Kiss the Moonlight Read online

  She went from the room as she spoke and Athena shivered.

  Kazandis might be a murderer, but she had murdered him! Then she told herself she must not think about it, but only of Orion, as he had told her to do.

  She was to be married to Orion!

  Somehow she could hardly believe it was true that she was to be his wife as she longed to be; there would be no problems about the Prince to be solved, no question of whether she should return to England or not.

  The astonishment and inevitable reproaches of her relatives did not concern her.

  For the moment she would only have to cope with Aunt Beatrice, but later she would have to tell her father what had happened and of course her grandmother.

  It was the Dowager Marchioness who would mind most and feel that Athena had betrayed her trust.

  "They will love Orion when they meet him," Athena told herself confidently.

  But any such meeting was a long way off and for the moment there was only one thing to worry about, and that was the attitude the Prince might take.

  Athena did not know anything about Greek law, but she expected that the Nobility and certainly minor Royalties in every country were important and powerful and to offend one of them could result in penalties which were not only social ones.

  Then she told herself again that if things became difficult she and Orion would leave Greece.

  In which case, she thought uneasily, they would have to live on her money.

  Here was another difficulty she had not faced before. She knew nothing about Orion, and yet instinctively she was aware that he was proud.

  She was sure he was a man who won Id think it beneath him to accept money from a woman: a man must always be the master in his own house and that included his wife.

  "I shall have to tell him who I am," Athena thought, but she felt afraid.

  He loved her enough to marry her whoever she might be, but she supposed that he thought of her as a quite ordinary Englishwoman from an ordinary family, with perhaps a little money of her own, enough at any rate to travel round the world.

  But that was very different from marrying a great heiress and a woman who had come to Greece to marry one of the reigning Princes.

  "If I tell him he might not... marry me," Athena thought.

  She felt herself trembling and knew here was something she must avoid at all costs.

  He had told her nothing about himself, he had asked no questions where she was concerned; but the moment would come eventually when they must be frank with each other.

  Then if she was not already his wife Orion might refuse to go through with the marriage which he himself had suggested.

  She knew as she thought of it that she could not —she dare not—lose him for the second time.

  It had been a pain and an agony unlike anything she had ever known in the whole of her quiet life when she had watched him ride away from her on the black stallion and knew that he was riding out of her life forever.

  And because her suffering had been so intense she had hardly had time to realise that it was tearing her to pieces when Kazandis appeared and carried her away.

  Now she knew that what she had suffered was like dying a thousand deaths and she could not go through that again.

  "I will not... tell him," she decided. "I will tell him ... nothing until we are married. Nothing ... nothing!"

  In her mind she said the words defiantly as if she challenged the fates themselves to wrench her happiness from her at the eleventh hour.

  As if in answer she heard at that moment Orion's feet coming up the stairs.

  He knocked at the door of her room but it was open and even as he knocked he could see her lying in what had been his bed.

  He came towards her and she thought she had never seen a man look so happy.

  "Madame Argeros told me you were resting, my darling," he said, "but I had to see you."

  Athena stretched out her hands towards him.

  "I wanted to see you."

  "You are all right? You do not feel ill?"

  She shook her head. "Only a little tired."

  "That is not surprising," he said, "and I want you to rest. I will arrange for our wedding to take place in the cool of the evening, but I am afraid that the whole village will wish to celebrate afterwards—do you mind?"

  "I mind nothing as long as I can be your wife."

  He took her hand in his and kissed her fingers one after another, then pressed his lips into the softness of her palm.

  "I can hardly believe that everything that happened this morning really took place," he said. "But now you are safe—and you belong to me!"

  She felt herself thrill at his tone of voice.

  But when instinctively she lifted her face towards his, her lips ready for his kiss, he looked down at her and said:

  "You are not to tempt me, Athena. I want you to rest, but if I start kissing you now it will be very difficult for me to stop or to leave you alone as I intend to do."

  "You will not go ... far?"

  There was a touch of fear in her voice.

  "Only to the Church, because I have to speak with the Priest," he said. "Do you mind, my darling, being married in the Greek Orthodox religion to which I belong?"

  "I do not mind how we are married ... as long as we ... are," Athena answered.

  "I really feel we should be married in the Temple of Apollo," Orion smiled, "but the Priests are long dead, and I am determined to tie you to me by every vow and nuptial bond that exists so that you can never escape."

  "I would never want to," Athena murmured.

  They looked into each other's eyes and she knew that Orion drew in his breath.

  It was almost impossible, Athena thought, to be closer to one another than they were at this moment in their love for each other.

  Then with an effort Orion kissed her hand again.

  "I am going now, my darling. There was really only one thing I came to ask you and it seems extraordinary after all that has happened that I do not know your name."

  Athena had anticipated this question. A lot had been written about her in the newspapers in Athens when she arrived with her Aunt and she was afraid that if she told him her real name Orion might connect it with the English heiress who was visiting Greece and had been received by the King.

