An eagle swooped Read online

'Everyone can see why you're holding mine.'

  'No one is taking the slightest notice of us.'

  'That's what you'd tell me, but I'm not deficient in intelligence'

  They had reached the chemist's shop. Tessa guided Paul in, her face white and drawn. The chemist looked at her and inquired if she were ill.

  'No ... it's my husband _'

  'All right I don't need you to tell the chemist what I want!' ,

  She took her hand from his, and stood back, leaving him to talk to the chemist, which he did in Greek. Tessa watched the chemist's expression; it was impossible to know what went on, but the concern on his face was evident. He was shaking his head, too, as if puzzled by the symptoms Paul had obviously described to him. However, to Tessa's great relief he produced something and after paying for it and buying one or two toilet necessities Paul turned and Tessa went instantly to his side.

  'Shall we have some refreshment at the cafe here?' she asked as she drove the car on to the harbour. 'There are only about half a dozen people sitting at the tables.'

  Paul shrugged and nodded his agreement. He was not interested in whether they stopped or not, but Tessa decided to do so and drew in to the side.

  'The sea's so calm there isn't a single ripple on it,' she told him when they were seated under one of the smart, multi coloured umbellas waiting for their order to be brought. 'And the boats there are dozens of them, so clean and bright '

  'Are there people on the boats?'

  Tessa's lip trembled at the question, for she knew where her husband's thoughts lay. At home in England he had owned a beautiful boat, which he had on the river. Every Sunday he and Lucinda would go off in it, but one week end Paul had invited the whole family and Tessa always remembered it with a mixture of pleasure and pain, For although the cruise on the river had been memorable, Tessa had been forced to endure the misery of witnessing the loving, tender way in which Paul treated her sister.

  'There aren't any people on the boats now,' she said. 'They're all moored.'

  'They probably belong to Cypriots who live in Nicosia; they'll be up at the week end.' He was drinking Turkish coffee and when his cup was empty Tessa asked if he wanted more. Paul shook his head. He seemed bored and listless tired of life, almost. 'Let's get back home.'

  'Yes very well.' She emptied her glass and got up from the table. 'Oh, Paul, there's that museum. Would you like to go in now'

  'Not now.'

  Was he ill she wondered. He seemed so very tired.

  His face looked darker than ever, for a greyness mingled with the tan.

  'It would be a change.' she persevered. 'And it's bound to be cool inside.'

  'Very well; just as you like.'

  'Are you sure?' she began hesitantly. 'I don't want—'

  'For heaven's sake, Lucinda, stop arguing about everything we do! If we're going to the museum, then let's go without any more fuss! '

  Naturally, Tessa 'no longer had any desire to go to the museum, but as she dared not say this to Paul she took his hand and they went across and up the steps, entering by the front door, which was in a street behind the harbour.

  An assistant was there and he smilingly welcomed them, asking if it were their first visit to the museum.

  'Yes,' said Paul. 'We've been recommended to come.'

  The assistant looked pleased about this and began at once to tell them something of the museum's history. The building had been' the property of Lady Locke, and here she had housed many treasures pertaining to the life of the village people as it was lived a hundred or so years ago. She had presented the house and contents to the Cypriots and improvements and alterations had been made. Also there were some fine additions to its exhibits.

  The assistant took them round, and as he explained everything the tiredness left Paul's face and he became once more himself, interested in what was being said, and offering some comments of his own, sometimes in Greek but more often in English.

  There were many of the dowry chests. All must be carved, the assistant said, and they must be filled with the finest linen. He opened one of them. 'Cedarwood,' he smiled. ·'Can you smell it?'

  'Yes, indeed. Lucinda, what is the carving like'

  'There are panels all along the front all different.' She went on to explain in detail and saw to her satisfaction that Paul was actually enjoying the visit.

  "This beautiful embroidered linen you see in the cases is typical of what you would have found in the chests. This is a bedspread; these are napkins and this is a table --- '

  Tessa describe everything as they went along, with the assistant putting in a word now and then.

  'This is the marriage bed,' he told them, stopping by a beautifully carved wooden bed. It was fully made and coveted with an exquisitely embroidered spread.

