Illyrian Summer (14 page)

Sarah considered the question from several viewpoints. Perhaps the truth was that Daniel was Melanie
’
s
protégé
and she would not allow anyone else to dominate him. In Sarah she fancied she saw a new source of power. In reality, the whole situation was ludicrous, and Sarah chuckled to herself.

Edmund, however, soon wiped the smile off Sarah
’
s
face. He came into the room half an hour later, when she had finished his typing and asked crossly,
“
Why didn
’
t you tell Melanie that you were going home?
”

“
And have Daniel pestering me all day long? Or am I flattering myself?
”

“
She was in a rare state, demanding that I sack you at once,
”
grumbled Edmund.

“
Why didn
’
t you tell her then that all the arrangements were made and I was being packed off to England?
”
Sarah demanded.

Edmund looked sheepish.
“
Sometimes it
’
s best to let her think she
’
s seized her own way by force. Deflating her doesn
’
t have a good effect.
”

“
Then that
’
s why I didn
’
t deflate her, either,
”
Sarah asserted.
“
I couldn
’
t help it if she jumped to all the wrong conclusions. I suppose Daniel gave her the impression that I was going to Florence with the unit.
”

“
You should have been more honest with Daniel and told him the truth.
”

Sarah nodded.
“
Yes, I should,
”
she admitted.
“
Now he
’
ll hear about it from Melanie in the worst possible way.
”

“
Actually, I think he won
’
t. I
’
ve persuaded her not to let him know until tomorrow anyway. There
’
ll be less time then for further upsets.
”

“
I
’
d better tell him myself,
”
Sarah decided.
“
In any case, I wouldn
’
t like him to think that Melanie was responsible for my being sent home.
”

After a long pause, Sarah asked,
“
Have I really damaged Daniel
’
s acting? I
’
m not being conceited, I hope, but you can tell me the truth, Edmund.
”

He smiled.
“
Daniel
’
s not the type to ruin all for love. Or maybe you
’
re not the girl. Does that prick your conceit?
”

“
No, I
’
m relieved. After all, I have so much to thank him for. It was he who insisted I should come with you. Perhaps that
’
s why Melanie is so worried. She doesn
’
t know how close we were before she arrived. Is she always like this when she
’
s upset? Don
’
t you find all this turmoil wearing?
”

Edmund laughed.
“
You don
’
t understand her temperament. It
’
s just because she
’
s so neurotic that she
’
s such a fine actress, and of course she carries
every worry, every tiny accident, over into real life.
”

“
I couldn
’
t live at that pace. I like the quiet life.
”

Edmund gave her a long appraising look before he spoke.
“
You wouldn
’
t get that with Daniel.
”
He strolled toward the door, then turned.
“
Nor with Adam.
”

She reflected that Edmund, too, had been a stage and film actor before he became a director. He certainly knew how to deliver an exit line.

Radmilla appeared on the terrace.
“
Sarah, you are ready to come shopping?
”

“
Yes. I
’
ll get my handbag.
”
Sarah was glad of a diversion to take away the taste of that past hour.

In the town the two girls strolled through the narrow streets off the Placa Stradun. One shop had a wide assortment of national costumes, and Sarah said,
“
Let
’
s go in and you can tell me which part of Yugoslavia they belong to.
”

Eventually Radmilla chose, as her gift from Sarah, a dashing Slovenian costume in dark red with a long blue overskirt and fichu, and the most attractive pleated white headdress like the dome of a miniature mosque, set into a band of colored embroidery.

Radmilla insisted that Sarah, too, must have a costume.
“
But I
’
m not entitled to wear it,
”
she protested.

“
If it is a gift from a Slav, then you ha
v
e a right to wear the dress.
”

In her turn Sarah chose a Dalmatian dress chiefly because its most striking feature was the embroidered, fringed apron.
“
When the dress is not being worn,
”
she said,
“
I can always use the apron as a beautiful piece of wall hanging.
”

“
When you are married,
”
Radmilla pointed out,
“
you must have a white veil over the hat.
”

“
I
’
ll remember,
”
Sarah agreed with a smile.

“
When I went back to Krasnograd, I was so relieved to find my Zoran safe and uninjured that I discovered then it is Zoran I love,
”
Radmilla told Sarah.

Sarah had recovered her wits enough to congratulate Radmilla.
“
I hope you
’
ll both be very happy,
”
she murmured.
“
Now I know why you
’
ve been so gay these past few days and why you
’
re so anxious to return to Krasnograd.
”

Even as Radmilla was disclosing her happy news, Sarah
’
s mind was busy with strange possibilities.

