THE MARRIAGE GAME

Margaret Mayo

Miranda had to know what was wrong!

When Georgios, her husband of three months, hurried back to Greece because of family troubles, Miranda wasn’t too alarmed. When he didn’t come back, she decided to look for him.

The problem was that Georgios, member of a wealthy shipping family, acted as if he’d never seen Miranda before in his life.

Miranda was sure if she could talk to Georgios alone, things would work out. If only his dictatorial older brother, Theo, wouldn’t interfere. Theo, however, flatly refused to believe that they had ever been married....

“Calm down, Miranda.” Theo took her hands

She tried to pull free, but his fingers were like an iron clamp. “How I hate you!” she cried. “You have no right to do this. Let go of me.”

Instead, he moved even closer, his warm breath fanning her cheek. “You’re very beautiful when you’re angry. You’re irresistible.”

She knew he was going to kiss her. She became mesmerized by the dancing lights in his eyes. She forgot to breathe, although her heart beat a painful tattoo against her ribs. It had never been like this with Georgios.

She closed her eyes. Forget Georgios, some devil inside her said. Here’s a real man. Take what’s being offered and enjoy it. She had no option. Theo’s mouth was already on hers, moving sensually, expertly, demanding and exacting a response.

Margaret Mayo began writing quite by chance when the engineering company she worked for wasn't very busy, and she found herself with time on her hands. Today, with more than thirty romance novels to her credit, she admits that writing governs her life to a large extent. When she and her husband holiday—Cornwall is their favorite spot—Margaret always has a notebook and camera on hand and is constantly looking for fresh ideas. She lives in the countryside near Stafford, England.

CHAPTER ONE

‘I have no choice,' Miranda said firmly, shaking her head so that her fine golden hair swept the curve of her cheek. Tm going to Salamyndros. Georgios can’t do this to me! He’s the father, the baby’s as much his responsibility as mine.’

‘You could be asking for trouble.’ Sallianne, always the cautious one, looked at her friend and neighbour worriedly. ‘If he’d wanted you there, he’d have written, wouldn’t he? Perhaps he hasn’t told them yet that he’s married? I mean, if his mother’s ill, he might not want to upset her. Aren’t they a bit funny about these things in Greece? Wouldn’t they want him to marry a Greek girl?’

‘It’s a bit late to think about that,’ returned Miranda sharply, her eyes flashing more green than grey because she was angry. ‘There’s the baby to consider now. It puts a completely different picture on the situation.’

After three happy months of marriage she had returned one day from a shopping spree to find a note from Georgios saying he had rushed back to Salamyndros because his mother had suffered a heart attack.

She had felt compassion, naturally, a swift stab of concern for the woman she had not yet met. But primarily she was hurt because he had not taken her. Another hour would have surely made no difference, and she really wanted to see the beautiful island he had told her so much about.

With great difficulty she had made a pretence of taking his absence in her stride. Sallianne had a lively three-year-old as well as a six-month-old baby to contend with, and they had welcomed Miranda’s company. And Miranda, because she loved children, had found their demanding, and often tiring, attention the perfect antidote for her unhappiness.

Sallianne had no idea how deeply Georgios had hurt her. She hid it beneath a cloak of humour that had little Adam laughing until he cried, and baby Sara chuckling even when her mother could not put a stop to her tears.

But as the weeks passed and it became evident he was not going to send that promised letter, it was difficult to keep up her façade. And when her own letters were returned unopened she could not understand it and became deeply depressed.

It seemed as if Georgios regretted marrying her. Why else would he act this way? But if it was the case surely he could tell her, instead of leaving her in this state of limbo? It was the not knowing that was the hardest thing to bear.

He had mentioned a rift with his family, although he had not gone into details. In fact he had been remarkably reticent about his home life, extolling instead the virtues of the sun-drenched island in the Ionian Sea. So far as Miranda knew he had not even let them know he was married.

She had asked him to, but he had convinced her that they were no longer a part of his life, that he had made a new home for himself in England. Obviously, though, family ties came first when he heard of his mother’s illness. He had given no thought to his wife in their nice new suburban home, instead he had rushed off to Greece without delay. How he had heard the news was a puzzle, but she was more concerned by his not taking her than anything else.

When she began to feel vaguely ill she put it down to nothing more than not eating properly and feeling lovesick for her handsome husband. But when the nausea continued Sallianne had insisted she see her doctor.

It had been a shock to discover she was expecting Georgios’s baby, and for the first time she felt resentment towards this man who had torn her emotionally apart.

When they met at a party they had been immediately attracted. Georgios had loved Miranda’s femininity. Her wide eyes and golden hair, her grace of movement and her aura of serenity had captivated him.

And she had been impressed by his dark good looks and the way he treated her as though she was someone precious. They had seen each other constantly for three months and eventually had decided to get married.

Miranda’s parents had died in a car accident when she was small and she had been brought up by a succession of foster-parents, finally moving into her own flat in London when she was eighteen.

Becoming Georgios’s wife had been the ultimate. At last there was someone who really loved her, whom she would be with for the rest of her life. She had grown tired of being shuttled from one person to another, one place to another.

She had given up her job and he had sold his apartment and bought a house in a busy London suburb. Miranda had been like a child with a new toy, cleaning and polishing, looking after her new husband. It had been like a game with her, trying to please him. And suddenly he had ruined the game! She was left with a nice home, a baby growing inside her, but no Georgios.

‘I refuse to believe he wants nothing more to do with me,’ she said to Sallianne. ‘There has to be a reason, a perfectly logical reason, and if the only way I can find out is by going over there, then that’s what I’m going to do.’

Sallianne said quietly, 'Don’t hope too much. There might not be a logical explanation. He might simply have changed his mind—and run away.’

‘Then why did he marry me, if he never intended it to be permanent?’ cried Miranda passionately, tears she had so far kept hidden from her friend pricking the back of her eyelids.

‘Perhaps it was purely a physical thing,’ suggested Sallianne hesitantly. ‘I think he was intrigued by you, and you did tell me how hot-blooded he was, how he tried to get you into bed before you were married. You could have been a challenge. And with your golden hair you must be so different from the type of girl he meets back home. You’re so pretty and feminine, too, not like me.’ She looked at her trouser-clad legs and check shirt in disgust. ‘I’m more like a boy.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ Miranda shook her head angrily. ‘Why would he have bought this house, why would he have showered me with presents, if he’d merely wanted my—body?’

Sallianne twisted her fingers worriedly. ‘I don’t know. I could be wrong, Miranda, I hope I am, I really do. But I still think you’re mistaken rushing over there. Why don’t you write again, or ring him even? Surely you could find out his number? Tell him about the baby. Perhaps then he’ll come home.’

‘If he came for that reason alone I wouldn’t want him,’ said Miranda with quiet dignity. ‘I shall go and see him. I shan’t tell him I’m pregnant, and if you’re right and he no longer has any interest in me, then I shall come back and bring up the baby alone. I shan’t put any pressures on him. It wouldn’t be fair—and besides, we wouldn’t be happy in those circumstances.’ She smiled wryly. ‘And at least the baby will have visited his father’s homeland, even if he doesn’t remember anything about it.’

A week after that conversation Miranda had her flight booked, her case packed, and was saying goodbye to Sallianne and the children.

‘Keep in touch,’ said Sallianne tearfully. ‘Let me know how things go—and I pray I’m wrong about Georgios.’

Miranda smiled convincingly. ‘Of course you are, Sallianne. You wait and see, you’ll get a letter within a week telling you that everything’s all right. Who knows, we might even settle on Salamyndros.’

Brave words indeed, but inside her heart was heavy. Her friend’s misgivings about her young Greek husband had troubled her more than she cared to admit. Had she perhaps been looking at the world through rose-coloured spectacles when she married Georgios? Had she not seen the true man that lay beneath the charming surface veneer? There was a hint of weakness to his jaw that she had chosen to ignore, and more often than not he left any decisions to her.

But until Sallianne had uttered those few unfortunate words there had been no doubt in her mind that there was a very good reason for Georgios’s disappearance. Although Sallianne had her best interests at heart, it would have been better had she kept her thoughts to herself.

During the long wait at Gatwick airport and the flight that followed, Miranda had difficulty in pushing these disquieting thoughts from her mind, and when she eventually found herself on Corfu, waiting for a boat to take her across to Salamyndros, she wished she had never come.

If Georgios had been truly happy in their marriage he would not have done this to her. He would not have left a note, but waited and explained the situation, even if he had still gone alone. She was a fool to chase after him.

Then she thought of the baby and knew she was doing the right thing. Once Georgios saw her he would forgive her for coming. He would introduce her to his sick mother and any other members of the family he had always been so vague about. His father was dead, that much she knew, but how many brothers and sisters he had she had no idea.

The caique which took her to Salamyndros was manned by a young Corfiote who introduced himself as Stefan. He was highly interested in the fact that she was going to Salamyndros. ‘You are a friend of the Alexidis family, perhaps?’ His English was very good.

‘Why should I be?’ she asked cautiously, not at all sure whether she should admit to being Georgios’s wife.

He shrugged carelessly. ‘They own the island. No tourists go there—and very few visitors.’

‘But there are other families on the island. How do you know I’m not visiting one of them?’ She recalled Georgios telling her about vineyards and olive groves. Someone had to tend them.

‘Workers,’ he admitted. ‘But ‑’ He looked her up and down, openly admiring her slim petite figure in her flowery sundress. ‘The only visitors they have are their Greek cousins. Is Mrs Alexidis expecting you?’

Far from it, thought Miranda. She would probably receive a distinct shock when she announced herself as Georgios’s wife. She kept her fingers mentally crossed that she would see her husband first and let him make the introduction. She shook her head. ‘I thought I’d surprise them.’

‘Some surprise,’ said the Corfiote youth. ‘You do know their villa is halfway up the mountain? How are you going to get there?’

‘Hire a car, of course,' she said swiftly. In fact she quite looked forward to driving on this beautiful island, picking out the spots Georgios had mentioned, seeing for herself this place where he had spent most of his life.

‘There are none for hire, not even a taxi, or a bus.’ He looked apologetic.

‘Then I’ll walk,’ she said stoically.

He looked at her tiny feet in their high-heeled strappy sandals, and then at the heavy suitcase sitting in the bottom of the boat. He grinned. ‘You could perhaps borrow a mule.’

Miranda joined in his laughter, picturing herself and her case perched on top of one of these small animals.

‘Or ‑’ He gave her a large unexpected wink, ‘my cousin, Spyros, will take you in his car—for a small fee. It is the only car on the island—apart from the Alexidis’s, of course.’

But Miranda did not want to be driven. She wanted to arrive at the villa alone. It could be an awkward encounter and she had no desire for anyone to witness the scene.

‘Would he, perhaps, lend it to me? I don’t wish to put him to any trouble.’

‘It would be no trouble at all,’ returned Stefan, ‘but I am sure he will be honoured to lend it to so pretty an English lady. It is his pride and joy, you understand? You will be careful?’

If he was the only person owning a car then he must certainly be very proud. ‘I am a good driver. I will treat it as if it was my own.’

He was satisfied with that, singing a Greek folk song softly to himself, leaving his passenger to enjoy all that was new and beautiful.

Corfu had impressed her with its greeness, its warmth, and the smell of pines and herbs, and orange and lemon groves. Now the sea itself held her attention, a pellucid blue, shimmering in the bright sunlight, broken only by the white foam wake of their boat.

When suddenly the surface was disturbed by a leaping school of fish she held her breath in delight, and when she saw several dolphins accompanying them, their snouts protruding above the water, she could not believe her eyes.

But when the boatman pointed out Salamyndros, she watched eagerly as the small purple mound grew into a captivating island. It had a large hump in the middle, which she assumed was the mountain he had told her about, its slopes clad with a forest of trees.

At its base, as they drew nearer, she saw white cubeshaped houses with orange roofs, and a tiny blue-domed church. And as Stefan moored at the wooden jetty splashes of vivid colour in the form of wild flowers added to the green of this beautiful island.

Their arrival caused a great deal of interest to a group of black-haired, dark-eyed children who had been playing on the beach.

The boatman said something to them and the eldest ran away towards the cluster of houses. Miranda had caught the name Spyros, so she guessed he had gone to alert the cousin who was the proud owner of the car.

Obligingly carrying her case, Stefan led the way to a rough road that went past the tiny village, then curved round the base of the mountain and disappeared out of sight.

Miranda had no time to look about her. Almost immediately the erratic throb of a car engine broke the silence, but her eagerness changed to dismay when she saw the vehicle lurching towards them.

To say it was old would have been an understatement. It was ancient! A black, box-type Ford probably built in the nineteen-thirties. Smoke belched from its exhaust and every few seconds, to the delight of the children, it gave a loud backfire.

Spyros leapt out before it had stopped, patting the bonnet lovingly and giving Miranda an ear-splitting grin. ‘Very good, very reliable.’

Stefan said something to his cousin in rapid Greek, gesticulating freely, finally turning to Miranda. ‘It is settled. He will lend you the car. We have another cousin who works for Mrs Alexidis. He will bring it back tomorrow.’

Were all Greeks related? she mused, smiling warmly at Spyros. ‘Thank you, I will be careful.’ She took several notes from her purse and pressed them into his hand. ‘You’re very kind.’

Stefan lifted her case into the back of the shuddering vehicle and shook Miranda’s hand with a warmth she felt sure was not warranted. He gave her explicit instructions on how to reach the villa, and the last she saw of the two cousins was their cloudy reflection in the driver’s mirror, their 'Kalo taxithi,’ ringing in her ears.

She guessed they were bidding her a pleasant journey, and as the car lurched and jolted over the rough track she decided she would need all their blessings. It was definitely not suitable for roads such as this. Maybe she ought to have settled for a mule after all!

The path took her through olive groves, their silvery leaves trembling beneath the slightest breath of wind. Occasionally she caught glimpses of the shining blue sea and white sandy beaches far below, but for most of the time her attention was concentrated on the track ahead. It was a very poor road and there was evidence of rock slides, due, she presumed, to the advent of the rainy season which Georgios had told her about.

Despite her care she had to stand on the brakes when she rounded a sharp bend and came face to face with an old man shepherding a few sheep. It taught her to be even more wary, and she crept slowly along the road which became steeper and rougher with every yard.

Even so she was not prepared when she was suddenly confronted by a pile of rocks which completely blocked the path. And as if that wasn’t enough, her front wheel settled into a hole which she had not seen because she had been so busy staring at the rocks. The car seemed to slide into it in slow motion, shuddering to a halt with its back end up in the air.

Miranda got out and surveyed the scene despondently. Even supposing she could shift the rocks there was no way she could get the car out. According to Stefan’s instructions she was not yet halfway to the villa.

So what was the next move? If the road was bad for vehicles what would it be like for walking? She did have some flat sandals in her suitcase. Perhaps if she changed she could make the rest of the journey on foot? There was no point in going back and it made even less sense to stay put. There was no likelihood of anyone coming to her rescue.

And really, despite its appearance and age, she could not knock the car. It had served her faithfully so far. It was her own fault she had not seen this pothole.

With a deep sigh she clambered into the back and fished her sandals out of the case, looking at them doubtfully. The soles were painfully thin for this rough terrain. It would be like walking in bare feet.

Nevertheless she exchanged them for her high heels, locked the car—though she doubted whether that was really necessary—and began to pick her way over the pile of rocks.

Then she heard another engine. She paused and listened. If the only other vehicles belonged to the Alexidis family it must be someone from the villa. Perhaps Georgios?

Her heartbeats quickened as she looked expectantly along the road. What a surprise he would have! But when a Land Rover came to a screeching halt at the other side of the rock-pile, it was not Georgios who jumped out.

This man was taller, with a more powerful physique and strong harsh features. His thick brows were knitted over the bridge of a hawk-like nose, his shiny black hair swept from a high proud brow, a hint of silver at the temples.

She guessed him to be about forty, and the faded cords and shirt with a worn collar put him in the category of a workman of some sort.

Miranda gave him a watery smile. ‘Am I pleased to see you!’ Balanced as she was on the rocks the full skirt of her sundress danced about her slender legs, and her golden hair caught the dappled sunlight as it penetrated the trees.

But judging by the dark piercing eyes which surveyed her he was immune to the fetching picture she presented, nor did he reciprocate her feelings. ‘What are you doing?’

His totally unexpected words unnerved her. She attempted to step gracefully over the remaining stones, lost her balance, and fell in an ungainly heap at his feet.

He did not attempt to help her up, not that she expected him to. He was no gentleman, that was for sure. He looked far from pleased to see her, giving the impression that she was an intruder with no right to be there at all.

In the seconds before she scrambled to her feet Miranda looked up, noting the leather boots and long length of muscular thigh, the stem face seemingly miles above, black eyes fixed unblinkingly upon her.

There was something in their depths that made her say crossly, ‘What does it look as if I’m doing? I’m not scrambling over these rocks for fun—I got stuck.'

‘I can see that,’ he said scathingly. ‘Perhaps I ought to spell it out. What are you doing on this road? Where are you going?’ There was the barest trace of an accent.

Miranda lifted her chin and glared. On top of the rocks she had been on a level with him, now her five foot three was dwarfed. He stood at least twelve inches above her, his compelling masculinity asserting itself as it did in no other man she had met.

‘I really don’t see what it has to do with you, but since I seem to be in your hands, I’m going to the Alexidis’s villa. Do you work there?’

Again that hard unblinking scrutiny. ‘You could say that. What’s your business?’

His mouth was wide, lips full and sensual, though at this moment they were in a grim straight line. What right had he to speak to her like this? Miranda asked herself, but wisely kept her words back. If she antagonised him he might very well leave her. She needed his help whether she liked it or not. ‘I want to see Georgios Alexidis. Is he at home, do you know?’

A brief inscrutable expression flashed across his face, and was it her imagination, or did he look even less welcoming than he had before? There was certainly a hard glitter in those coal-black eyes, a firm set to the strong jaw. ‘So far as I am aware, Georgios is expecting no one.’

‘That’s right!’ She tried to hold his gaze but was compelled to look away from the intensity of his eyes. Never had she met a man who could see into your soul. ‘It—it’s a surprise,’ she continued, giving him a quick defiant glare.

‘You’re English!’ It was a statement rather than a question. ‘I don’t think Georgios will want to see you. He has no—er—friends in England.’

Miranda rarely lost her temper, but this man was really overstepping the mark. ‘And what right have you to speak for him? I’m sure that if you tell him I’m here he’ll definitely want to see me.’

‘And if he doesn’t?’

She arched her fine brows. ‘I shall go home. But I’m not going until I have seen him, so unless you care to help I shall simply go the rest of the way on foot.’ He looked at her flimsy sandals and his lips stretched themselves into the semblance of a smile, except that there was no echoing smile in his eyes. They flicked over her contemptuously. ‘Dressed like that I don’t think you’ll make it.’

And it would give him the greatest pleasure to see her on her knees! He did not have to say the words, it was easy to guess what thoughts were running through his mind. He made no attempt to hide his dislike of her, and she wondered whether he always judged and condemned people so rapidly.

‘You could perhaps be the gentleman you’re so obviously not and offer me a lift,’ she suggested bitterly.

‘And you could perhaps use your common sense and realise that I’m going in the opposite direction.’

The caustic comment stung her, and it was all she could do to control her temper. But she still needed him—unfortunately. ‘In that case, before you proceed, you’ll have to shift these rocks, and the car, and when you’ve done that there’ll be nothing to stop me carrying on up by myself.’

‘Except me,’ he snarled.

‘And on whose authority are you daring to tell me what I can or cannot do?’ Her desperate need to see Georgios made her say things that in other circumstances she would not have dared. Or was it because she had never met a man who treated her like this? She was used to courtesy and politeness, no one had ever been so offensively rude.

‘Since I live here and you’re the intruder, I have every power to stop you from going to the villa. Had Georgios invited you it would be a different matter, but since he clearly doesn’t know that you are about to force yourself on him, I feel it is my duty to prevent such an unfortunate encounter.’

