship.’

  Joanne’s eyes widened, and she looked questioningly at her father. Dimitri thrust his thumbs into the waistband of his trousers and walked across to the open french doors, standing looking out. ‘I may not accept it,’ he said at last. ‘Fellowships spell security - I would no longer be free to come and go as I please!’

  Matthieu uttered an exclamation. ‘A man needs security!’ he averred. ‘Administration—’

  ‘—requires responsibility!’ finished Dimitri, turning. Joanne looked across at him. Until now his work had been of secondary importance, but now she began to realize just how important it actually was. Dimitri’s eyes turned in her direction, and she swiftly bent her head.

  ‘Your daughter would confirm that I lack responsibility,’ he remarked dryly, and Matthieu looked curiously at Joanne. Then he looked back at Dimitri and something flickered at the back of his eyes.

  ‘Obviously you intend to keep your own counsel, Dimitri,’ he observed. ‘However, you know my feelings, for what they are worth. What do your parents say?’

  Dimitri smiled. ‘As you do,’ he replied.

  Footsteps echoed in the hall and a moment later Jimmy Lorrimer came into the room. Dressed in tight-fitting jeans and a tee-shirt he looked vastly different from the other men. He nodded politely at Matt and gave Dimitri a speculative glance before looking at his fiancée. Joanne smiled and he joined her, putting an arm possessively about her shoulders. There was a moment’s awkward silence, and then Matthieu said:

  ‘Have you two been swimming this morning? I thought I saw you on the beach earlier.’

  ‘Yes, sir!’ Jimmy was enthusiastic. ‘And this afternoon Marisa is going to have an attempt at teaching me to water-ski. She and Constantine use the boat a lot, don’t they?’

  ‘So I believe,’ murmured Matt, rather distantly, and Joanne wondered why he should suddenly look so disturbed. Then she said quickly:

  ‘You can count me out, this afternoon. I - I - I have a headache.’

  Jimmy was all concern. ‘Have you, darling? You didn’t tell me. Then of course we won’t go!’

  Joanne stepped away from him, running a hand over her forehead. ‘Oh, of course you must go,’ she exclaimed. ‘I’d prefer to be alone anyway. You go with the others and enjoy yourself. I’ll lie down after lunch for an hour and I’ll be right as rain.’

  Jimmy compressed his lips, looked as though he was about to protest, and then stopped as Andrea, Marisa and Constantine came in. ‘Lunch is ready!’ said Andrea, her eyes going swiftly to Dimitri. Then to Matt: ‘Are you all right, dear?’

  Matthieu nodded rather absently. ‘Yes, I’m fine,’ he averred. ‘Dimitri, will you wheel my chair?’

  After lunch was over, Joanne made her escape. She had in fact got the beginnings of a headache, but that was not why she had avoided the outing this afternoon. She could no more have gone sailing with Marisa and Constantine than sprout wings. To sit for a couple of hours in Constantine’s company, listening to him deliberately talking about Dimitri to annoy her, would have been the last straw. Besides, she found their youthful chatter rather monotonous, and she wasn’t interested in boats that much. So she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes and blessed the coolness of air-conditioning. She heard her father and Dimitri enter Matt’s room and she guessed that Andrea would be resting somewhere with a book or some magazines as she invariably did during the long hot hours. The others had left in the Land Rover soon after lunch, still pressing Joanne to join them. Marisa had mentioned a cove further round the island which was ideal for skiing and they were going there.

  Joanne tried to relax now, but in spite of the quiet of her surroundings she was restless. She had shed all her flimsy underwear and certainly she was not hot, but she could not remain still. In truth, she would have liked to have been outside herself, but not pursuing some hectic pastime. She would like to have driven into the hills and walked amongst the trees just enjoying the beauty of the day.

  Finally, when impatience overtook her, she slid off the bed and dressed, putting on a cotton dress in a shade of deep purple that suited her very fair colouring. Its straight lines merely hinted at the curves of her body beneath, while it was sleeveless and had a low round neck. Then, thonged sandals on her bare feet, she left her room and walked silently along the passage and out of the house. On the patio all was calm, only the persistent murmur of the ocean and the rhythm of the crickets providing any kind of disturbance. She sighed and felt that sense of freedom she had first experienced when she left England almost three weeks ago, and which had somehow been obscured since Jimmy’s arrival.

  Leaving the patio, she circled the house to where the track led up into the hills behind the villa. This was the road they had taken to Diona and to Dimitri’s villa, and Joanne knew that beyond the several hundred yards of sun-baked earth it entered the coolness of the trees. Without considering the irresponsibility of walking in such heat without a head-covering, she began to climb the track steadily, only her dark glasses shielding her eyes from the glare.

