Illyrian Summer (5 page)

Could it be that Adam was susceptible to her beauty and had brought her here to show Melanie that he was not unaware of the attractions of other girls? An icy chill seemed to envelop Sarah, and she was glad when at last the party broke up.

CHAPTER THREE

Sarah and Radmilla
had been warned of an early start next morning for the journey to Mostar and were waiting on the steps of their hotel punctually at six o
’
clock, but when the small van arrived, Sarah was disconcerted to find that Daniel had joined the party.

When she clambered into the vehicle, Daniel yawned exaggeratedly.
“
Think, Sarah, dearest, of the sacrifice I
’
ve made to get up at dawn and come with you on this trip.
”

“
Then you can have the rest of your sleep on the journey,
”
she told him.
“
Edmund says it takes about five hours to get to Mostar.
”

Edmund stopped at intervals to allow Ricardo to photograph the scenery. At one place all the party watched him pose a handsome young woman spinning wool by hand on her beautifully carved distaff while she acted as shepherdess to her grazing flock.

When Ricardo rejoined the van, Sarah said to him,
“
I hope you
’
ll have better luck than on that other occasion.
”

The young Italian grinned.
“
Luck! One can hope so! Fortunately Edmund is not driving us today or else we might all be over the cliff and down the mountain.
”

Daniel was suddenly in a more wakeful mood.
“
I wonder why Adam made that flying visit yesterday.
”

“
To see
Hamlet,
”
Sarah answered.

Daniel grunted.
“
And others—not included in the prince of Denmark
’
s outfit. Did you or Edmund know that he was coming?
”

“
Of course not. Why?
”

“
Miraculously he picked a day when we were not filming. If I
’
d been at the villa when he came, I
’
d have whirled you off somewhere.
”

“
And prevented my seeing that marvelous performance?
”
Sarah
’
s sherry-brown eyes expressed an amused surprise.

“
You could still see it when they begin the summer festival—and I
’
d be with you instead of Adam.
”

Sarah gave him an indulgent smile, but she was guiltily aware that today she would have preferred to be making this trip with Adam instead of Daniel. This was a notion to be severely repressed, and after lunch in Mostar she was glad to concentrate on the sight-seeing program that Radmilla had mapped out.

“
First, the Turkish mosque.
”
She led the way to gardens near the river. The party left their shoes outside in the porch, then went inside to listen to the muezzin caller chanting a passage from a copy of the Koran.

“
He says the Koran here is six hundred years old,
”
Radmilla translated.
“
Also we are lucky that this is a day when women are allowed to enter the mosque.
”

When they left, Edmund remarked that Adam had spoken of friends in the town.
“
He said to be sure and call on this family and they would give us the best T
u
rkish coffee in the country.
”

“
How that man
’
s name keeps cropping up,
”
grumbled Daniel.
“
I suppose we shall run into him round an unexpected
corner
, shan
’
t we?
”

“
Don
’
t be such a grouch, Daniel,
”
Sarah rebuked him. He had been unusually quiet during the day so far, but she had no complaint about that. Sometimes the less Daniel said to her, the better it was for everyone, including herself.

Edmund gave Radmilla the directions he had been given to find the house of Adam
’
s friends.

“
Yes, I know where it will be,
”
she answered. Radmilla came to a back door in a wall, opened it
and walked through a courtyard. The others followed more diffidently, but she waved to them that this was the right house and they mounted the outside staircase at the side of a dazzling white house with green-tiled roof.

In a vestibule at the top of the staircase they followed her example and took off their shoes, then were ushered into an enchanting room with windows on three sides giving a superb view over the town and countryside.

Long cushioned couches were ranged around the walls, and the hostess, dressed in Turkish style with loose flowing trousers and embroidered jacket, served coffee smooth and sweet as black velvet, with tiny, rough-textured cakes.