‘Your duty?’ Although Miranda was trembling inside, his harsh words hurting, she jutted her chin firmly, the sparkling grey-green of her eyes fixed on his face. ‘Unfortunate encounter? I think perhaps you ought to get your facts right before making such damning statements. Georgios and I were—very close.’ She had no intention of mentioning their marriage to this hateful man. ‘He’ll be more than pleased to see me.’

His hooded eyes narrowed menacingly. ‘You’re wrong. I think you will find that Georgios does not know you.’

‘I think Georgios should be allowed to judge that for himself.’ Miranda wished she had a few more inches so that she could look easily into his face. Towering over her as he did he had a definite advantage. Were all Greeks so totally aggressive, she wondered, or was it simply her bad luck to meet someone like him?

Georgios had never treated her like this. He had handled her with gentleness and respect, she had felt protected and needed, and submitted herself willingly. Their relationship had been both tender and passionate and she had envisaged a lifetime together, watching him mature from the eager young man he was to a dignified, totally caring husband and father.

If this despicable man in front of her had anything to do with it, Georgios would never know about his unborn baby. He would remain in ignorance that he had a son or daughter who was being denied its real father.

This thought made her even more determined to fight. ‘What are you?’ she demanded. ‘The family watchdog? Vetting all callers before they get past the door?’

He eye her frostily. ‘I do have some authority, but as your determination to see Georgios is as great as mine to keep you away, I will let you have your way, if only to see your disappointment when Georgios denies all knowledge of having met you before.’

Not waiting to see her reaction, he fetched a shovel from the back of the Land Rover and moved the pile of debris that blocked the road. The larger stones he lifted with his hands. Effortlessly and easily he worked, and Miranda found him fascinating to watch.

Muscles rippled, his movements precise, calculated to waste no energy. He looked tireless, his arms swinging back and forth as he wielded the shovel in a rhythm that was entirely hypnotic.

The rolled sleeves of his shirt exposed sinewy arms and bulging biceps. His hands were long and lean, fingers spatulate. Had they met in other circumstances, and had he not been so bitterly opposed to her, and had she not been married to Georgios, she might have found herself attracted.

He had that same indefinable magnetism that had drawn her to Georgios, except that on this man everything was so much more exaggerated. He was a bigger man, to begin with, not only physically. He had an air about him that would make him stand out in a crowd. He was in complete control of himself. She doubted whether anyone ever got the better of him.

Perhaps her intentionally sarcastic remark that he was the family watchdog had not been so far off the mark. He would make a fearsome bodyguard. The Alexidis’s were wealthy, Georgios freely admitted that. Something to do with shipping, she understood, although he had never elaborated. It could be that they needed someone like this hulk of a man to protect them.

‘Were there any more rock-slides along the road?' He had finished and stood looking down at her, the shovel swung carelessly over one shoulder.

Miranda shook her head, wondering why she found it difficult to take her eyes off him. He was not even breathing heavily!

‘Then if you’ve finished staring at me as though I were a specimen in a zoo I suggest you get into the Land Rover.’

His biting comment brought her back to her senses. ‘How about Spyros’s car? We can’t leave it here. I promised to take care of it.’

His lips curled in a sneer. ‘That heap of junk? But if it’s your conscience that’s troubling you, I’ll see that it’s returned.’

‘It’s blocking the road,’ she insisted.

‘Since the only person likely to drive along is me,’ he said coldly, ‘it won’t matter for an hour or so. I shall get it moved before I personally escort you off the island.’

There was a threat behind his words that made Miranda go cold inside. Despite the searing heat of the sun she shivered. She felt hurt and defenceless, and the only way she could protect herself was by pretending that his harsh attitude did not affect her.

‘Aren’t you forgetting that Georgios has the final say? Such was our relationship that I can hardly believe he will have had an abrupt change of heart.’ Again those unfathomable eyes narrowed. ‘What a fantastic imagination you have! You’ll be saying next that you and Georgios were lovers.’

Miranda bit back an angry retort and moved towards the Land Rover. He was not worth wasting her breath on.

Surprisingly he opened the door and helped her in. So he was not entirely without manners! But the hand that gripped her arm was far from gentle. Long after he released her she felt the imprint of his fingers, like bands of steel they had flexed round her fragile bones.

She rubbed her arm ruefully as he fetched her suitcase. He tossed it into the Land Rover beside the shovel, finally climbing in himself and starting the engine. Tomorrow she would probably have a bruise.

If she had thought he was big before, in the close confines of the vehicle he took over, filling the space with his powerful body, making her even more aware of the electric vitality he possessed.

The air all but crackled, and she felt that if she touched him she would receive a shock. He manoeuvred the vehicle until it faced back up the hill, a feat she would not have thought possible on that narrow road, knowing that if she had attempted it herself they would have landed up down the mountain slope, wedged between the olive trees.

He drove in silence. There was nothing else they had to say. And although she now had time to look about her, Miranda could not drag her attention away from the man at her side.

Not handsome in the true sense of the word, he nevertheless was striking enough not to be ignored. His face might have been chiselled out of granite, each feature carved deliberately to give it that noble appearance, the high proud brow, the aquiline nose, the wide mouth and implacable jaw, his eyes polished pieces of jet set into that sculptured head.

Miranda wondered whether emotion was ever registered on that face, or if it was always as inflexible as it was now. Even though she was openly studying him he gave no outward sign that he was aware of it, keeping his eyes on the track as it wound its way up the mountainside.

Eventually she tired of looking at someone who was totally immune to her presence, concentrating instead on the impressive rows of olives spread out on all sides of them.

Between some of the trees sheep grazed contentedly in the shade, looking up with mild curiosity as the vehicle passed, turning their attention back to the serious business of grazing as soon as they had gone.

When the trees began to thin and the road grew less steep she guessed they were nearing their destination, and sat forward, eager for her first glimpse of her husband’s home.

It came into sight long before they reached it. An immense white villa with steps leading up to a colonnaded terrace. All windows were shuttered, the red-tiled roof on varying levels. Lush gardens ablaze with colour surrounded it, and a white wall afforded privacy. Not that it looked as though they needed it. She guessed very few people came this way unless they had business with the Alexidis family themselves.

She had expected something grand, but certainly not on this scale. It was surprising that Georgios had chosen to marry her and settle into a conventional three-bedroomed English home—after this! Had he tried to adjust and found it impossible? Was that why he had left and not returned, his mother’s illness a convenient excuse? There was really no comparison between their two lifestyles.

For a moment Miranda wished she had taken Sallianne’s advice and not come chasing after him. But when she turned to her companion and saw the total hardness on his face, his certainty that Georgios would not wish to associate with her, something made her want to see this difficult man put in his place.

He thought it was her disappointment he was about to witness. What a triumph it would be when Georgios was as loving and responsive as he had been in England! And really there was no reason why he should not be. If he was not happy living in London, she knew that she could be happy living here. It need make no difference to their marriage.

So confident was the tall Greek that Miranda would not be staying that he left her suitcase in the Land Rover as he led the way into the house.

He took her into a room kept cool with air-conditioning and filled with beautiful furniture. Slatted shutters let in narrow strips of sunlight which glinted on a striking gold icon set high on one wall.

It irritated her that he seemed so very much at home in the villa, and although he asked her to sit she preferred to remain on her feet, gazing about her with interest, wishing Georgios had told her about this elegant house. It might have made a difference to her marrying him. She had not realised he was quite this rich.

The man turned in the doorway. ‘Your name, please? Georgios will want to know who is calling.’

Should she say Mrs Alexidis? That would shock him out of his calm, that was for sure. She smiled at her own thoughts, quickly containing it when she saw his glare of displeasure. ‘Just tell him it’s Miranda. That should be sufficient to bring him running.’

Heavy lids snapped over condemning eyes as he swung away and the impact made Miranda shudder. Even though he had left the room she felt his presence still, cold and disapproving, an electric tension in the air that held her rigid.

It was a long time before she heard footsteps, but even so she had not moved from her frozen position. Now she walked eagerly towards the door, her love for Georgios warming her. It was going to be all right. That horrid man would disappear into the background of her mind as soon as she was safe in the shelter of her husband’s arms.

She had not expected the hostile Greek to accompany Georgios, and she was surprised and dismayed when he came into the room with him. The two of them confronted her, dark unsmiling figures, bearing a strange resemblance to one another that had not been apparent before. Not so much their looks, but the way they held themselves, the shape of their heads, the glacial expression in their eyes.

‘Georgios!’ She pushed her misgivings away, smiling determinedly and holding out her arms. Taken slightly aback when he made no move towards her, she said brightly, ‘I was so worried when I didn’t hear from you. What happened? Why didn’t you write? Oh, Georgios, I’ve missed you so much!’

Still he looked at her as if she were a stranger. ‘Miranda, I think my brother said your name was. Miranda who? I’m sorry, I don’t think I know you.’

CHAPTER TWO

Had anyone asked Miranda to describe her feelings at that moment she would have found it impossible. It was a shock to discover that this disagreeable man was Georgios’s brother, but nothing compared to the complete devastation brought about by Georgios denying knowing her. It just couldn’t be true.

She went to him. ‘Of course you remember me— I’m your wife! We got married in London almost four months ago. Georgios! You must remember!’

He looked at her blankly; those dark eyes that she knew so well, that she had seen glazed with desire or softened by laughter, were empty. He glanced at his brother, who shook his head fractionally, sending some unspoken message. ‘You’re mistaking me for someone else. I have never seen you before in my life. I wish I had, you’re very attractive.’

He looked at her golden hair and reached out a tentative hand towards it. It was a gesture he had made many times and always it was the prelude to a caress or a kiss. It was as if the feel of her fine silken hair beneath his fingertips stimulated his emotions.

Miranda quivered as she waited for his touch, her stomach knotted with the familiar reaction of being near him, anticipating what his next move would be.

Her eyes were wide and moist, resting lovingly on his face, confident now that it was a game he was playing, that any second he would laugh and pull her into his arms.

'Georgios!' His brother’s explosive voice broke the tense silence of those few suspended seconds.

Georgios’s hand dropped to his side and he stepped back.

Miranda’s head jerked in the direction of the older man, her eyes flashing accusingly. ‘This is your doing! For some reason you don’t want me here and you’ve put Georgios up to this—that’s why you were so long. I’d like to speak to him alone—if you wouldn’t mind.’

He eyed her coldly. ‘No good could be gained by it. My brother has already confirmed that he doesn’t know you.’

‘An idea put into his mind by you,’ she cried wildly, shaking her head so that her hair flew about her face. What was he up to? What was the reason behind this ridiculous farce? ‘Why would I be here if I didn’t know about Georgios? How would I know about him?’

‘By simply reading your newspapers,’ he snarled. ‘The Alexidis Line shares have shot up lately. We’re riding on the crest of a wave. Don’t tell me you didn’t know? Georgios and myself are the target of many fortune-hunting girls such as yourself.’

So he thought she was after Georgios’s money? ‘I couldn’t care less if Georgios hasn’t got a penny,’ she snapped. ‘I happen to love him, and until he left England he professed to love me. If you’re under some preconceived notion that I married him for his money you’ve got it wrong.’

She turned desperately to Georgios. ‘Tell him! Tell him how happy we were in our new house. Tell him I didn’t even know that you were this rich.’

But he shook his head, a perplexed frown creasing his brow. ‘I’m sorry—er—Miranda. There’s some mistake. I’ve never been to England.’

‘And I didn’t know you were an actor.’ There was a break in her voice. ‘Lord knows why you and your brother have concocted this story. If you’d lost interest in me why couldn’t you have said, instead of running away like a frightened child? I would have listened, and it would have been far better than the torment you’ve put me through.’

Georgios looked at her anxiously. ‘Please, Miranda, take my word for it, you’ve got the wrong man.’

Again she turned on the elder brother. ‘My congratulations! You’ve done a good job on him. But don’t think I’m going to accept this lying down. I’m not going away from here until I find out why you’re afraid to let Georgios admit he married me!’

She flaunted her hand beneath his nose, the unusual engraved gold ring that Georgios had placed there gleaming in the filtered rays of the sun. ‘Here’s proof, if you need it. The pity is I didn’t bring my marriage certificate. You’d have had no reason then to doubt that I’m telling the truth.’

‘What’s in a ring?’ he said coldly. ‘You could have bought it yourself. I suggest, Miss—er ‑?’ He paused expectantly.

‘Mrs,’ said Miranda firmly. ‘Mrs Alexidis.’

The black brows knitted firmly. ‘There is only one Mrs Alexidis, and that is my mother. What is your name?’

‘Before I was married it was Martyn,’ she supplied reluctantly. ‘By the way, how is your mother? She’s ill, I believe?’ And how would she have come by that information if she didn’t know Georgios?

‘A touching display of interest,’ he jeered. ‘In fact she’s far from well, and if she discovers the presence of a little gold-digger like you in the house it will do her no good at all. I suggest you leave, now! I will take you to Corfu myself.’

‘Aren’t you going to ask how I knew your mother was ill?’ Miranda felt bewildered by his acceptance that she was aware of the situation.

The cold black eyes flicked over her contemptuously. ‘Spyros probably told you when he lent you his car. I am well aware that his cousin Petros feeds back news from this house.’

Miranda’s eyes lit up. In that case Petros would know that Georgios had been to England! If she could speak with him she might get an answer to some of her questions. But first of all she had to persuade this despicable character to let her stay.

There was the baby, of course, but she was reluctant to use him as a lever. Not until Georgios admitted his part in their relationship could she confront him with that news. The way the situation was at the moment the older man would think this was yet another part of her plan to claim part of the Alexidis fortune.

But as though he knew exactly what thoughts were running through her mind Georgios’s brother took her arm firmly. ‘Come along—Petros cannot help, he speaks no English. Unless, of course, you understand Greek?’ His lips curved humourlessly. ‘As a matter of fact we’ll take him with us. He can return Spyros’s car.’

‘Theo!’ Georgios suddenly. ‘I think Miranda should be allowed to stay the night at least. It’s too much to expect her to make the return journey the same day. Can’t you see how tired she looks?’

Miranda was subjected to an insolent appraisal, those piercing eyes not missing one inch of her anatomy. Her flat sandals were hardly flattering, and what had once been a crisply pressed sundress now hung from her shoulders like a limp rag.

She felt strained and her make-up had worn off hours ago, and because she had been too keyed up to eat a proper meal before the journey, she felt unusually weak.

‘She does look pathetic,’ admitted Theo. ‘But I’m sure she’s much stronger than she looks. If she had the determination to get here, then she can use it to get back. She goes!’

Miranda felt like spitting in his eye. How could warm, loving Georgios have a brother like him? She turned appealingly to the smaller man. ‘Georgios, I’m exhausted. I’d be grateful if I could stay.’ Perhaps then they could talk without big brother breathing down their necks? She was still convinced that this was all his doing. That once she got Georgios on his own he would admit that it was a plan dreamed up by Theo to keep them apart.

Georgios smiled, and Miranda’s heart flipped. How well she remembered that smile! It was genuine and friendly, encompassing anyone near enough to be drawn to it. It was one of his attractions, his near-perfect white teeth flashing against the darker shade of his skin.

He turned again to his brother. ‘Theo, where’s your heart? You can’t turn her away. She looks as though she’s ready to pass out.’

Her legs did feel strangely wobbly. She hadn’t been looking after herself as well as she should since Georgios’s disappearance, and with the baby she supposed it had taken that extra bit out of her. But the iron man could not be expected to have any sympathy.

He looked at her now, his frozen face giving no hint of the thoughts going through his mind. ‘The vapours? How novel! Except that women these days are much stronger than their Victorian counterparts. ‘You’ll have to try again if you’re thinking of that one, Miss Martyn.’

‘It was I, not Miranda, who suggested she might not be well,’ said Georgios. ‘The least we can do is give her a bed for the night.’

It was with reluctance that Theo finally nodded. ‘Very well, but first thing in the morning she goes, and you’re not to tell Mother she’s here. I can’t have Miss Martyn upsetting her with her preposterous claims.’

Miranda felt a wave of dizziness and sat down quickly, passing a hand over her forehead. When she looked up Georgios had gone.

Theo surveyed her coldly. ‘Let’s quit the playacting, Miss Martyn. You might fool my brother, but you certainly don’t fool me. How much do you want to go right now?’

Her eyes were green as she glanced at him, her lids heavy so that it was an effort to keep them open. But not half so heavy as her heart. It was like a lead weight, she could even feel its painful thud as it beat against her breast bone.

‘I don’t want money,’ she said tiredly. ‘I want Georgios. He’s my husband, and I love him. I don’t know what you’ve said to make him act like this, but he won’t be able to keep it up. He’ll make a slip before long and then I shall know that I’m not going out of my mind.’

‘You’re not crazy,’ he said, ‘you’re cunning, more cunning than I at first thought. I never expected you’d have the nerve to claim you were actually married to my brother. Don’t you think that’s going a bit far? How did you think you were going to get away with it?’

‘I didn’t know I was going to meet you,’ cried Miranda angrily.

He allowed himself a tight smile. ‘Or you wouldn’t have come? That’s quite obvious. It’s as well I was at home, or Georgios might very well have had his head turned by a pretty girl like you. Your golden hair is such a marked contrast to our Grecian beauties you probably thought that would be to your advantage as well.’

It took every ounce of Miranda’s self-control not to leap up and attack Theo Alexidis. With every minute that passed she hated him more. No wonder poor Georgios had fallen out with his family! With this man for a brother it was amazing they had got on for as many years as they had.

‘I don’t think I like you very much, Mr Alexidis,’ she said fiercely. ‘And I feel sorry for Georgios having a brother like you.’

‘And I’m quite sure you feel sorry for yourself, having come all this way only to have your carefully conceived plans thwarted by the heavy-handed elder brother. Were you perhaps not aware of my existence? Hadn’t you done your homework thoroughly?’ Miranda tried to look at him boldly, but those hypnotic eyes made her tremble and she looked quickly away, feeling decidedly uncomfortable. ‘As a matter of fact,’ she admitted, ‘I didn’t know about you, but even if I had it wouldn’t have stopped me. My business is with Georgios, not you.’

It was a distinct shock when he sat down heavily on the silk-covered couch beside her. She edged away, feeling the same electric vibrations that had come across to her in the car.

‘The first flaw in your defence, dear girl,’ he said smoothly, compelling her to look at him. ‘If, as you claim, you had married my brother, you would have known about me. Georgios would have talked about his family, it’s only natural.’

‘Not if he’s a despicable rat like you!’ She glared, feeling the colour rise in her cheeks but unable to drag her eyes away from the narrowed flint-hardness of his. ‘If you were my brother I’d definitely want to forget all about you. I expect Georgios is the same.’

‘Family unity is very important to a Greek,’ he said coldly.

Miranda was saved the need to answer when Georgios returned, followed by a sour-faced woman in her thirties. ‘Katie will show you to your room,’ said Georgios. ‘When you’ve washed and changed come back down and we’ll have a light meal waiting. I expect you’re hungry, and it’s a few hours yet before dinner.’

‘Thank you,’ she said quietly, and what a relief it was to move away from Theo’s stifling presence. ‘You’re very kind.’

She stood looking at him for a few seconds, and it was a strange sensation to have the man who had shared her life treat her with the polite courtesy of a stranger. It sent cold shivers down her spine and she longed more than anything else to have him pull her into his arms and say the game was over. It was with difficulty that she wrenched her eyes away and followed the woman.

The room was comfortable, with a thick ivory carpet and shell-pink curtains and bed-cover. The wardrobes and dresser which took up the whole of one wall were cream and gold, and there was a door leading to an adjoining bathroom.

Miranda pushed back the shutters, and it was like looking at a picture postcard. The tree-clad slopes dropped away steeply and far below it was possible to catch a glimpse of the apricot rooftops in the village. The sea was an indescrible blue lapping against the serrated shoreline. It was as idyllic as Georgios had described.

