8. Out and About
CHAPTER 8
OUT AND ABOUT
M eanwhile, in the city of Athens
Barbara Higgins Slater, Countess Bellingham and the future Marchioness of Devonville, gripped her husband’s arm as they made their way along a street at the base of the Acropolis. In between centuries-old structures were new buildings, many still under construction, and laborers had suddenly ceased in their work and were heading in various directions.
“I was hoping to use this arm later today,” Will Slater said, arching a teasing brow in her direction.
Gasping softly, Barbara released her stranglehold, straightening her gloved hand so it merely rested on his arm. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” she said.
“New city, strange customs, different language,” he replied. “But you needn’t be fearful,” he added carefully.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked, obviously not convinced.
He lifted a shoulder as they strolled. “They love Brits here,” he replied. “We helped them in their war for independence. If Lord Byron hadn’t died from a fever, he might very well be their king right now,” he added, although he was grinning as if he was teasing.
“I did wonder why I keep seeing his name,” she said. “It’s the one thing I can read.”
“He used to live here. Or rather in the area they call Psyrri,” Will explained. “When he was on his Grand Tour, he traveled with a friend and wrote several poems. Always claimed he was a poet because of his time here in Greece.”
“But he was in London when I had my come-out,” Barbara said, her gaze darting about as the streets seemed to empty of everyone but them.
“Did you meet him?” he asked, worry sounding in his voice.
Barbara inhaled slightly. “I was introduced to him at a ball, but we didn’t dance or... or converse,” she said.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Will said, although the dimple at the base of his cheek appeared to show he was more amused than concerned. “He had a reputation as a bit of a lady’s man.”
“I heard he was quite ardent with all his... loves ,” Barbara said, sure her face was red, and not just from the warm day. She reoriented her parasol to better shade her face when they turned onto a wider street.
“None more important than his love for Greece,” Will replied. “Which is why he came back to help in the war. He died before Greece gained its independence, though.”
He led them to stand before a cylindrical monument set atop a huge square marble base. “This is the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates,” he stated, waving an arm in an exaggerated arc.
“What does ‘choragic’ mean?” Barbara asked as she studied the structure. Corinthian columns were embedded into a large cylinder at even intervals, and atop the structure was a torch with an ornately carved flame.
“ Choregos means sponsor,” Will replied. “Lysicrates was a rather wealthy man, and back then?—”
“When?”
“Uh...” Will paused to think a moment. “Three-thirty-five BC, I think. They used to honor the god Dionysus by staging dramatic games—plays and such,” he explained. “Which is why the frieze you see along the top depicts scenes from the life of Dionysus.”
“What did a sponsor have to do to win such a prize?” Barbara asked, obviously intrigued as she studied the detailed reliefs.
“They were much like the producer of a play is today. They would pay for the costumes, the masks, rehearsals—generally any costs associated with putting on the performance,” he explained. “This particular monument was to commemorate the first prize for one of the performances. The bronze tripod you see at the top was the prize.” He glanced around. “There used to be several more which lined the road leading to the Theatre of Dionysus, but who knows where they’ve gone. This one survives only because a Capuchin monk bought it. Kept it from being taken by Lord Elgin when he was removing marbles from the Parthenon.”
Barbara gave a start. “I saw those marble statues. Not long before I left London,” she said quietly. “The lines of people waiting to see them at the British Museum were so long.”
Will urged her to turn around as he extended an arm to point in the opposite direction of the monument.
Barbara inhaled sharply. “What is that ?” she asked, her eyes round with fascination.
“ That is Hadrian’s Gate,” Will stated.
“Hadrian? Wasn’t he a Roman emperor?”
“He was. A builder, too. Left behind monuments all over the Roman world,” he replied. “Finished some that had only been started, like what you see beyond the triumphal arch,” he said, waiting for her gaze to go to a collection of huge columns in the distance.
“Was that a temple?” she asked, quickening her steps.
“The Temple of Olympian Zeus,” Will said, grinning as he hurried to match her speed. “The road we’re on now is actually a rather ancient one. It starts from the center of Athens and heads east to where an entire complex of temples were located. Most are merely ruins now, of course.”
“Why do you say ‘of course’?” she asked as they paused to allow a dray cart pulled by a donkey to pass. They crossed the street to the stand in front of the arch.
“Earthquakes and wars...” Will said before he shrugged. “Same as on Sicily,” he added, his face aimed up to take in the huge arch.
They had traveled to Athens directly from the Mediterranean’s largest island where they had spent nearly eight months touring ancient Greek towns and temples. They had also left behind their oldest son, Donald, his new wife, Nicoletta, Marchesa Montblanc, and their grandson, Antony, the current Marchese Montblanc. Another babe was due in the next month, which is why the newlyweds had remained at the Montblanc estate in Catania rather than join them for the next leg of their Grand Tour.
Barbara stared in awe at the ancient structure of the arch. “Is it made of marble?”
Will chuckled softly. “ Everything is made of marble in this town,” he replied.
“What do those words say?” she asked, pointing to two opposing inscriptions in the architrave. “Can you read them?”
Will gave her a quelling glance. “Testing me, aren’t you?” he teased before he angled his head to one side. “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus,” he stated before turning to regard the other, which faced the newer area of the city. “And this one reads ‘This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus’.” When he noticed her look of confusion, he added, “You have to remember, Athens used to be much larger than it is now. Thousands more people,” he explained. “The war has left it in a sorry state, but it’s coming along,” he said. The evidence of rebuilding was everywhere, from homes and shops to a palace for the king, Otto.
“Where did all the workers go?” she asked. Even the traffic on the street had died down to almost nothing.
“Home. It’s too hot to work in the middle of the day. They will return later, though,” he explained, opening the canteen he had strung over his shoulder before they left their lodgings. He offered her a drink, and she took a few sips before he drank several swallows. The cook had assured him she had boiled the water before pouring it into the canteen, and although it had been hours since she had done so, the water was still warm.
“Are we going to the Zeus temple next?” she asked, her brows furrowing at seeing there were only a few columns still standing off in the distance.
“Why don’t we go someplace a bit cooler?” he suggested, using his handkerchief to dab perspiration from his forehead. He wished he had worn a lighter colored top hat rather than the black beaver he sported.
“What did you have in mind?” she asked.
He pointed down the road to where a large green area was located. “Queen Amalia’s garden,” he said. “Pietro said it’s nearly finished.”
“A garden?” she repeated, her gaze going to where he pointed.
“And it’s open to the public,” he said with a grin, offering her his arm.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll get ideas about how to change our garden?” she asked, arching a brow.
He chuckled softly as they entered the green space where palm trees, evergreens, and shrubbery gave way to a riot of colorful flowers. “I rather doubt half of what we’re about to see would even grow in England,” he replied. “So do keep that in mind.”
She grinned as she took a deep breath and sighed. “I think I shall enjoy our stay in Athens,” she murmured.
Will nodded. “Let’s hope the boys do, too.”