Greek Wedding (18 page)

‘He may not agree to that.'

‘Not if he knows about it. That's one of the many reasons why I won't quarrel with Mr. Biddock, however impossibly his wife behaves.'

‘You'll never get Biddock to connive at deceiving your brother.'

‘You think not? I wonder … But in the meantime, what shall I say to Peter? I must have the letter ready for Alex when he comes.'

‘I think you should tell him that you will keep the money until Cochrane and Church arrive. Alex himself said that he counts on them to unite the rival Greek governments. Your proposed gift might even help persuade them to quit quarrelling and work together for the relief of the Acropolis.'

‘Of course! Brett, I do thank you. I knew you'd give me good advice. And by then, the
Helena
should surely be ready and we can go ourselves to make the offer.'

‘If it's safe for you.'

‘Dear Brett, no “ifs”. You must see that I can only agree to delay the gift on that basis. I
must
be there to see that it is used, first and foremost, for the relief of the Acropolis. If I can't be sure of that, I'd best give the money to Alex right away.'

‘No.' Every instinct cried out against this.

‘Very well. Then promise me that whatever happens, you and I will sail round to Aegina—or wherever the legitimate government is by then—in time to greet Cochrane and Church. If you think it dangerous, of course we'll leave Jenny and Cassandra here, but I know you'll come with me.'

‘Thank you. Very well, I promise. And, Phyllida—'

‘Yes?'

‘Will you tell Alex about this plan?'

‘Of course. Why not?' Her tone warned him to say no more.

*          *          *

Phyllida and Jenny were out on the terrace a few days later when the
Philip
made her characteristic daring swoop into the harbour.

‘Beautiful!' Phyllida had watched, breathlessly, until the manoeuvre was successfully completed.

‘And dangerous,' said Jenny. ‘Like the man himself.'

‘Dangerous?'

‘Don't you think so? In some ways, he reminds me a little of Helena. They both have that glossy look of someone used to having their own way. It always makes me wonder what will happen if they don't. Helena used to throw things,' she added thoughtfully.

Phyllida nearly said, ‘And so does your brother,' but restrained herself. She was to learn soon enough what Alex did when crossed. He arrived half an hour later, kissed both their hands with his usual ardour, and held Phyllida's for an extra moment. ‘Tell me I am to have the privilege of taking my brother Petros' gift to the Greek Government?'

‘Peter's gift?' She should have expected this. ‘He told you?
But, Alex, I'm not sure—' It was surprisingly difficult to tell him her decision.

‘So!' The furious tone drew her eyes up to meet the fire in his. ‘Your brother's wishes—his orders even—are to be ignored! A woman's whim is to deprive Greece of the funds that would be lifeblood in her hour of need! I tell you, a Greek woman would know better than to behave so. But you will think again.' Something he saw in her face made him modify his tone. ‘You have listened to the advice of cautious old men,
kyria
, when you should follow the dictates of your heart.'

‘She has listened, in fact, to my advice.' Phyllida turned gratefully at the sound of Brett's cool voice.

‘Just what I said. The voice of cold caution! I tell you, milord, the time of Greece's crisis is now! We have no money to pay our sailors; no money to send a relieving force to Athens! What will Phyllida think when she hears that the Turks have taken the Acropolis, and put its defenders to the sword. And knows that she herself has prevented her brother's own money from saving his life!'

‘But how do we know that the money—if she should send it—will not be used in civil war against the rival government at Hermione?'

‘You have my word for that—' Alex had never looked so handsome. ‘And that of my uncle, Petro Bey.'

‘Who served the Turks before 1821?'

‘Milord!' His hand flashed to the pistol at his belt.

‘You can't fight here,' said Jenny, ‘Aunt Cassandra wouldn't like it.'

‘What wouldn't I like?' To Phyllida's heartfelt relief, Cassandra herself appeared on the terrace.

‘A fight,' said Brett cheerfully. ‘But no need to look so disapproving, Aunt Cass. Alex won't waste powder on me. Not when I tell him I have promised to bring Phyllida round, funds and all, in the
Helena
, as soon as we hear that Cochrane and Church have arrived.'

