A Most Unconventional Courtship

‘Your father must be an exception, surely?’

‘I loved Papa dearly and I consider him a hero and a patriot of whom I shall always be proud, but as a husband and a father—and doubtless as a son—he could be atrocious. He was reckless, selfish and opinionated.’

There was a sharp intake of breath from the girls at this ruthless dissection of her father. ‘And Grandpapa was not very nice to you either, was he, Alexandra?’ Frances ventured shyly.

‘I must not criticise your—our— grandpapa; I did not know him. There may have been faults on both sides.’

‘And do you know any other English aristocrats, then?’ Maria enquired.

‘One sees them all the time, visiting Corfu. They are easy to observe as they now own the island.’

‘As the French and the Venetians before them,’ Chance observed.

‘Indeed. We are an island doomed to be occupied. But the French and Venetians did not bring cricket, of course.’

That reduced the whole group to laughter, breaking the tension and causing Lady Trevick to stroll over, observing, ‘You are very merry.’

‘Miss Meredith is trying to convince us that the introduction of cricket to Corfu is a benefit of English occupation,’ the Count explained.

‘You are a connoisseur of the game, Alexandra?’

‘I have watched it played on the Spianadha. I have no idea of the rules, of course—it seems very complicated.’

‘By no means,’ Chance began. ‘Let me explain.’

‘Oh, no!’ The Count threw up his hands in mock self-defence. ‘I call upon you ladies to protect me! I see the evangelical light in Blakeney’s eye—he intends to teach me how to play cricket.’

The laughter and denials bought Lady Blackstone to the table, observing in her cool voice that they all seemed much livelier since Alexandra had arrived. This had the effect of bringing the gentlemen to their feet and making the young ladies sit up and stop giggling. Alessa wondered if her aunt was always this severe or if it was her own, unsatisfactory, presence.

She glanced across and found Chance watching her, his face unreadable, as he made polite conversation with Lady Trevick about making up a cricketing picnic when they were all back in Corfu Town.

‘I am sure Sir Thomas will be able to call up an eleven and they can challenge the officers of the garrison, and any ships that are in port. Would you join the High Commission side, Lord Blakeney?’

‘But of course, ma’am, I would be honoured.’

‘Perhaps you could teach the Count to play while we are here,’ Alessa suggested mischievously. ‘The beach is firm, flat sand.’

‘I am sure you would play wonderfully, Count,’ Helena said breathlessly.

The Count looked at her, his dark eyes a little narrowed. ‘You think so, Miss Helena?’

Helena nodded vigorously.

‘Then it is a pity we do not have the proper bats. Or is it rackets?’

‘I brought all the cricket equipment with me, along with the battledores and shuttlecocks and the croquet set.’ Lady Trevick smiled, obviously happy that her guests would be entertained. The Count directed an ironic bow of defeat in Chance’s direction.

‘I owe you vengeance for that, Miss Meredith,’he murmured in Alessa’s ear. ‘How am I going to take my revenge?’

Alessa stared into the clever, dark eyes and read suggestions, promises and lurking danger in them. A little quiver went through her—for all his affability, this was a man to treat with very great caution.

Chapter Thirteen

Alessa’s view of the Count was confirmed by the next day’s events. At breakfast Lady Blackstone announced her intention to stroll along the causeway that linked the mainland to the steep rocky promontory. Once across, one could climb the steep track to where the monastery stood watch over the village and the bay.

‘It is a cooler day today,’ she observed, ‘and I should welcome a walk. Perhaps I will go to the very top. Who will join me?’

The entire party, it seemed, wished to share the experience, including Mr Harrison, released from his labours by the Lord High Commissioner, who was paying a visit to the troops in charge of building the road across the island.