As Santorini’s harbor came into view, Honey was immediately struck by its difference from the other islands they had visited. It was not possible to simply sail into port and walk ashore. Nick was right; in order to get to the village of Ia, which perched dizzily along the striated cliffs above, one indeed had to take a donkey up a rugged, curved, dirt path that snaked up the side of the rock face.
He had made it clear to her the night before that he didn’t want her company on his trek inland. Perhaps it was because of the difficulty of the climb, or perhaps it was because he was tiring of her. She wasn’t sure how she felt, but she tried not to let her emotions come into play. He had seemed cooler, somehow; perhaps it was best.
From the deck of the Athena she watched him make his way up the dirt path astride one donkey, while he led another that was laden with his delivery.
Cosmos came to her side. “You go, too.”
Honey gripped the railing, her gaze still on Nick’s retreating form. “Why?”
“He be gone all day; you be lonely.”
Honey glanced at the little man, whose dark eyes were sparkling. He always made her smile. “You’re leaving me, too?”
He puffed out his chest. “Effie and I take you up.”
Effie stepped to his side and Honey studied her. Instead of finding her pale and wan, Effie was the picture of health. Her skin glowed. Her black eyes shone. She had even softened the severe chignon that had always clung to the nape of her neck. “Effie?”
Her maid took her arm. “Come. You must wear something sturdier on your feet.” She led Honey to their quarters.
Once inside, Honey asked, “Effie, what’s happened to you?”
Effie offered a sly smile. “I found the soldier of my heart.”
Honey drew in a quick breath. “Oh, I’m so happy for you!” She embraced her companion. “What are you going to do?”
Effie looked puzzled. “Do?”
“Yes. Are you going to keep seeing him? Are you going to offer me your resignation?”
She shook her head. “No. I go with you to Crete. I will stay until you are settled, then, perhaps—” She gave Honey a shy shrug.
Honey couldn’t stand the thought that both of them would lose the man they loved. “Oh, you must follow your heart, Effie, you must.”
“But you won’t.” Effie took out a pair of Honey’s boots and dropped them on the floor, barely missing her feet.
“That’s different. I’ve been promised to another. It’s what I must do.” She slid her feet into the boots, and then laced them up.
Effie uttered a curse and said nothing more.
When they returned to the deck, Honey had second thoughts about leaving the Athena. She remembered how quickly Nick had cooled toward her. “Cosmos, he clearly doesn’t want me—”
“He don’t know what he want,” Cosmos said sharply. “I know,” he said, ramming his thumb into his chest. “I know what he want. He want you. He love you.”
Confusion and dismay filled her. “Oh, Cosmos, please don’t say that. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t matter.” But it wasn’t true; she was certain of that.
He took her arm and winked at her. “Come. We go to top, to Ia. Real pretty up there; you can see way out into the ocean. Come.”
It was hard to resist the little man, for in spite of his crudeness, he was charming, in an old world kind of way. She wondered what kind of relationship he had with Effie. Clearly, Effie was happy.
How simple it had been for them, she thought. They had fallen in love in a matter of days and Honey had no doubt that somehow they would spend the rest of their lives together.
She sat, perched precariously on the back of a donkey, and watched as Cosmos and Effie walked ahead, holding hands and occasionally brushing shoulders.
Honey was happy for Effie; why did she feel so miserable?
They reached the top, and Honey believed it was the most uncomfortable ride she’d ever known.
Occasionally rubbing her abused backside, she, Effie and Cosmos walked through the whitewashed village. She studied the vaulted roofs and curving, almost sculpted lines of the homes and the churches.
Cosmos watched her. “The buildings are made of pozzuolana.”
She cocked her head to one side. “What makes the corners so round?”
“It’s from the volcanic ash. It’s supple, can be molded into many useful shapes, unlike other materials.”
They walked on through the village. On the outskirts of town, he stopped and smiled.
“See?” He flung his arms wide, as if encompassing the entire island. Acres of low lying grapevines had been planted; she couldn’t see where they ended. “Assurtiko grape flourishes here, makes good wine.”
“Why are they growing so close to the ground?”
“Protects them from the wind,” he answered simply.
“Oh, it’s lovely,” she answered, impressed by the visionary who’d had the foresight to buy up the land and plant the grapes. She strode to the vines, bent and plucked off a grape, popping it into her mouth. It was sweet and incredibly juicy.
“When do they make the wine?” she asked, her mouth still watering from the tasty fruit.
“September,” Cosmos answered, his voice filled with an unusual pride. “It is a fine time. There is a festival, with dancing and eating and drinking.” His eyes had a glazed, faraway look.
“It sounds like you’ve been here before,” Honey said.
He suddenly frowned and looked into the distance. “Come. We go to house.”
“What house?” she asked.
He pointed across the expanse of grapevines as they started down the dusty, well-traveled, road. “See there?”
She shielded her eyes against the sun and squinted, wishing she’d worn a hat. She saw a rather spacious whitewashed house built into the side of a hill. It looked clean and airy, and she wondered how anyone could get anything done inside when each window no doubt provided a breathtaking view of the ocean. How lucky that family was to live there! “It’s lovely, Cosmos, truly lovely.”
Cosmos continued to grin and rocked back on his heels. “Nick’s.”
She turned and looked at him, a feeling of queasiness penetrating her stomach. “Nick’s? Nick’s what?”
“All,” he said, flinging his arms wide again. “All is Nick’s. House, grapes, land.”
As nausea spread to the pit of her stomach, she could do little else but stare.
Suddenly someone galloped toward them on horseback. Her body told her it was Nick.
He stopped in front of them. “Cosmos? Is something wrong?”
His bandy-legged uncle jutted his chin toward his nephew. “She should know.”
He looked at Honey, but his expression was guarded and he said nothing.
Honey guarded hers as well. “Is it true, Nick? This is all yours?”
He paused, and then nodded. “It’s true.”
She didn’t know what to say, where to begin. For some reason he clearly hadn’t wanted her to know. His straight, formal posture as he sat astride the horse caused her to wonder if maybe she knew why.
Dragging in a deep, shaky breath, she said, “Cosmos, take me to the Athena.” She turned and marched back toward the village, Effie at her side.
Nick spoke to his uncle in Greek. “So, are you proud of yourself?”
Cosmos glared accusingly at his nephew. “You should have told her.”
Nick watched Honey walk away from him, her spine as straight as a mizzen mast. “At first it didn’t matter; then it was too late.”
Cosmos shook a thick finger at him. “She thinks you don’t love her.”
“I don’t.” But he knew it was a lie. Damn, but he did love her.
Cosmos cursed, loudly and colorfully. “Stubborn Greek.”
“Something I undoubtedly inherited from your side of the family.”
Cosmos waved the comment away. “Now what do we do?”
“We? What do we do?”
“How do we convince her that you love her and want her?”
Nick’s laugh held no mirth. “Even if we could, she’s not that kind of woman. She’s not a gold digger, Uncle. She is a woman of principle and honor. She has made a decision, has made a promise to another man, and because she is who she is, she will not break that promise.”
Cosmos swore again.
Nick nodded toward her retreating form. “You’d better make sure they return to the ship safely.”
Muttering under his breath, Cosmos trudged after the women.