A sound behind made her turn swiftly, and there was Georgios with her case. ‘Georgios!’ Unable to help herself, Miranda ran across the carpet and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. ‘Tell me it’s a foolish game you’re playing,’ she said shakily. ‘It’s like a nightmare! I can’t believe it’s happening. Why, Georgios, why?’

When he did not answer, but simply held her against him, stroking her hair, she said thickly, ‘It’s Theo, isn’t it? He doesn’t like the idea of you being married to an English girl. He’s made you promise to pretend not to know me.’

She lifted her head and her eyes were moist with unshed tears. It was agony being held against him but feeling none of the vibrant responses she had been so used to. His body had always pulsed with desire when he held her in his arms, and although her own throbbed now with this physical contact, Georgios remained impassive.

‘We’re alone now,’ she implored. ‘You needn’t act any longer. Theo need never know, if that’s the way you want to play it. But please don’t do this to me—I can’t take it!’

Georgios muttered something in Greek and looked at her long and hard, then the next moment Theo walked into the room.

His brow was dark with displeasure and Miranda shot guiltily away from Georgios, then immediately wondered why she had done so.

‘As I expected.’ He folded his arms across his strongly muscled chest. ‘Georgios, don’t let Miss Martyn’s very cleverly contrived distress get to you, or before you know it she’ll be twisting you round her little finger.’ Georgios smiled wickedly. ‘You can’t deny, dear brother, that she’s very attractive. Why refuse something that’s offered to you so willingly?’

‘Why indeed,’ he snapped, ‘except that our friend here is nothing more than a confidence trickster. She’s after big game, Georgios. You! Or should I be more to the point and say your money.’

Georgios shook his head. ‘It doesn’t make sense. You’re the eldest son. If she’s after a rich husband, wouldn’t you be the likeliest target?’

Cold eyes flicked from his brother to Miranda, and she quivered beneath the fierce intensity of his dislike. 'Strangely enough, she admitted she didn’t know of my existence. Or is she. perhaps, even cleverer than we think?' Again he fixed her with that piercing, see-all, stare. ‘You thought Georgios would be an easier man to convince? You’ve heard of my reputation for being a man of stone and thought I would be too hard a nut to crack?'

Miranda glared angrily, his words hurting but incensing at the same time. ‘All men have their weaknesses. I've no doubt that if I had the time I could find out yours. But it’s Georgios I’m interested in. My husband!' These last words were said defiantly, her brilliant eyes warring with his.

Then with a cry she put her hands over her face, trying to shut out these two brothers who were trying to turn her world upside down. It was all a bad dream—it had to be! She would wake up in a minute and find herself back in her safe little suburban house, Georgios in bed beside her. The whole thing, right from when she had found that unbelievable note, was nothing more than her subconscious playing tricks.

‘Georgios is not your husband.' Theo’s harsh statement made her look at him again. He was inches taller than Georgios, and although Georgios was by no means a weakling₃ he was a mere shadow behind the masculine aggression and absolute self-control of his elder brother.

‘I suppose you think you’re going to wear me down until I admit it?’ she questioned tiredly.

‘I wouldn’t waste my time trying. And since you’re leaving in the morning the issue hardly arises. Come. Georgios, we’ll leave Miss Martyn to take her shower.'

Silently Miranda implored Georgios to stay, but he obediently followed his brother, turning at the door to give her yet another curious and puzzled glance.

Miranda stared after them for a couple of minutes before finally running a bath. She needed to soak away her tiredness after the journey, but more than anything she needed time to think about the situation in which she had found herself.

It was incomprehensible that Georgios should deny knowing her. Theo must have a big hold over him to make him give such a creditable performance. There really had been blankness in his eyes, and when he touched her it had been with the reserve a man usually has for a woman he had just met. If she hadn’t known better she would have said that he genuinely did not know her.

She was a little scared about the implication of it all, but also determined not to return home until she had got to the bottom of it. Quite how she was going to persuade Theo to let her stay, she did not know. He was capable of forcibly and personally carrying her from the island.

There was just no answer. There was no denying that the man downstairs was her husband. But why, why, why wouldn’t he admit it? What had Theo said to him? Why did Theo dislike her so much?

It was undoubtedly this older man who had returned her letters unopened, which meant he had known of her existence before she arrived, so what sense did it all make?

Even Georgios surprised her. His acting was superb. She had not known he was capable of it. But why, when they were on their own, hadn’t he relaxed? Why had he kept up the pretence even then? Or had he been about to speak when Theo walked in? There had definitely been something on his mind.

The obvious thing to do was talk to him in private. Bide her time until Theo was out of the way, and then maybe she would get somewhere.

She heaved herself out of the bath, used the big pink fluffy towel with the letter A embroidered in one corner, and dusted herself with a heavenly scented talc. It was a very feminine bathroom, all pink and cream with lots of lotions and soaps and mirrors with flattering concealed lighting.

Had the circumstances been different she would have felt like a million dollars; as things were she was reluctant to go back down and face the two men.

Only that morning she had set out so happily, convinced that there was a plausible excuse for Georgios’s silence, confident that once they met everything would be all right. It had never crossed her mind that he would pretend not to know her.

With some hesitation she slipped on a simple white cotton dress, its attraction being the broderie anglaise on the bodice and hem. Her fine hair dried quickly as she brushed it and she let it fall in natural waves about her bare shoulders.

She applied the minimum of make-up to her silky-soft skin, darkening her lashes to emphasise her already eloquent eyes, a touch of blusher because she felt drained, and a smear of lip-gloss. Finally a pair of white high-heeled sandals to give her those extra inches to face up to Theo Alexidis.

Why Theo instead of Georgios was to the forefront of her mind, she had no idea. He was not a man it was easy to dismiss. She guessed he made a forcible impression on everyone he met.

She looked and felt good—on the outside, but inside was as nervous as a kitten. Losing her way in this luxurious villa with its maze of corridors did not help. Eventually she followed the sound of the men’s voices and found them outside on the verandah which was heady with the scent of exotic flowers. A purple bougainvillaea spilled luxuriously, scarlet hibiscus brightened a corner, and countless tubs sat in every available space.

They both jumped up as she approached, letting her sit on one of the softly-cushioned cane chairs before sitting again themselves. Georgios still wore the same blue shirt and navy trousers that he had had on earlier, but Theo had changed out of his work clothes into a pair of casual cream trousers and a black silk shirt open to the waist. A gold medallion rested against the solid wall of his chest, which gleamed like polished mahogany. As he moved, so too did the muscles beneath that firm skin, and Miranda found herself hypnotised by his sheer compelling maleness.

It was with difficulty that she transferred her attention to Georgios, smiling weakly and saying, ‘I couldn’t find you. This really is a marvellous house. You never told me it was quite so impressive.’

Theo answered for him. ‘Since Georgios is adamant he has never met you before he couldn’t very well have told you. I’ve no doubt, though, that you’ve seen it in Harpers & Queen. They did a feature on it a short while ago.’

‘Really?’ Miranda raised her brows, her thick lashes framing her liquid eyes. ‘I must have missed it. What a pity.’

There was the merest fractional hardening on his face, but instead of the quick comeback she expected he poured coffee from an elegant silver pot set on a glass-topped cane table in front of them, enquiring whether she took milk and sugar before pushing the cup over to her.

‘It’s instant coffee,’ he said brusquely. ‘Greek is not normally to the Englishman’s taste, although if you would prefer it ‑’

Miranda shook her head. ‘This is fine.’ She picked up the cup and sipped gratefully. It was good—and she was surprisingly hungry. On the table were slices of fresh crusty bread, a salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumber and peppers, topped with black olives and cheese, and a selection of a sticky-looking pastries filled with honey and nuts.

"Help yourself,' said Georgios pleasantly. ‘It’s all yours. Theo and I are not eating.’

She took a tiny portion of salad and a slice of bread, but it was embarrassing when the two men sat silent. She enjoyed the cheese, it was crumbly like Caerphilly although saltier. But she did little more than nibble, refusing a pastry, accepting, however, another cup of coffee.

‘Is that all you’re going to eat?’ asked Theo incredulously.

She nodded, resisting the impulse to declare that in his presence the idea of food sickened her. She had thought she was hungry, and had she been alone with Georgios she would have done it justice, but with Theo watching her every move the excellent food tasted like sawdust.

‘It’s no wonder you’re puny.’ The dark eyes slid insolently over her, lingering on the slight swell of her breasts, following the curve of her hip to the slender legs crossed gracefully at the ankles.

Miranda felt as though he was undressing her, tossing aside each item of clothing until he could feast his eyes on her stripped defenceless body. Colour rushed to her cheeks and she deliberately turned her attention to Georgios.

‘I’d like to see more of your villa. Would it be very rude to ask you to show me around?’ She was aware of Theo’s eyes burning into her.

‘It will be my pleasure,’ said Georgios, a wide smile creasing his handsome face.

'If you’re eyeing it up on the assumption that it will one day be your home, forget it,’ snarled Theo.

Georgios frowned momentarily. ‘You’re not being very friendly towards our guest, Theo. I don’t think Mother would like it if she knew how rude you are to a stranger under our roof.’

A stranger! Miranda winced. Didn’t Georgios realise how much it hurt hearing him speak like this? Had he no idea of the pain he inflicted?

‘Since Miss Martyn won’t be here long enough for Mother to know anything about it,’ said Theo coldly, ‘I shall treat her with the contempt she deserves. No woman who shamelessly chases after a man simply because he’s wealthy is worth an ounce of consideration.’

‘She deserves more than you’re giving her,’ returned Georgios. ‘She doesn’t look like a girl out for all she can get. Perhaps she’s made a mistake. Perhaps I do look like her husband. The least we can do is make her short stay here a pleasant one.’

‘Mistake be damned!’ snorted Theo, pushing back his chair and standing up. ‘It’s the innocent-looking ones you have to watch. But if she wants to torture herself by looking at something that will never be hers, then Eleni can show her.’

‘And why not Georgios?’ snapped Miranda, resenting the way they talked about her as if she was not there. ‘Are you afraid that once he’s no longer under your watchful eye he might say something he shouldn’t?’

She felt even more at a disadvantage with Theo standing. He yielded a formidable power that made her feel tiny and insignificant. She never usually felt at a disadvantage with men; normally they treated her as a fragile flower.

Until she met Georgios she had never lacked either male or female company, but once knowing him she had needed no one else. She had been content to let him dominate her, blossoming under the warmth of his love. It made it all the harder to accept what he was doing to her now.

‘There’s nothing that Georgios can possibly say that I would not wish him to,’ said Theo. ‘But he could be foolish enough to fall for your particular brand of beauty. I think he already feels the need to protect you from me.’

‘You must admit, Theo, you’re not being very hospitable towards her.’ Georgios gave Miranda a gentle smile that caused her heartbeats to quicken alarmingly. She had seen that particular smile so many times before.

‘I don’t feel hospitable,’ Theo growled.

Yet he had brought her here! He could have remained firm and sent her back to Corfu. It was obvious now, though, that he regretted that decision.

‘And I don’t like being argued over as though I’m of no consequence,’ she interjected. ‘I’m sure Eleni, whoever she is, won’t take too kindly to showing a stranger around.’ She stood up and gave Georgios a winning smile. ‘You take me. You’re my husband, it’s up to you to show me your family home.’

‘Oh, that I were!’ said Georgios dramatically, but he immediately sprang to his feet and tucked her arm through his. ‘However, it will be my pleasure.’

Miranda snuggled up to him, feeling more confident that when they were alone Georgios would open up and admit that the whole charade was Theo’s idea.

Theo, however, stalked into the house in front of them, pressing a bellpush near the door. Seconds later Katie appeared. He spoke to her in Greek and Miranda heard the name Eleni. Her heart dropped. It appeared that once Theo made up his mind nothing and no one stopped him.

Georgios let her go, frowning harshly at his brother, but accepting that the matter had been taken out of his hands. Miranda could hardly believe that he was meekly submitting to this man’s treatment. Why didn’t he stick up for himself? More to the point, why was Theo treating him as though he was fifteen instead of twenty-five?

‘How can you let him do this to you?’ she asked sharply.

Yet again Theo answered for him. ‘Because what I say in this house goes.’

She switched her attention, looking angrily into the cold impassive face. ‘Don’t you ever let Georgios make decisions for himself?’

‘Only if I consider they are the right ones, and getting himself involved with you is not.’

Miranda held his gaze for as long as she could, finally looking away when she heard someone enter the room.

‘Ah, Eleni!’ Theo immediately went towards the dark girl who Miranda judged to be somewhere around her own age. She wore a flowered cotton top and white shorts, her long legs smooth and tanned, her feet pushed into thonged leather sandals. Her shoulder-length black hair framed an attractive, piquant face.

‘This is Miranda Martyn who came to our island— by mistake. However, she is so impressed with the villa she would like to look around before she leaves in the morning. Will you show her?’

Eleni looked curiously at Miranda before giving her a warm smile of welcome. ‘I trust my brothers have been able to tell you where you went wrong? There are so many islands that unless you come on a package holiday it can be confusing.’ Her English, like that of the men, was flawless.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Theo, ‘I shall personally make sure that Miss Martyn doesn’t get lost again.’

‘I expect my brothers have been looking after you wonderfully well? We would never see anyone stranded.’

Perhaps she wouldn’t, but Miranda would have liked to disagree so far as Theo was concerned. With difficulty she hid her feelings, returning Eleni’s smile.

‘There’s no need for you to put yourself out. Georgios has offered to show me. I’m sure you have something far more exciting to do.’

‘Actually, no,’ returned the charming Eleni. ‘I was resting. It’s siesta time, as you probably know. But I’m fed up with lying down. It will be a great pleasure to give you a guided tour of our small villa. We’re very proud of it, but because we like to preserve our privacy we do not have many visitors.’

There did not seem anything else Miranda could say. It would be ill-mannered to declare she had changed her mind, confirming Theo’s suspicion that her only reason for asking was to get Georgios alone.

‘In that case,’ she said, hoping her smile did not look too artificial, ‘I’ll come with you gladly. I’ll see you later, Georgios.’

She was aware of Theo watching them as they left the room, and although it was to Georgios she spoke, it was on this older man her eyes rested longest.

‘Oh, Eleni,’ Theo’s harsh voice arrested their progress, ‘don’t go in to Mother. There’s no need for her to know about Miss Martyn.’

‘I’m sure she’d like to meet her,’ smiled his sister. ‘You know how much she likes seeing new faces.’

Theo looked at her coldly. ‘That’s as may be, but in this instance I think it would be best if she didn’t know about our visitor. We can’t afford to let her get excited.’

‘As you wish,’ shrugged Eleni, not looking suitably convinced, but conceding to her brother’s authority. She clearly thought that meeting Miranda was nothing to get excited about.

But Miranda herself knew that he was afraid she might mention her reason for being here. How much, she wondered, did his mother know of the true situation? Or had Georgios said nothing to her because of the illness which had brought him running to her side?

However, these thoughts were pushed to the back of her mind once she began to explore the Alexidises’ villa. It housed an impressive collection of valuable paintings and art treasures, and each room was elegantly and expensively furnished.

Eleni chattered incessantly, and Miranda discovered that there were two more sisters, both married and living in Athens. Theo had taken over the business since their father’s sudden death three years ago, after which Mrs Alexidis had suffered a heart attack and had not been well since. This last turn had left them all worried.

Miranda learned more about the family in the few minutes she was with Eleni than in all the months she had known Georgios. ‘Why don’t Theo and Georgios, get on?’ she asked, hoping this girl would not think her question out of order. ‘I couldn’t help noticing.’

Eleni laughed. ‘Theo can’t stand weakness. Nor could my father. Georgios was a disappointment, and I think Theo has inherited my father’s intolerance of men who do not automatically assume the qualities of leadership.

‘Georgios failed to come up to my father’s expectations. His interest in shipping is nil, despite all the training he has been given. Theo never intended to take over. He wanted to start up on his own, entirely independent of the Alexidis Line, but when it became clear that Georgios was incapable of running it, he had no choice.’

‘So what does Georgios do?’ asked Miranda.

Eleni shrugged characteristically. ‘Nothing, except spend the very generous allowance my father made him. He’s been away a lot lately, since his ‑’

Miranda’s breath caught in her throat. ‘Did he go to England?’ she interrupted eagerly.

Eleni shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. At least, he never said. He spends a lot of time in Athens with my sisters. Ah, this is my mother’s room.’ They stopped outside a closed door. ‘It’s a pity Theo has forbidden me to take you in to her. She would like you, I’m sure. You might cheer her up.’

‘Do you always do what Theo says?’ asked Miranda.

Eleni nodded, her expression wry. ‘He’s the head of the family. His wishes are respected.’

‘Even Georgios obeys?’

‘Even Georgios,’ she admitted. ‘Forgive me for saying so, but you seem quite interested in him?’

I should be, thought Miranda, he is my husband. But as it was apparent Eleni was another who did not know about his marriage, or pretended not to know, she decided for the time being to say nothing. Whatever game Georgios was playing she needed to sort it out with him first.

‘It’s so unusual,’ continued the pretty dark girl. ‘Most women prefer Theo. Don’t you think he’s the more handsome of the two?’

Miranda pretended to consider. ‘I suppose so, but he’s certainly not my type. He’s too ‑’ She searched for the right word.

‘Overpowering?’ suggested Eleni, laughing. ‘I know what you mean, but isn’t that one of his attractions? I’d like to find myself a husband like Theo. The trouble is they grow thin on the ground. The man I’m supposed to marry ‑’ She lifted her shoulders deprecatingly. ‘He is—well, not quite such a—man. He’s rich and his family’s in shipping too, so it’s an admirable match, but I don’t know whether I love him.’

‘Have you got to marry him?’ asked Miranda, wondering whether some girl hadn’t been lined up for Georgios. Whether that hadn’t been one of the reasons he had left home. ‘I didn’t think they did that sort of thing these days.’

Eleni smiled ruefully. ‘If you’d met my father you wouldn’t ask such a thing! He stuck by the old rules, and Theo is very much like him.’

At that moment Mrs Alexidis called from her room. ‘She’s heard us,’ said Eleni. ‘I must go and see what she wants. Please excuse me, I won’t be long.’

It was seconds only before she returned, a light of mischief dancing in her eyes. ‘She wants to see you, and Theo can’t say anything, since she asked herself, can he?’

Miranda quickly agreed, feeling a rising tide of excitement as she followed Eleni into the room where blinds were drawn and a faint smell of cologne hung in the air. Perhaps now she would get to the bottom of the mystery.

CHAPTER THREE

It took a few moments for Miranda’s eyes to get used to the half-light. When she did she discovered Mrs Alexidis watching her closely. ‘Come in, come in. I did not realise we had a guest. An English girl, too! I feel quite excited. Come closer so that I can see you more clearly.’

Contrary to the bedridden old lady Miranda had expected, Mrs Alexidis sat in a high-backed chair. She was dressed entirely in black, and her lined fleshless face and greying hair stood out like an oval of light. Black eyes, which had lost none of their intensity through her illness, were fixed attentively on Miranda.

‘Are you a friend of Theodoros? How long are you staying? Why wasn’t I told you were here?’ One question rapidly followed another.

Miranda smiled hesitantly. ‘I haven’t long arrived.’ Should she carry on with the tale Theo had spun or mention outright her relationship with Georgios? She was saved the decision when Eleni spoke for her.

‘Miss Martyn got lost. She came to the wrong island, would you believe?’

Mrs Alexidis’s eyes widened, as though finding this difficult to accept. ‘A shade unusual, but at least it is giving you the opportunity to experience our Greek hospitality. Have you visited the islands before?’ Miranda shook her head. ‘But I don’t think it will be the last time. Salamyndros is very beautiful. Are all the islands the same?’

‘They each have their own personality,’ said Mrs Alexidis. ‘But we like to think that ours is the best.