Daniel, lounging among the cushions with his feet tucked under him, brightened up.
“
This makes me feel like a Turkish pasha.
”

Sarah giggled.
“
You don
’
t look like one.
”

“
How many have you seen?
”
he demanded.
“
With the right clothes and makeup, and some handsome mustachios to twirl, I could look the part to a T.
”

The hostess gave Radmilla and Sarah presents of miniature copper coffeepots of Turkish pattern made by her husband.

“
Because we are friends of Adam Thorne,
”
Radmilla explained.

Sarah was able to manage her own thanks in Serbo
-
Croatian and added,
“
Adam has taught me some of your language.
”

The woman clapped her hands in delight at this small manifestation of international friendship and called in English,
“
Goodbye. Come to us again.
”

Edmund began to mutter that it was time to go, and Sarah hastily donned her shoes and ran down the outside staircase to stand at the foot and wave to their host and hostess on the balcony above. As she turned, she collided with Daniel, who flung both his arms around her.

“
That
’
s right, darling. Never look where you
’
re going as long as you stumble into my arms.
”

“
How was I to know you were standing there like a monument?
”
she retorted, laughing and breaking away from his grasp.

Edmund and Radmilla had already gone on ahead and through the door in the wall. Ricardo was busy with his camera in a
corner
of the courtyard.

“
A monument, am I? Made of stone? If that
’
s what you think, I
’
ll teach you differently.
”
Daniel grabbed her wrists and pulled her toward him.

“
Oh, Daniel, not here, please!
”

“
Sarah, look at me! I
’
m most terribly in love with you. I
’
m telling you now—in these unromantic circumstances of broad daylight. No moonlight, no fountains, no music playing. I mean it, Sarah. I want to marry you.
”

She felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her.
“
Daniel!
”
she gasped when she could speak.
“
You can
’
t mean it! You don
’
t know what you
’
re saying!
”

She broke away from him and ran through the door out into the rough street toward Edmund and Radmilla.

During the long journey back to Dubrovnik, Sarah was conscious of a most violent turmoil in her thoughts. She could not think clearly. She tried to swing her mind away from Daniel and take an interest in the surroundings when Radmilla
pointed
out something special, but with Daniel sitting only a matter of inches away, it was not easy.

Toward late afternoon the next day, when the two girls had enjoyed sessions of alternative swimming and lazing interspersed with information about the English scene from Sarah and conversation lessons in Serbo
-
Croatian from Radmilla, a familiar voice called,
“
Sarah!
”

She looked up to see Daniel approaching across the
beach. Now how on earth did he guess that she and Radmilla were here, she thought crossly.
But then she saw that Melanie Roche was only a few yards behind him.

“
Hallo, Daniel!
”
Sarah greeted him.

As he sat down next to Sarah, Melanie settled herself on an inflated beach mattress some yards away and ostentatiously began to smooth suntan oil into her arms and legs.

“I’m glad I was able to track you down, Sarah,” Daniel murmured quietly.

“Shouldn’t you be sitting with Miss Roche?” she asked.

“
Melanie can surely put up with her own company for a few minutes.”

Sarah noticed that unobtrusively Radmilla had risen and was now plunging into the sea, an example that it would be best to follow.

“About yesterday—“ Daniel began.

“
Let
’
s forget it, shall we?
”
Sarah interrupted him, springing to her feet and picking up her swimming cap.

“
But I don
’
t want to forget it,
”
exclaimed Daniel loudly, and Sarah cast an apprehensive glance at Melanie, who appeared to be taking no notice.

“
See you later,
”
muttered Sarah, and ran down the beach, diving headlong into the water without adequately preparing her breathing, with the result that she emerged choking and spluttering.

Radmilla swam toward her.
“
We had better creep
j
about out of Miss Roche
’
s way,
”
she said to Sarah.

“
And you must help me to keep out of Daniel
’
s way, too, for today at least,
”
Sarah replied.