  It was very hot and soon she was sweating, a trickle of moisture plastering her dress to her back. She halted, and turned, shading her eyes as she surveyed the bay spread out majestically beneath her. It was certainly a magnificent panorama, flanked as it was by the thickly wooded headlands. A heat haze shimmered and distorted the view for a moment, and she realized it was her eyes that were protesting.

  Taking a deep breath, she continued on her way, eager to reach the shade that seemed so near and yet so far suddenly. With determination, she quickened her step, but soon she was breathless and panting, and wondering whether she would be better advised to turn and go back. Then, just as she was about to give up the uneven struggle, she heard the sound of a motor vehicle accelerating up the slope towards her. Breathing heavily, she stepped to the side of the road just as the vehicle breasted the rise and reached her.

  ‘You irresponsible, crazy little—’ The words were bitten off with an epithet, and Joanne swayed a little as Dimitri slammed out of the Land Rover and came round to her angrily. ‘Haven’t you got any more blasted s
ense than to walk out in this heat without anything to protect your head and the back of your neck?’ he ground out fiercely. ‘Good God, girl, you must be mad!’

  Joanne put out a hand to ward him off. ‘I don’t need you to tell me what to do—’ she was beginning, when he caught hold of her arm and thrust her unceremoniously towards the Land Rover, wrenching open the nearside door and practically forcing her inside. He fastened the door securely, and then strode round and climbed in beside her before she could discover the way the door opened again. Without a word he turned on the engine, and drove swiftly on up the incline to the coolness of the trees beyond.

  Even so, it was marvellously cool in the Land Rover without the sheltering bulk of the pines, the windows allowing a free passage of air that fanned her hot cheeks deliciously. Joanne sighed and gave herself up to the relaxation of the moment, not attempting to think ahead or to wonder where he was taking her.

  They eventually turned off the main track to his house and took instead the road which led to the lake she had seen when she first arrived. She had wanted to come here earlier in her holiday, but somehow the opportunity had never arisen, and since Jimmy’s arrival they had spent every day on the beach or in the sea.

  Dimitri halted the Land Rover on a stretch of gravel which led down to the water’s edge, and Joanne got her first real look at the lake and its surroundings. It wasn’t a large lake, and yet from the blueness of the water she thought it might be deep, and it was wonderfully clear. When it became imperative that she should put some distance between herself and Dimitri she slid out of the Land Rover and walked to the water’s edge, poking at a pebble with a sandalled foot. The water was icily cool, sheltered as it was by its surrounding forest of trees, and she frowned as she realized that across the other side of the lake must be the ruins of Hera’s temple which Dimitri had shown her over ten days ago.

  She glanced back at the Land Rover. Dimitri had got out and was leaning lazily against the bonnet, smoking a cheroot. With casual interest, she said: ‘Is that the belt of trees near the temple?’ and pointed across the water.

  Dimitri nodded. ‘Yes, that’s correct. I imagine the temple was built deliberately near the water for obvious reasons. And possibly the trees were not so abundant in those days. The precincts of the shrine might have reached the water’s edge. All spirits have an affinity with water, did you know that?’

  Joanne frowned. ‘Air and fire and water,’ she murmured slowly. ‘Yes, I have heard of something like that.’

  Dimitri straightened and walked across to her. ‘I imagine there would be fire in the temple,’ he observed, stepping on the butt of his cheroot. ‘Certain rites are common to all religions. I suppose candles perform a similar kind of duty as they are widely used today.’

  Joanne looked up at him. ‘But surely candles also provide lighting to the altar,’ she exclaimed. ‘To associate the gods of ancient Greece with modern religions is barbaric!’

  Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why? What is there about present-day beliefs that makes them so much more acceptable than these so-called barbaric rites?’

  Joanne shook her head. ‘I know you’re deliberately trying to create an argument so that you can verbally annihilate me!’ She heaved a sigh. ‘Why have you brought me here?’

  Dimitri regarded her sombrely. ‘I brought you here because it seemed as good a place as any,’ he replied bleakly. ‘When I find a young woman - any young woman - courting sunstroke, I try to stop them!’ There was mockery in his tones now. ‘Happily, such occurrences are infrequent!’

  Joanne compressed her lips. ‘All right. I admit—I was stupid walking in the sun like that, but I needed to get away from the villa and there was no other way.’

  ‘You could have asked me to take you,’ he pointed out. Joanne looked at him exasperatedly. ‘Really!’ she said, giving an impatient gesture. ‘What could I have said? Please, Mr. Kastro, I need some air. Will you take me away from here?’ She shook her head.

  ‘All right, so you were stifled by the atmosphere.’

  ‘I didn’t actually say that.’

  ‘No, but that’s what you meant.’

  Joanne coloured. ‘I just wanted to be alone.’

  ‘Away from your father’s villa?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Where?’

  Joanne spread her hands. ‘This place does very well.’

  ‘But you are not alone.’ His voice was husky.