Like Corfu we get more rain than other islands, so we are blessed with a rich green landscape such as you get in England. Most of the other islands are bleached and dry—not half so attractive. Exactly where were you supposed to be going? I’ll tell you whether it is as magnificent as Salamyndros or not.’

Miranda looked at her blankly for a moment, then made up her mind that Mrs Alexidis should be told the truth. ‘As a matter of fact ‑’ But what if she really did not know about Georgios’s marriage? Hadn’t she a heart condition? Mightn’t it cause her distress, maybe bring on another of those attacks that had brought Georgios home? ‘I—I can’t remember,’ she finished lamely. ‘They all sound so similar.’

‘It’s probably Salamis,’ said Eleni, ‘except that that’s in the Agean. Was it definitely over this side?’

‘I thought so.’ Miranda felt her cheeks redden and was glad of the dim light which spared her embarrassment. ‘But I could be mistaken.’ Damn Theo for making her lie!

‘We do get people on Salamyndros,’ said Mrs Alexidis, ‘who come simply to have a look at us. We try to preserve our privacy—in fact this island is not on any map. But unfortunately we’re somewhat in the public eye—as you probably know?’

It was a probing question, designed to discover whether their visitor was telling the truth. Perhaps she had seen her blushes? Miranda felt even more uncomfortable and wished Eleni had not gone against Theo’s wishes.

To deny all knowledge of their family would be to deny Georgios. Could she do that? Wouldn’t it be the very thing Theo wanted her to do? She would be playing right into his hands. Once she had said that, how could she insist that Georgios was her husband? She desperately needed to talk to Georgios. Once that was accomplished and she discovered exactly why he professed not to know her, then she would be able to speak more easily. Now she had to be extremely careful what she said.

‘I must admit that I’ve never read anything about you.’ That at least was the truth. She smiled tentatively. ‘Perhaps you’re not so well-known as you thought?’

Mrs Alexidis appreciated her joke, her face creasing with genuine pleasure. ‘If we weren’t we would not be so successful. Theodoros has his father’s talent for making money. He is very much like my dear Alexandras. I am proud to have such a wonderful son.’

And how about Georgios? Miranda wanted to ask. Aren’t you proud of him? She could not believe that he was the sort of character Eleni had painted. Yet he had been reticent about his background, and certainly he had done no work in all the time she had known him.

She had once asked how he got all his money, for he seemed to have an endless supply, and he had vaguely mentioned the shipping line. She had presumed, as he was family, that he reaped the rewards but had to do little of the actual work himself, and she had not questioned him further. It had been sheer bliss married to a man who was able to spend every minute of his time with her.

Thinking about it now she supposed she had taken a lot for granted. It had been wonderful, though, to have someone of her own after all the years when she had been pushed from one place to another. She had accepted Georgios’s love blindly and completely, not questioning him deeply, merely accepting him for what he appeared on the surface.

In good time she would find out about his family, his work, she had thought. When the first flush of enthusiasm had worn off their marriage, when he had decided it was time to patch things up between himself and his family, then he would take her to meet her Greek in-laws.

She had never imagined anything like this would happen. Even when he disappeared without warning, she had been confident that all would turn out well. On the surface it looked as though Sallianne had been right, but still she clung to the hope that there was a perfectly logical explanation. There had to be, for the baby’s sake. She did not want to bring a child into the world without a father.

‘Are you on holiday, Miss Martyn?’ Mrs Alexidis’s voice broke into her thoughts. ‘Salamis does not have much to offer. It is a somewhat bare island with an unhealthy climate. It is well known because of the sea battle that took place in the straits between Salamis and the mainland in which the Athenians defeated the Persian fleet in 480 B.C. But you would know about that, of course?’

‘I’m here for—personal reasons,’ said Miranda hesitantly.

‘That is a pity,’ said Mrs Alexidis at once. ‘I was going to suggest you stay for a few days. Eleni would enjoy your company. Is it very pressing business? Could we not send a message to whoever is expecting you, saying you are delayed for day or two?’

Miranda smiled, feeling quite overwhelmed by this woman’s generosity to a complete stranger, but also appreciating that here was an opportunity she could not afford to miss. ‘Actually, it was a surprise visit, no one is expecting me.’

‘In that case you have no excuse.’ Eleni clapped her hands excitedly. ‘Since my sisters left home I have missed female company. This is wonderful! You will stay?’ This last as she realised she was perhaps taking Miranda’s acceptance for granted.

‘If you’re sure, Mrs Alexidis.' Miranda looked at the black-robed figure questioningly. ‘I really would like it. I’m so impressed by your island that it will be a pleasure to explore it—and I promise. I’m not a reporter, or anyone after a story.’

The old woman smiled graciously. ‘I’m sure you’re not. You have far too honest a face. But one has to be careful, you understand?’

Miranda nodded, wishing she did not feel guilty about deceiving this kind person. If Georgios had told her he had got married in England, his mother would be displeased she had not introduced herself properly. On the other hand, if she knew nothing about it, but subsequently found out, then she would be even more angry.

Or had he told his mother and she had forbidden him to have anything more to do with the English girl about whom none of them knew anything? A penniless orphan would certainly not be her choice for her second son. If he had disappointed her so far as the business was concerned, she would at least want him to marry well. Was that what this was all about? It was an extremely complicated situation, and one that she had certainly not envisaged before setting out.

‘I’m overcome that you’re prepared to accept me into your home, considering you know nothing about me.’ Miranda hoped the tremor in her voice would be mistaken for emotion, not the conscience that was bothering her. ‘You’re very kind. I’ll try not to be an inconvenience.’

‘You won’t be that,’ said Eleni quickly. ‘Rather the reverse. I’m bored with the same old faces. It will be good to have someone different to talk to. I’ll show you around. We’ll go over to Corfu. It’s not so pretty as Salamyndros, of course, but there’s more to do.’

‘Eleni,’ said her mother sharply, ‘don’t go making plans for Miss Martyn. Not everyone has a Greek appetite for always wanting something new and different to do. There will be quite sufficient here to keep her happy for a few days.’

‘I was forgetting,’ said Eleni, suitably penitent. ‘I know this island so well I suppose I take it for granted. You must visit the caves.’ Her face lit up again. ‘They’re really something, and if you throw a coin in the lake you’re supposed to see the face of the man you’re going to marry. And the temple—it’s quite a climb and it’s actually little more than a natural formation in the rock, but there’s a shrine, and one of the women from the village goes up there every day to light a candle.’

‘If you’ve never seen anything like them before they’re quite impressive,’ confirmed Mrs Alexidis. ‘There’ll be plenty to keep you happy here. Don’t take any notice of my daughter. She has an inherent disinclination to remain in any one spot for too long. It will be a relief when she is married. Her husband will know how to deal with her wanderlust.’

Eleni pulled a face, making sure her mother did not see. Miranda knew she was thinking of the man who had been chosen for her. But perhaps Eleni did not know how lucky she was. Marrying for love was perhaps not always the right thing to do, as she was finding out now. Eleni’s prospective groom was a man they all knew—and clearly liked. There would be no hidden facets to his character. She would not be disappointed that he had not turned out the way she expected.

Not like Georgios! It was incredible that he should deny knowing her. And the more she thought about it the more convinced she became that Theo had something to do with it.

She did not realise that thinking about this elder brother made her mouth tighten. Not until Mrs Alexidis spoke did it occur to her that she had gone into another of her reveries.

‘You are not altogether pleased with the situation?' The keen-eyed woman observed her distress.

‘Oh, yes!’ Miranda made herself push the offending Theo to the back of her mind. ‘I’m sorry, I was thinking of something else. I didn’t mean to be rude.’

‘You must be tired,’ said Mrs Alexidis. ‘You’ve travelled all day, I believe? Go to your room and he down. Katie will wake you in time for dinner.’

Miranda smiled weakly. She must be careful not to reveal too much of her inner torment. This lady might be ill, perhaps bodily weak, but there was nothing wrong with her mental agility.

‘Eleni, show Miss Martyn the way, and I think I might join you for dinner tonight. Inform Theodoros, will you? I shall need his help.’

‘If it’s on my account,’ said Miranda faintly, ‘please don’t feel obliged.’

The older woman smiled encouragingly. ‘You are the incentive I need. I expect Eleni told you I have not been well, and of late I have been guilty of taking my meals in my room. It is a deplorable habit. Besides, I want to hear all about my England. You hear how proudly I say that?’ Her eyes glistened. ‘My grandmother was English and I have an affinity with the nation that was unfortunately not shared by my dear Alexandras. He was a true Greek, upholding all the old traditions. He did not approve of my grandfather marrying an English girl and he made it quite clear before he died that he expected his children to remain true to their country.’

‘I see,’ said Miranda, wondering whether there was a reason why Mrs Alexidis was telling her this. Perhaps it was an unspoken warning not to get interested in either of her handsome sons. Little did she know that it was too late.

All of a sudden the woman’s eyelids drooped and Eleni hurried Miranda from the room. ‘I think my mother was getting excited. It is not good for her.’

‘It’s my fault,’ said Miranda at once, the onus of guilt becoming increasingly heavy.

‘No, no! She is quite taken with you—I’ve never seen her so talkative to a complete stranger. And I’m so glad she asked you to stay. You’ve no idea how much I’m looking forward to your company. Theo is in Athens all day and lately he has insisted that Georgios accompanies him. One last attempt to interest him in the business, I think. If you ask me, it’s too late. Georgios is so used to doing nothing that anything that taxes his brain is too much like hard work.’

‘None of you seem to like Georgios very much,’ protested Miranda without thinking. She was concerned only with the fact that they all put down the man she loved, even though some of it did come too close to the truth for comfort.

It was a fact, Georgios never worked. For the few alterations she had wanted doing in the house, the redecorating, Georgios had always insisted they got someone in. He was not a do-it-yourself fanatic, he had laughed.

When a niggling doubt crept into her mind that Georgios was not the perfect character she had thought him to be, she pushed it away angrily. She would not allow these people to mar her judgment. She loved Georgios despite what they said. She had known him for over six months, surely long enough to discover for herself what sort of a man he was. And in no respect had she found him wanting.

It was only his insistence now that he did not know her that she found disturbing. And very soon she would get to the bottom of that. Theo could not keep his eye on him every minute of the day. Sooner or later she would catch him alone, and she would not rest until she had solved this ridiculous puzzle.

‘There is a weak link in every family,' said Eleni in response to Miranda’s statement. ‘Georgios is ours. But I shouldn’t worry over him too much. I’m quite sure he’ll surprise us all one day. He simply has not matured so quickly as Theo. But then there’s fifteen years’ difference in their ages. Theo is almost forty. He forgets he was almost a man when Georgios was born.’

And Theo was nineteen years older than herself! Old enough to be her father, strange as that seemed. But there were no paternal instincts in his dark mysterious eyes when he probed her every curve. Lust for a younger woman, perhaps, though he was so adept at keeping his feelings hidden that it was difficult to know what he thought.

She and Georgios were far more suited with only four years between them. She had never considered him immature, yet comparing him with Theo it was easy to see where the flaws in his character lay. His almost boyish enthusiasm, his eagerness to please her in the first days of their marriage, his careless disregard for money—all these now pointed to the sort of person he was. The very things that she had so admired about him were now indicating signs of a man not yet ready to grapple with life.

Not that it made any difference. Georgios would learn. One day he would be as much of a man as Theo. One day he would show them all that he was as capable as the next man. When he learned about his unborn child, that would surely give him strength? He would walk as tall and proud as his brother.

Miranda did not realise how tired she was until she lay down. Katie had been in and hung away her clothes, eyeing Miranda with grim displeasure and answering her attempts to make conversation with ‘Den katalaveno,’ and a shake of her head. Miranda felt she did not want to understand. She was an unlikeable sort of character and seemed to have taken an unreasoning dislike to herself. Or was it the extra work involved that caused her lips to turn down at the comers?

But Katie was the least of her worries. Georgios was top of the list, with the hateful Theo coming a close second. Lying now between the cool cotton sheets, listening to birds quarrelling noisily outside her window, to the faint lap of the ocean far below, she resolved to sort this matter out some time tonight.

She could not sleep while Georgios was in another room swearing he was not her husband. It did not make sense. If no opportunity provided itself, then she would make one, even if it meant going to Georgios’s room after everyone else was in bed—providing, of course, she could find his room.

The different levels and endless stairs and corridors made it difficult to get her bearings, but it seemed logical to assume that the bedrooms were close together. Eleni, she knew, occupied a room three doors away. No doubt the two brothers were also in this same part of the villa. It simply meant keeping her eyes and ears open.

Soon Miranda felt herself drifting into sleep, only to have her peace rudely disturbed by the door crashing open with such violence that her heart stopped, then catapulted into an erratic tattoo against her rib-cage.

Her eyes shot wide and she sat up in bed wondering what was happening.

Theo bounced into the room, a wild rage darkening his brows, prisms of light glinting in the blackness of his eyes. ‘I’d like to hear that what Eleni tells me is not true!’

He was like a magnificent male animal, poised for attack, limbs tense, muscles coiled, eyes wary and watchful, waiting for exactly the right moment to tear his victim to pieces.

Her initial shock over, Miranda looked at him coolly. ‘If you’re referring to your mother’s invitation to stay for a few days, then yes, it is right.’ She pulled the sheet over her breasts which, cupped only by a transparent lace bra, were embarrassingly holding his attention.

‘Why did you do it? I gave Eleni express instructions not to take you into her room!’ The very air seemed to vibrate with his anger. She had never seen a man so enraged, and it both fascinated and frightened her to look at him.

‘Mrs Alexidis heard us, and invited me in,’ she said defiantly. ‘And I think you have a cheek to come in here when I’m in bed!’

‘A cheek—in my own house? It is you who have the cheek, Miss Martyn, in daring to come to our island in the first place. Georgios has no interest in you, isn’t that clear? Why then do you intend to hang around for a few more days?’

There was no relaxing of his big frame. He towered over her like one of his legendary Greek gods, his powerful physique stretching his clothes as he seemed to grow in stature with every anger-filled second.

‘Georgios does not deceive me,’ she managed calmly, even though inside she felt on fire. Her reaction to Theo astounded her. Even in the middle of all this hatred and fury she could appreciate what a perfect specimen of manhood he was. Virility in the raw. The most sexually aggressive man she had ever seen.

‘He worries me,' she continued, ‘because I don’t like to see him browbeaten by a man like you.’ She kept her eyes on him as she spoke, not always directly meeting his gaze, which was as difficult as walking a tightrope, but looking instead at the tightly moulded lips or the rigid line of his jaw. ‘Once we’re able to talk, though, I’m quite sure it will be sorted out. I don’t give up easily, Mr Alexidis, when it’s my whole future that’s at stake.’

‘The fragile butterfly has a core of steel, I see! Those wide innocent eyes hide a scheming mind which once it has set its sights will allow nothing or no one to get in its way. Maybe you deceived my mother, but you certainly don’t fool me!’

‘I have no intention of trying to fool you or anyone,’ said Miranda levelly. ‘I’m here because what I say is true. I did marry Georgios in England, and simply because you don’t approve you have no right forcing him to profess not to know me. Did you really think I’d accept it? That I’d think, oh well, I’ve made a mistake, and turn round and go home?’

The seething anger was carefully controlled, hands thrust deep into his pockets, eyes glacial. ‘I think you have a very fertile imagination.’

‘I’m not making it up.’ Miranda was determined not to lose her temper, but it was difficult with this man calling her a liar. ‘No person would be stupid enough to accept that. If I really was after Georgios’s money I would have thought of something more plausible. This is a most ridiculous state of affairs.’

‘Only ridiculous because you’re not getting your own way.’

‘My own way? How can you say that? It’s the truth I’m after. Your whole family are living some sort of lie because you don’t agree with Georgios marrying an English girl. I feel sorry for him. Shouldn’t a man of his age be allowed to do what he wants?’

There was something entertaining about the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. The smooth bronzed skin revealed by the open silk shirt drew her eyes like a magnet. And it was infinitely safer than looking into his face.

For a reason she could not understand she experienced strange qualms when his eyes met hers. Her stomach muscles tightened and her breathing deepened. He was certainly a compelling man, but it was Georgios she loved, so she couldn’t possibly be attracted to him. The feelings, therefore, had to be caused by hatred. A deep loathing for a person who felt he had the power to rule his brother, manipulate him the way he wanted him to go. And now he was trying to wield his power over her!

‘Georgios has never known what he wants,’ he said disparagingly. ‘His life has been a complete failure.’ Living in the shadow of a man like Theo it would be difficult to assert yourself, Miranda thought. It was no wonder Georgios had left home. She could see it clearly. Theo would make anyone feel inferior. He was doing his best to put her down right now.

‘I don’t think you’re giving him a fair chance,’ she said, a quiver in her voice telling him that she was not so calm as she tried to look.

His lip curled savagely. ‘Contrary to what you might think, I have put Georgios up to nothing. If he says he doesn’t know you, then the thought has come from him, not me’.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ She sat up very straight, clutching the sheet as it fell, holding it in front of her like a protective shield.

Not that it safeguarded her from Theo. She was completely at his mercy, despite her brave face, and what was more, he knew it. It would be a unique experience for him if he did not come out on top. She guessed that whatever task he set himself he always won. No one would ever get the better of him.

‘Why should Georgios deny knowing me? It doesn’t make sense!’

Some of the tension had gone out of his body. His thumbs were now hooked casually in his pocket-openings, his weight all on one leg, the other relaxed and bent at an angle which pulled the cream cotton tightly over his muscular thighs. The latent power in that body made her shudder.

‘You’re calling me a liar?’ Not by the merest flicker of an incredibly long black eyelash did he suggest that no one ever called him that and got away with it. But it did not take much working out to realise that this was the way things were with him.

Miranda jutted her chin, gripping the sheet that little bit more tightly. She felt uncomfortably warm despite the air-conditioning and the shaded windows. ‘If you won’t admit the truth, then yes, I suppose I am. Georgios is lying too, and I want to know why.’

‘You won’t find the answer here.’ His hypnotic eyes were merciless, boring into her soul as if he, too, was trying to find the solution to the puzzle.

In desperation she shook her head, her fine gold hair brushing her shoulders. ‘Where will I find the answer? This whole set-up’s so absurd it makes me sick!’

‘Then you’re merely experiencing some of the revulsion I feel when girls such as you throw themselves at us, hoping a little of our wealth will rub off. I’ve had my fair share of it. I know exactly how my brother must feel.’

Something snapped inside Miranda and she could hold back no longer. She even forgot that she was wearing nothing more than her bra and pants, springing out of bed and standing in front of him, arms akimbo, her head back so that she could look into his face.

‘Mr Alexidis, you have no right to pass judgment when you don’t know the true facts! I wouldn’t touch one penny of your stinking rotten money! It’s Georgios I want, destitute, if you like. He’s my husband, and I happen to love him very much!’

‘Love!’ he scoffed, his eyes devouring her body instead of meeting her defiant stare. ‘I doubt you know the meaning of the word. And how can you love a man who claims he’s never seen you before?’

Miranda felt unexpectedly frail beneath those all-seeing eyes which appraised every inch of her tiny body, from the exaggerated thrust of her breasts, over the flatness of her stomach and down the length of her legs to her small dainty feet with their pink-painted toenails.

When he arrived back at her face she felt as though she had no secrets left. He had assessed her physically and mentally and knew everything about her.

‘Can I ask you a personal question?’ Her throat was tight, her limbs quivering so that she clenched her fists in an endeavour to still them. ‘Have you ever been in love?’

‘Many times,’ came his ready response.

‘Really in love, I mean,’ she went on. ‘Have you ever felt the agony and heartache of loving a person more than anything or anyone in the whole world?’ The comers of his mouth lifted sceptically. ‘Are you suggesting that that is how you feel about my brother?’ The hard eyes were fixed firmly on hers. Miranda felt her heart flutter wildly in her breast.

