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Damon would not notice, a half- smile of quizzical inquiry had
replaced the expressionless mask of his face.
"Why the blush?" he asked, twirling the rose by its stem. And,
imperatively as she deliberately avoided his eyes by allowing her
own to circle the garden, "Look « at me!"
With difficulty she met his gaze, afraid lest he should read what she
must keep hidden for the time being at least. She lifted a hand to
touch her cheek, an unconscious action, as if she would rub away the
blush which was causing him to look so searchingly at her.
"I didn't know I was blushing," she said, and saw an instant return of
that quizzical smile. How devastatingly attractive he was in this
particular mood!
"Another lie, but harmless this time," he said with unexpected
gentleness. Kim had the impression that he was being swayed by
something quite beyond his control, something which prevented any
display of animosity towards her, forcing him instead to treat her as
his equal. His next words confirmed this impression.
"Tomorrow, Kim, I'm going into Cos to meet a business associate.
Perhaps you'd like to come with me? We shall be lunching aboard the
yacht -" He broke off, eyes twinkling. "Or perhaps your memories are
too painful?"
Her heart was doing strange things and for a long moment she was
unable to speak.
"I'd love to come with you," she murmured at length, her eyes
glowing. Damon watched her with an odd expression, then glanced
away. Her pulse quickened as with a tug of fear she was caught up in
an inner lit of trembling. Was his manner to undergo a change?
Would she presently hear him say he had changed his mind about
taking her with him into Cos? With swiftly falling spirits she felt
instinctively that his offer had been made impulsively, and was
already regretted. He did not want her with him, meeting one of his
business associates - her, a criminal. That was what he was now
thinking, she felt certain of it. Her eyes filled up uncontrollably. The
silence became oppressive; it hurt, and she willed him to recapture
the smile that only a moment ago had afforded her such; pleasure. The
silence remained; it demanded breaking, and she spoke the words that
reflected her doubts. "You - you do want me to come with you?"
There was an undertone of pleading in the question; she had
unconsciously begged him not to change his mind.
He turned to her, his hands automatically caressing the soft velvety
petals of the rose. She was blinking rapidly and he frowned. Silence
reigned once more, a thoughtful silence on his part, but one of
breathless waiting for her. So much seemed to depend on his taking
her to Cos with him; it would be the first step towards friendship; and
following friendship would come affection, and then ... love? She
scarcely dared think of his learning to love her. It was asking too
much, she told herself, and yet she was desperate for a change in their
relationship.
At length her husband spoke; she grasped at once that he was again
swayed by something beyond his control because he allowed his
voice to carry an unmistakable note of gentleness and assurance.
"Of course, Kim. I wouldn't have asked you otherwise."
"Thank you," she murmured, and only now, with relief flooding over
her, did she become conscious of the nervous perspiration that had
dampened the palms of her hands. She had not realized the tension
within her had been quite so strong as that.
There was an almost imperceptible return of his smile, before it faded
again, but Kim saw it and was satisfied that he was not after all
regretting his offer.
"You can wander about, doing Some shopping, or anything else you
wish, while we talk. Then I suggest you come to the harbour about
twelve o'clock and I'll bring you aboard. After lunch I myself have
some small items to buy, so we shall be in town for the greater part of
the day; "
She wandered about the capital after Damon had left her, leaving his
car near the harbour and going off to meet his visitor who was
arriving on the boat from Piraeus. The lovely public gardens drew her
and she revelled in the grand spectacle of exotic flowers and shrubs
for a while before strolling along a wide avenue lined on both sides
by flowering trees. Pretty villas and bungalows surrounded by their
well-kept gardens added to the beauty of the scene. Bananas,
pomegranates and lemons grew enticingly close as Kim passed an
open space after leaving the houses. Hibiscus formed a hedge along
one side of this space, while growing wild were thousands of
marigolds and geraniums. A woman passed, carrying a tall package
on her head, balancing it with an ease and grace that made Kim gasp.
How did the woman manage to stroll along like that without the
package toppling down? Smiles were exchanged. Kim said a bright
"good morning" and received an equally bright "kalimera" in
response.
Kim continued to wander, enjoying the sunshine and the flowers and
above all the anticipation of meeting Damon at noon.
The Castle of the Knights beckoned enticingly and she went towards
it. Its ancient mellowed walls gleamed golden in the sun's flattering
rays; bougainvillaea tumbled over its walls. \After enjoying the quiet
sensation of being in the distant past she crossed the bridge to the
square where, by the Turkish mosque, stood the plane tree under
which Hippocrates used to instruct his students. It was a gigantic
specimen, its gnarled branches twisted in agony-like formations and
in many cases supported by stanchions.
At last it was time to make for the harbour and at twelve o'clock
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