The Power of the Legendary Greek Read Online Free PDF Page A

your permission, Miss James,’ continued Luke, ‘I will return after you have eaten. I wish to talk to you.’
    Isobel inclined her sore head gingerly. As if she could say no!
    Alone, she sagged for a moment in relief, then pulled herself together and tried putting her crutch through its paces. To her intense satisfaction she found that, headache and sprained ankle or not, she was now mobile, if not agile. Hallelujah! After the talk with the hostile Mr Andreadis, a lift back to the cottage was all the help she would need from him.
    When Eleni came in, followed by Spiro with a tray, Isobel smiled persuasively and pointed to the balcony doors. ‘Could I eat out there, please?’
    ‘It is dark,’ said the woman, astonished.
    ‘Not with the stars and the light from the lamps in here.’
    ‘Whatever you wish, kyria ,’ said Spiro, and took the tray out to the small table on the balcony. He rearranged the chairs, opened the other door to make it easier for her and bowed to her, smiling.
    ‘ Efcharisto , Spiro,’ said Isobel gratefully and limped out onto the balcony to sit at the table, smiling in such triumphat Eleni as she parked the crutch that the woman laughed and patted her shoulder.
    ‘You are better. Good, good. Now, eat.’ She took a silver cover from an inviting omelette and left Isobel to her solitary meal.
    To her surprise, Isobel’s taste buds sprang to life with the first mouthful. Once it seemed her stomach meant to behave, she ate all the omelette and some of the salad and bread that came with it, finding that eating alone, with only the stars for company, did wonders for her appetite. Isobel drank some water and then sat back to gaze out over the garden, her eyes fixed in longing on the floodlit pool. She’d love a swim in it before she went back to her cottage. But fond hope of that with Mr Congeniality on the premises.
    A knock on the bedroom door brought her out of her reverie. She picked up the crutch and went slowly into the room, smiling at Eleni. ‘It was a lovely supper. I’ve taken some pills and I feel much better now.’
    ‘Good, good,’ said the woman, beaming. ‘I bring more yoghurt for face. Use before bed. I help you to bathroom now?’
    ‘No, thank you. I can manage myself.’
    The woman frowned. ‘Then I come back later when time to sleep.’
    ‘All right, Eleni,’ sighed Isobel, knowing when she was beaten. ‘Before you go, could you put the big chair near the veranda doors? Efcharisto poli. ’
    Isobel eyed her reflection critically in the large bathroom mirror. Her eye was ringed with interesting shades of plum, but at least it was now almost open again, and her sunburn had toned down, thanks to Eleni’s yoghurt. Pleased with her new mobility, Isobel limped back into the room to sit in the big, comfortable chair, content just to look out into the night while she waited for her visitor.
    ‘Come in,’ she called later, in answer to the expected knock.
    Luke strolled in, his eyes on her face. ‘ Kalispera . You look better. Eleni tells me you ate most of your supper.’
    ‘Yes. It was delicious.’ Isobel sat still and tense, wondering what he wanted to talk about.
    ‘May I sit down?’
    ‘Of course.’
    Luke drew the dressing table stool nearer Isobel and stood by it for a moment. ‘Shall I fetch your notebook? Since you suffered so much to achieve it, I have decided to grant your interview.’
    Isobel stared at him blankly. ‘Interview?’
    ‘I collected your belongings on the beach,’ he informed her. ‘There was a notebook, also several pencils in your bag. Do you deny that you are a journalist, Miss James?’
    Isobel took in a deep calming breath, then took the pad from the backpack on the floor beside her and handed it over. ‘Look for yourself.’
    Luke’s mouth tightened as he turned over pages of drawings. ‘What are these?’
    ‘I would have thought that’s obvious, Mr Andreadis. I drew the boats from the veranda of the cottage when I first arrived,