  'It's like a cot.' she informed Paul. 'With rails round three sides.' Tessa looked at the assistant. 'Were they always like this?'

  'It's a typical marriage bed, madam. They had to be like this, and they must be this particular height.' She frowned in puzzlement.

  'Why was the height so important?'

  The man shrugged and spread his hands, but a note of gravity entered his voice. , 'It was traditional. The customs were very important, and always carefully followed.'

  'The bedspread? Could my husband and I touch it?'

  'Certainly, madam.'

  'Paul, just feel. It's so soft and so beautifully worked. Here, darling, can you imagine what it' like?' She flushed, wondering how the word had slipped out. Paul started in surprise, and a rather odd expression crossed his face. But he betrayed no other sign of emotion as Tessa gently brought his hand to the lovely embroidery that must have taken months a loving toil to execute.

  'Yes, I can imagine it. As you say, it's most beautifully done.' His hand moved lightly over the bed spread; then he took the material between his finger to feel the texture. 'Pure silk, .. yes, it feels so soft, you remark.'

  There were dresses worn by the bride, all embroidered and made entirely by hand; there was the special chair, carved and decorated with colour, on which the bride would sit when receiving the guests and the presents. Tessa told Paul about the carving, and she added with a touch of surprise, 'One always thinks it's the man who's important in the East, but the bride certainly has all the glory a the wedding.'

  The assistant smiled.

  'In Cyprus there is, basically, a matriarchial society although.' he added with a laugh, 'the man is, I'm afraid, conceited enough to think he's the master. But the house in which he lives belongs to his wife. And as the children are hers too, she is in fact in a most powerful position. If she dies before him he must not remarry.'

  'Not remarry?' Tessa turned to her husband. 'I didn't know that, Paul.'

  'It's not forbidden by law.' he said quietly. 'But it isn't the "done" thing. I have heard of widower s marrying again after a reasonable period of time, but they were darkly frowned upon by all their friends and neighbours.'

  They would be.' the assistant agreed. 'Usually, if a man is widowed, he resigns himself to being alone for the rest of his life.'

  'And it's the same with the woman?'

  'Yes; it's the same.'

  'You don't agree with the custom of not remarrying?' Paul asked with a touch of sardonic amusement when, later that evening, they were sitting on the verandah, in the dusk, enjoying the cool breeze coming up from the sea. 'You'd marry again if anything happened to me?' There was an odd quality in his voice and Tessa went white, reflecting on his headaches and imagining the most terrifying things.

  'Don't, Paul. Hurt me in any other way you wish, but don't say things like that.' Her voice shook, but he merely laughed and changed the subject.

  'You try so hard, don't you, Lucinda'? What trouble you go to when we're out, describing everything to me in detail. You have such patience; I see everything though those lovely eyes of yours.'

  'Are you playing with me again, Paul?' she asked gently.

  His whole manner changed. 'Why don't you get out!' he snarled. 'You did so once; he reminded her cruelly. What makes you stay?'

  'I love you; she answered simply.

  'And I hate you.' His fists clenched and unclenched; plainly he was emotionally moved. 'You're a complete enigma to me. Is your love so strong that you're willing to endure this hell for the rest of your life?'

  'Some day you might consider I've been punished enough.'

  He shook his head, 'This is your fate, Lucinda. I'll crush you. And all the while you continue to hope, I'll torture you. I'll reduce your hope to some shrivelled thing that will writhe within you before it reaches the final death throes of agony'

  Every drop of blood drained from Tessa's face. This man was not the Paul she had known in England, Not only had he shed that veneer of which her father had written, but he had drifted back in time, back through the ages to when his heathen forebears had inflicted the most barbaric tortures on their enemies before releasing them in a death that was equally pitiless. She looked at his face, dark and venomous, and twist into evil lines that became more satanic even while she watched, for the swiftly gathering dusk played strange tricks with his features. He was a fiend, a merciless avenger. A great bitterness added to her misery Lucinda had so often made a scapegoat of her, and once again it had happened. True, her sister had no direct hand in it, but all this was meant for her and she had escaped. As Joe had said, she was nice and comfortably engaged, looking forward to a happy future with the man she now loved. Tessa whispered heart brokenly to herself, 'But I entered into this of my own accord, so what right have I to complain? Paul's enjoying his revenge and I can't really blame him, for Lucinda deserved to be punished for hurting him so.'