There was a magnetism in those eyes that she found hard to resist, they were pulling her mentally towards him, they were willing her to change her mind, to make her admit that her feelings for Georgios were nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

Such was his power that she could not break the spell which bound her to him as surely as if they were linked by chains of iron. Imperceptibly he drew closer until she could feel the warmth from his body. It was like standing before an open fire, and she knew that if she did not move she would get burnt.

But still she was unable to do anything about it. She stood transfixed, her eyes locked into his. It occurred to her that they were not black at all, but an antique bronze, with the same glowing lustre of that metal. The pupils were almost invisible, the whites incredibly white, black lashes framing them thickly.

His heavy lids were half closed, masking whatever feelings were skimming through his mind. Not that there was any chance of ever reading what this man thought. His iron self-control was to be admired.

She suddenly realised that she had not yet answered his question, yet when he looked at her like this how could she speak, how could she resume control over her body when he was the one who had taken charge?

If someone had given her a thousand pounds she would have been unable to move. Theo was exercising some strange hypnotic influence that had locked her limbs and her tongue, leaving only her mind free.

Curious sensations shot through her nerve-system, an awareness built up inside her. Theo was lethal— and he had a head start, because she had no idea what he was planning.

She should be on her guard instead of feeling this strange compelling urge to experience his arms about her, to have her breasts crushed against the solid wall of his body, and feel the strong steady beat of his heart.

The musky odour of his skin tantalised her nostrils, and as he drew ever nearer she could see each tiny pore on his face. Quite soon he would need to shave. She guessed that he was the type of man who needed to do this twice a day.

What are you doing to me? she wanted to ask. But her mouth was dry, her parted lips stiff. Was he a sorcerer casting his wicked spell? Would she suddenly snap out of this peculiar hypnotic state and discover her mind had been made up for her and she was returning to England with no further thought to protest?

Now she could hear his breathing, deep and steady, not erratic and uncontrolled like her own. Her body was bathed with a faint film of perspiration, Theo looked as cool and collected as it was possible to be.

She wished he would speak. She wished he would break this interminable silence which was lasting only seconds, but which in her trance-like state felt like minutes, hours even. It was a span of time that was limitless. There had been no beginning, there was no end. They were suspended in a time warp, both victims of their own curiosity towards the other.

When her frantic heartbeats sounded like drums in her ears, when she knew that no way was she going to escape until Theo had accomplished whatever it was he had in mind, she closed her eyes.

Perhaps if she willed him strongly enough to go away he would. He was willing her to respond to him, why shouldn’t it work the other way round?

But shutting him out was her undoing. At the exact fraction of a second that she lowered her lashes, Theo’s lips claimed hers. The experience almost blew the top off her head.

Unlike Georgios’s kisses, which had aroused in her a state of mild excitement, sufficient, she had thought, to prove that she loved him, Theo’s hungry lips drugged her senses and made her clamour for more.

So effective had been his conditioning that she had no desire to resist. Instead she wound her arms round his neck and responded with an eagerness that scared her, that she would regret later, but which at that moment seemed the right and proper thing to do.

Miranda had never before lost control of her body. It was a new experience to use it so blatantly, arching herself against the rock-hard strength of Theo, allowing him to probe the soft receptive moistness of her mouth. Her mind stood apart from all this, watching as if from a great height, scandalised by what it saw, but unable to do anything about it.

Arms of steel fastened about her, securing her soft pliant body, making sure there was no escape, even supposing she had wanted to. One hand moved to hold firm the back of her head, fingers sliding beneath the gossamer-light strands of her hair. The other moved with calculated expertise over the nakedness of her back.

Such was the power of him, Miranda felt as though he was branding her with a red-hot iron. From shoulder to hip he traced every curve, each bone in her spine, her smooth scented skin, slow inch by slow inch. Like a blind man he felt the shape of her, building up a physical picture as well as a visual one.

It did not occur to her to wonder why he was doing this, it was sufficient for the moment that he found her attractive enough to want to kiss her—and she could not deny that she found the experience exciting.

Without question it aroused in her a passion that had remained undiscovered during her marriage to Georgios. The eager pressure of his lips which moved sensually over hers, the strong arms moulding her to him, the fingertips creating sensations of their own, all these were intent on extracting an uninhibited response.

She clung unconsciously to him, running her fingers through the black wiriness of his hair, feeling the shape of his head, aware of the quickened heartbeat that throbbed against her breast.

This was not simply an experiment to test her reaction, or if it had been it was one no longer. Theo was as physically excited as she, enjoying the feel of their half-naked bodies together.

When he muttered, ‘Chryso mou,’ against her mouth she had no idea what it meant, but it sounded as though it might be something nice, so she moved against him, moaning softly as wave after wave of sheer erotic pleasure cascaded through her.

His mouth sought the delicate lobes of her ears, nibbling and kissing, creating fresh torrents of awareness. But it was not until his hand cupped her breast, sliding beneath the flimsy material that protected it, making her gasp with sheer unexpected pleasure, that she abruptly came to her senses.

For pity’s sake, what was she doing? Why was she letting this monster of a man maul her? And why, a more important question, had she enjoyed the experience? Could go on enjoying it if sanity had not come to her rescue.

‘You swine!’ The words were choked out of her. ‘You despicable swine! How dare you do this to me!’ Her cheeks felt inflamed, and she knew that her eyes would be very green, they always were when she was cross.

Humour softened for a brief moment the angular lines of his face as he dropped his hands and stood away from her. ‘You could have stopped me any time you wanted. You cannot accuse me of forcing myself on you. But as a matter of fact I did wonder how far you would let me go.’

Miranda glared, her shoulders hunched, arms crossed defensively over her chest. ‘And how far would you have gone, I wonder, if I hadn’t stopped you? What type of a man are you, to make love to your brother’s wife?’

‘If you were Georgios’s wife, I can’t say I would think much of you.’ He ran a comb through his hair, and no one looking at him would guess the emotions raging through him seconds earlier. ‘But as Georgios says you’re not, and he should know, you leave me in no doubt that you’re the gold-digger I suspected. One Alexidis is as good as another, is that it?’

‘Georgios is worth ten of you,’ she said crossly. ‘No way would I marry a man who’s so callous. You used me! You deliberately set out to see whether I would succumb. I think the whole set-up stinks!’

Theo eyed her frostily. ‘I would say that my brother is fortunate he is not married to a girl who gives her favours so freely. I can’t see you remaining faithful to any man for long.’

‘With swine like you around a girl doesn’t have much chance!’ Miranda snatched up the white dress she had worn earlier and struggled into it, keeping a wary eye on Theo, not altogether sure that he wouldn’t attack her again if she turned her back.

‘If a girl was happily married she wouldn’t look at another man. You’ve simply given me more proof that you’ve made up the whole story. I cannot see the point in you remaining. I shall have a word with my mother.’ He swung on his heel and left the room before Miranda could reply.

Not that she was unduly worried. She had a feeling that Mrs Alexidis was on her side. She was more disturbed by the events of the last few minutes. Going back over it in her mind she could not imagine why she had behaved so promiscuously.

She still felt vibrantly alive, her body pulsing with the aftermath of their lovemaking. Never before had she met a man who had the power to arouse her physically in such a short space of time. Despite her hatred she had responded eagerly, and now felt thoroughly ashamed.

Looking at herself in the dressing-table mirror she was shocked to see her inflamed cheeks and wide shining eyes. Her Ups were dark and soft, slightly swollen, her hair tousled. There was no mistaking the fact that she had been thoroughly kissed—and enjoyed every minute of it.

Impatiently she ran a comb through her hair. Please, Georgios, she prayed, come to your senses. Let us sort this whole disastrous affair out. She glanced at her watch. There was still another hour before dinner. Eleni had told her they did not eat early, usually about half past eight or even nine.

She would look for Georgios. It was worth a try. It would be agony sitting at the dinner-table otherwise, making polite conversation, being treated as a stranger by the man who had shared her bed for the last three months, who was the father of the baby growing inside her.

As soon as the thought occurred to her Miranda began her search. Not knowing where Georgios might be she strolled up and down corridors, looking into rooms where doors stood open, listening outside others, ready with the excuse that she was lost.

But she could not find him. He was not even out on the verandah, where evidence of her meal had been cleared away, cushions plumped on the cane chairs, everything ready for the next time it was used.

Miranda sat for a quiet moment going over the events of the day. So much had happened it was incredible. It seemed a lifetime since she had said goodbye to Sallianne and the children. Full of optimism, she had been. An optimism that had been rudely shattered by the two Alexidis brothers.

They had to be in collusion with each other. Georgios would never have done this to her if he had not been put up to it. What she could not understand was why, knowing his father’s unwritten rule, he had allowed himself to fall in love with her. But what hurt more than anything was that his love was not strong enough to withstand the opposition he had encountered when he got home.

Why had he let Theo dictate? The deed was done. He had married her, and in no circumstances was she going to let him get away. Not unless he told her himself that it was all over, that he had made a mistake and did not love her enough to spend the rest of his life with her.

While he maintained this unbelievable attitude there was hope. Once he allowed her to get through to him she was positive they could sort things out.

It was so beautiful here that if Georgios would rather this be their home she would willingly agree. If that was the solution to their problem it was a simple one. She had no ties to keep her in England. Georgios was her family, without him she had no one.

The gardens tempted her and she strolled across the velvet-smooth lawns, admiring flowerbeds that were a riot of colour. She found an orchard where orange and lemon trees were heavy with fruit, where pomegranates and figs rubbed shoulders beside them. Through a vine-covered arch hung with grapes she caught the shimmer of a pool.

She picked a tiny grape and popped it into her mouth. It was seedless and delicious, and she took another before making her way towards the water. Eleni had mentioned a pool, but the girl had chattered so much that Miranda had not taken in all that she said.

It was blue and tempting, but there was no time to enjoy it before dinner. She would leave that experience for another day.

The sun was low in the sky, and when she looked back towards the villa Miranda caught her breath. It was like a fairytale palace turned to gold, windows blinding her with their brilliance.

Once the sun had gone it grew dark quickly and she retraced her steps. It was darker than she imagined anywhere could be, with no lights spilling out from this side of the house, and the moon not yet making its appearance.

When she stumbled over the raised edge of a path she instinctively cried and put out her hands to break her fall. It was a shock when she encountered another body, but her alarm turned to pleasure when she realised it was her husband.

‘Georgios! Thank goodness it’s you!’ She flung her arms around his neck. ‘At last we can talk. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Doesn’t that odious brother of yours ever let you out of his sight?’

‘If it’s me you’re referring to, you’ve got the picture.’ The deeper tones of the man she disliked most in the world cut through the darkness. ‘Georgios and I were taking a stroll before dinner. If you don’t want to be late I suggest you return to your room and get changed.’

He emerged from behind a shrub, appearing like a shadow behind Georgios, their white shirts standing out in relief.

Miranda clenched her teeth and glared, then turned and marched back to the house. Hollow mocking laughter sounded in the blackness of the garden.

CHAPTER FOUR

Miranda came down to dinner to find them all waiting, Mrs Alexidis still in black, its severity relieved by a diamond necklace which caught and held the light from the lamp beneath which she sat, Eleni in a jade green skin-tight creation, her hair coiled elegantly, showing to perfection her slender neck. A pair of jade earrings hung from her ears, her only adornment. Simple yet stunning.

The two brothers were in evening dress, cream jackets, embroidered white silk shirts, black trousers.

Miranda felt out of place. She had realised when seeing their bow ties earlier that they dressed formally for dinner, but as she had brought no evening dresses with her she had put on a sundress in palest lavender with a floating skirt and a top that emphasised her high pointed breasts, fastening at the front with a row of tiny pearl buttons. It was one of her prettiest dresses, yet even so it could not match up to the elegance of the other ladies.

Without questioning what she would like to drink Theo poured her a glass of ouzo, adding water which turned the clear liquid milky. Miranda felt a tremor of awareness as he handed it to her. It would have been impossible to feel immune following the effect of his kiss. But as usual Theo’s expression was impassive.

The ouzo tasted like aniseed and looked innocuous, but Miranda sipped it warily, suspecting it had the kick of a mule. She needed to keep a clear head. Somehow before the evening was over she had to get Georgios alone.

Mrs Alexidis beckoned Miranda to sit on the couch beside her while they drank their aperitifs. ‘I am sorry Theodoros does not approve of you staying—I hope it will not spoil your pleasure.’

Miranda smiled and shook her head, taking this to mean that Theo had not got his own way. ‘I don’t think so. Besides, I understand from Eleni that he is in Athens a lot of the time.’

Her hostess nodded. ‘I’m relieved. He came to me and insisted you leave, but for once I did not allow my son to have his own way. I like you, Miss Martyn, and I am usually a pretty shrewd judge of character. Theodoros, however, suspects your motives. I am sorry about that, and I sincerely hope his distrust will not upset you.’

Miranda glanced across and found Theo watching them intently. He probably guessed they were talking about him, although it was difficult to know what he thought.

She turned back to Mrs Alexidis. ‘Theo doesn’t bother me. I’m here at your invitation and if you have no objection, then that’s all that matters. And please, Mrs Alexidis, call me Miranda.’ Miss Martyn no longer existed. If anything she was Mrs Alexidis too, though she knew the inadvisability of mentioning that—certainly not at this stage—and if Theo had anything to do with it—never.

Soon afterwards they moved through into the dining room where an oval rosewood table was set with gleaming silver, sparkling crystal and snow-white napkins. A central bowl of roses spilled their fragrance into the room, and on the outskirts of the circle of light coming from a pendant suspended low over the table, the dour Katie hovered.

Miranda contrived to sit next to Georgios, but somehow found herself between Theo and his mother. Her husband was on his mother’s other side, thus preventing any private conversation.

It was fast becoming an unreal situation. They were friendly enough, except for Theo, but the emphasis was always on the fact that she was a stranger in their midst. Even Georgios referred constantly to the quirk of fate that had brought her to their island.

He was attracted to her, there was no denying that, but he was seeing her through the eyes of a man who had met her for the first time today. How he managed to give such a creditable performance she had no idea.

‘I guess Spyros won’t be very pleased when he hears what you’ve done to his car,’ he laughed, ‘but I certainly wish I’d been the one to rescue you instead of Theo.’

‘So do I!’ said Miranda fervently; then perhaps they would have sorted things out before they got to this stage.

Her passionate response brought a frown to Mrs Alexidis’s brow and all eyes turned her way. She felt uneasy, even though she shouldn’t have done, because after all he was her husband.

Eleni giggled. Theo was distinctly unamused. His condemnation reached her without him speaking, coming across in cold shock-waves that made her shiver and edge slightly away. She had never met a man who could let you know exactly what he was thinking without saying a word.

The situation was saved when Katie took away their plates and served the main course. Miranda had eaten moussaka in England, but it had never tasted this good and she ate hungrily, making up for the rest of the day, determined to keep her attention on her food and not the people surrounding her.

Theo filled her glass with wine, but she did not touch it, and when eventually they took their coffee into the other room it did not please her to find herself sitting next to him on the couch his mother had occupied earlier.

‘It would appear I have no choice except to put up with you for a few days,’ he ground. ‘It is an appalling situation, and I think my mother must have gone out of her mind!’

Miranda tossed her head, eyeing him angrily. ‘I think you’re the one who is insane!’ Or herself! She could not forget the way she had responded to him earlier—or ignore the fact that her body was even at this moment letting her know it found him physically attractive.

Pulses quickened, each nerve-end quivered and she had to look away before he read the message in her eyes. Unlike him she was unable to mask her feelings, and she had no wish for him to know the effect he was having on her.

It was sheer insanity, yet there was nothing she could do about it. Theo Alexidis had a hidden power which was stronger than herself. He emitted sexual shock-waves that if you were strong enough you ignored, otherwise you had no choice but to accept that they were getting through to you, and do your best not to let it show.

‘I am mad,’ he admitted, ‘for letting you get the better of me, or should I say for cunningly getting my mother on your side. How did you do it, I wonder? Or perhaps that shouldn’t be too difficult to work out. If you knew about us, you must have also known that my great-grandmother was English, and that my mother has a soft spot for English people. It would be no great feat persuading her to let you stay for a few days.’

‘It was not my idea,’ said Miranda sharply. ‘Although I don’t expect you to believe that.’ She would have liked to go to her room, except that her need to talk to Georgios was greater than escaping from this objectionable man who had set himself up as his brother’s keeper.

As soon as she had finished her coffee Mrs Alexidis excused herself and Theo dutifully helped her from the room. She looked very tired and leaned heavily on his arm. Miranda hoped it had not all been too much. It made her feel at fault, knowing that she herself was the reason why Mrs Alexidis had joined them that evening.

She turned to Eleni. ‘Your mother has not overdone it, I hope? I should feel awful if she had a relapse because of me.’

Eleni smiled reassuringly. ‘She’s tougher than any of us think. After a night’s sleep she’ll be fine, and she really enjoyed eating with us. She was much brighter than I’ve seen her in ages.’

Georgios got up and came to sit beside her. ‘It is sweet of you to be so concerned. I think you are going to brighten up our lives while you are here.’

What a statement for a husband to make! Her stay here was not going to be all that short, if she could help it. She either remained here permanently, or Georgios came back to England. How she wished Eleni would leave them for a moment!

She looked at Georgios imploringly, willing him to get rid of his sister. He smiled warmly but did not get the message.

‘I wish I did not have to go to work with Theo,’ he said. ‘I would enjoy exploring the island with you.’

‘But surely you don’t have to go?’ Miranda forgot the other girl for a moment. ‘Georgios, there’s so much that’s puzzling me. We must talk.’

‘I’m puzzled too,’ he admitted. ‘It doesn’t make sense, you claiming that you’re my wife.’

‘What is all this?’ interjected Eleni excitedly. ‘What am I missing?’

Georgios laughed self-consciously. ‘I think I must look like Miranda’s husband. She keeps saying that I am he. Will you tell her I’m not?’

‘You can’t be,’ said Eleni quickly. ‘But it must mean you have a double. Isn’t that the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard? But why do you call yourself Miss Martyn, Miranda? Have you quarrelled? Is that why your visit is a surprise?’

‘So many questions!’ Theo stalked into the room. ‘This whole story is a figment of Miss Martyn’s imagination.’ He had taken off his bow tie, and his shirt was open to reveal yet again that strongly muscled chest.

‘Why would she lie?’ demanded Eleni. ‘It is possible that there is someone else who looks like Georgios.’

Not only like, thought Miranda bitterly, he was her husband. But until she had spoken to Georgios privately how could she explain? With the two brothers both disputing her claim she would look a fool. Not one member of the Alexidis family knew what Georgios had done, excepting perhaps Theo, and he was not on her side anyway. She was completely in Georgios’s hands until he decided to tell the truth.

It was an exhausting evening, with Eleni determined to find out all she could about Miranda’s husband, and Theo equally determined it should remain taboo.

‘I’m ready for bed,’ said Eleni eventually, and had she not been so desperate to talk Miranda would have gone too. Stubbornly she waited up, fighting an overwhelming tiredness. There was not much chance that Theo would leave them alone, but if they all went to bed at the same time she would see which was Georgios’s room and could sneak in later when Theo was asleep.

But Theo observed her smothered yawns and said coldly, ‘I suggest you go to bed, Miss Martyn. Georgios and I will be having our last smoke on the verandah. There is not much point in you waiting around.’

It was almost as if he knew the real reason she had stayed up. But apart from disputing the fact that she was tired, and he would know she lied, there was nothing to do but retire gracefully.

Except that she had no intention of going to bed, or even getting undressed. She would sit and wait—and listen. It was imperative that she talk to Georgios tonight. She couldn’t go on like this, it was driving her crazy.

From beneath her window she heard the low murmur of their voices, but although she strained her ears she could not make out what they said. She wondered whether they were discussing her. Whether Theo was giving his brother strict instructions on no account to admit to knowing her. It was an insane situation—one that she had never envisaged when marrying Georgios three months ago.

When all became silent outside she moved across to the door, and her patience was rewarded when she heard soft footfalls pass her door.