“
He pursues you?
”

Sarah
’
s laughter rang joyously across the water.
“
That is the English understatement.
”
After a moment she added,
“
Dear Daniel! He thinks he
’
s a litt
l
e bit in love with me.
”
Not to a soul would she breathe a word that Daniel had actually mentioned marriage. Now, as she
swam alongside Radmilla, Sarah wondered if Daniel
’
s second thoughts were prompting him to withdraw that hasty avowal. She had cut him short before he had time to explain.

From her vantage point in the water she could see that Daniel had rejoined Melanie, who appeared to be doing most of the talking, while Daniel smoked a cigarette and apparently listened.

After a while he rose and went off towards the cafe, and Sarah judged it safe to emerge from the water and towel herself. Then Melanie called out,
“
Sarah!
”
and patted the heap of towels and cushions by her side.
“
Come over here!
”

Sarah obeyed slowly.

“
Do sit down,
”
Melanie invited.
“
I want to talk to you, and there are so few chances. You remember what I said a few days ago—about your career?
”

“
Yes, Miss Roche.
”

“
Now—my proposition is this. As you probably know, I have a villa not far from Venice. It
’
s my home when I
’
m not filming on location or in the studios, and I find it quite pleasant.
”

Melanie
’
s remarks were altogether different from what Sarah had expected. She had been almost sure that Melanie would refer to Daniel and give her yet another subtle warning.

“
Edmund says that he
’
s been told to finish off here quickly and return to the Italian studios, so I don
’
t quite know where that leaves you. They have a very full staff of girls—continuity, script, all that—attached to the studios. How would you like to stay in my villa?
”

The question was a bombshell to Sarah.

“
Stay in your villa, Miss Roche?
”
she echoed, feeling stupid in the extreme.

“
Yes. You wouldn
’
t be on holiday all the time, of course. My secretary there went home at Easter to get married and I haven
’
t bothered about anybody to replace her, but I think you might suit me very well.
”

“
I should have to ask Edmund first about the rest of the arrangements,
”
Sarah temporized.
“
Technically, I suppose I
’
m still employed by the film company.
”

“
That need not be any difficulty at all. Actually, while I
’
m under contract to the company, I
’
m allowed a secretary wherever I choose to be living.
”

“
I see. Could I perhaps think it over, Miss Roche?
”

Melanie stared at Sarah, and her eyes flashed with a touch of imperious impatience.
“
I should have thought you would jump at the chance, particularly when your idea is to travel about and see the world.
”

“
Oh, yes,
”
agreed Sarah with a show of enthusiasm.
“
It
’
s just a complete surprise.
”

“
Well, let me know when you
’
ve considered the idea.
”
Melanie spoke coldly.
“
We can discuss the further details, salary and so on, later.
”

Sarah thought she was now being dismissed and she began to scramble to her feet, but Melanie put out a restraining hand.
“
Don
’
t go yet, Sarah. I
’
ve something further to say.
”

Sarah waited, sure now that the subject of Daniel was the real purpose of the interview.

“
What do you think of Daniel?
”
Melanie shot the question at Sarah with a direct bluntness.

The girl looked down at the sand so that Melanie should not see any false expression in her eyes.

“
I find him quite pleasant to work with,
”
she answered.

“
No more than that? Not even a charming companion? Or—shall we say—someone who believes he is infatuated with you?
”

“
Wouldn
’
t it be better to ask Daniel himself about that?
”

“
Oh, I have,
”
snapped Melanie,
“
and I understand that he has some ridiculous idea about wanting to marry you.
”

“
Did Daniel tell you that?
”

“
Yes. That
’
s why I think it very important to have this
talk with you. Sarah, my dear, you have no idea what our world is like. Marriages are made—and broken
—
and remade. Actors have to cultivate a personality for themselves, a kind of aura, and in the end they believe in it. Daniel is just beginning his career—oh, I know he
’
s had years of experience, but the real sweep forward to success is only just starting for him. You
’
re not going to hamper him now, are you?
”