  'What are you thinking?' he· demanded harshly, turning as if through hi
s sightless eyes he would read her thoughts for himself.

  'I can't tell you; she murmured huskily, then added, 'But if you knew what was in my heart, Paul, you might not want to hurt me quite so much.'

  'Are you begging for mercy?'

  'It wouldn't be much use, would it?' she countered, and he turned away. Had she touched him? Despair flooded over her. Why continue to nurture hope when Paul had only a moment ago sworn pitilessly to destroy it?

  'You're quite right, Lucinda, it wouldn't be much use.'

  'Madam Lucinda—' Maroula called from the front door of the hotel as Tessa passed on her way down to the village. Tessa waved and continued to walk on. Maroula called again and Tessa hesitated, stepping into the side to allow a family of peasants to pass. 'Kalimera.'' The man showed his dark teeth in a smile as he gave Tessa the greeting.

  'Kalimem, she responded, then smiled at his wife. She was riding a donkey, side saddle as Greek women always did. Then came two lovely brown children, a boy of about nine and a girl a little older. The girl had a stick and was using it to keep the herd of brown, long haired goats to one side of the road. The dog ran along on the outside, barking at a man on a bicycle who was coming up the hill, wobbling precariously from side to side. Everyone smiled at each other and gave a verbal greeting. Maroula spoke in Greek to the woman and they both laughed. How hard the lot of these women, 'Tessa thought frowningly, her eyes fixed on the peasant's wife. And yet they always had a smile, always waved cheerfully to friends and strangers alike. The family passed on, taking their goats into the hills farther along, and Tessa turned to Maroula, eyeing her questioningly.

  'A gentleman, Madam Lucinda in a drive hire car he come to my hotel and ask if I know where Mr. Pavlos Demetrius live. I 'tell him, but Spiros say he see him on the other side of hill, so I think he not understand what I say.'

  'A gentleman?' Tessa moved into the drive as the shaky old bus came rattling along the narrow road, 'Did he give you his name?'

  'I forget to ask him. He say he come from England to find Mr. Pavlos.'

  'From England?' Tessa's pulse quickened. Who could it be?

  'Yes, Madam Lucinda. He fair hair and tall, and say Mr. Pavlos was his friend in England. I say Mr, Pavlos married to Madam Lucinda—' She broke off and smiled delightedly. 'His eyes, they open just like this ... and he say in voice oh, so so ... .' Her brow puckered. 'What you say, Madam Lucinda?'

  'Surprised?' she submitted absently, for her heart raced now. Joe .... He had said he thought of taking holiday in Cyprus, and trying to find Paul.

  'Yes, surprised. And then he ask lots of question about you and Mr. Pavlos, and after that he go off to find the house, but he go wrong way. You not see him?'

  'No—which way ?'

  'Here he is, Madam Lucinda I See, he is back that's his car coming up from the village. He must have been lost, and come to ask again.'

  Turning, Tessa stared fascinatedly at the car coming from the direction of the square, throwing up a cloud of brown dust in its wake. Her legs felt like jelly and she was as white as a sheet when presently Joe turned into the drive and got out of the car. His eyes flickered as they lighted on Tessa, but he evinced no other sign of surprise.

  'Well, well, fancy meeting you. How's married life Madam Lucinda?' She flushed and he added with some amusement, 'You're looking quite pretty. Suntan becomes you.'

  Maroula watched, her curious glance moving from one to the other.

  'I –Joe -why have you come here?'

  'I took my holidays early. Made up my mind on impulse and decided to come and find Paul.' A small pause and then, in an expressionless tone, 'I asked your dad where you were; he said you'd gone back to Turkey ... to teach.'

  'Father wouldn't mean to tell you lies, but I asked him not say anything to anyone—'

  'Madam Lucinda, and your friend what can I offer you?' Spiros had returned and Tessa gave a little sigh of relief at the interruption, Never had she been so greatful for the hospitality of the Cypriot.'