Gingerly she opened it, in time to see a strip of light as two doors closed, but not quick enough to see who had gone into which room. Feeling thoroughly disgruntled, she went back inside and sat down on the bed. Now what?

If she went into the wrong one Theo would guess what she was planning and be extra vigilant in future. And she did not feel she could face him again tonight. Her reaction to his kiss earlier was still sufficiently embarrassing to make her want not to be alone with him again.

But her need to speak to Georgios was stronger than her fear of Theo. She crept out of her room and listened at each of the doors in turn, hoping that the sounds inside would somehow help her distinguish which of the brothers it was. She knew Georgios intimately enough to be able to tell it was him if he coughed or even grunted as he took off his clothes.

What she did not expect was for the door to be opened abruptly. There was no mistaking what she was doing, and she looked defiantly up into Theo’s darkly angry face.

‘As I suspected!’ he spat, and without giving her time to speak he jerked her into the room and closed the door.

‘If you’re hoping to have a quiet chat with my brother, I should forget it.’ He stood with his back to the door, a formidable figure, arms folded across his naked chest, white underpants sitting snugly across narrow hips. His long powerful legs were covered with fine dark hairs, his feet bare.

Miranda found it impossible to tear her eyes away from his superbly muscled body and she was dismayed to discover that he was having a far more electrifying effect on her than Georgios ever had.

Both brothers were handsomely tanned, but Georgios did not have the same excellent physique— or indeed the overpowering virility which made this man superior to anyone else.

Not that he was flaunting his sexuality, far from it. The fact that she had caught him in this state of undress was bad luck so far as she was concerned, but made no difference at all to Theo.

‘Georgios does not want you pestering him. You can gain nothing from it, so why don’t you admit defeat and go?’

Miranda flashed her eyes angrily. ‘That’s what you would like, I know. But the rest of your family have made it clear that I’m welcome. Therefore I shall stay until I’ve got to the bottom of this preposterous cover-up. What you expect to gain out of it, I have no idea. But the fact remains that Georgios is my husband and I intend remaining here until he admits it.’

Theo’s chest lifted as he drew a deep impatient sigh. ‘Miss Martyn, I have not, as you imply, put Georgios up to this. His denial of you came from himself, not me. I am merely giving him my support because Georgios has shown signs of becoming attracted to you. That would be very unfortunate, very unfortunate indeed.’

‘For whom?’ she demanded hotly. ‘Yourself, because you don’t approve of me? I know about your father’s prejudice, but since he’s no longer alive I think Georgios should be allowed to marry whoever he wants. Your mother wouldn’t complain, I’m sure. You’ve all got English blood in you, whether you like it or not.’

He frowned harshly. ‘You think that is my only argument? Really, Miss Martyn, you’re pitiful. My main concern is the tactics you are using. I think they’re disgusting!’

This man certainly believed in pulling no punches! The intensity in those hypnotic bronze eyes virtually cut the ground from beneath her feet. He made her feel about two inches high, but no way was she going to let him get away with it.

‘When are you going to believe that I’m not after money? Is it a mania with you? Do you suspect every person who shows an interest in your family of having an ulterior motive? If you ask me, it’s you who’s to be pitied. I ‑’

‘That is enough!’ he cut in harshly. ‘As a guest in this house you will conduct yourself properly. I will not tolerate insults. If you cannot hold your tongue, then go.’

Realising that he would pick on any excuse to get rid of her, Miranda bit back an angry reply. She had to think of Georgios, and the baby. They were her main concern, even if it meant letting this swine of a man get the better of her. At least she now knew which was her husband's room. She had no intention of giving up. Theo had to sleep; he could not sustain his vigilance all night.

But he was not finished with her yet. ‘Tell me,’ he said, making no attempt to move away from the door, ‘exactly how did you think you were going to make my brother admit he was your husband? No man would be that foolish, unless the girl was a breathtaking beauty, when he might think he was on to a good thing and accept what he could while he could.’

Meaning he did not think she was attractive enough to carry off any such plan! Thanks for nothing, she thought tightly, wishing the sight of his superb body did not bring memories flooding back.

He could do things to her that Georgios was incapable of. He could arouse emotions she had not known she possessed. So why, if she was distinctly unattractive, had he kissed her? Or wasn’t the answer clear? He had simply been proving something to himself, and she—unfortunately—had played right into his hands.

‘Georgios is my husband,’ she cried, hoping she did not look as guilty as she felt. It seemed wrong to stake her claim when her traitorous body was responding to Theo.

She had to get out quickly, but with him guarding the door how was that possible? She didn’t dare go near him for fear of giving herself away.

‘Georgios says no.’ That simple statement called her a liar, and how could she argue when she had no one to back her up? When Theo was so much stronger and was stubborn in his belief that she was after Georgios’s money and nothing else?

‘As you seem to think you know all the answers,’ she said wearily, ‘may I be permitted to return to my room?’

‘But of course.’

His bland smile should have warned her, the way he stepped to one side and opened the door. But she was so relieved to be let out that she skipped past him and into her own room as quickly as her feet would take her. It was not until she heard an ominous click that she realised Theo had followed and locked her in.

Vainly she tried the handle, lips compressed, temper boiling. But unless she wanted to arouse the whole household there was little she could do but concede his victory and get some sleep. Tomorrow she would be older and wiser and ready for any other tricks he might consider playing. How she hated him!

She did not expect to sleep, not with the worry of Georgios’s reaction. But she did and woke just after eight with the sun already high in a cloudless sky and every indication of another gloriously hot day.

After washing and dressing she tested her door and found it open. Eleni was in the dining room, her empty coffee cup in front of her. 'Kalimera,' she said cheerfully. ‘I trust you slept well?’

‘Surprisingly well,’ admitted Miranda. ‘Where are Georgios and Theo?’

‘Already left,’ said Eleni. ‘They’re early risers. You won’t see them for the rest of the day. We’re going exploring, so eat your breakfast and let’s start before it gets too hot.’

Miranda hid her disappointment, not that there was any chance she could have spoken to Georgios alone, and helped herself to fruit juice and a roll which she spread lavishly with butter and honey. The coffee was Greek, so she had more orange juice instead and then pronounced herself ready.

Like Eleni she wore fiat sandals and shorts with a strapless top, but she popped a cotton blouse into her bag in case she needed to cover up. With her fair skin she had to be careful not to get too much sun too quickly, or she ended up looking like a lobster and feeling absolutely raw.

She envied Eleni’s dark complexion, feeling pale and uninteresting as they climbed the mountain. She enquired how Mrs Alexidis was and tried not to mention Georgios with every other word—difficult, when he was uppermost in her mind, and even more impossible when Eleni could not forget last night’s conversation.

‘I can’t get over the fact that Georgios is your husband’s double. It must have given you quite a start.’

‘The biggest shock was when he didn’t recognise me,’ admitted Miranda.

‘It must have been,’ agreed Eleni. 'I should think the odds against anything like that happening are very high. But why do you call yourself Miss Martyn?’

Miranda shrugged. ‘It’s my maiden name, and much easier to pronounce.’ And also it was Theo who had insisted upon it.

‘But you are also afraid that the news might reach your husband that you are on your way, and that would spoil your surprise? Is that it?’ Eleni looked quite pleased with herself for having worked this out, and did not wait for Miranda’s answer before continuing, ‘Where did you meet him?'

‘In England,’ she replied, relieved that here was one question she could answer truthfully.

‘And is this your first visit to his home? Why did he leave you behind?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Miranda frankly. ‘It’s what I intend finding out.’

‘So things are not all as they should be between you? I’m sorry. I do hope that everything goes well. Meanwhile I can’t describe how pleased I am that you have agreed to spend a few days with us first. It will give you an insight into Greek life. I’m not going too fast, am I?’

The gradient was steep and Eleni strode effortlessly. Miranda on the other hand found it difficult to keep up, her legs already aching with the unaccustomed exertion.

They spent all morning on the hillside. Miranda was impressed with the temple and could easily see why it had been turned into a shrine. The stone had split to form a deep fissure. Inside it widened out and a flat slab formed a perfect altar, the roof arched above, looking for all the world as though it had been carved by hand, though Eleni assured her it was a natural formation. A lighted candle, set in a bronze holder, illuminated a colourful icon of one of Greece’s numerous saints.

From their vantage point they could see across the sparkling blue-green Ionian Sea to Corfu, its sickle shape clearly visible. ‘I love Corfu,’ said Eleni, ‘especially the Achilleion—that’s a casino. I would play there every night if I could, but Theo does not approve, so I have to sneak away when I can.’

‘Theo is a very hard man,’ stated Miranda.

Eleni shrugged. ‘He feels it is his duty to look after me because I am the youngest. But if you get a chance you should go to the Achilleion Palace. Some people say it is the ugliest building in the whole of Greece. It’s surrealistic, I suppose. It was built for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the late eighteen-hundreds. It has statues outside and beautiful gardens, and inside there are pictures on the ceilings and mirrored walls and all sorts of elaborate frescoes. It is popular with the tourists, but also a lot of Corfu’s own people play for very high stakes. I find it tremendously exciting.’

She was a girl with a very strong will, decided Miranda. In a lot of ways like Theo. Only Georgios did not possess that strength of character that was the Alexidis inheritance.

Even so, it was only when compared to his immediate family that the weakness showed up. And they couldn’t all be the same. She loved him for what he was. It didn’t matter if he failed to come up to the Alexidises’ high standards. She had married him, not his family.

They went home for lunch, passing on the way a white-bearded priest in a black robe and an old woman also in black who accompanied a donkey-pulled cart laden with olives. Eleni knew them both and paused for a few quick words spoken in their native Greek.

‘They are curious as to who my golden-haired companion is,’ she laughed. ‘But I kept your secret. We don’t want your husband finding out and coming here after you before you’re ready. Not that I don’t want you to go to him, but I am selfish, I also want you here with me.’

After they had eaten they went to their rooms, and although Miranda had been sure she would not be able to conform to the tradition of an afternoon siesta, her climb had tired her out to such an extent that she fell immediately asleep. She did not wake until Katie knocked and entered, informing her in broken English that Mrs Alexidis would like her company for an hour before dinner. So the woman did know the language, even if she sometimes refused to speak it!

As she showered and dressed Miranda wondered whether the two men had returned. She cursed herself for sleeping so deeply. It could be that she had missed an opportunity for talking to Georgios.

She found Mrs Alexidis’s room without difficulty and the next hour passed pleasantly, only spoiled when Theo came in to enquire where his mother would be having dinner.

‘In here tonight,’ she said at once. ‘It was too much for me, unfortunately. But it will be nice for you young people to be together.’

When Miranda left the room he accompanied her. ‘My mother is quite taken with you,’ he said, as they made their way towards the drawing room for their usual aperitif.

‘I get on with most people,’ admitted Miranda— except him! He was the first man she had met who had taken a positive dislike to her. It was not a pleasant feeling, more especially as he was Georgios’s brother and she would have preferred his approval.

‘Is it your honest face, do you think? Or your fragile appearance? You look like a delicate hothouse flower. How many people, I wonder, have seen the ruthless core that runs through you? The coldly calculating little mind that has worked out a devious plan that has not got a cat in hell’s chance of succeeding?’

The mockery in his voice made Miranda stiffen with rage and it was all she could do to keep her voice level. ‘Fortunately I’ve not met many people who have your nasty suspicious mind. I normally make friends easily and have never before been accused of being a gold-digger.’

‘Once, if you trap the right man, would be enough,’ Theo returned smoothly.

Miranda was glad they had reached the drawing room where Eleni already sipped her ouzo, clinking cubes of ice as she swirled it around her glass, a burnt-orange satin dress complementing her black hair and tanned skin.

Again Miranda had been forced to wear a summer dress, and she wondered whether she ought to ask Eleni to take her somewhere to buy a couple of evening dresses. She felt so out of place.

‘Come and sit down.’ Eleni patted the couch beside her.

Miranda scanned the room before obliging, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Theo. ‘My brother is not here tonight.’ He looked inordinately pleased. ‘He is in Athens with Phrosini and Dimitrios, my eldest sister and her husband.’

She could not believe that Georgios would do this to her, unless it had been at the insistence of Theo— another way of keeping them apart! It was difficult to restrain herself, and completely impossible to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

Eleni said, ‘Poor Miranda! I think she sees Georgios as a substitute for her husband. You’d better be careful, Georgios already has ‑’

‘Your drink, Miranda,’ said Theo sharply, cutting his sister off mid-sentence, and flashing her a dark warning glance, which Miranda would have had to be blind not to see.

‘Georgios already has what?’ she enquired hastily, wondering what Theo did not want her to know. When neither answered she looked directly at the girl sitting next to her. ‘Eleni, what were you going to say?’

‘That Georgios had already shown an interest in you,’ said Theo for her.

Miranda did not believe him. If he had stopped Eleni why had he given her the information himself? There had to be something else, but what?

‘So you see,’ said Eleni softly, ‘it is better that Georgios stays away. You are already married, it would do neither of you any good to see too much of each other.’

‘In fact it would be better all round if you went,’ said Theo coolly.

Miranda felt trapped. She looked first at Eleni, seeing the compassion in her eloquent brown eyes, and then at Theo. Hardness only was reflected there—not that she had expected anything else. He was doing his utmost to get rid of her, and if keeping Georgios away was the only method of accomplishing it, then this was what he would do.

‘No!’ protested Eleni. ‘I am enjoying her company. She’ll want to go soon enough and if Georgios stays in Athens there’ll be no problem. He likes it with Phrosini, and when Dimitrios is away he is company for her.’

But without Georgios here, what was the point in staying? Miranda stared blankly into space, feeling desolate, wondering if there was any way of extracting Georgios’s address from Eleni without Theo knowing.

She took a sip of her drink and almost choked when she discovered it was neat ouzo. Smiling grimly, Theo produced a jug of water. He looked pleased with himself, and had it not been for the presence of his sister, Miranda would have derived much pleasure from slinging the contents of her glass into his face.

It was an effort to act as though nothing was wrong during the meal. She tried to eat, but left most of it on her plate. ‘It must be the heat,’ she smiled apologetically when Eleni commented on her not eating.

‘Or because you’re missing your husband?’ grinned the girl slyly.

How true that was! And how easy it was to admit it. 'I am, I think I might go tomorrow after all.'

Eleni looked rueful. 'I was afraid of that. But if you must then Theo can take you in his helicopter, Salamis is only minutes away from Athens. It will be no trouble to him.'

Miranda saw Theo’s quick frown. ‘Salamis?' he asked abruptly.

"That’s where Miranda’s husband lives, didn't you know?' Eleni looked surprised. ‘You will take her, won’t you?'

He gave Miranda a long hard look before saying grimly, ‘It will be my pleasure.' And she knew that he saw this as a heaven-sent opportunity to put her on the first plane back to England. He would make sure she never met Georgios again.

‘I shan’t go early,’ she said quickly, 'don't worry about me, I can make my own way.' Because first of all she had to discover Georgios’s address. Without this information there was no point in going.

Soon after that Eleni went to bed pleading a headache. 'Theo will look after you,' she said to Miranda with a smile. ‘His bark’s really far worse than his bite. I’ll see you in the morning.'

For once -Miranda was glad to be alone with him, there was plenty she had to say to Theo Alexidis. She could hardly wait for the door to close before she began her attack. ‘I’m getting a little bit tired of this ridiculous game. Forcing Georgios to stay in Athens is about the most childish trick you could think of!’

‘Forcing?’ His face gave nothing away, but there was a hint of steel in his voice which told her she was treading on dangerous ground. ‘Georgios likes staying with Phrosini. He often does. I can assure you that there is no ulterior motive behind his being there now.'

‘No?’ Miranda allowed her brows to shoot up questioningly, widening her expressive eyes, so that they were two green ovals in the paleness of her face. ‘I’m quite sure that if I wasn’t here he would have come home with you, or should I say, you would have allowed him to come home with you. You have a very strong hold over your brother, Mr Alexidis. I don’t like it.’

‘Because it stops you from having your own way?’ The cool smile fired Miranda’s smouldering temper. ‘Because you’re not allowing Georgios to lead a life of his own. He’s a man—he’s twenty-five! He doesn’t need a keeper. But what’s even more important, he’s my husband—and I want him!’

Her anger amused him and his lips curved, although the smile did not reach his eyes. ‘If Georgios returned your sentiments he would surely be here now? You leave me in no doubt, Miss Martyn, that this whole thing is in your mind only.’

‘And because you’ve got it in your mind that I’m a little no-gooder you refuse to believe anything else!’ Green eyes blazed into bronze. Their chairs were feet apart, yet Miranda felt the impact of him as surely as if he was touching her. A shiver ran through her as recollections of the kiss that had melted her bones returned with full force. There was no denying that Theo was the most physically exciting man she had ever met.

He was raping her now with his eyes, implying that because Georgios was not here to satisfy her natural urges he would be more than pleased to oblige.

She felt stricken with guilt that she should feel even a mild interest in him, let alone this pulsing sensation that throbbed along each and every nerve. What was wrong with her? Why did this older Alexidis affect her more deeply, more potently, than Georgios ever had?

Her mouth felt suddenly dry and she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips, realising that if she did not snap out of this peculiar half-hypnotic state she would lose her battle before it had begun.

‘I think, Miranda,’ he said, using her name for the first time, ‘that you’re in a very confused state of mind.’

True! But it was all his doing. There was no confusion over the fact that Georgios was her husband. The only confusion was her feelings for this undeniably attractive man.

‘And I think, Mr Alexidis, that you’re deliberately attempting to confuse me.’

‘Try Theo,’ he said pleasantly. ‘Then perhaps you’ll feel more kindly disposed.’

‘Never!’ Miranda shook her head violently, her fine hair flying in a cloud of gold about her face. ‘I shall never forgive you for what you’re doing!’

‘It is in your own interests.’

The mild voice did not fool her. He was being nice now because he thought she was going. Little did he know how stubborn she could be when the need arose. Until she had spoken to Georgios, without the presence of this hateful man, she intended remaining. Not here on Salamyndros, but somewhere where Theo wouldn’t find her.

‘I think, Mr Alexidis,’ she said coldly, ‘that the only interests you are concerned with are your own. You pretend to be concerned about Georgios, you make a show of protecting him from little money-grabbers like me. In actual fact you’re merely concerned with what it would do to your image—what you think it would do. Fancy allowing Georgios to marry a penniless English girl! Is that what you’re frightened of hearing? Would people think you were failing in your duty? That you weren’t capable of managing the family on the same strict lines that your father did?’

His lips firmed angrily, looking as though they might have been chiselled out of granite. His eyes assumed that brittle hardness that gave them the appearance of polished jet. He was again that man of stone.

‘Insolence does not become you, Miss Martyn, nor will I tolerate it under my roof.’

She glared. ‘If you were more kindly disposed towards me, my reactions would be different. I can’t meekly submit to being called a gold-digger when there’s not a shred of truth in it. If you would only let me speak to Georgios we could sort things out. I did marry him, you must believe that!’ Her liquid eyes were wide and pleading. ‘Perhaps he didn’t tell you? Perhaps he was afraid to tell you, knowing what your reaction would be. Why don’t you let us all get together and talk it over? I’m not after Georgios’s money. I love him, I really do.’ And I’m going to have his baby, she added silently. But that, for the moment, was her secret.

Theo looked at her for several long, heart-stopping seconds. Again Miranda felt the electric vitality of him, the powerful waves that were reaching across and binding her to him. When her heart began again it was loud and painful, like a hammer inside her ribs, echoing deafeningly in her ears.

‘You claim to love my brother,’ he said slowly, his voice low and sensual, ‘but your response to me yesterday told me otherwise. I think, Miranda, you’re in love with the idea of being in love. I think that Georgios is a picture-image. He fulfils your idea of the perfect lover. But is he capable of giving you that love? That is what you must ask yourself.’