‘Madness to wait so long.' But the interruption had given Alex time to get hold of himself. ‘And no need that I can see, since I too have a letter from Petros speaking of the gift as a thing of certainty. Since you will not do as he asks,
kyria
, I shall be compelled to speak to his man of business. This is men's work, after all. Had it not been you, of all women, I should never have
considered consulting you.'

‘I'm afraid you don't understand, Alex.' Phyllida looked appealingly at Brett. ‘Mr. Biddock can do nothing. Will it be so very bad if you don't have the money till the spring?'

‘Do nothing!' He ignored her last question. ‘And why not, pray?'

‘Because Miss Vannick is her father's sole heir,' said Brett. ‘And I rather fancy that even if she should be so mad as to listen to your pleas, she would be unable to touch so much money yet. Biddock tells me that he has still not heard from New York about the settlement of the estate.'

‘Oh—' This was a new idea to Phyllida. ‘I hadn't thought of that. You mean I can't even if I want to.'

‘Exactly.'

‘But surely she could borrow against her expectations.' Alex had had time to digest this new aspect of the affair and now bent his glowing gaze on Phyllida. ‘Think,
kyria
, how Greece bleeds, how she suffers … You've seen the wretched refugees from the mainland, and heard their stories … How can you let such atrocities continue for a day, when there is something you can do to help?'

‘The last family of refugees I talked to,' said Jenny, ‘had their house burned down by Kolokotronis and his Greek
pallikars
.'

‘For treachery, no doubt.' He was red with anger again as he turned to Phyllida. ‘So you will forget your brother, who lives on rats, and mice, and the dew he can gather on the marble of the Parthenon?'

‘It is really so bad?' She was weakening visibly. ‘I thought Colonel Fabvier took in supplies.'

‘No,
kyria
, he took nothing but gunpowder. Who knows? This is the second siege your brother has endured. Privation may destroy him before the Turk can. And then what comfort will you get from your riches? Will they help you to sleep sound at night, when you remember how your brother died, without a pillow for his head, or a glass of water for his thirst?'

‘Alex, don't! Brett—' Once again she turned to him. ‘Father never approved of borrowing, but surely in a case like this—'

‘If you could be sure that the money would go to the relief of the Acropolis, I would agree with you,' he said. ‘But, Phyllida,
you must see that Alex can only speak for himself.'

‘And for my uncle, who is a member of the government.'

‘For the moment, yes. Of one of the governments. So long as they are at daggers drawn between themselves, what hope is there of a relief of Athens? You must face it, Phyllida: if you send the money now, you have no guarantee that it won't be used in civil war. The blood of innocent Greeks will be on your head, and, when Church and Cochrane do get here, you will be unable to help them. Alex'—it was an appeal—‘tell her I'm right. You must see what an agonising decision it is for her. As soon as we hear that Church or Cochrane have arrived, we will set out for Eastern Greece. By then, Mr. Vannick's will should have been proved—the
Helena
will be ready for sea again—'

‘You'll come in the
Helena
?' Alex asked.

‘Under sail, if need be, but we'll come.'

‘I believe, after all, you are right.' His capitulation surprised Phyllida almost as much as had his fury. ‘Forgive me,
kyria
, if my anxiety for my brother Petros made me say more than I should have. It's true, I may have let it cloud my judgment. Milord Renshaw sees more clearly, since his emotions are not involved. How should I ever forgive myself if I were to take charge of my brother Petros' fortune now, and return to Aegina to find that those rascally
capitani
from Hermione had taken over the government? If Kolokotronis and those brigands of his were to lay hands on the money, it would be goodbye to any hope of rescue for Petros. More than ever, I shall count the days till spring, since it will bring not only, I hope, Cochrane and Church, but you,
kyria
, like an angel of rescue for the heroes in Athens. In the meantime, I only beg you will forgive me.'

‘Of course.' She could not resist that melting glance. ‘And you'll try to get my letter to Peter? I've said nothing, by the way, about our father's will.'

‘That's like you! In my anger, I misjudged you,
kyria
. I shall do penance for it until we meet again.'

‘He changed his tune very suddenly.' Jenny caught Brett alone on the terrace after Alex had gone. ‘I don't like him, Brett.'

