far from the truth.?
He said gently, ?Then I shall have great joy in demonstrating to you that I am indeed human?and male. And if I were not awaited elsewhere I would do so here and now.?
As he moved away from the table Natasha took an involuntary step backwards, and his smile widened.
?Not so brave, suddenly, agapi mou ?? he taunted her softly. ?Then stay that way, and please don?t sharpen your tongue on Ari. He is easily shocked. And play me no tricks, either,? he added as he turned away. ?Unlike the staff at the Villa Demeter, my people are loyal. No one will assist you in a daring escape. Besides, you know, I think, what the consequences would be for your family.?
?Yes,? she said. ?You?ve made that more than clear.? She paused. ?Have they already left, because I would like to say goodbye??
Alex swung back. ?After what they have done to you?the things that have been said?? His tone was frankly sceptical. ?You are very forgiving.?
She said steadily, ?No, I?m not. I only want to speak to?to Thia Theodosia. That is, if she?s still prepared to have anything to do with me.?
His voice was suddenly harsh. ?You should not humble yourself, agape mou . Please believe that you have no reason to do so.? At the door, he paused, glancing back to where she stood, taut, her hands balled into fists at her sides.
?Nor do you have to be afraid of me,? he said. ?Not again.? And went.
She did not have to ask for Madame Papadimos, because it seemed that Thia Theodosia had already requested to see her, and was waiting to do so.
?She is in my office, Kyria Kirby,? Mr Stanopoulos told her politely. ?You will not be disturbed there.?
The only wall in the room that was not lined with books had a massive leather sofa standing against it instead, and Thia Theodosia, looking small, was seated in one deep corner.
She did not smile and the dark eyes had pain in their depths as Natasha came to sit next to her.
?Is it true, little one?? she asked quietly. ?Have you given yourself to Alexandros Mandrakis? Consented to live with him as his mistress so that the Villa Demeter can remain in our possession??
There was a silence, then Natasha nodded, jerkily. She said, an open ache in her voice, ?I?I wouldn?t let him make you homeless. But I realise what you must be thinking, and I?I?m so sorry.?
?You are sorry?? The older woman spoke with genuine astonishment. ?But how can this be, dear child, when you are to blame for nothing?? She sighed heavily. ?No, pedhi mou , this tragedy is my fault, and mine alone. I should have stopped it all a long time ago, but I did not have the courage.
?Now, sadly, the wheel has come full circle, and, like so many other innocents, you are the one to suffer.?
She paused. ?You should not have made such a sacrifice, but even so, it is not too late. You can leave with me now. Let the house go to Mandrakis, if he wants it, and allow my so clever sons to plot themselves a new future?if they can.?
Natasha bent her head. She said quietly, ?I gave my word to Kyrios Mandrakis, and I won?t go back on it. I?can?t.
?Irini accused me of betraying her father?s memory, and that?s exactly what I?d be doing if I allowed his home?the house he loved so much, and where he lived with you?to be taken by his enemies, along with everything else. I owe Thio Basilis far too much to let that happen.?
Madame Papadimos said, ?Ah, dear God,? and her eyes closed for a moment.
When she spoke again, her voice was low and sad. ?You should have been married three years ago, Natasha. Become a beloved and cherished wife and, by now, a happy mother. I knew it then, and said so, but I was not listened to, and, to my eternal shame, I failed to insist.?
Natasha stared at her in bewilderment. ?But it was my decision to stay single, and mine alone,? she objected gently. ?Darling, you can?t have forgotten that. Thio Basilis tried his best to persuade me, usually at the top of his voice,? she added, forcing a smile. ?But I had my own plans.
?And, in
He said gently, ?Then I shall have great joy in demonstrating to you that I am indeed human?and male. And if I were not awaited elsewhere I would do so here and now.?
As he moved away from the table Natasha took an involuntary step backwards, and his smile widened.
?Not so brave, suddenly, agapi mou ?? he taunted her softly. ?Then stay that way, and please don?t sharpen your tongue on Ari. He is easily shocked. And play me no tricks, either,? he added as he turned away. ?Unlike the staff at the Villa Demeter, my people are loyal. No one will assist you in a daring escape. Besides, you know, I think, what the consequences would be for your family.?
?Yes,? she said. ?You?ve made that more than clear.? She paused. ?Have they already left, because I would like to say goodbye??
Alex swung back. ?After what they have done to you?the things that have been said?? His tone was frankly sceptical. ?You are very forgiving.?
She said steadily, ?No, I?m not. I only want to speak to?to Thia Theodosia. That is, if she?s still prepared to have anything to do with me.?
His voice was suddenly harsh. ?You should not humble yourself, agape mou . Please believe that you have no reason to do so.? At the door, he paused, glancing back to where she stood, taut, her hands balled into fists at her sides.
?Nor do you have to be afraid of me,? he said. ?Not again.? And went.
She did not have to ask for Madame Papadimos, because it seemed that Thia Theodosia had already requested to see her, and was waiting to do so.
?She is in my office, Kyria Kirby,? Mr Stanopoulos told her politely. ?You will not be disturbed there.?
The only wall in the room that was not lined with books had a massive leather sofa standing against it instead, and Thia Theodosia, looking small, was seated in one deep corner.
She did not smile and the dark eyes had pain in their depths as Natasha came to sit next to her.
?Is it true, little one?? she asked quietly. ?Have you given yourself to Alexandros Mandrakis? Consented to live with him as his mistress so that the Villa Demeter can remain in our possession??
There was a silence, then Natasha nodded, jerkily. She said, an open ache in her voice, ?I?I wouldn?t let him make you homeless. But I realise what you must be thinking, and I?I?m so sorry.?
?You are sorry?? The older woman spoke with genuine astonishment. ?But how can this be, dear child, when you are to blame for nothing?? She sighed heavily. ?No, pedhi mou , this tragedy is my fault, and mine alone. I should have stopped it all a long time ago, but I did not have the courage.
?Now, sadly, the wheel has come full circle, and, like so many other innocents, you are the one to suffer.?
She paused. ?You should not have made such a sacrifice, but even so, it is not too late. You can leave with me now. Let the house go to Mandrakis, if he wants it, and allow my so clever sons to plot themselves a new future?if they can.?
Natasha bent her head. She said quietly, ?I gave my word to Kyrios Mandrakis, and I won?t go back on it. I?can?t.
?Irini accused me of betraying her father?s memory, and that?s exactly what I?d be doing if I allowed his home?the house he loved so much, and where he lived with you?to be taken by his enemies, along with everything else. I owe Thio Basilis far too much to let that happen.?
Madame Papadimos said, ?Ah, dear God,? and her eyes closed for a moment.
When she spoke again, her voice was low and sad. ?You should have been married three years ago, Natasha. Become a beloved and cherished wife and, by now, a happy mother. I knew it then, and said so, but I was not listened to, and, to my eternal shame, I failed to insist.?
Natasha stared at her in bewilderment. ?But it was my decision to stay single, and mine alone,? she objected gently. ?Darling, you can?t have forgotten that. Thio Basilis tried his best to persuade me, usually at the top of his voice,? she added, forcing a smile. ?But I had my own plans.
?And, in
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