His Forbidden Bride (24 page)

But she's never concerned herself about me before, she thought, slowly. So

why start now?

Especially when the last thing she needed was another mystery.

She was counting out the money for her drink when a gruff voice said,

'
Thespinis
,' and she looked up to see Uncle Stavros standing beside her.

'You have something else to say?' She could not keep the antagonism out

of her voice, and he sighed.

'Just that I regret I have had to cause you unhappiness, Kyria Zoe.' He

shook his head. 'So much wretchedness over so many years. When wil it al

end?' He paused. 'May I sit? Drink coffee with you?'

'If you wish.' Faintly bewildered, she watched him signal to the waiter.

When the tiny cups of dark fluid were set in front of them, he said, 'I wish to

tel you,
thespinis
, that I was saddened to hear of your mother's death. She was a very wonderful young woman. Kind as wel as beautiful.' He sighed

again. 'Any man would have been proud to love her, and my friend

Stephanos—he gave her his worship.'

'Yes,' Zoe said more gently. 'I think he did.'

'They should have been together. Yes, he was married, but his wife gave

him nothing. Why did she not come back,
thespinis
?'

'Because she married, too. Made a life for herself.'

'Then I am wrong,' he said, half to himself. 'It was not because of that other

one.'

Zoe put down her cup. 'Are you talking about my aunt Megan?'

'Pardon,
thespinis
. I do not mean to offend.'

'No.' she said. 'I—I need to know. They were on holiday together, weren't

they?'

'Two beautiful girls,
po, po, po
.' He sighed gustily. 'But with the older one, the beauty was in the face, not in the heart. Underneath there was al this

rage—this bitterness.'

'Even then?' Zoe shook her head. 'Why on earth did my mother decide to go

away with her?'

'Perhaps, because she wished her sister to be happy. But every day there

were quarrels. Many times I saw your mother fighting tears, and it made me

angry also to see how she made al owances—how she forgave so many

unforgivable things.'

His face was sombre. 'It was good when the woman, your aunt, went away.

She had caused such problems, I feared what more might come.'

'But why?' Zoe stared at him. 'Why should she do such things?'

He leaned towards her, his voice low and fierce. 'Because she was jealous,

Kyria Zoe. Because she too was in love with my friend Stephanos. And he

never looked at her.'

It was a day for shocks, Zoe thought, staring out at the sea. She hadn't gone

back to the house, because she knew she needed quiet and privacy in order

to think. She'd remembered the taverna on the cliff where Andreas had once

taken her for lunch, and had persuaded Iorgos to drive her there, instead.

He was in the bar, enjoying a cheerful conversation with the owner, and

eating
souvlaki
, while she sat alone, toying with some gril ed fish and a

glass of white wine, trying to come to terms with Uncle Stavros' revelations.

It was hard to visualise her harsh, vindictive aunt swept away by

overwhelming passion. Yet, she recal ed, Steve Dragos had met her

first—rescued her, in fact, and taken her to his house. Had Megan read too

much into a simple act of kindness—of
philoxenia
, the Greek love of the

stranger?

And then he'd added insult to injury by fal ing in love with her younger

sister—the girl who'd always had the ability to draw people to her.

Something the other sister clearly lacked.

And had she really carried that sense of injury for so many years?

Remembering her violent reaction to the painting, Zoe could wel believe it,

and found herself shivering.

But it did not explain why her aunt had gone to the extreme measure of

dispatching George to bring her home. Unless it had something to do with

the 'problems' to which Stavros had so darkly referred.

There must be something she doesn't want me to find out, even now, she

thought. But what?

Some kind of confrontation with her aunt now seemed inevitable, however

much she might shrink from the prospect. Although there was no guarantee,

of course, that Mrs Arnold would tel her anything—least of al the truth.

I'l cross that bridge when I come to it, she shrugged mentally.

But this new twist had final y decided her not to delay her return after al ,

even though Steve would be disappointed.

