His Forbidden Bride (23 page)

became lovers within days. I persuaded her to move here to this house, with

her sister—to stay on with me here when the holiday was over. I could not

believe such happiness existed.

'Did Aunt Megan stay, too?'

'No.' That shadow crossed his face again. 'She went back,' he said shortly.

I'm surprised she didn't take the first plane out, Zoe thought, picturing her

aunt's cold, self-righteous face.

She had a lot to think about when she was final y alone in her room that

night She was stil determined to leave as soon as possible, but she couldn't

pretend the day had been all bad.

In fact if she'd spent it as his daughter-in-law instead, she'd have enjoyed

his company, she thought, sadness a raw ache inside her.

It had been established that she would cal him 'Steve'. He objected to Mr

Dragos, and she couldn't manage 'Papa'.

Maybe there would come a time when they could be friends, but accepting

him as her father was beyond her. Even if she wanted a closer relationship,

Andreas would always be between them, and she knew it.

She thought broodingly, I really need to get out of here. But that was not as

simple as she'd hoped. Because Steve had no wish to see her go, and was

swamping her with kindness. One morning at breakfast, she found a fiat

velvet case beside her plate, containing an exquisite string of matched

pearls. And when she tried to demur, he told her shortly that they were a

mere trifle.

In addition a car and driver were always at her disposal, if there was

anywhere she wanted to go.

He even suggested flying her to Paris or New York to buy a whole new

wardrobe of clothes.

'I'm a teacher,' Zoe protested with finality. 'I don't need designer gear.

There's nowhere I could go to wear it.'

And he sought her company constantly, and not just to talk about Gina. He

wanted to know about Zoe herself— the steps she'd taken to achieve her

career—her ultimate ambitions.

Whatever doubts she might still harbour, he was clearly convinced that she

was indeed his long-lost daughter, and he wanted to know every last detail

of the life she'd led away from him.

And when she said her holiday would soon be over, he applied charming but

unremitting pressure on her to stay longer.

'You have made my convalescence a thing of joy,
pedhi mou
,' he told her,

reminding her none too subtly of his recent heart attack.

And she couldn't deny she was tempted. It was pleasant to live in a beautiful

house where the linen was changed each day by unseen hands. Where

doors opened as if by magic as she approached. Where she was served

delicious food that she hadn't had to prepare, and where her every whim

was indulged as never before.

Not that she had many whims, she admitted silently. But she knew there

was a whole queue of people waiting for her to develop some.

But fighting the temptation to go with the flow was the certain knowledge

that Thania was no place in which to forget Andreas.

She dreamed of him each time she closed her eyes at night Each time she

turned a corner, or a door opened, she expected to see him there.

It was driving her mad. But back in her own environment, there was work to

distract her, and a new job to apply for. A completely fresh start, she

thought, and she would never need it more.

'I think I'l go into Livassi this morning,' she remarked one breakfast time.

'Buy some souvenirs to take home with me—presents for people.'

She'd half expected Steve to enter some objection, but he gave her a

preoccupied smile.

'A good idea, dear child. I have some matters of business to take care of

this morning, but we wil spend time together after lunch,
ne
?'

'Of course,' she said.

As they drove into Livassi she told Iorgos, her driver, to take her to the Hotel

Stavros first.

After al , she'd been scooped out of the place without so much as a by your

leave, and, although she was sure the hotel had been ful y recompensed,

she stil felt she'd like to have a brief word with Sherry—offer some kind of

explanation. Although finding something feasible would not be easy.

When Zoe walked into reception, she found Sherry behind the desk, her

eyes on stalks.

'I don't believe it,' she breathed. 'I was going to take my courage in both

hands and call you today. There's someone here, wanting to see you.'

For one sweet, painful moment, Zoe's heart lurched. Then she had herself

under control again. 'For me? Are you sure?'

'He's having breakfast in the courtyard even as we speak, if you want to go

out there.' Sherry leaned closer, lowering her voice. 'Is it real y true—what

Stavros' uncle has told him?

Zoe sighed 'Steve Dragos seems to think so, but for me the honest answer

is I—don't know.' She shook her head. 'I don't feel I belong there.'

'And you truly had no idea when you arrived?'

'None,' Zoe said. 'Or I wouldn't have come.'

'Oh, come on,' Sherry said bluntly. 'Finding you're Steve Dragos' daughter is

going to change your whole life.'

Zoe's smile splintered. 'It already has.'

'Oh, honey, I'm sorry.' Sherry patted her consolingly.