Sarah faced Melanie.
“
I entirely agree with you, Miss Roche,
”
she said, her chin tilted upward at a resolute angle.
“
Nothing would be more disastrous for Daniel than an unsuitable marriage—at any moment of his career. But I have my own point of view, too. I think I
’
m rather young to rush into marriage—I
’
m not yet twenty—and I want my marriage to be built on something firmer than infatuation.
”

Melanie smiled.
“
I knew you
’
d be reasonable. Of course, it
’
s terribly flattering to a young girl to be noticed by someone like Daniel, but I knew you wouldn
’
t let that go to your head.
”

Sarah was silent for a moment. Then she said,
“
The position now is just as you say, Miss Roche, but none of us can see the future. It could be that Daniel might not be infatuated, but in love with me, and I might not be merely flattered, but love him in return.
”

“
Good heavens! Are you mad?
”
Melanie
’
s face was twisted with rage.

“
No, Miss Roche. I
’
m trying to be a realist, but I
’
ll remember what you
’
ve said, because I, too, have Daniel
’
s career at heart. I don
’
t want to spoil it in any way.
”

Sarah rose and shook the sand from her feet as though to shake off the interview, too.
“
I
’
ll think about your offer of a post at your villa and let you know after I
’
ve discussed it with Edmund.
”

As she walked the few yards back to where Radmilla sat, Sarah knew that however uncertain the future or even if she had to return to London and the most
humdrum job, she would never accept Melanie
’
s offer. To be an efficient secretary one had at least to respect one
’
s employer; better still, to be able to think ahead on the employer
’
s wavelength. She could not serve Melanie in either of these requirements. More than that, Sarah was aware that sometimes she forgot her place as a humble film worker in contact with a great star. Look at the way she had flung that challenge to Melanie only a few moments ago! What had possessed her to speculate on a future linking herself to Daniel? But then that was the effect Melanie had on her, provoking her to rash statements and prophecies. No, after this film assignment Sarah would be content to watch Melanie Roche on the cinema screen and have no contact with the star in real life.

A vision of Adam
’
s face came to Sarah
’
s mind. Was he still in love with Melanie? For the first time Sarah now wondered if Adam had known that Melanie would be on location in the country where he was working, and if he had timed his holiday to coincide with her visit to the hotel in Opatija. He would know, too, that Melanie had a villa near Venice, might even have been in touch with her there.

She spent the next afternoon typing out her notes and about five o
’
clock finished the work. She strolled out to the villa terrace, where the scene was still radiant with sunshine. Yet she felt an ominous stillness like the preface to a storm. In England she would have said that thunder was in the air, but here the clear blue sky, the tranquil sea, denied such a possibility.

Daniel came up the steps from the path that led to the sea. In a blue-a
n
d-white bathrobe, with his handsome tanned face and now tousled fair hair wet from swimming, he looked the part of a Greek god. Sarah was sometimes unduly cross with herself because he did not stir in her the emotional upsurge that should have been his due from most girls.

“
Sarah—
”
Daniel
’
s tone was quiet and serious
“
—I haven
’
t had a real chance to talk to you since the day we went to Mostar.
”

“
You don
’
t have to think about it, Daniel. I understand.
”
Sarah was trying to help him, she thought, if he wanted to recant.

“
Listen and don
’
t interrupt. The other day I asked you to marry me. But I didn
’
t get any sort of answer, or even an acknowledgment.
”

Her eyes clouded.
“
Daniel, please give me time. You also need time. You know so little about me—only a few weeks in these romantic, exotic places where even when we
’
re working it seems like a long holiday.
”
She turned her head away.
“
You must think about your career, too. I might be a drag on you.
”

Daniel flung back his head and laughed, but without joy.

“
A drag!
”
he echoed.
“
Why, with you I could reach heights I
’
ve never dreamed of. I suppose Melanie
’
s been talking to you.
”

Sarah hesitated, but finally admitted this truth.
“
But if I were sure about loving you, Daniel, I would never let Melanie or anyone else talk me out of it. It
’
s just that I
’
d like to make up my own mind. If we wait a few months or until we go back to London, I might know how to answer you.
”