Love and the Gods Read online

  “I will pray all night it may be my way,” Thalia sighed, “which is that I can stay with you and listen to you. I am sure that I would learn far more from you than from a hundred books and certainly from anyone else.”

  “That is the nicest compliment I have ever had,” the Duke exclaimed, “and I will try to live up to it.”

  He was smiling as he rose and walked towards the door.

  “Stay here,” he said, “while I see if the beds are made up in the cabin next door or whether, as you have suggested, you must sleep on the floor.”

  “I will sleep anywhere, absolutely anywhere, as long as I don’t have to go back to my uncle!” Thalia cried.

  The Duke did not answer.

  He merely walked out of the cabin and into the one on the opposite side of the passage.

  It was a very pleasant cabin and the Duke had made certain that the mattress on every bed in his yacht was soft and comfortable. No one who used them was upset even by the roughest and most violent storm at sea.

  To his relief the bed was made up and then, when he turned down the cover, he saw that the pretty sheets and pillowcases were trimmed with lace.

  This cabin had always been intended for any lady he brought aboard with him and strangely enough it had been occupied only occasionally.

  He had always preferred to be alone when he was at sea, or else accompanied by a gentleman who, like himself, wished to explore the unknown and to meet strange people who were only occasionally mentioned in the guidebooks.

  As he glanced round the cabin, he saw it contained every new gadget that he had installed in his own cabin.

  He had been told his yacht was not only the fastest afloat but also the most luxurious.

  His orders had certainly been carried out and then it passed through his mind that this particular cabin was so well furnished and so attractive that it might have been designed for a special Mayfair beauty.

  The curtains over the portholes and the carpets on the floor were the pink loved by the Egyptians and the blue of their scarabs.

  Nothing, he reflected, could be a better frame for the beauty of Thalia.

  He walked back into his own cabin.

  “Come along,” he said to her. “I have found you a very comfortable bed and the sooner we both go to sleep the better.”

  “I would much rather stay talking to you,” Thalia replied. “But, as your guest, I will do exactly as I am told. So perhaps you will not then find me as tiresome as you anticipate!”

  “I never said that you would be tiresome,” the Duke protested. “I look forward very much to talking to you about a great number of issues that I think would interest us both.”

  “If you do, it will be very fascinating for me, Your Grace. I have been starved, since Mama died, of all the subjects that really interest me. Starvation of the mind, I assure you, is much worse than starvation of the body!”

  “Which, of course, you have not experienced.” “On the contrary! When my parents died and my uncle became responsible for me, whenever I did anything of which he disapproved, he locked me up in my room and I was then not allowed any food or drink for twenty-four hours.”

  The Duke could hardly believe his ears.

  “If it was in summer, it was ghastly to be without water. I have always found that when I am frightened or agitated, I feel very thirsty.”

  “That is why you asked me for a drink tonight,” the Duke said. “You are not to be agitated or frightened any more. This is a ship of discovery and it is Apollo who has brought us together. I am sure we will discover something very wonderful on our voyage.”

  Thalia clasped her hands together.

  “Do you really mean that? Oh, thank you, thank you! You are the most fabulous man in the world. No one but me realises that you are a God yourself!”

  “I hope you will always continue to think so,” the Duke replied. “Goodnight, Thalia. Sleep well and I am sure we will both dream of Apollo.”

  Thalia stood looking at him.

  Then she murmured in a shy little voice,

  “Because you are so wonderful and because you are so kind – I know I am dreaming. Please kiss me goodnight before I wake up.”

  She threw herself against him and the Duke’s arms went round her.

  But as he kissed her, it was not, as he had kissed other women, on the lips, but gently on one cheek and then the other.

  “Now go to bed, Thalia,” he repeated.

  Before she could reply to him, he walked out of the cabin closing the door behind him.

  Because he did not want to try to understand his own thoughts or his own feelings at this moment, he went quickly into his own cabin and locked himself in.

  Then he began to undress and he knew that Thalia was right.

  This was indeed a dream and only Apollo himself could have given it to them.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The Captain moved the yacht as soon as they came aboard to sail quickly away from Delos.

  He did not stop until over two hours later in a small uninhabited bay he knew of further up the coast of Greece.

  He was certain that there would be no one to see the yacht anchored there the next morning.

  The Duke woke early as he always did.

  Looking out of the porthole, he could see where the Captain had brought them.

  Because he had a book he was interested in reading, he went back to bed and read it rather than going ashore.

  He was thinking that Thalia might want him when she awoke and be worried if he was not on the yacht.

  Jenkins came to his cabin at eight o’clock.

  He then informed the Duke that their guest was now awake and was dressing.

  “I’ve ordered breakfast for eight, Your Grace,” he said. “I thought that was what you’d both be wanting.”

  “I do indeed need a good hearty breakfast after all the excitement of last night!” Jenkins laughed.