‘Oh, nonsense, kitten. He's a good enough sort of fellow in his flashy way. You've not seen him at his best. I can tell you, that day he saved us from the pirates, I thought him a perfect paladin.' He laughed, and pulled one of her golden curls. ‘Confess,
Jen, that what you really have against him is that he makes bigger eyes at Phyllida than he does at you.'

‘Stupid!' But she said it in sympathy rather than anger.

That year, February was the longest month in the calendar. Nothing happened. Lord Cochrane was still somewhere in the western Mediterranean, making his dilatory way towards Greece. Biddock had not heard from New York and nor had the
Helena's
gudgeons arrived. Phyllida's only comfort was a letter from Alex, delivered by the famous Greek Captain Kanaris on his way to throw supplies into the Greek fortress at Corinth.

‘He managed to send my letter to Peter!' Her colour was high as she read. ‘I knew he would. Peter sent me a message. Have they no paper, perhaps? He's well, thank God. And hopes to see us in the spring. So does Alex.' By the length of the letter, Alex had said a good deal more than that.

‘It's spring already,' said Jenny. ‘The sun's as hot as in full summer at home, and there are a million flowers I never saw in my life. Won't you put a chapter about them in your book, Brett? I'm sure you could find them all in Homer if you tried. You know, asphodel and all that?'

‘I keep telling you, Jen, it's not that kind of book. I'm writing about Russia and Turkey just now. Do you know they've exchanged ambassadors?' This was rather to Phyllida than Jenny.

‘No? Have they? That's bad, isn't it?' Phyllida had been copying one of his finished chapters, but put down her pen to look anxiously up at him.

‘For the Greeks? I'm afraid so. I wish Cochrane and Church would get here.'

She smiled at him warmly. ‘I believe writing about them's making you begin to care about the poor Greeks.'

‘You can't help but be sorry for people who make such a muddle of their affairs. But there's one good thing: the Resident told me this morning. Great Britain and Russia have offered to mediate between the Greeks and the Turks. The Turks have refused. If the Greeeks have the sense to accept, it may mean a real step forward for them.'

‘Surely they will?'

‘You never can tell with the Greeks. Besides, first, they must produce a single government capable of accepting.'

‘I know! Goodness, how right you were, Brett, not to let me send that money. God knows what would have become of it by now. But, poor Peter … This waiting is bad enough for us: what must it be like for him!'

‘The packet's in!' Jenny had grown bored with the political talk and drifted out into the sunshine on the terrace. Now she hurried back: ‘Maybe this time it will have news for us.'

‘I'll go down at once and see.' Brett had seen Phyllida's look of almost painful eagerness. The waiting had indeed been hard on her. Anxiety for her brother had been exacerbated, he knew, by doubt as to whether she had been right about the money. If the Acropolis fell, she would never forgive herself, or him.

But at last the packet brought good news. There were two sets of gudgeons, and an apologetic letter from Mr. Galloway; there was a great parcel of American mail for Biddock and Phyllida; and, perhaps best of all, was the news that both Cochrane and Church were actually on their way to Eastern Greece at last.

Arriving at the Palazzo Baroti later that afternoon, Biddock found a scene of frenzied activity. Cassandra was sorting linen; Jenny was packing Brett's winter-long accumulation of papers; Phyllida was checking over the consignment of medical supplies she had ordered from London. She greeted him with pleasure. ‘Mr. Biddock! I was sure you would come at once.'

‘Yes indeed. It's all in order, I'm glad to say. You could not ask for a tidier will. Not even Mr. Peter could break it.'

‘As if he'd try! And you can let me have the funds I need?'

‘You're an immensely rich woman, Miss Vannick.' Had he never quite believed in that will of her father's? ‘But if you insist on making this lavish gift to the Greek government, I must beg you to think hard about how you are going to get it to them safely.'

‘Yes.' She had, somehow, assumed that when the time came to sail back round the pirate-infested coasts of the southern Morea, Alex would be there with the
Philip
to escort them. But he had explained in his letter that he was desperately busy taking supplies to the little army General Gordon had landed at Munychia in the hope of relieving Athens.