  ‘No.’ Joanne turned away, suddenly overwhelmingly conscious of their isolation here. She pressed the palms of her hands against her hot cheeks, and said: ‘Don’t let’s argue, Dimitri. Not today. Just talk to me - tell me about your work, anything! I am interested, you know.’ She found a lush stretch of grass and sank down on to her knees, startling a flock of wild fowl into sudden flight.

  Dimitri shrugged his broad shoulders, unbuttoning his jacket and taking it off. He threw it into the Land Rover and his tie followed it. Then he unloosened the top buttons of his shirt and walked lazily back to her. ‘Why should you be interested in the diseases that cause man such a burden of suffering?’ he inquired, sitting down beside her, apparently unconcerned about the damage grass stains might cause to his expensive suit. Resting his forearms along his drawn-up knees, he gave an indolent shake of his head.

  Joanne glanced his way. ‘I think your work must be very rewarding,’ she replied defensively.

  He smiled, and this time there was no mockery in his smile. ‘Your conception probably encompasses the kind of breaks-through made by people like the Curies, and Alexander Fleming,’ he remarked dryly. ‘I can assure you most of my work is of a purely routine nature. First and foremost I am a physiologist, and quite a lot of my time is spent in retracing cultures, examining specimens, trying to discover what makes us work. To someone like yourself, completely ignorant of our methods, it would all sound extremely boring.’

  Joanne bent her head. ‘What you really mean is that it would be difficult for me to understand your terms,’ she said. ‘It would be a case of blinding me with science!’ She frowned. ‘Are there women at this establishment? Are they capable of speaking with you intelligently, on equal terms?’ Her voice was slightly wistful.

  Dimitri regarded her thoughtfully. ‘Yes, there are women researchers, as well as men,’ he agreed. ‘But if you imagine a man in my field requires companionship with a woman whose work parallels or interlinks with his, then you are very much mistaken, Joanne. Believe me, when I leave the laboratory, the very last thing I need is what you would say—shop-talk!’

  ‘To talk shop,’ she corrected him, with a smile. Then she pulled up a blade of grass and slit it with her fingernail. ‘What do you need then?’

  Dimitri rested back on his elbows, stretching out his long legs. ‘Many things,’ he remarked softly.

  Joanne looked up from her blade of grass. ‘Such as what?’

  He looked at her through narrowed eyes. ‘I guess it rather depends whether we are discussing my spiritual or physical needs,’ he replied, dryly. ‘Why are you so interested? I should return the compliment and ask you the same question.’

  Joanne sighed, throwing away the blade of grass. ‘Tell me about Athens,’ she said, determinedly ignoring the overtones of their exchange.

  Dimitri’s eyes darkened. ‘Oh, yes,’ he murmured derisively. ‘What would you like to know? Shall I describe the magnificent treasures housed in the museums, or would you like to hear about its shopping centre, or the National gardens, or do the nightclubs and the tavernas interest you?’ He gave her an angry stare. ‘Stop fencing with me, Joanne, we both know what this is all leading up to ...’

  Joanne would have scrambled to her feet then, but with a deceptively swift movement, Dimitri imprisoned one of her wrists with his hand, holding her beside him. Then he ran his fingers up her bare arm to her shoulder caressingly, watching the hot colour surge into her cheeks. Joanne felt as if she had no will of her own and when he bent and kissed the hollow of her throat where a pulse
beat wildly she put a tentative hand against his face. But he took her hand and pressed its palm against his mouth before kissing her fingers one at a time until they tingled.

  ‘Dimitri!’ she murmured, half-protestingly, and he looked into her eyes questioningly, his thick lashes hiding his expression.

  Then he gave an indolent lift of his shoulders and pushed her gently away from him. While Joanne attempted to gather her composure he lay back lazily on the grass, one arm resting across his brow as though to shade his eyes.

  Joanne felt as though a violent contraction was contorting her muscles. Once more he had succeeded in shattering her emotions cruelly, playing with her mental processes in a way that was similar to the way a predator plays with its victim. He must have been aware of the power he exercised over her, aware that he disturbed her in a way no man had ever disturbed her, and yet he deliberately chose to humiliate her.

  She linked her fingers tightly together. She was a fool and an idiot! Why did she allow him to take such liberties with her? Why didn’t she spurn his advances from the outset? She was engaged to Jimmy, and yet she was acting as though she were a wanton! An awful sense of shame overtook her. Here she was, mentally berating Dimitri for not making love to her, when she ought to be thankful that he was so easily repulsed!

  Dimitri put up a lazy hand and tugged at a strand of her hair, attracting her attention. She looked round at him with assumed detachment, her brows raised questioningly. Dimitri smiled, a nice smile, that had no trace of mockery.

  ‘What tortuous thoughts are going through that head of yours?’ he asked perceptively. ‘I don’t know why it should be so, but I can sense a certain amount of self-recrimination!’