  “It were certainly a surprise, Your Grace. I never thinks for a moment that anyone would be travelling in that there case.”

  “I suppose,” the Duke commented, “it is lucky Her Highness was not suffocated.”

  He dressed quickly.

  Then he went into the Saloon to find to his surprise that Thalia was already there.

  She looked up at him with questioning eyes as he entered and he knew she was frightened that he might be angry.

  He sat down beside her.

  As the Stewards were bringing in their breakfast, there was no chance of an intimate conversation.

  They had to talk of other matters and of what was happening in Greece and the Duke told her how much he admired the transformation the Queen had achieved in the Palace gardens.

  Only when the Stewards had left, did the Duke ask Thalia,

  “Now tell me, what do you want to do today?”

  “I don’t want to be an encumbrance on you, but I would like, if it is possible, to rest my legs. They are still aching from being shut up in such a small space.”

  The Duke smiled.

  “You can only blame yourself. Even so I think you are right. Later this afternoon I will take some exercise myself by walking on the beach.”

  She did not reply and he went on,

  “I have been to this island before. It’s very unbuilt on part of the coast, so I am not likely to see anyone who will ask me awkward questions.”

  “I am afraid of that,” Thalia muttered.

  The Duke knew that what she was really afraid of was that her uncle and perhaps the Russian Prince would be out looking for her.

  To reassure her, he suggested,

  “We will stay here for perhaps only one more night. I have now to alter my plans and decide where I should take you.”

  “I have already proposed, if it is not too far, coming with you as far as France – ” The Duke was quiet for a moment and then he said,

  “Are you really prepared to give up what is left of your family and the country that you have always loved? Sure
ly it would be wiser if you had a further talk with your uncle and attempted to persuade him to be reasonable as to whom you should marry.”

  “It would be hopeless to do so and just a waste of time. And if my uncle catches me now after running away, I am all the more certain that he will force me to marry the hideous Russian.”

  There was a note of fear in her voice that the Duke knew came from her whole being.

  He accepted completely that it would be hopeless to try to persuade her to go back.

  If he did, she might once again go to the Parthenon.

  “Very well, Thalia. We will rest here just in case anyone is suspicious that you might have stowed away on my yacht, and we will leave early tomorrow morning while it is still dark and, after passing Athens, carry on down the Aegean on the way home.”

  Thalia gave a little cry.

  “Oh, thank you! Thank you! You are so kind and I am very grateful.”

  There was no doubt of her sincerity.

  “Actually it is really what I want to do myself, so don’t be too apologetic. I have to go home as there are a great many matters waiting for me when I return.”

  He was thinking that he would go at once to the country and concentrate on his horses.

  If women like Lady Evelyn missed him, they would not know for some time that he was actually home.

  They then went on deck and sat looking out at some small offshore islands and the sunshine and the sea made them look very attractive.

  The Duke could well understand that the Greeks worshipped light and believed that it came to them from the God Apollo.

  They began to talk more generally and, much to his surprise, he found that Thalia was extremely well read.

  Although she had not travelled as he had, she knew from her books a great deal about the countries that he had visited. In fact in some cases she knew rather more of their history and religions than he did.

  “How can you possibly know all this at your age?” he asked her.

  “I was lucky that Papa owned a large library. Also he travelled a great deal and taught me the languages of the different countries he had visited.”

  She paused as if she was looking back into the past.

  “When his friends called to see him,” she went on, “he always allowed me to meet them and to talk with them in their own language.”

  “It is amazing you should know so much.” “Not half as much as I want to,” Thalia asserted. “You have been lucky enough to go to the countries I have only read about. What I want more than anything else is to travel.”

  She was quiet for a moment and then she added,

  “I wonder if I could offer my services in some way to an Embassy. They might easily know people who want to employ a Governess or perhaps a secretary, who spoke several languages.”

  “I should think that’s a very good idea,” the Duke said, “except for one thing.”

  “What is that?” Thalia enquired.

  “Because you are far too pretty. Any girl of your age, looking as you do, would be bound to get into trouble if she was out on her own without being chaperoned and without, to put it bluntly, a man to look after her.”

  Thalia gave a little cry.

  “If you are suggesting that I should marry Prince Federovski and go to Russia, then I am not going to listen to you!”

  “Of course not. I was not thinking of him.”

  He had really been thinking that, if she appeared in a Mayfair ballroom, every man present would want to be her partner.

  “The difficulty with girls as pretty as you,” he said aloud, “is that they get into trouble whether they mean to or not. One thing I am certain about is that you cannot travel the world alone.”

  “Then what am I to do? You know I cannot go home and really there is no home left now that Papa and Mama are dead. And you are right in saying my friends who are not well off will not want to keep me with them for long.”

  “Don’t trouble about it today, Thalia. I am sure we will think of a solution. In fact, I promise you I will. So let’s talk about China which you want to visit and where I have been only for a very brief time, also about Japan of which I know a great deal.”