“
Let
’
s go to the Gradska Kafana,
”
Sarah said hurriedly to Radmilla.
“
I want to talk to you, ask your advice.
”

“
But we have not finished the shopping.
”

“
We can do that afterward. Come, it won
’
t take long.
”
Radmilla smiled.
“
You are full of mystery, Sarah.
”

In a fairly secluded
corner
of the vaulted terrace cafe, Sarah said,
“
Supposing I changed my mind—and came back to Krasnograd with you?
”

“
It would be wonderful. But you said you could not.
”

“
I know. But now it
’
s different. Tomorrow you
’
re due to go by train to Sarajevo and I
’
m booked on the plane for Zagreb and from there to London. But if I cancel the plane booking I could come with you. Would it be possible for me to stay at your aunt
’
s apartment with you? If there
’
s not room, then I can easily find a small inn or pension for a night or two.
”

“
No, no!
”
Radmilla was shocked.
“
After you have helped us so much—and we could not find you a bed for a night or two! Of course my aunt will have you. Also you could leave some of your luggage there. I am taking all my goods with me, but I shall not take everything on to Krasnograd. There is nowhere to put our good clothes—yet.
”

“
Good,
”
Sarah agreed.
“
That would solve the problem of carting everything with us. Besides, I should hate to lose my beautiful Dalmatian costume.
”

Radmilla was silent for a few moments. Then she said
,
“
Sarah, are you sure that you want to do this? Life will be very uncomfortable in Krasnograd for a long time.
”

“
Listen, Radmilla. From all over Europe and even other countries farther away, people are coming to help Krasnograd. Here am I, only two or three hundred miles away, with nothing to do.
”

“
You do not understand how it is in win
t
er—and in such a wrecked town,
”
Radmilla pointed out.

“
If I
’
m a coward and can
’
t stand the winter when it comes, then I
’
ll give up and go home to England. But at least I might have been able to help a little while the summer lasts.
”

Radmilla put out her hand, and covered Sarah
’
s.
“
We shall all thank you. And for me, you will again be my friend and companion. It is so nice to have you with
me.

Sarah was slightly ashamed that she had made herself sound noble and unselfish and ready to suffer hardships, when secretly her motives were not nearly so high-minded. It was a fantastic notion to expose herself again to Adam
’
s scorn and contempt, yet she had to put herself to the test.

“
Don
’
t mention our new plans, Radmilla,
”
Sarah urged,
“
until I
’
ve had a chance to tell Edmund.
”

When the two girls returned to the villa, Sarah sought out Edmund and told him of her idea.
“
Will it be difficult to cancel the plane booking?
”

“
No, I
’
ll do that for you. But what will you tell Daniel now?
”

“
Has he returned from his boat trip?
”

“
Any minute now,
”
Edmund grinned.

“
I
’
ll tell him the truth,
”
Sarah promised.
“
If I don
’
t see him I
’
ll leave a note. But either way I know he
’
ll jump to the wrong conclusion.
”

“
I wonder. If he believes that Adam is the magnet, won
’
t he be right?
”

Sarah
’
s face reddened.
“
Possibly.
”

Edmund smiled.
“
I wish you luck, Sarah, although I don
’
t really know whether I ought to let you go haring off like this with Radmilla. I feel responsible for you. But Adam
’
s a decent chap. Perhaps you
’
ll be all right.
”

“
Thank you, Edmund, but I
’
m going to Krasnograd to work, not to run about after Adam.
”

“
By the way, would you like to take the portable typewriter with you? You might need it.
”

“
Oh, thank you!
”
Sarah was touched by his thoughtfulness.
“
But isn
’
t it the company
’
s property?
”

“
Yes, but I
’
ll fix it with a credit. You
’
ll also need some extra money, so I
’
ll send a few pounds to a bank in Sarajevo. After all, we
’
re not paying your plane fare home, so there
’
s an extra bit there for you. You can use it for your train fare.
”

Sarah
’
s eyes shone.
“
It
’
s very kind of you to do so much for me.
”

“
Well, remember to let us know how you get on. Write to me at the studios in Florence. You know the address—and mind, if you
’
re in any kind of jam, let
’
s hear about it. No false pride.
”

“
No false pride. That
’
s a promise.
”

He gave her that familiar, smugly quizzical glance.
“
I think Daniel
’
s just come in. Go to it, my pet.
”

But the scene that Sarah had most dreaded did not materialize. She had imagined that Daniel would reproach her with the stormiest resentment, goading her into retaliating in the most hurtful way. She did not want to hurt him, because she liked him too much for that and he had given her a great deal of pleasant companionship.

But when she told him frankly what she intended to do, he merely said,
“
What difference does it make
—
London or Krasnograd? If you won
’
t be where I can see you most days, I don
’
t really care where you are.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Daniel, that things haven
’
t worked out the way yo
u
wanted, but thank you for all the pleasant times together.
”
She was near to tears, and the fact surprised her, but she had not seen Daniel before in this morose, resigned mood.