Aphrodite's Tears by Hannah Fielding

Author:Hannah Fielding [Hannah Fielding]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780995566781
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Published: 2017-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

When Oriel woke she didn’t lie in bed for long. It was Monday and, even though she’d only had a few hours’ sleep after returning from the Epiklisi festival, she had work to do. Nonetheless, images of the day before had crept into her dreams – of the spectacular procession to Mount Helios, of Damian’s fiery gaze on her throughout the evening – and a pink hue warmed her cheeks at the memory.

She pushed back the covers and went to her bedroom window, where she drew back the curtains. The day was bright, but there was a brisk breeze outside; she could see it fluttering the little green leaves of the olive trees so that they glinted silvery in the light. For a moment her heart sank. Damian had explained how tide, wind and current could dash their chances of diving the wreck again today, and she wondered if he might call their expedition off.

Her fears, it turned out, were well founded. When Irini came in with her breakfast tray, the maid confirmed that there would indeed be no diving and that Damian had flown to Corfu instead. He would be back later that afternoon and had asked if Oriel could be ready at four o’clock to accompany him on an outing to see the sponge divers at the harbour.

‘Oh, and Despinis Anderson,’ Irini added. ‘There was a telephone call for you, an English lady. She left this number.’

Oriel took the piece of paper from the maid. Her face lit up. ‘Thank you, Irini. I’ll be down shortly. I’ll use the phone in the study, if I may.’

After a quick breakfast of freshly baked bread rolls and a bowl of Greek yoghurt and peaches, she dressed quickly in a light-blue short-sleeved linen shirt and stone-coloured capris and made her way along the wing to Damian’s study.

So what if they couldn’t dive today? That didn’t mean she had to be idle. The island was a treasure trove of historical ruins and, for a moment, Oriel felt like a child in a sweetshop, amazed by the array of colourful choices. She decided she would take the Volkswagen and drive to the ruins that lay around Manoli’s. She had only seen the acropolis by moonlight, and Damian had already suggested she assess the site, so now was her chance to take a closer look at what had seemed like the remains of a small settlement.

‘You sound chirpy,’ Cynthia Albright’s voice was warm on the other end of the line. ‘The Greek air must be suiting you.’

‘You wouldn’t believe the wealth of unexcavated ruins on this island, above ground and underwater,’ said Oriel. ‘It’s like every archaeologist’s dream.’

‘Lucky you. Just think of me here in this dark room full of dusty tomes.’

‘Oh really, Cynthia! You wouldn’t have it any other way.’

Her friend from the Bodleian gave a wry laugh. ‘I suppose not. Anyway, I’ve got the information you wanted about the seal on that amphora you found. Have you got a pen?’

‘Yes, hold on.

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