  Yet when she first thought of it she asked herself whether if she was married by any other name it would be legal.

  Then she remembered, almost as if fate had provided for such an emergency, what she had been told had happened at her christening.

  Her American Godmother, Mrs Mayville, who had later left her thie huge fortune, had been asked to hold the baby in her arms. She had been instructed that when the Parson said: "Name this child," she should reply: "Mary Emmeline Athena".

  But Athena's Godmother was not only delighted with her Godchild, but also wished to give her something of herself.

  She must have thought over what she intended to do while the Service began and the baby lay sleeping peacefully in her arms wrapped in the long lace-edged robe in which every member of the Wade family had been christened for centuries.

  Finally when the Godparents had promised to "renounce the devil and all his works" and the Parson had sanctified the water in the font he turned to Mrs. Mayville. She handed him the baby, and he said:

  "Name this child."

  "Mary Emmeline Athena Mayville," she answered.

  There was a little gasp from the Marquess and the other relatives, but before they could think what to do the Parson had intoned solemnly:

  "Mary Emmeline Athena Mayville I baptise thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

  Athena's head had received the Holy Water and for the first time she cried, "Letting the devil out of her!" as her Nanny said later with satisfaction.

  Afterwards the Marquess had stormed in a fury about it.

  "I told you the Wades have never been given fancy names! Athena Mayville! Have you e
ver heard of such a combination?"

  "I am sorry, dearest," Athena's mother replied. "I had no idea that my friend intended anything quite so unexpected. But there was nothing we could do."

  "I should have stopped the ceremony," the Marquess said. "It is outrageous that my daughter should be saddled for life with such names!"

  "Perhaps we could just forget them," the Marchioness said soothingly. "After all, we shall always call her Mary and there is no reason for her ever to use any other name."

  The Marquess was gradually reassured, but Athena learnt as she grew older that her Godmother was in disgrace and was seldom invited back to Wadebridge Castle.

  However, when she died and left all her money to Athena, the Marquess's antagonism was noticeably modified and he no longer flew into a rage if she was mentioned in his presence.

  Now Athena thought her Godmother had done her a good turn.

  Her name indeed was Athena Mayville legally, and she was quite certain that once married it would be impossible for the ceremony to be annulled because she had not used all her other names.

  Orion was waiting for her answer and she smiled up at him.

  "Athena Mayville," she said. "And now it is only fair that you should tell me yours."

  "It is very Greek," he answered. "Theodoros."

  "I like it," she said. "I shall be very proud to be Athena Theodoros."

  She spoke with such sincerity in her voice that Orion could not prevent himself from kissing her.

  It was a hard, quick kiss but, as if he no longer trusted himself, he rose to his feet and walked towards the door.

  "Sleep now, my darling," he said. "There is nothing to make you afraid. I shall rest later in the next room, and if you want me you have only to call."

  "I shall remember ... that," Athena answered.

  As it happened she fell asleep almost as soon as he had left her and she did not hear Nonika bring her food or take it away again.

  She slept and slept, dreaming happily of Orion and not even in her dreams did the shadow of Kazandis disturb her.

  She awoke drowsily to find Nonika was coming into her room carrying a can of hot water.

  "I thought you would want to wash," she said in her shy manner as Athena opened her eyes, "and I've brought you some coffee. Mama is cooking you an omelette."

  "Thank you."

  "And I have sponged your gown and pressed it," Nonika went on, "but I am afraid it does not look very nice." Athena sat up in bed.

  She was to be married and for the first time she realised that she had nothing to wear.

  She could hardly bear to think that on what was the most important day of her life she had only the gown that she had worn yesterday, and which she knew had been in a terrible state by the time they had brought her down the mountainside.

  The ropes had marked the waist, and the bushes, some of them with thorny claws, had clutched at her skirts as she passed them.

  The dust and dirt from the bare rocks had done the rest.

  Nonika laid it over a chair, but even though the full skirt was uncreased it was still badly marked.

  "Oh, Nonika!" Athena exclaimed. "How can I be married in that?"

  It was woman calling to woman, a cry for help that was very feminine.

  Nonika was silent for a moment, then she said:

  "I have a suggestion, but I would not like you to think it impertinent."

  "I would not think anything you suggested impertinent," Athena said, " especially if it was helpful."

  She rose from the bed as she spoke and walked across the room in her bare feet to look at the gown.

  "I do want to look beautiful for Orion," ,she said almost beneath her breath.

  "I understand," Nonika said, "I would feel the same. I have a gown that I could lend you, but you might not like it."

  "Could I see it ?" Athena asked.

  She saw the smile in Nonika's eyes before she ran from the room, then Athena wondered what she could possibly provide that would not make her look even more shabby than she would appear in her own soiled gown.

  She thought of all the beautiful dresses she had brought to Greece in her trousseau and longed for Orion to see her in them.

