to Damon Leandros
and his reactions, but she checked herself just in time. The last thing she wanted was
to cause talk or speculation of any kind while she was at the vil a. Besides, there had
been that certain note in the nurse's voice when she referred to Damon Leandros which
suggested that his attractions had not been lost on her.
I hope I'm not breaking up a beautiful relationship, she thought wryly, as she followed
the other woman along to her grandfather's room. It was not quite so dramatic in
daylight, with the lamps extinguished and the bed neatly made. The french windows
were open and Michael Korialis was sitting in a chair beside them, his hands clasped
lightly on a silver-mounted cane. He looked round as Helen entered, and held out a
hand to her.
'Herete, pedhi mou.' There was a smal stool standing near the bed and he indicated
that she should bring it nearer. She placed it at his side and sank down on it, aware
rather uncomfortably that the nurse was observing every move with an indulgent smile.
'You slept wel ,' he said, more as a statement than a polite enquiry. 'You look wel , you
have more colour today. Our Greek sun agrees with you, it would seem.'
'Everything here agrees with me,' she said gently. Except one, she thought inwardly,
and this isn't quite the moment to bring him into the conversation.
'Josephina looked after you wel ?' he asked. 'She was hardly more than a child herself
when she came here to be nursemaid to your mother. She worshipped the baby. Maria
took Josephina's heart too when she ran away. In you, she sees her beloved child
restored. That is good.'
Helen smiled a little. 'As long as I don't break her heart again when I have to go home,'
she returned.
'This is your home.' The black eyes under the shaggy brows flashed with sudden fire.
'I hope it is,' she said. 'But I do have another one in London, and I have to return there
when this holiday is over. I thought that was understood when I agreed to come here.'
She met her grandfather's glare with apparent equanimity.
'Already you talk of leaving,' he grumbled in an undertone. 'Phoros does not appeal to
you?'
'It's beautiful.' Helen felt they were on dangerous ground, and tried to shift the
emphasis of the conversation. 'Is there only the one smal port? How many people
actual y live here?'
He shrugged. 'Not many. There are a few vil as, used by busy men as their retreat as
mine is. I built this vil a for your grandmother. I wanted our children to grow up away
from the city. I thought we would end our days here together. If I had realised how
long I would be alone here, I think I would have torn it down to its foundations.' His
hand came down on her shoulder. 'Do not leave me alone here, Eleni,'
She hesitated before replying. It was clear that her grandfather was trying to obtain
some kind of commitment from her, and this was something she did not feel able to
give. She had promised to spend a month here, but that was al .Somehow she had to
make him realise that she had a life, responsibilities she could not ignore even if she
wanted to, back in England. Her father needed her, and not simply because she fil ed a
vital role at the gal ery. She had heard the phrase 'tug-of-love' many times, she thought
with a sense of despair, and hadn't realised it could apply to adults as wel as children.
She tried to smile. Grandfather, you're not being fair! Let's just take each day as it
comes, and make the most of every minute. Now, where are we going to have lunch?
Out on your balcony?'
'I think I would like to eat downstairs.' Michael Korialis gave the discreetly busy nurse
an openly defiant look. 'There is an arbour with a view at the end of tine terrace, and it
can be pleasant there. And Damon wil be joining us,' he added with evident
satisfaction.
Helen, out of the corner of her eye, saw the nurse pick up a tray with medicines and
head for the door. She smothered a sigh of relief.
'Can't we have
and his reactions, but she checked herself just in time. The last thing she wanted was
to cause talk or speculation of any kind while she was at the vil a. Besides, there had
been that certain note in the nurse's voice when she referred to Damon Leandros which
suggested that his attractions had not been lost on her.
I hope I'm not breaking up a beautiful relationship, she thought wryly, as she followed
the other woman along to her grandfather's room. It was not quite so dramatic in
daylight, with the lamps extinguished and the bed neatly made. The french windows
were open and Michael Korialis was sitting in a chair beside them, his hands clasped
lightly on a silver-mounted cane. He looked round as Helen entered, and held out a
hand to her.
'Herete, pedhi mou.' There was a smal stool standing near the bed and he indicated
that she should bring it nearer. She placed it at his side and sank down on it, aware
rather uncomfortably that the nurse was observing every move with an indulgent smile.
'You slept wel ,' he said, more as a statement than a polite enquiry. 'You look wel , you
have more colour today. Our Greek sun agrees with you, it would seem.'
'Everything here agrees with me,' she said gently. Except one, she thought inwardly,
and this isn't quite the moment to bring him into the conversation.
'Josephina looked after you wel ?' he asked. 'She was hardly more than a child herself
when she came here to be nursemaid to your mother. She worshipped the baby. Maria
took Josephina's heart too when she ran away. In you, she sees her beloved child
restored. That is good.'
Helen smiled a little. 'As long as I don't break her heart again when I have to go home,'
she returned.
'This is your home.' The black eyes under the shaggy brows flashed with sudden fire.
'I hope it is,' she said. 'But I do have another one in London, and I have to return there
when this holiday is over. I thought that was understood when I agreed to come here.'
She met her grandfather's glare with apparent equanimity.
'Already you talk of leaving,' he grumbled in an undertone. 'Phoros does not appeal to
you?'
'It's beautiful.' Helen felt they were on dangerous ground, and tried to shift the
emphasis of the conversation. 'Is there only the one smal port? How many people
actual y live here?'
He shrugged. 'Not many. There are a few vil as, used by busy men as their retreat as
mine is. I built this vil a for your grandmother. I wanted our children to grow up away
from the city. I thought we would end our days here together. If I had realised how
long I would be alone here, I think I would have torn it down to its foundations.' His
hand came down on her shoulder. 'Do not leave me alone here, Eleni,'
She hesitated before replying. It was clear that her grandfather was trying to obtain
some kind of commitment from her, and this was something she did not feel able to
give. She had promised to spend a month here, but that was al .Somehow she had to
make him realise that she had a life, responsibilities she could not ignore even if she
wanted to, back in England. Her father needed her, and not simply because she fil ed a
vital role at the gal ery. She had heard the phrase 'tug-of-love' many times, she thought
with a sense of despair, and hadn't realised it could apply to adults as wel as children.
She tried to smile. Grandfather, you're not being fair! Let's just take each day as it
comes, and make the most of every minute. Now, where are we going to have lunch?
Out on your balcony?'
'I think I would like to eat downstairs.' Michael Korialis gave the discreetly busy nurse
an openly defiant look. 'There is an arbour with a view at the end of tine terrace, and it
can be pleasant there. And Damon wil be joining us,' he added with evident
satisfaction.
Helen, out of the corner of her eye, saw the nurse pick up a tray with medicines and
head for the door. She smothered a sigh of relief.
'Can't we have
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