‘Miserable cow,’ one of the other girls muttered as they sauntered off. Her friends tittered. ‘Looks like she’s eaten a lemon.’
Stella had to agree. Louisehadrather overreacted. What had got into her? After all, the woman had apologised. She decided she wouldn’t mention her spur-of-the-moment invitation to Jon just now.
By the time they reached the end of the street, thankfully Louise had recovered her equanimity and stopped, pointing towards the bay. ‘Look! An artist! I wonder if it’s the leather shop man’s daughter.’
The woman in question was perched on a little wooden stool at the water’s edge in front of an easel, attached to which was a large white parasol. Her pink and red tie-dye dress looked startlingly bright in the morning light, set against a backdrop of cobalt-blue sky and sea.
She was wearing a big straw hat and her long, dark, wavy hair ran down her back like a waterfall. Stella thought she looked like a character from a play or film, too dramatic to be real.
They strolled in her direction and peered over her shoulder, careful to keep a respectful distance so she wouldn’t feel crowded.
The big canvas on which she was working was half covered in thick splodges of oil paint in flamboyant pinks, yellows, oranges, blues and greens.
It was impossible to tell what the image depicted, but to Stella, it gave a rather dreamlike impression of sea and sky. It was a joyful, celebratory painting, like a fanfare. If you had it on your wall, it would make your heart sing.
Stella and Louise hadn’t made any noise, but the woman must have sensed their presence because she turned and gave a wide, serene smile.
She wasn’t as young as Stella had imagined. She was probably in her mid- to late-fifties but was still beautiful, in an unconventional way.
She was very slender with olive skin, a long, slim face and high cheekbones. Her nose, which was dead straight, seemed to spring from her forehead, and there was hardly a dent where glasses would normally sit.
Her dark-brown eyes were quite deep set, crinkled at the edges and framed by thick black lashes and smooth, arched brows. She wore little makeup, save black kohl, and had an air of quiet composure, as if it would take a lot to disturb her peace of mind.
‘That’s lovely,’ Stella said, still staring at the painting. ‘I really like the colours.’
‘Thank you, you’re very kind.’
The woman placed her palette on her knees, put down her brush and shifted round to give the strangers her full attention.
Her dress was full length and sleeveless. There was something relaxed and elegant about the way she straightened her lean, tanned arms, cupped her hands over her knees and neatly crossed her ankles. She wore a chunky silver bracelet round her wrist and another round her upper arm.
‘Please don’t let us interrupt you.’ Louise sounded quite dismayed. ‘We were just curious to see what you were doing.’
The woman shook her head. ‘No, it’s all right. It’s getting a bit too hot now. I was thinking of packing up anyway.’
She couldn’t rise without dropping her palette so she extended a hand from her seated position. Louise took it first, then Stella. The hand was surprisingly small and cool.
‘I’m Marina, by the way,’ she said. ‘I live here. My studio’s just up the road.’
She pointed in the general direction.
‘Oh! I think we just met your father in the leather shop,’ Louise said. ‘He mentioned you. I bought a pair of his sandals.’
Marina gave a tuneful little laugh, like wind chimes tinkling in the breeze.
‘He’s always trying to push my work, bless him. He’s my most ardent fan – my best promo guy!’
Stella grinned. ‘Well, his efforts certainly paid off with us. We couldn’t resist coming over. We’ll definitely visit your studio.’
Marina uncrossed her feet and stretched out her legs. She was wearing leather sandals, quite like the ones Louise had just acquired, and her toenails were painted orange.
‘Are you on holiday?’ she asked, and both women nodded. ‘Where are you staying? Here in Porto Liakáda?’
‘We’re renting Villa Ariadne,’ Louise explained. ‘Our children are here, too – we’ve got four between us. They’re teenagers, though, so they don’t get up early.’ She raised her eyebrows and Marina smiled back, amused.
‘Do you know it?’ Louise went on. ‘The villa, I mean? It’s very beautiful.’
‘Oh yes, I know it.’