'But you must realise they'd never have let Andreas marry you anyway. He's

wel and truly spoken for. Her name's Tina Mandrassis, and her father is one

of Steve Dragos' biggest shipping rivals. A serious merger is being planned,

and not just at boardroom level, according to my Stavros.

'And she had this huge birthday party in Athens a couple of days ago, and

there's a photo in yesterday's paper of them together, with her clinging to his

arm. The caption said that the announcement of their engagement is

expected at any moment.'

She gave Zoe a smile mingling anxiety and compassion. 'I'm sorry, love, but

sometimes it's better to be prepared for things.

'Yes,' Zoe said quietly. 'I'm sure you're right.'

But nothing, she thought as she turned away,
nothing
could prepare her for news like that Oh, Andreas, how could you? she wept inside. Yet, to be fair,

he was only doing the sensible—the expected thing, as she must do herself.

She walked into the courtyard, and stopped dead, her eyes widening in total

incredulity, as she realised who was rising from his table to greet her with a

sheepish grin.

'Hi, Zoe,' said George. 'It's real y good to see you.'

'George,' said Zoe. 'What the hel are you doing here?'

Sherry had brought fresh coffee and left them to talk with a glance at

George that suggested faint approval.

Someone available, in my league, and not a blood relation, Zoe mental y

translated with bitter accuracy.

'I've come to take you home,' George said portentously. He produced a pair

of airline tickets from his wal et with the air of a conjuror performing a difficult trick, then sat back as if awaiting applause.

'Have you gone mad?' Zoe stared at the tickets, then back at his pink face.

'George—I'm on holiday. That's what people do in the summer. And the tour

company give you a return ticket.'

George fidgeted. He looked, Zoe thought with detachment, totally out of

place in his crisp shirt and immaculately pressed shorts. What was more, a

discreet glance under the table revealed he was wearing socks with his

sandals.

'I know, Zoe,' he said. 'But your aunt Megan wasn't very happy about you

coming here, and she insisted I bring you back. She even paid for the

airfares.'

'Now I know you're crazy,' Zoe said flatly. 'Aunt Megan doesn't care if I live

or die.'

'That's where you're wrong,' George said, pouring himself some more

coffee. 'Because when I mentioned Thania, she became almost hysterical.

My mother had to find the medicinal brandy.'

'You mentioned? How did you know where I was?' Zoe demanded.

George looked slightly abashed. 'Oh, I happened to be chatting to Adele's

sister at the travel agents' one day, and she told me where you'd gone.'

'You were checking up on me?' Zoe's voice rose. 'How dare you?'

'I wouldn't put it quite like that,' George returned defensively.

He produced a handkerchief, and dabbed at his forehead, casting a dubious

look around him. 'It isn't quite as primitive as I expected,' he confided. 'But it wouldn't be my choice. I've never felt such heat.'

'Wel , don't worry about it, George,' Zoe said crisply. 'You've got your ticket

home. Use it. I'l leave when I'm ready, and it won't be at Aunt Megan's

behest. She has some bloody nerve,' she added furiously.

George gave her an uneasy look. 'Look, Zoe, I dare not go home without

you. She was saying the most dreadful things—claiming you'd get involved

with some Greek chap.' His already flushed face went a deeper shade of

pink, and he lowered his voice. 'That you'd end up in the most frightful mess.

I've never seen her in such a state. Mother was quite shocked.'

'She must have been—to al ow you to come al this way without a chaperon.

But I'm afraid she'l have to get used to it.' Zoe pushed back her chair, and

rose, anger simmering inside her. 'Because I've been invited to stay on for a

while longer, and I'm seriously considering it. Have a nice day, George.'

'Oh, don't rush off.' He looked as if he'd been slapped. 'Not when I've come

al this way to see you.' He gave her a look of entreaty. 'Have dinner with me

tonight—please?'

Clearly, she was going to be wined, dined and talked around, Zoe thought

caustically. But at the same time she felt a modicum of sympathy for

George, trapped between those two harridans in England and her own

displeasure, although, admittedly, he'd brought it on himself.

He desperately needed to develop some backbone, she thought. If it wasn't

already too late.

'Al right,' she capitulated reluctantly. 'I'l meet you here at eight. And now I

must go.'

She had told Iorgos to meet her in the square, but once she had bought a

piece of local pottery for Adele her shopping was complete, leaving her with

time to kill.

She made her way to the
kafeneion
she'd used before, and ordered a Coke.

The backgammon players were already deeply engrossed under the trees,

but she hardly gave them a glance. She was too preoccupied with George's

extraordinary arrival, and the reasons behind it.

Clearly Aunt Megan was terrified that she would discover the truth about her

parentage. That was the only explanation.