A Most Unconventional Courtship

Kaye bobbed a respectable curtsy. ‘I’m pleased to meet your ladyship. I’ve done my best to stand by Alessa—Miss Meredith, I should say, but it’s been no hardship, so quiet and hardworking that she is.’

‘Hmm. And these are the children.’

‘Yes, Aunt. This is Dora.’ Dora wobbled into a curtsy. ‘And Demetri.’ The boy’s bow was much more successful.

‘Kalíméra, Kyria,’ they chorused, then, ‘Good day, my lady.’

‘Ah. They speak English, then.’

‘Certainly Aunt. Dora speaks English, Italian—and Greek, of course. Demetri has a flair for languages. He also speaks French.’

‘Indeed.’ There was a long silence. ‘Please sit down.’

Alessa established the children side by side on a sofa facing Lady Blackstone. She wanted her to see how attractive and well behaved they were. They stared wide-eyed at their hostess; she in turn regarded them warily, as though two wild animals had come to perch on the over-stuffed upholstery.

‘Do you go to school?’ she asked Demetri.

‘Yes, my lady. I go to Dr Stephanopolis. He is a very learned man and he teaches boys. I learn languages and reading and writing and mathematics and geography and—’

‘And you?’ Lady Blackstone cut through the enthusiastic list and looked enquiringly at Dora.

‘I go to the nuns, Kyria…my lady. And I learn my letters and sewing and—’

‘Nuns?’ Her ladyship’s dark brows arched.

‘Greek Orthodox nuns, Aunt.’ For some reason her aunt seemed prepared to countenance the Greek Orthodox church while she recoiled from any suggestion of Roman Catholicism. Alessa was aware of the prejudices in England about religion, but, raised in a colourful and tolerant hodge-podge of faiths, she found it deeply unattractive.

The children were beginning to fidget. They had been brought up to be respectful to adults, but at the same time they were used to being listened to. ‘Tell Lady Blackstone how you have been helping while I have been away.’ She wanted to demonstrate what good, obedient children they were, and she was rewarded by their bright smiles at the implied praise.

‘I have been looking after the ladies,’ Demetri said importantly. ‘And the animals, and watering the garden.’

‘And I have been helping Kate with the cooking and visiting old Agatha,’ Dora added with her sweet smile.

Bless them, how could anyone fail to adore them?

‘You may go out on to the terrace,’ Lady Blackstone announced. ‘I will ask Wilkins to have lemonade and biscuits brought out for you before you return home. Good day, Mrs Street.’

It was dismissal. Bewildered, Alessa stared at her aunt, but Kate was on her feet, her lips tight together. ‘Come along, children, say goodbye to her ladyship.’

They were out of the door before Alessa could move. ‘But, Aunt, did you not want to make the better acquaintance of the children? After all, if we are all to travel together…’

‘I hardly think it fair to drag them off to England, do you, my dear? Ask yourself, what would become of them? They are nicely spoken and respectful, I will say that for them, and it does you credit—but they are foreign. And superior upper servants are two a penny in London. Much better for them to stay here where their languages will be of some use.’

‘Servants? I intend sending Demetri to a good English school and finding a governess for Dora. I can afford it, can I not? And then they may do as they please when they grow up. But neither of them is going to be a servant, not if I can help it.’

‘My dear girl, surely you must see how impossible it would be? Think how it would look.’

‘How what would look?’ Alessa demanded.

‘You reappearing with two children in tow. People would leap to the conclusion that they are yours, of course.’

‘Then I will disabuse them of their idiotic and intolerant ideas!’

‘Alexandra!’ Her aunt took a deep breath and appeared to compose herself afresh. ‘Alexandra, it is going to be difficult enough to establish your character and to gloss over your life these past years, without you turning up with two Greek brats at your skirt-tails.’

‘They are not brats!’

‘They are most certainly not well-bred English children. They are Greek peasants.’