Still, the housekeeper kept to the same speed, only stopping once to put down her bag and pick it up with the other hand.
There was no one else about and after a while, Stella began to wonder if this was all a trick and they’d never actually reach their destination.
Before long, however, she spotted an isolated, higgledy-piggledy old stone cottage, which seemed to spring from the mountain as if it had grown there rather than been built.
Though rough and basic looking, it was obviously well maintained, with neat wooden shutters, a tiled roof and terracotta awnings over the small windows.
An extra concrete floor seemed to have been added at some point, which was painted white, and purple bougainvillea frothed around the front door, creating a welcome explosion of colour.
‘Is this yours?’ Stella exclaimed. ‘It’s charming!’
She was hot and sweaty and it was a relief when Katerina pushed open the door, which wasn’t locked, and led her into the cool, dark interior.
‘It’s only small, but it suits me,’ she said, setting down her shopping bag on the stone floor and placing her straw hat on top.
Glancing round, Stella could see they’d walked straight into a sparsely furnished kitchen, in the centre of which was a rough wooden table, surrounded by four chairs.
Resting on the table was an open laptop with a blank, staring screen, which seemed strangely out of place in these rustic surroundings.
The kitchen area itself consisted of a sink, a rickety-looking gas cooker and stone worktops, which could have been hewn from the rocks. There was no sign of a washing machine, dishwasher or even a fridge. The main storage space seemed to be wooden shelves of various sizes, laden with pans, mugs, glasses, jars and tins, labelled with Greek words Stella couldn’t read.
‘I’ll make us a pot of mountain tea,’ Katerina announced, proceeding to fill one of her saucepans with cold water.
Stella sat and watched in amazement as she placed the pan on the gas cooker and lit the ring with a match. The only time she’d ever done this herself was on camping trips.
While the water heated up, Katerina washed her hands in the sink, put on a flowery apron and bustled about unpacking her shopping and putting cups, spoons and plates on a little wooden tray.
Now that her eyes had fully adjusted, Stella noticed vases of wildflowers and pots of herbs on the windowsill. On one wall was a smallish, wooden-framed picture of three beautiful, smiling, bejewelled Minoan women in richly coloured clothes, with intricately coiled black hair, set against a vivid-blue background.
‘I love that,’ she commented, pointing to the image.
‘It’s from a fresco at Knossos. It’s known as theLadies in Blue. They look happy, don’t you think? It makes me smile, too.’
Once the water had heated up, Katerina took a plain, brown, ceramic teapot from the shelf. Then she picked some dried stems, complete with flowers and leaves, from a glass jar, stuffed them in the pot, filled it up with water and left it to steep.
Next, she produced a large, chipped red tin which, when opened, contained six or seven small, round, golden pastries. They smelled delicious, and Stella’s mouth watered.
‘Have someKalitsounia,’ Katerina offered, popping one on a plate and passing it to her guest. ‘I make mine withmyzithracheese, as well as eggs, flour, yoghurt, sugar, orange juice, lemon zest and a pinch of cinnamon. They can be savoury too, with herbs, but I prefer the sweet variety. I usually add a drizzle of honey. They’re quite addictive.’
Reaching up to the top shelf, she brought down the biggest jar of honey Stella had ever seen and opened the lid.
‘It’s from the local farmer,’ Katerina announced proudly, placing the jar on a saucer and setting a spoon alongside, as well as two pressed white linen table napkins. ‘Now, eat! The tea should be ready. I don’t like it too strong.’
The long wait had been agony and Stella was longing to try the pastry. The others had scoffed all the ones Katerina had left for them at the villa.
After spooning on a little of the honey, she picked up the pie in her fingers and nibbled off a corner before taking a proper bite, and another, until it was almost gone.
All the while, Katerina watched keenly, relishing her visitor’s evident enjoyment.
‘Delicious!’ Stella muttered at last, licking her fingers and sighing.
Katerina smiled widely. She still hadn’t touched her pastry and Stella had deliberately left a tiny bit so as not to appear greedy.
Now, the old woman took hold of the teapot and poured the tea through a strainer into two cups, before passing one to Stella.
‘Be careful, it’s hot.’
The brew smelled aromatic and slightly sweet. Stella blew on it before trying a tentative sip.
