The Enigmatic Greek Read Free

unmistakeable resemblance to his father. He was slim-hipped and broad shouldered, and even in conventional linen trousers and white shirt, which merely hinted at the muscles beneath, there was a powerful masculine grace about him. Alexei Drakos was a magnificent specimen of manhood by any standards.
    Eleanor watched, riveted, as Alexei linked his arm through his mother’s to inspect the goods on display at each stall for a brief moment and exchange a few words with the vendors before leaving the field clear to the purchasing public. From under cover of her table’s parasol, Eleanor took a few shots of mother and son with the Kastro as backdrop then turned her lens on the festive crowd milling about in the hot sunshine.
    Eventually she put her camera away and went off to browse among the stalls for presents to take home. The crafts on display were of good quality. She soon found carved worry-beads that would amuse her father and a small, exquisitely embroidered picture perfect for her mother. With regret she passed by the displays of pottery and copper pots as too difficult to transport home, but then reached a stall with goods that made her mouth water. She’d read that it was hard to find really good jewellery outside the larger towns in Greece, but the wares on sale here were the real deal and obviously came from the mainland. When enough space cleared to let her get a look, she passed over the striking pendants and earrings way out of her price range and concentrated on trays of small trinkets, one of which caught her eye and said ‘buy me’.
    ‘Copy of Minoan ornament,’ the man on the stall stated, but in such strongly accented Greek Eleanor barely understood. ‘You like it?’
    The tiny crystal bull had a gold loop on its back; perfect to attach to her charm bracelet. She liked it a lot.
    ‘How much?’ she asked, but when he mentioned the sum she shook her head regretfully, which prompted an unintelligible spiel from him on the virtues of the charm. The man only broke off when space was made for someone who addressed Eleanor in Greek to ask if she needed help with the problem. Her most immediate problem, due to the suddensight and scent of Alexei Drakos at such close quarters, was trying to muster enough breath and vocabulary to answer.
    ‘I don’t speak enough Greek to bargain,’ she said at last in English.
    ‘Ah, I see. Allow me.’ He began a rapid exchange with the stall holder and turned to Eleanor with a smile that rocked her on her heels as he named a price just within her budget.
    ‘Thank you so much!’ She hastily counted out money to hand over before the stall holder could change his mind, and tried to concentrate as the man said a lot more she couldn’t understand. Standing so close to Alexei Drakos was scrambling her brain!
    ‘He will attach it to your bracelet if you leave it with him for a while,’ he translated for her, the hint of attractive accent adding to her problem.
    ‘Thank you.’ Eleanor unfastened the heavy gold chain from her wrist and handed it to the vendor, pointing to a link near the lock.
    ‘I told him to bring it to you later,’ said Alexei. ‘Do you have a table?’
    Eleanor nodded dumbly, certain by now he thought she was a total idiot.
    ‘Alexei
mou
, I heard you speaking English,’ said his mother, hurrying to join them. ‘Won’t you introduce me?’
    He smiled. ‘I’ve only just met the lady myself.’
    ‘Then I will make the introductions. I am Talia Kazan, and this is my son, Alexei Drakos.’ Her accent was equally fascinating, but more pronounced than her son’s, the words spoken with friendly warmth that unlocked Eleanor’s tongue.
    ‘Eleanor Markham,’ she said, smiling. ‘How do you do?’
    ‘Delighted to meet you. Are you here with friends?’
    ‘No, I’m travelling alone.’
    ‘Then would you care to join me for a drink?’ said Talia.
    Would she! Eleanor beamed. ‘I’d love to. Perhaps you’d come over to my table.’
    ‘I’ll