The Enigmatic Greek Read Free Page A

send someone,’ said Alexei, and went off to speak to a waiter.
    Talia gave Eleanor the smile that had made her famous. ‘I am so glad of some company. Alex is very busy today.’ When they reached the table, to the intense interest of people sitting nearby, she sat down with a sigh of pleasure. ‘Are you just here for the day at the festival, or are you staying on Karpyros?’
    Eleanor explained about her assignment.
    Talia’s violet eyes were instantly guarded. ‘You are a journalist.’
    Eleanor met the look steadily. ‘Yes. But I’m not a gossip columnist. I work in features, mainly on travel, so I won’t capitalise on meeting the famous Talia Kazan.’
    The slender shoulders shrugged. ‘It is a very long time since I was famous.’
    ‘Yet you’ve hardly changed at all.’ Eleanor spoke with such obvious sincerity the beautiful eyes warmed.
    ‘How kind of you to say so. You are here to write about the festival?’
    Eleanor nodded, hoping she didn’t look guilty. Bad move to reveal that an interview with Alexei Drakos was her main objective.
    ‘I have not been here for the festival for a while,’ Talia told her. ‘But Alex always leaves his calendar clear for it, so I came on impulse to surprise him.’
    ‘He must have been delighted!’
    ‘Fortunately, he seemed to be. Not every man welcomes a surprise visit from his mother.’ Talia smiled up at the youth setting down glasses, bottles of mineral water and fruitjuice. ‘
Efcharisto,
Yannis.’ She eyed Eleanor with gratifying interest. ‘So, tell me about your assignment.’
    Eleanor described the lesser-known islands she’d visited for her series. ‘I take my own photographs, so I nearly always travel solo.’
    ‘But you must have someone in the UK waiting impatiently for your return?’ The blue eyes sparkled, unashamedly curious.
    Eleanor shook her head, smiling. ‘The only one waiting impatiently right now is my editor. But I’m lucky enough to have good friends, and I’m close to my parents.’
    ‘I am most fortunate myself that way. My son may be a busy man, but he makes time for regular—if brief—visits to his mother. Do you live at home with your parents?’
    Before Eleanor could reply, Alexei Drakos joined them.
    Talia smiled at him warmly. ‘Sit with us for a while.’
    He shook his head. ‘Stefan tells me I have calls to return. Miss Markham, has your bracelet been returned to you?’
    ‘No, not yet.’
    ‘I’ll hurry the man along.’ With an abstracted smile, he strode off again.
    His mother looked after him anxiously. ‘The world does not leave him alone, even here at his retreat—though Stefan, his assistant, does his best to keep it at bay over this particular holiday.’
    ‘This festival is obviously important to—to your son,’ said Eleanor.
    ‘To me, also,’ said Talia, and looked up with an enquiring smile as a boy approached the table, holding out a package.
    ‘Ah, that must be for me,’ said Eleanor, and took out her bracelet, now adorned with the crystal bull. ‘
Efcharisto
!’ she said, pleased, and handed over a tip. She smiled guiltily as she displayed the charm. ‘Very expensive, but I couldn’tresist it after your son was kind enough to bargain the price down.’
    Talia leaned closer to examine it. ‘Exquisite—and a most perfect souvenir of Kyrkiros.’
    Eleanor fastened the bracelet on her wrist. ‘There. No more extravagance for me this trip.’
    Alexei Drakos’ assistant came towards them, smiling respectfully. ‘Forgive me for interrupting, but Sofia says a light supper is ready,
kyria
Talia. She apologises it is early tonight because of the
taurokathapsia.
’
    ‘Of course,’ she said, getting up. ‘Miss Eleanor Markham, meet Stefan Petrides, Alexei’s man in Athens.’
    Stefan bowed formally to Eleanor. ‘
Chairo poly, kyria
Markham.’
    ‘
Pos eiste
,’ she returned.
    ‘I am not happy leaving you alone here, my dear,’ said Talia, frowning. ‘Please join us for