Maybe when I know the whole truth, I'l be able to put it behind me, once and

for all, and get some peace, she thought with more optimism than

conviction.

On impulse, she got Iorgos to drive her round the island one last time. To

say goodbye, she thought. Because instinct told her that she might never

come back.

She would sel the Vil a Danaë, and if Steve would not take the purchase

price from her, then she would give it to charity.

She wanted it finished, she thought wearily. Al ties severed.

And she would have to make it clear to Steve that when they met in the

future, it would have to be on neutral territory.

When she arrived back at the house, Andoni, her father's major-domo was

waiting for her, clearly excited about something. 'Kyrios Stephanos wishes to

see you,
kyria
. He has been waiting.'

He was in the room he used as a study, seated behind his desk.

He rose as she entered. 'You have been gone a long time,
pedhi mou
. I was

concerned.'

She shrugged. 'I decided to have lunch out, and do some sightseeing. Is

there a problem?'

'Perhaps. Yes, I think so.' He looked longingly at the box of cigars on his

desk, then averted his gaze. 'We have unexpected visitors, my child. I

learned this morning that Petros Mandrassis was on his way to Thania to

discuss the merger of our two lines. He has now arrived, and his daughter

Christina is with him.'

He paused. 'Also Andreas,' he added flatly.

She was very still, staring past him with eyes that saw nothing.

She said, 'Then I'l move back to the hotel.'

'Unfortunately,
pedhi mou
, you must remain here.' Face and voice were

implacable, reminding her suddenly that this was a man who gave orders

and had them obeyed without question. 'I am sorry to insist, but I need your

presence at dinner tonight.'

'But I'm dining in Livassi tonight.' She confronted him with assumed calm.

'An old friend's in town.'

'Then you must postpone this engagement.' She heard the authentic note of

steel. 'Mandrassis dotes on his only child, and she has complained to him

that she feels neglected, because Andreas has been here on Thania instead

of paying court to her in Athens.'

His mouth tightened. 'Also he has heard—rumours of another attachment,

and this has caused offence. As a result, the merger is in danger.'

'I need to set his mind at rest to secure it. Therefore I wish you to attend the

dinner party tonight, and allow me to introduce you as my daughter.'

'No,' Zoe flared at him. 'I'm just not ready for that—to be announced as your

bastard to complete strangers.'

He winced. 'If there is shame, it should be attached to me, not you,
pedhi

mou
.'

'And, anyway, you can't risk me being identified as Andreas' passing fancy.'

Zoe lifted her chin. 'Wel , I have another solution. May I invite a guest of my

own tonight?'

'A man?' He frowned swiftly.

'Yes, as it happens, which should silence any lingering doubts about me.'

She paused. 'He's on holiday, so he won't have a dinner jacket.'

'Then I will make it clear it is to be an informal occasion.' He thought for a

moment. 'It could be an answer.' He glanced at her, his frown deepening.

'So who is this man? What is he to you?'

'A friend,' she said. 'And a col eague from work. Nothing more.'

'He would like it to be more, perhaps?' His dark eyes were shrewd, and he

grunted with satisfaction at her reluctant nod.

'Perhaps,' she said.

'Then there is no need to emphasise the working relationship,' he ordained

briskly. 'Telephone him, my child. Make the invitation.'

George, however, did not seem overwhelmed by his good fortune.

'I thought I was going to have you to myself,' he returned, a touch sulkily.

'Do this for me,' Zoe said level y, 'and I'l reconsider flying back with you.'
In
fact, given half a chance, I'd leave now
. 'Is it a deal?'

'Oh,' he said, cheering. 'In that case—OK.'

'Thanks, George, you're a treasure. I'l send a car to pick you up in a couple

of hours.'

'You wil ?' He sounded startled. 'Zoe—who are these people?'

'Oh, just a couple of multimil ionaires with their heirs and successors,' she

said lightly. 'The usual crowd. See you later, George.'

