Strangely exhausted, Anna fell asleep to the music of Tommy Dorsey. She didn't even bother to take off her clothes. Melpomeni did not mind at all going alone to dinner at the captain's table, where she was getting more attention than any of the other women. The selection of guests was plentiful and to her liking. The fair-haired British officers were not normally her first choice, so when she saw the dark handsome lieutenant, her eyebrows rose and she gave the captain a second, longer look. The captain was quick to respond.
"Officer Nikolas, may I present Mrs.
Bouras."
"Good to meet you, Mrs. Bouras. Nikolas Theophilos," said Nikolas, bowing first and then standing at attention.
Melpomeni raised her right hand to greet him, her diamond ring and bracelet glittering against the candlelight like the stars in a clear winter night. Nikolas felt strangely awkward standing in front of the elegant woman. Melpomeni's overwhelming presence was somehow intimidating to him. He feared that his lack of experience with women like her was obvious. Her piercing lusty looks toward Nikolas were embarrassing, even to the seasoned British officers.
The captain pulled the dining chair back so Melpomeni could sit. She sat down, nodding a thank you. He then summoned Nikolas to sit next to her. He reluctantly obeyed. The sommelier, with his tastevin dangling from his neck, rushed to pour champagne in her longstemmed crystal glass, which she raised to wish good cheer to everyone. Then Melpomeni turned to Nikolas.
"To a Greek gentleman!" she announced, bringing her glass close to his.
The clear sound of crystal touching crystal brought Nikolas back to reality. Mrs. Bouras was leaning uncomfortably close to him, almost touching his shoulder. For Nikolas it was as though he was waking up from a bad dream. His body quivered and he moved back so quickly that he knocked his glass on the table, spilling the champagne over the table and on his white uniform. The captain and the other officers looked on in shocked amazement.
"Oh, I am so sorry, Officer Nikolas," said Melpomeni, taking the opportunity to touch his wine-soaked wet thigh.
"It is all right, Mrs. Bouras," replied the embarrassed Nikolas, drawing his body away from the older woman and her annoying touch.
As dinner commenced, Melpomeni's strict European upbringing and private boarding school manners disappeared after her fourth chilled Russian vodka. The best black caviar didn't receive the honor it deserved as she spooned it repeatedly from the serving bowl on her plate, and gulped it down, not stopping to savor the flavor. Realizing her bad behavior, Melpomeni apologized.
"Sorry darlings," she said with a heavy British droll, shrinking her lusty thick lips and rather large mouth to make them appear smaller.