  'Joe, what will you have? Shall we sit out here?'

  'That would be nice.'

  'I'll have orange, please, Spiros.' She looked at Joe. 'Try the Cyprus wine. Spiros has everything; he'll be only too pleased if you have a glass from him.'

  'Thanks, I will.' Joe smiled at Spiros, who instantly disappeared into the hotel, followed by his wife. Immediately they were seated in the deckchairs Joe turned. to Tessa. 'Girl, what a nerve! I wouldn't have believed. you'd dare! I was literally staggered when that Maroula, did she call herself, —told me about this Madam Lucinda who was Paul's wife. I knew it was you, of course it couldn't be anyone else, but how in heaven's name are you getting away with it? He's bound to find out Sometime.'

  'He hasn't up till now.'

  'Penhaps not, but—' He shook his head dazedly, 'I can't think how you managed to deceive him in the first place.' he said with more candour than tact, and a deprecating smile touched the corners of Tessa's mouth.

  Basically our bone structure's the same, so he hasn't noticed any difference. And my little snub nose has obviously escaped him. The only surface feature Lucinda and I have in common is the mouth. We both have rather full lips, so he wouldn't notice any difference there,' she said, and the bitterness in her voice caused Joe to exclaim, 'Tessa, you're not happy, after all.' He was full of concern, and her flush deepened. Before she could speak Spires appeared with the drinks, which he placed on the small table beside Tessa.

  'Something to eat?' he inquired of Joe, who shook his head.

  When Spiros had gone Tessa began to speak again, but almost immediately she stopped. 'Excuse me,' she said, and went into the entrance hall of the hotel. Maroula was sitting in a chair. She merely smiled at Tessa, and it was quite impossible to tell whether she had understood what she had obviously overheard.

  'I do not speak the English very well; Maroula had once said, but added, 'I know what it is when I listen, though.'

  'May we go into the lounge, Maroula?' Tessa asked. 'It's much to hot out there.'

  'Yes, Madam Lucinda. You go where you like.'

  A few minutes later they were in possession of the lounge, and the door was closed.

  'What is all this for?' Joe demanded. 'I've come here to get some sun'

  'Maroula always likes to know 'what's going on. If she hears anything it'll be all over the village in less than an hour's time.'

  He made no comment, remaining thoughtfully silent for a space. 'Tell Uncle Joe all about it,' he invited at last, having partly recovered from the shock. 'I must admit I gave a good deal of thought to your questions about Paul; but although I eventually reached the conclusion that you'd try to see him, I never dreamed anything like marriage would be the outcome.'

  Tessa obliged, telling him everything, and as she spoke her lovely eyes filled with tears.

  'You poor little kid,' he exclaimed when she had finished her narrative. 'Why the devil should you take the rap for Lucinda!' Tell him the truth, Tessa, and chance it.'

  But she shook her head firmly. 'He was totally indifferent to me, Joe in fact, he disliked me, because he thought I was running after him'

  'Tessa, Why should he think that?'

  Tessa told him what she had overheard at the party, and Joe's good natured face clouded.

  'You heard that? How damnable!" He gestured helplessly. 'What's to be done, Tessa?'

  'Nothing,' she answered resignedly. 'I just have to bear it, Joe, and go on hoping for a miracle.'

  'In the form of ... what?' 'He might relent some day.'

  'You've just said he asserted firmly that he won't.'

  She shrugged.

  'How does Paul know what his feelings will be in, say, ten years' time?'

  'Ten years! . he ejaculated in tones of horror. 'Tessa, that's a lifetime.'

  'No, Joe.' She gave him a smile, the sweet and rather tremulous smile she often bestowed upon her husband, even though he remained totally unaware of it, 'I can wait ten years, or even twenty ... and in spite of what Paul says I don't believe he can ever kill my hope.'

  Joe placed his glass on the table, for the wine appeared to be choking him, He swallowed hard before he spoke.

  'I don't know how you managed to become so deeply involved, Tessa, but having done so how. can you go on caring for a man who treats you like this? 'He isn't treating me like this,' Tessa reminded him. 'It's Lucinda he's punishing.'