And as he began to make choking sounds she rang off.

Later that evening, she found herself wishing she'd accepted Steve's offer to

update her wardrobe. There was nothing on her hanging rail that could

compete with a shipping heiress, she thought with disfavour as she took

down her black dress. At least she had her pearls to add a much-needed

touch of glamour.

Her hands were shaking so much, she could hardly apply the modicum of

cosmetics that was al she ever used. But tonight, she needed al the

camouflage she could get.

She blotted out the sleepless shadows with concealer, and smoothed

blusher along her cheekbones. She darkened her lashes with mascara, and

applied a soft pink lustre to her mouth.

She'd aimed to appear cool and sophisticated, but instead she looked

scared and vulnerable, she realised with a pang as she took a last look in

the mirror.

As she emerged from her room she walked straight into Steve, who was

waiting outside.

'You look beautiful,' he said. He drew her arm firmly through his, and led her

towards the stairs. 'I am a proud man tonight.'

She said huskily, 'I'm—not sure I can do this.'

'You are a brave girl,' he said. 'I believe in you. Now let us go down to greet

our guests.'

But the only person waiting in the
saloni
was Andreas. He was standing by

the open French windows, staring into the garden, an untouched glass of

ouzo in his hand.

He swung round as they entered. 'Kyria Lambert.' His smile was crooked. 'I

had not expected this pleasure.'

'Nor had I.' Her heart felt as if it were going to burst against her ribcage. She

made herself smile somehow. 'How—how are you, Andreas?'

'Trying to take this merger to its conclusion,' he said. 'As I am sure you

know.' He paused. 'My father tel s me you have invited a guest of your own

tonight.'

'Yes,' she said. 'I hope you have no objection.'

He drank some ouzo, watching her over the rim of the glass. 'How could I?

After al , I have no right to object.'

There was the sound of voices from the hal , a girl's rich giggle. Andreas

stiffened, muttering something that sounded like an obscenity under his

breath, then swung back to resume his moody scrutiny of the garden.

Zoe realised with shock how desperately she wanted to take him in her

arms, to draw his head against her breasts, and tel him that everything

would be al right.

But I can't, she thought. And, anyway, it wouldn't be true. Not now, not ever.

And she swal owed, bracing herself mental y as Petros Mandrassis came

into the room with his daughter. He was a fleshy man with smal cold eyes,

which he al owed to rove over Zoe's body, and she hated him on sight.

Christina was smal , and petulantly pretty, with a mass of glossy dark hair,

and a figure that already bordered on the voluptuous.

Give her a few years and she'l be fatter than her father, Zoe thought, pain

prompting her to cruelty as the girl crossed the room to Andreas and slid her

arm through his, looking up at him with a pouting smile.

'Petros, my friend.' Steve moved forward. 'Al ow me to present Zoe Lambert,

the daughter of an old friend, who is honouring me with her company for a

few days.'

Petros Mandrassis spoke in a grating voice. 'I am charmed,
thespinis
.'

His daughter murmured something in her own language to Andreas, and

laughed. He inclined his head courteously, but his face was a mask of ice.

Zoe took the drink she was handed and stood holding it, as if she were

clinging to some wreckage. She was thankful to her heart when the double

doors opened again to admit George.

He was wearing chinos, and a shirt that just failed to be casual, and carrying

a sports jacket over his arm. He looked hot and uncomfortable, and as if he

would rather be anywhere than here.

Zoe went to him quickly, reaching up and kissing him briefly on the lips.

'Darling,' she said. It's so lovely that you're here.'

She added in an intimate murmur that could be heard all round the room.

'Remember that question you asked me a little while ago, before I came to

Greece? Wel , I've had time to think, and I know that I'm ready to answer it

now. So, when we're alone, you can ask me again.'

'Gosh, Zoe.' He turned brick-red, his face a picture of astonishment and