‘Would he have married me if he wasn’t?’ Miranda clenched her fists tightly in her lap, wondering how she could make this man accept the truth.

‘Georgios says he has never met you.’

‘Because you told him to,’ she snapped.

‘I have put no words into my brother’s mouth. Whatever he says to you is what he firmly believes to be the truth.’

‘So what you’re saying is that I’m lying?’

‘Like you lied about Salamis,’ he snapped. ‘Was there any need for it?’

Miranda looked at him impatiently. ‘Eleni worked it out that way. She thought I’d mistaken Salamyndros for Salamis, thanks to you telling her I’d got lost, and deduced that Georgios had a double there who was my husband.’

‘Which you didn’t dispute?’

‘We were with your mother at the time,’ she returned sharply. ‘I thought it best to go along with that story until I’d spoken to Georgios.’

‘Yes, Georgios!’ he said wearily. ‘But I don’t intend to spend the whole evening arguing about your supposed relationship with Georgios. Since you’re leaving tomorrow I should like to make your last hours here pleasurable ones. I should hate you to harbour harsh thoughts about the Alexidis family.’

‘Not the whole family, just you,’ returned Miranda bitterly. ‘I never thought it possible to loathe a person so much!’

There was nothing on his face to suggest that her words hurt, but there was a stillness about him that was more frightening than any show of anger.

The only sound in the room was the ticking of a French clock on the mantelpiece, and the uneven beat of her own heart. It was impossible to drag her eyes away from his face, even though his piercing stare unnerved her.

The magnetic quality of the man was amazing. He had the uncanny ability of being able to command your full attention without saying a word. Even when he rose and walked towards her, she was still unable to look away.

When he stood over her her chin automatically lifted, and when he held out his hands she put hers into them so that he could pull her to her feet.

It was a mistake, and had she been in control of her senses she would never have made it. The tingling sensation that ran up her arms reminded her all too vividly of her total response to him yesterday, and she asked herself for the hundredth time how she could react like this when it was Georgios she loved.

There was no denying the fact that she was confused, and it became more important than ever that she talk with Georgios and sort out this whole puzzling affair.

Once she was standing Theo let her go, but the damage had been done. Miranda’s entire body reacted to his nearness, to the virile male animal sheathed in this exciting, powerful body. Her pulses raced in response to his total dominance and she stood submissively waiting for his next move.

‘I am tempted to make you change your mind. It is not a pleasant feeling when a woman tells you that she hates you. In fact I cannot recollect ever having it said to me before.’

The spell was broken by his words. The feelings were still there, quivering emotions, and an awareness of his ability to destroy any defensive shield she erected, but she was temporarily in control of herself.

‘Possibly because most girls would have their eyes on your money which would blind them to the hard, ruthless man you are,’ she said coldly. ‘I have no interest in your riches, therefore I can quite clearly see the man that lies beneath the surface charm. I’m not impressed.’

‘You’re not giving yourself chance to find out.’ His hands fell heavily on her shoulders, moving down her arms, gripping them firmly, imprisoning them at her sides.

‘I don’t want to. I have no interest in you. You’re Georgios’s brother, and as such I am forced to accept you, but that doesn’t mean I have to like you. I shall tolerate you, for his sake, and your mother, whom I like very much, but that’s as far as it will go.’

Theo drew in a swift breath. ‘You talk as though you are already a member of the family! It is not so, Miss Martyn, and you would do well to remember it.’ The pressure of his fingers increased until she felt as though her bones would snap.

What was the point in arguing when he persistently refused to accept the fact that she and Georgios were married? ‘I’d like to go to bed,’ she said quietly. ‘Please release me.’

‘You don’t mean that.’ There was a smile now on his lips, although his fingers had by no means relaxed. ‘Your body responds to me, even though your tongue denies it. You want me to kiss you, Miranda, why don’t you admit it?’ His eyes gleamed wickedly as he lowered his head, and she knew there was no escape.

CHAPTER FIVE

It was two in the morning, yet Miranda was wide awake. Sleep had never been farther away. Her body still vibrated with sensation. Theo’s kiss had left her hungering for more. She was appalled and ashamed of the feelings he was able to arouse and could not imagine why she responded with such treacherous abandon.

It made a mockery of her love for Georgios, unless it was possible to maintain an emotional love at the same time as she experienced this physical attraction towards his brother.

Even now she could feel Theo’s lips over hers, moving expertly until he felt the beginning of her response. Then his kiss had deepened until he possessed her mouth completely and she was arching her body against him, clamouring for more.

The taste of him was still on her mouth, the musky odour of his skin still teased her nostrils, and she moved sensually beneath the sheets imagining his arms around her, the feel of those strong-boned limbs pressing against her soft responsive body.

She touched her breasts where his hands had cupped their fullness, and gave a soft moan in the darkness. ‘Why are you doing this to me, Theo?’ she asked silently. But even as she put the question she knew the answer. It was his way of telling her that she was not in love with Georgios. That she never had been, nor ever would be. He was spoiling her for any other man, because who could possibly match up to him?

What would he say, she wondered, if he knew about the baby? There would be no point then in him attempting to lure her away from Georgios. Her hands moved to her stomach. It was perfectly flat now, but in a few weeks there would be no disguising the fact that she was pregnant.

She must talk to Georgios. She must put an end to this unrealistic situation once and for all. Tomorrow— no, today, Theo was taking her to Athens in his helicopter, where he would put her on a plane for London. He had told her this before they came to bed. He knew her idea was to find Georgios, although he had not said it in so many words. She had to find a way of escaping him.

Katie woke her early and she guessed Theo had sent the maid in, even though he had declared there was no hurry, that he would wait all day if necessary.

Her limbs were heavy as she dragged herself out of bed, but as she stood beneath the refreshing jets of the shower, lathering her body with the pink expensively perfumed soap, she experienced again the sensations which Theo’s hands and lips had aroused.

It made her all the more reluctant to face him this morning. She had revealed too much of her inner self, had given away the fact that she was responsive to his touch, that he had the ability to make her feel deliciously feminine in his arms. She had in fact made a perfect fool of herself. She decided to go and see his mother first, before Theo reduced her to yet another state of quivering nerves.

In readiness for her departure she put on a cream linen suit and a moss-green blouse, the collar of which was hand-stitched in cream to match the skirt and jacket. Mrs Alexidis looked surprised to see her in this more formal style of dress. ‘You’re not leaving us already?’

For once Miranda could speak the truth. ‘I must find my husband.'

‘Ah, yes, Eleni told me you were married. You naughty girl, keeping it a secret!’ But she was not cross, more amused. ‘Is it to someone we know, I wonder? We have lived in these islands for many years. There are not many people who we do not know. I’ve been trying to think who lives on Salamis. It’s not one of the Angelopoulou family, is it? They have several sons of marriageable age.’

Miranda shook her head, inwardly squirming. ‘I’d rather keep it to myself—until we’re reunited. I hope you don’t think I’m being rude, but it is very important to me.’

‘I understand.’ The thin blue-veined hands restlessly plucked the folds of the Greek woman’s skirt. ‘It upsets me when a marriage does not work out. I think it is perhaps because the two people do not work hard enough to understand each other, and you, my child, would need to work harder than most. Marrying into a Greek family is not the easiest of things. I believe my grandmother had the greatest difficulty in getting herself accepted. Naturally in those days it was worse. No one today would condemn such a marriage. The essential thing is that no member brings shame or dishonour to their family group.’

It was almost as though she knew, as though she was trying to tell her something. Miranda felt distinctly uncomfortable and glanced apprehensively into her face. ‘I want to patch up my marriage, Mrs Alexidis, more than anything else. Thank you for having me here, and I hope I will see you again one day.’

The thin smile was brave, her back ramrod straight. ‘I wish for you what I wish my own children— particularly Georgios.’

There was no hint on her face that she meant anything by these last two whispered words, and Miranda hadn’t the nerve to ask. The whole set-up was peculiar, and the sooner she got to the bottom of it the better.

It was not until she reached the breakfast room and joined Eleni and Theo that she realised her hands were trembling. She responded to their joint, 'Kalimera,' with a, ‘Good morning,’ of her own, pouring herself a glass of fruit juice, glancing nervously at Theo from beneath her lashes when she spilled some on to the tablecloth.

A satisfied smile hovered about his lips. ‘You slept well, I hope!’

Miranda eyed him resentfully, noting how his blue denim-look shirt faithfully followed the muscular curves of his chest against which she had been crushed last night. She had felt the strong beat of his heart, had known what it was like to feel the power in that body flow through to her. And now this morning he was mocking her, knowing full well that she had slept hardly at all.

‘I have much on my mind.’

‘Worrying about your husband, I expect?’ Eleni fixed her wide brown eyes on Miranda. ‘I hope things turn out all right. You must bring him here to meet us.’

‘I will come back,’ said Miranda confidently, glancing obliquely at Theo. As she expected there was a glacial hardness to his eyes and the usual deadpan expression on his face. ‘And bring my husband.’

There was no flicker of emotion to suggest that her last, almost defiant, words had had any effect on him, though she felt quite sure that he must think it an ambiguous statement. So far as he was concerned, she was leaving the islands today. There would be no opportunity for her to see Georgios again.

‘We’ll have a party to celebrate if you do.’ Eleni looked excited. ‘It’s about time we had some new faces here. Has your husband any brothers?’

‘That will do, Eleni!’ Theo’s curt tones were meant to cut his sister down to size. ‘I trust you’re not still looking for suitable husband material? Nikos is waiting only for you to say the word.’

‘Nikos, pooh!’ declared Eleni strongly. ‘I don’t want to marry Nikos, and you know it.’

Theo treated her to a hard stare that made Miranda tremble even watching. ‘There is no man more suited than Nikos. And he loves you. There is no reason why you should not be happy together.’

Eleni was not daunted by her brother’s attitude. ‘Would you marry a woman you did not love?’

‘My feelings do not enter into it,’ he returned harshly. But it made Miranda wonder why he had not married. Perhaps there was no woman who could put up with his arrogance? He would be a difficult man to live with. He would be very much the head of the household, making all the decisions, and expecting no one, not even his wife, to question them.

Not like her Georgios. He had been content to let her choose their house and the furniture. She had even done all the arranging for the wedding. It had not struck her as odd at the time, it had been a labour of love. But looking back, it did emphasis the flaw in Georgios’s character. There was not one occasion when she had suggested something that he had not immediately and willingly agreed. He was as different from Theo as it was possible for two brothers to be. Even now he was under Theo’s influence, afraid to admit that he had for once made up his own mind, and got married.

‘And because I’m a mere woman I’m supposed to have no feelings,’ Eleni continued. ‘I’m supposed to meekly accept everything that has been arranged for me. You’re behind the times, Theo. I’m going to pick my own husband and you can do nothing about it.’

‘It was Father’s wish,’ said Theo firmly, ‘and I have every intention of carrying on as he would have wanted.’

Eleni clamped her lips, but her eyes were wide and hostile, and Miranda knew that she had no intention of giving in easily. She had simply realised that arguing with Theo would get her nowhere. Once he had an idea fixed in his mind nothing or no one would alter it.

She drank her orange juice and tasted a loukoumas, which was a kind of doughnut smothered in honey, but it was not her idea of breakfast, so she settled for a croissant with butter instead. There was instant coffee this morning, as well as the thick black stuff Theo and his sister drank, and she treated herself to a second cup, all the time wondering how she was going to get the better of Theo when his sister could not.

There was no way she was going to go back to England without seeing Georgios, but exactly how she was going to manage it, she had no idea.

Then Theo had an urgent call from his office. There was a sudden crisis that only he could deal with. ‘Are you ready?’ he asked abruptly. ‘I must leave at once.’

Which meant he wouldn’t have time to see her on to a plane! Or would he? Would he delegate the job to someone else? It would be far better to make her own way, she thought quickly.

She widened her eyes and shook her head. ‘I’ve not packed.’

‘In that case, I’ll come back for you once I’ve sorted this lot out.’

He left immediately, and a few minutes later Miranda heard the unmistakable throb of the helicopter’s engine and saw the giant bird soar away across the sea.

‘Sometimes I hate Theo,’ said Eleni vehemently. ‘Father was a hard man, none of us dared cross him, and Theo’s just as bad. I pity the poor woman he ever marries! My mother never complained, but she put up with a lot. Father ruled her the same as he ruled us kids. Theo’s wife will need to be a very strong woman if she doesn’t want her life made a misery.’

Miranda smiled. ‘You said that you were looking for a man like Theo to marry. Have you changed your mind?’

Eleni shrugged and pulled a wry face. ‘Maybe I ought to marry Nikos after all. He does love me, I know, and I could do worse. But how would you like to be told that you’d got to marry someone? I want to choose for myself.’

‘And would you have picked Nikos had the choice been yours?’

‘I might,’ grinned Eleni self-consciously. ‘He’s very charming and very eager to set the date. It amuses me, though, to keep him in suspense. I suppose one day I will marry him, but why should Theo feel he has to lay down the law?’

‘Would you have defied your father?’

Eleni shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t have dared. And Phrosini and Cleo are quite happy in their marriages, so I’ve no doubt I will be too. Our husbands are chosen very carefully.’

‘I suppose,’ said Miranda thoughtfully, ‘that in such cases you fall in love after you’ve married, which is not a bad idea. I fell in love before, and it seems to have gone wrong.’ And because of Theo there had been no chance so far of sorting it out.

‘I’m sure it will have a happy ending,’ said Eleni. ‘Aren’t you disappointed that Theo’s gone without you and you won’t be seeing your husband as soon as you thought?’

Miranda smiled secretly and shook her head. ‘Actually, I’d prefer to make my own way there. I need time to think.’

‘And with my handsome brother at your side he would take your mind off your husband?’ said Eleni impishly. ‘Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at him.’

Miranda shot her a startled glance. She had not realised that in her unguarded moments she had given away the strong attraction she felt for Theo. ‘You’re mistaken. I can’t stand him. That’s why I didn’t want him to take me. To tell you the truth, I’m packed, but this was a beautiful opportunity to get out of it.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Eleni. ‘It was my idea. I never realised. I’ll ask Petros if he’ll drive you down to the village—there’s sure to be someone there who’ll take you across to Corfu on their boat. Oh, and just in case things don’t turn out the way you want, here’s Phrosini’s address. If you’re stranded she’ll be delighted to put you up.’

Miranda could not contain her delight as she took the slip of paper. It was all working far better than she expected.

She fetched her case while Eleni found Petros, but when she went outside she discovered that Theo had left instructions with the boy not to take her anywhere. Nor was he to let her have the Land Rover herself.

'I guess there’s nothing you can do but wait for his return,’ said Eleni matter-of-factly. ‘I’ve promised to sit with Mother for an hour now, so I’ll see you later.’

But Miranda had no intention of hanging around waiting. Once Theo had her in his clutches she would be home in England before she knew it.

She took her case to her room, sorted out a pair of comfortable walking shoes and repacked a few overnight things in a large handbag. With a bit of luck she would be back here with Georgios tomorrow.

Feeling a bit like a criminal she let herself quietly out of the house, glad the long journey would be downhill most of the way. It got hotter and hotter as she walked, a humid kind of heat that took every ounce of energy and caused her clothes to stick uncomfortably to her skin.

But it was not until she came to a break in the olive trees that she discovered the sun was nothing more than a pale hazy disc, and the sky more grey than blue.

It was stiflingly hot and all around yellow stormclouds had gathered. Miranda began to regret the impulse that had driven her to try and leave Salamyndros alone, and sat for a moment on a tuft of grass, aware of a mild panic creating havoc in her stomach.

The question was whether to go back or soldier on hoping she would reach the village before the storm broke. It was nearer to the villa, but it was uphill and already the sticky heat had sapped her energy. Besides, once at the villa it was doubtful she would get away again.

In the far distance came the low rumble of thunder, accompanied by brilliant flashes of lighting. Black clouds appeared on the horizon, even the birds stopped singing. There was a silence which was all the more terrifying because she did not know what to expect.

She searched the sky for signs of Theo’s helicopter, surprised to feel concern that he might get caught in the storm. Except that it was too soon for him to come back. And wouldn’t a man like him be aware of the weather anyway? He would not attempt the flight if he thought a storm was brewing.

With a deep sense of foreboding she made herself get up and continue her downward course. She half ran in her haste, only slowing after she had fallen a couple of times. Breaking her leg would get her nowhere.

Through the silver leaves of the olives she caught glimpses of the sea that was no longer an inviting blue. There was a line of clear sky on the horizon, but above that, and getting nearer, were the heavy rain clouds.

She quickened her steps as much as she dared, but there was still a long way to go. In the Land Rover it had not seemed far, on foot the journey was endless and fear of the approaching storm made it worse.

Perversely Miranda blamed Theo. If he hadn’t made Georgios stay with Phrosini there would have been no need for any of this. By now everything would have been sorted out.

After covering a further few hundred yards Miranda sat down again. She had a clear view of the Ionian Sea and watched in fascination as the surface was whipped into a frenzy of white-topped waves.

There was no hope now of reaching the village. She might as well sit it out here. The olives would afford some protection, and once the storm had passed her clothes would soon dry. She would look a mess, but that could not be helped.

She became hypnotised by the spread of clear sky in the distance, and the dense black clouds growing ever nearer, but until her teeth started chattering she did not realised how cold it had become.

All the time the thunder rumbled, growing louder by the second—and then the rains came. The first drops touching the olive leaves caused them to shiver and tremble, but as it increased to a torrential downpour they became bowed with the weight.

Miranda was soaked in seconds, the leafy branches giving no protection at all. The lightening and thunder, now directly above, made her cover her head with her hands and close her eyes.

She was not afraid of storms, but this was like nothing she had ever experienced. To be alone in the middle of it, in a strange land as well, was the most terrifying experience of her life.

And then another sound joined the claps of thunder and constant drum of rain. A different kind of rumble. She lifted her head and listened. It came from higher up the mountain slope.

Looking in the direction of the noise, she was horrified to see that a whole section of the hillside had come away and was sliding with ever-increasing speed towards her.

Even as she watched several of the smaller stones bounced at her feet. For a few terrified seconds she was incapable of moving, fascinated by the sight of great boulders bouncing down the hill. Some were arrested by the trunks of trees, other heavier ones pushed everything out of their way.

Miranda cried out and shot into action, running for her life along the now treacherously slippery mountain track. The rain blinded her and her own heartbeats deafened her.

When her foot caught in a pothole she was flung forward on to her face. Instinctively she covered her head with her hands, bracing herself for the inevitable shower of stones on her body.

She could hear them, but none touched her, and when she dared to look she had escaped by mere inches a boulder large enough to crush her. It had stopped on the track, caught by two sturdy trees at the roadside. Miranda shuddered at the thought of her narrow escape, but was more concerned that she might have harmed the baby than herself.

Not until she tried to stand, though, did she discover she had hurt her ankle. The cold and wet had numbed it and until she put her weight on it and felt agonising pains shoot up her leg she did not realise it was injured.

She sat down and nursed it between her hands. Already it was swelling at an alarming rate and clearly she would not be able to walk—at least not without a great deal of suffering. What a situation to get herself into, particularly when she was desperate to avoid Theo!

The storm stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The clouds disappeared as if by magic and the sky became a clear innocent blue. Steam rose from the earth as it dried beneath the powerful heat of the sun. Birds twittered in the tree-tops.

But the beauty of it all escaped Miranda. The important issue was—what was she going to do? If she managed to get down to the village there was no way that she could make it to Athens. Going back to the villa would be a feat in itself.

As she deliberated she heard a helicopter and watched as the tiny object drew near enough for her to see its red and white markings. Theo! Home already!

He disappeared round the side of the mountain, and she knew that it would not be long before he came looking for her.

In fact it was only minutes when she heard the Land Rover being driven much too fast down the mountainside. Several times it skidded as he braked to avoid fallen rocks. She had visions of him careering off the track and following the course of the boulders.