  It was easy, Athena thought, to say that clothes did not matter beside one's feelings, but there was no woman in the whole world who did not wish to look beautiful and at her best on her wedding-day.

  She almost felt as if she would rather postpone the wedding than be married looking drab and bedraggled, as was inevitable unless Nonika could provide her with something different.

  But what could the daughter of a Taverna-keeper have to offer ?

  Athena did not ask the question disparagingly but practically.

  All the gowns she had brought with her to Greece had been from the most expensive dressmakers in London.

  If she had not been conscious that she must be extremely smart and impressive when married to the Prince of Parnassus, her grandmother had certainly been determined that she should outshine every member of the fashionable Athenian Society.

  "The Queen is noted for her elegance," the Dowager Marchioness had said, "and when there are women in Athens like Lady Ellenborough you cannot afford to be anything but very smart."

  It was the first time that Athena had heard of Lady Ellenborough, but there were plenty of people to tell her of the English Beauty's adventures and her flamboyant behaviour with one lover after another.

  The stories of Lady Ellenborough, or the Countess Theotoky as she was now, lost nothing in the telling. She was called "the Queen of Love and Beauty", and her loveliness was framed by exquisite clothes.

  "Perhaps Orion knows women like that," Athena thought now. "How can I marry him looking little better than a beggar-maid?"

  It did not help to recall that she was very much the opposite, which was something she was still afraid to tell her future husband.

  It only made her feel sadly that some of the happiness and glamour of her wedding was being taken from her simply because she did not look as a bride should.

  She walked to the small mirror which stood on the chest-of-drawers and stared at her reflection.

  Orion thought her beautiful—she knew that—but because she wanted him to go on thinking so for the rest of his life she could imagine nothing more depressing (ban for him to star! oil their wedded life together by feeling sorry for her.

  And that undoubtedly was how he would feel when he saw her in her old gown.

  Almost despairingly Athena waited as she heard Nonika coming back up the stairs.

  Had she a solution? Was there anything she could offer as an alternative to her own clothes ?

  Nonika entered the room, and Athena drew in her breath.

  In her arms she carried almost reverently a gown which Athena knew instinctively was to be Nonika's own wedding-dress and she recognised it as a native costume of Parnassus.

  It was very elaborate and beautiful.

  The gown was white, made simply with open sleeves, the soft material edged both at the hem and on the sleeves with the most intricate and exquisite coral and gold embroidery.

  The same colours richly embroidered with gold formed an apron and the front of the bodice was embellished in the same way.

  To be worn round the neck was a huge necklace of wrought gold fringed with coins, set with five rows of turquoises and corals of varying sizes encircled with what appeared to be small diamonds.

  Athena gasped and Nonika explained:

  "The necklace has been in our family for many, many years, all Greek families have them."

  She paused to add sadly:

  "Or they did have them, many have had to be sold for food or to pay the terrible taxes."

  "It is perfectly lovely," Athena exclaimed.

  "The dress was made by me and my mother," Nonika continued. "We embroidered all through the winter, and now at last it is finished!"

  "But you cannot wish anyone else to wear it!" Athena protested.

  "
You will look very beautiful in it," Nonika replied. "A Greek bride for Orion."

  "Will you really lend it to me?"

  "I should be honoured."

  "It is kind ... so very kind of you," Athena answered, "but you must show me how to wear it, how to put it on."

  "I will show you," Nonika agreed. "It is not difficult."

  When she had been staying in Athens Athena had seen many Greek girls wearing their native costumes and thought how attractive they looked.

  But Nonika's gown was not only lovelier than those she had seen, it was also particularly becoming to her.

  There was a white veil with which she covered her hair and perched on the top of it was a little gold cap, also embellished with turquoises and coral and with a row of gold coins which outlined her forehead.

  When she looked at herself in the mirror she thought she looked quite different from the way she had looked before and yet it seemed a more fitting frame for her oval face and huge grey eyes than anything else she had ever worn.

  "You look lovely! Lovely!" Nonika exclaimed. "And now we will show you to Orion."

  Athena took a last look at herself in the mirror.

  Would he think her beautiful, she wondered, or would he perhaps think what she wore was too like fancy-dress ?

  Then she told herself that this was after all, the type of costume which all Greek girls wore and as Nonika had said she was to be a Greek bride.

  Nonika ran ahead of her down the stairs to say she was coming and as Athena moved a little shyly into the kitchen Orion rose from the table at which he had been sitting.

  She needed only one glance at his eyes, one look at his face to know exactly what he thought.

  There was no needs for words.

  To him she was as beautiful as he had expected her to be.

  Chapter Six

  The men were dancing the zeimbekiko with a verve and a vigour that was exciting for those who watched them.

  Athena thought it would be impossible for a single other guest, however thin, to squeeze into the kitchen of the Taverna.

  They were certainly a colourful throng to look at, all wearing what she realised were their best and most treasured costumes, the women brilliant in red and blue, yellow and magenta.