Follow a Stranger

It reminded Kate of a colonial American house,

somewhere in the deep South, and the shady cypresses

which surrounded it did nothing to dispel the illusion The

house stood on a sloping hill, below it a rough path which

presumably led to the sea, for she could glimpse golden

sands and curling blue waves some way below them.

Behind the house she could see green lawns, spring

flowers and the nets of a tennis court.

Before she had time to take more in, Marc was with

them, giving a quiet order to the driver, taking Pallas’s

elbow.

“I am sure you would all like to rest before dinner,” he

said, politely smiling.

A short woman with smooth olive skin, dark hair and

black eyes met them in the entrance hall and took charge

of the visitors.

Peter hung back and Kate heard him say eagerly, “How

soon can I see the temple, do you think?”

She did not wait to hear Marc’s reply. Cross and

flushed, she went up behind Sam to the room prepared for

her.

“My name is Sophia,” said the maid politely. “Please do

not hesitate to ask me for anything you need.” Her English

was so good that Kate was quite taken aback. She had

been wishing that she had had time to learn some Greek

before her trip, but it was becoming clear that she was

unlikely to need it. Everyone in the Lillitos household

seemed to speak very good English.

She hesitantly tried out one of her few hastily learnt

phrases, “Efharisto!” which meant thank you.