  Thalia gave a cry of joy.

  The Duke found illustrated books to show her what he had seen.

  In fact, they were so immersed in what they were doing that they were totally surprised when it was time for luncheon.

  It was after they had enjoyed a really delicious meal that Thalia pointed out,

  “I don’t want to bother you, but you do understand if I am to stay long with you on this lovely yacht, which I hope I will do, I must have some clothes.”

  The Duke put his hand up to his forehead.

  “I really am an idiot,” he then exclaimed. “I did not think of that. I forgot you have nothing except what you stand up in.”

  “It’s just what I crawled into that case wearing.” “Well, we cannot stop at Athens, nor can you ask for any of your own clothes.”

  “I know, Your Grace. I hate to be such a pest, but if you would lend me a little money when we reach Italy, I could buy some clothes. I promise I will pay you back, although it may take me some time.”

  “You are not to worry about anything like that,” the Duke said. “I am sure we can stop in Naples where you will find everything you want. Or would you prefer to go on to Marseilles? It will be my present to start you on your new life, the details of which we have not yet decided.”

  He was thinking as he spoke, although he did not say it aloud, that perhaps he would be wise to take Thalia straight back to England.

  He could then find some sensible family living in the country who would welcome anyone so well educated and so good at languages.

  But there was one serious difficulty.

  If he arrived in England with Thalia and anyone knew that they had been alone in his yacht, her reputation would be ruined and indeed his would be tarnished.

  ‘I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it,’ the Duke told himself.

  Equally he knew it was a major problem that had to be resolved sooner or later.

  *

  It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when the Duke announced,

  “Now I am going for a walk. I will not be away for long. After dark we will move further down the Aegean Sea. I am sure you will enjoy the beauty of the scenery we will see tomorrow.”

  “That will be very exciting, Your Grace, and I wish I could walk with you, but to be honest my legs are still rather stiff and I would prevent you from going at anything but a snail’s pace.”

  “You can come with me tomorrow or the next day. You are most sensible to rest you legs while you have the chance. There are a great many books below that I know you would find absorbing. My ‘sea-library’ as I call it, is really quite up-to-date.”

  Jenkins had shown her the cabin where his books were arranged to make a small library and she had already told him how clever he had been to think of anything so sensible.

  “I have heard people complain over and over again when they have been on a long voyage that they became bored,” she said. “The books available on the big liners are, I am told, usually cheap novels I know you would not enjoy.”

  “I certainly would not,” the Duke agreed.

  He thought that most women of his acquaintance would prefer novels to history or biography.

  It was certainly strange to find in a young girl who was so interested in the history of other countries.

  He had put on his most comfortable clothes when he had dressed that morning.

  Thus he did not have to change before he swung himself over the side of the yacht and two sailors rowed him the short distance to the beach.

  Thalia lent over the rail to watch him go.

  When he reached the top of the low cliff above the beach, he turned round and waved before he walked off.

  She waved back.

  Then she sat down in a shady place on deck to read two of the
books he had recommended to her.

  Because he rode so much, the Duke found that it was essential to take some exercise when he was at sea.

  He was determined to keep as fit as he had always been and so he walked quickly over the short grass.

  He then found that the landscape, although devoid of people, was very attractive.

  There were wild flowers creating patches of colour in the sunshine and in the trees he passed there were birds singing. Some of them had coloured feathers that made them look as if they had stepped out of a Fairy story.

  He had gone quite a long way when he thought he would be wise to return.

  Actually, he had found the sun rather hotter than he expected and so he sat down and rested for a little while under some shady trees.

  Then he set out, feeling surprised at the distance he had covered.

  He was moving rather slowly on his way back as it was so hot.

  It must have been almost two hours later that he saw the masts of what he knew must be another ship near to where The Mermaid was anchored.

  He wondered why there was a ship in this barren and uninhabited part of the country and it seemed to him not only strange but perhaps dangerous.

  He quickened his pace.

  Even so, he still had a long way to go.

  He was feeling very hot when he eventually came near enough to see the mast of The Mermaid.

  Immediately behind it was the funnel of a much larger ship.

  Now he was really worried.

  He broke into a trot.

  He was almost certain from the markings on the funnel that this ship was Russian.

  Before he left he had told the Captain where he was going and he had suggested,

  “I think that’s a good idea, Your Grace, and as the men are anxious to have a swim, I’m allowing the majority of them to go a little way up the coast.”

  “I am sure they will enjoy it,” the Duke had replied. “I will very likely bathe myself this evening.”

  “I was thinking just the same, but I thought perhaps Your Grace would want to move on as soon as it is dark.”

  “We have the whole night to sail away in and if we keep close to the coast, there is little likelihood of anyone on the island noticing us.”

  The Captain nodded.