Mentally she crossed her fingers for his safety, then wondered why she should care about him. Wasn’t it his fault this had happened? In a flash of wry humour she wondered whether he was Zeus in disguise, creating this storm to deliberately stop her getting to Georgios.

He screeched to a halt a couple of yards away from her and leapt out. ‘What in thunder’s name do you think you are playing at? You could have got yourself killed!’

‘Was I expected to know there was going to be a storm?’ Her voice was rebellious, but inside she was pleased to see him. An odd feeling of excitement coursed through her as she looked up at the harsh angular lines of his face.

Exactly what it was about him that made her feel this sexual awareness, she did not know. Even when he was furious, perhaps even more so when he was in this frame of mind, she experienced a peculiar reaction that she had never felt for Georgios. It worried and disturbed her, yet there was nothing she could do about it.

‘You look a mess,’ he said coldly. ‘And what the hell are you doing sitting there?’ His fingers closed about her wrist and he yanked her to her feet. ‘You didn’t really think you’d get the better of me?’

Miranda winced as she put her foot to the ground, instinctively clutching at Theo. He frowned abruptly when he saw her swollen ankle. A stream of Greek followed, and the next moment she was in his arms.

She felt oddly vulnerable as his compelling maleness threatened to overwhelm her. His hands were firm and strong as they moulded her to him, and she wrapped her arms about his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt weak and slightly sick, and the pain in her ankle started to spread up her leg.

But Theo was strong and dependable, and pressed against the rock-hardness of his chest she felt the ripple of muscle as he carried her to the Land Rover, stepping with effortless ease over the boulder which could have knocked her senseless, but had fortunately missed.

He was surprisingly gentle when he eased off her shoe and examined her ankle. ‘I don’t think there’s anything broken,’ he said brusquely, ‘but it’s badly wrenched. You certainly won’t be able to walk on it for a few days.’ Miranda’s eyes widened in dismay and Theo smiled humourlessly. ‘I thought you might see it as a blessing in disguise.’

‘Why should that be?’ she snapped. ‘I came here to talk to Georgios. There’s no point in staying with him away.’

‘I’ll say one thing for you.’ His smouldering bronze eyes studied her face disturbingly. ‘You’re sticking to your story. I thought by now you’d have given up and realised there was no point in hankering after the unobtainable.’

‘All I want is a chance to speak to him alone,’ she declared stoutly. ‘I’m sure that’s not asking the impossible?’

He took a clean handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around her swollen ankle. Despite the pain Miranda was not immune to him, every nerve-end prickled with anticipation and she felt an insane urge to fling her arms about his neck again and pull that undeniably attractive face close. She wanted to feel his lips on hers, to experience that electric vitality that made her feel more alive than she ever had in her life.

But Theo gave no indication that he was aware of her disturbed feelings. He worked calmly and efficiently, not answering until he had finished. ‘Georgios has no inclination to speak to you—at least not along the lines you are suggesting. He finds you attractive, but so do I. As for you and he developing a deeper relationship, I am afraid that is impossible.’

He lowered her leg carefully and Miranda eased herself to face the front of the vehicle, feeling strangely bereft now that he was no longer touching her. ‘I can’t see why it’s so impossible,’ she said tightly, but her mind was more concerned with the fact that Theo had admitted to finding her attractive. It meant nothing and yet it meant everything.

She recalled Sallianne emphasising that it was her femininity that had drawn Georgios to her, not a genuine love that would have seen beauty even in the ugliest woman. He had seen her as someone who was sexually attractive—and Theo was following the same pattern. These two Alexidis men desired her—but did not see her as the type they could settle down with.

It was not a nice feeling, and she hoped she was wrong so far as Georgios was concerned. Theo could go to hell, he didn’t matter. Her feelings for him were no more or less than the ones he felt for her. A mutual attraction of the sexes, that was all. With Georgios it was a different matter. She had married him for better, for worse. He could not walk out on her like this, she would not let him.

Theo climbed in beside her and with his usual expertise manoeuvred the Land Rover until it faced back up the hill. ‘Are you all right?’ He glanced at her pale face with what looked like genuine concern, thought she could not believe that he really cared.

She nodded, lips compressed, trying to ignore the waves of nausea that swept over her. The pain caused beads of sweat to film her upper lip and she put her head back and closed her eyes.

Theo drove carefully, but the rutted track made the vehicle jolt and lurch, each movement causing fresh agony. The journey was short, making Miranda realise that she had not walked very far after all. She would never have made it to the village.

At the villa Eleni came running out. ‘Miranda, I had no idea you’d tried to walk. That storm! You must have been terrified. Oh, heavens, you’re hurt! What happened?’

Miranda grimaced. ‘I fell and twisted my ankle.’

‘You’d better send for the doctor,’ said Theo curtly. ‘I don’t think there’s anything broken, but it’s pretty bad.’

As he carried her indoors that undeniable awareness assailed Miranda again. It made her forget the pain, forget everything except this man’s power over her. She felt herself crushed against his angular body and breathed in the intoxicating male smell of him.

He took her straight up to her room, where Katie, already alerted by Eleni, waited to help. The normally dour woman tutted in sympathy when she saw the state Miranda was in, shooing Theo out and immediately stripping off her wet and muddied clothes.

Within minutes Miranda was clean and in bed, but she felt far from well and was relieved to be able to lie down and close her eyes.

The doctor came surprisingly quickly, and after his visit she tried to sleep. He had confirmed that her ankle was not broken and had reassured her when she asked him about the baby, although he had said it was important to rest for at least a week, just in case.

Katie was out getting cold water for the compress when she asked him about the baby, so she had no fear that anyone would hear about her closely guarded secret. Her ankle was the perfect excuse for resting. Not that she relished spending all this time in bed.

It came as a shock, therefore, when Theo burst into her room and stood over her, his normally inscrutable face contorted with a rage that made her shrink beneath the sheets.

‘Now I see why you are so eager to talk to Georgios alone! You don’t really think that he’ll accept the baby is his?’

She cursed the doctor for betraying a confidence, although it was reasonable to assume that he would think the family knew. ‘It’s no one else’s,’ she said quietly but firmly.

‘And you expect me to believe that, when Georgios himself denies ever having met you?’ His eyes glittered with a hardness that made her feel as though he was impaling her with invisible stakes.

She shook her head slowly. ‘I don’t know why Georgios is behaving like this. It’s why I must speak to him. Please, Theo, bring him home, let me tell him that ‑’

‘That you hope he will accept responsibility for a child that is not his? Come to your senses, Miranda! I’m too experienced to be taken in by a pretty woman.’

‘But it is his, I tell you! We were married in England. Why won’t you believe me?’ She heaved herself up to a sitting position, ignoring the pain in her ankle, glaring hostilely at Theo, her eyes shooting green sparks in his direction.

‘Because,’ he said icily, ‘you’ve given me proof of the type of girl you are. If you were married to Georgios, as you claim, would you have responded to me? You’re a passionate woman, Miranda, who I doubt could remain true to any one man. What evidence have you that the baby is my brother’s?’

She drew a deep breath and counted silently to ten. ‘His,’ she hissed, ‘if you would only allow him to talk to me. He would soon tell you. I don’t know why he denies knowing me, but faced with the fact that I’m expecting his baby, he will no longer be able to do so.’

‘You mustn’t tell him!’ Miranda was shocked by the urgency in his voice. ‘You must go back to England immediately. How much will you need to carry you through this affair?—that is presuming you’re telling me the truth. It will, of course, be necessary to have tests, but it will not be difficult to tell. Georgios has a rare blood type.’

Miranda boiled with anger. ‘You really think I’d come all this way if it wasn’t true?’ A wave of nausea washed over her and her eyes were green pools in her ashen face. ‘I’m not after a rich father for my baby. I want his real father—and that happens to be Georgios, despite what you and he say to the contrary.’ Her voice shook and her hands trembled as she put them over her face.

She needed to shut out this man who was doing his damnedest to malign her character. How she hated him at this moment! Why wouldn’t he believe her? Why had they ganged up against her like this?

‘Look at me!’

Such was the authority in Theo’s voice that Miranda moved her hands, and was appalled to see them wet with tears. She had not realised she was crying. Theo was now a misty blur, but she did nothing to clear her vision. The less she saw of him the better.

‘I think the sooner you leave this house the better.’ There was something in his tone that puzzled her, a resignation that did not make sense. She blinked and wiped her eyes on a comer of the sheet, but his face was unreadable. His eyes hooded, lips grim.

‘The doctor said I must rest.’ Her chin tilted defiantly and her eyes were extra bright.

‘You can do that at home. I will make sure you have a comfortable journey.’

‘And if I refuse?’

He shrugged. ‘Apart from forcibly taking you there is not much I can do. But it would be the wisest course, Miranda. Does Eleni know about the baby?’

She shook her head. ‘Not unless the doctor told her as well.’

‘Then say nothing. The fewer people who know the better.’ With that he turned on his heel and left.

Seconds later, before Miranda had even had time to think over their conversation, Eleni herself entered. ‘You poor dear! Is your ankle terribly painful? I understand the doctor says you must stay here for at least a week. What are you going to do? Do you want me to send for your husband?’

‘With me in this state?’ Miranda tried to smile.

‘I’m sure he’ll be concerned.’

‘And he might say he wished I’d broken my neck instead.’ That was probably what Theo felt. It would have solved everything quite nicely.

Eleni was horrified. ‘You make it sound as though he doesn’t love you! Is there more to it than you’ve told me?’

‘It’s a complicated situation,’ answered Miranda truthfully. ‘I’d like to explain, but I can’t. And I really would like to stay here until I’m better. Do you think your mother will mind? Theo seems to think it would be best if I went as soon as possible.’

‘Theo has no feelings,’ said Eleni disrespectfully. ‘He’s never been in love. He has no idea how you’re suffering. You stay. Mother won’t mind, I know.’

Miranda smiled weakly. ‘Thank you, Eleni. The way I feel at this moment I haven’t the strength to move. I think I’d like to sleep.’

Whether Eleni thought it strange that a simple thing like a twisted ankle should make her feel so ill, she did not remark on it, simply smiling and straightening the covers before tiptoeing from the room.

Miranda was tired. She felt thoroughly exhausted, but her mind was too active for sleep. She was upset that the doctor had told Theo about the baby, and even more disturbed by his reaction. Though she was not surprised. He had been suspicious of her all along, this had merely served to heighten his distrust.

What she could not understand was why it should matter to her what he thought. Georgios was the important one. Georgios was the person who needed convincing. She hoped he would not stay at his sister’s for the entire week; it would drive her insane.

She must have slept, for when she opened her eyes the curtains were drawn and a bedside lamp cast a mellow glow into the room. Her sickness had gone, but her ankle felt like a balloon and throbbed mercilessly, shooting darts of pain when she tried to move.

Katie brought her supper on a tray and after that Eleni came and talked to her. Of Theo there was no sign.

‘Mother is most distressed by your fall,’ she said. ‘She wants to know why you didn’t wait for Theo.’

Miranda pulled a wry face. ‘What did you tell her?’

‘That you preferred to travel alone.’ She laughed. ‘I think she guesses that you and Theo don’t get on.’

‘Where is Theo now?’

‘Downstairs with Georgios.’

‘Georgios is back?’ She could not keep the delight out of her voice.

Eleni smiled. ‘He came up to see you, but you were asleep. I expect he’ll pop in with Theo to say goodnight.’

With Theo! Yes, that would be about it. Theo would certainly see that she had no opportunity to speak to Georgios alone. Especially now he knew about the baby. It gave him an even better reason to keep them apart.

If Georgios found out he would no longer be able to deny that he had met and married her in England. Theo would be unable to do anything about it. And surely his mother would not disapprove of such a marriage? Unless, of course, there was some woman who was hoping to marry Georgios? Much as Eleni was promised to Nikos.

Was that it? Was Georgios afraid to admit the truth because of hurting some other woman? Some eager young Greek girl who had been told she was to marry Georgios Alexidis, youngest son of the wealthy Alexidis family, a good catch by anyone’s standards.

But whether that was the case or not, it was too late for anyone to do anything about it. Unless Georgios really had changed his mind about her? Had it been no more than a brief affair which he regretted? If that was the case it would be preferable he did not hear about the baby. It would be far better for her to divorce him and bring up the child by herself. If he did not know about it there would be no regrets.

‘You look thoughtful,’ said Eleni. ‘Has mentioning Georgios brought back memories of your husband? I have a feeling you regret ever coming here. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if you went back to England without seeing him.’

Miranda was saved answering when the door opened to admit Theo and Georgios. Her eyes flew straight to her husband, hoping that now he would show concern for his injured wife.

But he looked at her with no more compassion than he would for any guest in his house. ‘Poor Miranda, what have you done? Someone should have warned you about our sudden storms.’

If he hadn’t stayed at his sister’s the accident wouldn’t have happened, she thought resentfully. It was his fault as much as anyone’s. She glanced at Theo and caught a flicker of satisfaction. In that moment she did not know whom she hated most, Theo or Georgios!

CHAPTER SIX

It disturbed Miranda to discover that her feelings for Georgios were fading the longer she remained at the villa. His constant refusal to acknowledge her made her bitter. What kind of a man was he who could do this to her?

There had been no opportunity for private conversation before they said goodnight, and now it was after midnight and she could not sleep. She toyed with the idea of hopping along to Georgios’s room, but she could hardly do it quietly, and there was the baby to consider. Complete rest, the doctor had said. Jigging up and down on one leg would not be wise. And despite Georgios’s attitude, despite everything, she wanted that baby. It would break her heart to lose it.

Even if she did join the ranks of single-parent families, of one thing she was sure, the child would have a secure and happy home and all the love she could give it. She would wish on no child a succession of foster-parents such as she herself had experienced. It was no life at all.

Eventually she did sleep, waking as the pale dawn sky pushed back the curtain of night. It looked as though it might be a beautiful day.

Katie brought her breakfast and re-bandaged her ankle. Eleni popped her head in for a quick word before going downstairs. But the man she wanted most was conspicuous by his absence.

When she heard the helicopter throb into life she guessed that that was the two of them out for the day.

Eleni came back and brought a pile of books and magazines and some writing paper.

Miranda knew what the idea of the paper was, and how she longed to confide. But would it be wise? And would Eleni necessarily believe her after all this time? She might think that her fall had affected her mind as well as her ankle. It really was a very odd situation.

She tried to sort it out in her mind, to see if there was a clue anywhere as to why these two brothers were determined to shut her out of their lives.

First Georgios. He really was convincing in his act. In fact he was so good that she began to wonder whether Eleni could be right and he did have a look-alike. Perhaps this other man had pretended to be Georgios and then gone off and left her to sort out her problems? No, that was too far-fetched.

Georgios was her husband, of that she was sure. So why, then, was he renouncing her now? Because his mother did not want him to marry an English girl? Because Theo did not want him to? Because, as she had thought earlier, that there was some other girl lined up for him?

But he could not marry again while she was his wife, so why not acknowledge her? If he wanted this other girl he could give her a divorce. She was not going to go away if he ignored her. It was not that simple. They had to sort this out, but until he was prepared to talk how could it be done?

She was quite convinced that Theo had a large part to play in all of this. He was for some reason afraid that if she and Georgios got together the whole story would come out. But why was it so important that their marriage be kept a secret?

The more she thought about it the more confused she became. In the end she gave up. She wrote a letter to Sallianne and poured out her fears. How she wished her friend was here now! Sallianne was sane and sensible. She would put everything in its right perspective. Sallianne had had her doubts about Georgios. What a pity it was Miranda had failed to recognise her friend’s astuteness. Perhaps then she might have saved herself this heartache.

After lunch Mrs Alexidis paid her a visit. Helped by Katie she made her slow way into the room and sat in a chair drawn up close to the bed.

‘Miranda, you do not know how sorry I am that this accident happened.’ Her thin hands fluttered expressively. ‘I feel responsible for you, I feel that it is our fault. You must not dream of going until you are completely recovered. How is the ankle today?’

‘Painful if I try to move it,’ admitted Miranda, ‘but not so bad as yesterday. I really am sorry. Pm such a nuisance, putting everyone to all this trouble.’

‘Nonsense, child,’ said Mrs Alexidis strongly, her black eyes fixed on Miranda’s face. ‘I am more annoyed that you should have attempted the journey on foot instead of going with Theodoros. It is the beginning of our rainy season, as you have experienced to your downfall. No one can say for how long the sun will shine.’

‘It’s shining now,’ said Miranda, looking ruefully at the deceptively blue sky through the slats of the shutters. ‘I had no idea it could change so suddenly.’

‘It makes our mountain track very unsafe,’ acknowledged Mrs Alexidis. ‘Petros goes out each day to check for rock slides. I understand from Theodoros that there was a large boulder quite close to where you had fallen. It is a mercy you were not killed.’

It surprised her that Theo had mentioned this fact. She could not believe that it interested him. ‘I was running to escape the rocks, that’s why I fell,’ she admitted.

‘You look peaky,’ observed Mrs Alexidis. ‘I have a feeling that there is something you have not told us. That there is a very good reason why you are chasing after this husband who has so shamefully let you down.’ She looked at the girl closely, eyes narrowed. ‘You’re pregnant, aren’t you, Miranda?’

The dark eyes set deep in the fleshless face held the same powerful hypnosis as did her son’s. A faint smell of eau de Cologne emanated from her, and as she watched Miranda her question was answered.

Miranda had no time to compose herself, nor hide her flicker of alarm. Mrs Alexidis was far shrewder than she gave her credit for.

‘As I thought,’ said the old lady, seeming to sink into her seat, her fingers twisting one of the many rings that she wore. ‘It is wrong that you and your husband should be separated. Does he know?’

Avoiding looking directly into the discerning eyes, Miranda shook her head. ‘It is why I came.’

‘And why you must see him without delay. Let me send for him, Miranda. It is his duty to be beside you.’

Miranda bit her bottom lip, chewing on it until it became sore. What could she say? Mrs Alexidis was such a darling old lady, and so concerned! But until she knew the real reason why Georgios was concealing his marriage she could not admit the truth.

There was every chance that it was his mother Georgios was afraid of, and no matter how hostile she was beginning to feel towards him, she could not get him into trouble like this.

‘I’m sorry, Mrs Alexidis,’ she said quietly. ‘I know you mean to be kind, but it wouldn’t help, not the way things are.’

‘But, Miranda, I understand it could be a week at least before you are able to walk again.’

‘The rest is for my baby, not my ankle,’ said Miranda guiltily, ‘but I’d rather no one knew until— until I’ve told my husband.’ God, how hard it all was. And how she hated deceiving her.

‘He can come here. I can ensure that you have privacy, if that’s what is troubling you. I’m convinced it would be for the best. He’ll want to be with you at a time like this, I’m sure.’

Miranda sighed, deeply disturbed by Mrs Alexidis’s genuine anxiety. ‘I’ll think about it,’ she promised. ‘I’m not ungrateful. I really do appreciate your kindness, but it’s not that easy.’

Mrs Alexidis shook her head. ‘I don’t profess to understand. To me it is all so simple. But I suppose you know what you’re doing. Where is Katie, I wonder? I asked her to bring a pot of tea and some biscuits. I know what you English are like for your tea.’ She smiled briefly, but it was easy to see that she was hurt by Miranda’s refusal to accept her kind offer.

She pretended not to be. She presided over the teapot like a queen, making polite conversation, testing Miranda’s knowledge of Greek mythology, declaring it was time she went only when Miranda herself showed signs of tiredness.

Miranda was surprised how tired she did become these days. She went to sleep almost at once, not waking again until the door opening aroused her.

She could not believe that it was Georgios—alone! She blinked twice and then sat up.

He smiled and came across to the bed. ‘I did not mean to disturb you. I wanted to see how you were. It’s such a shame for you to be shut away on your . own. Would you like me to carry you downstairs?’ Not the words of a loving husband who had for the first time since her arrival got his wife on her own. Polite concern, no more. No kiss, no nothing.

Miranda felt something die inside her. But she returned his smile with as much warmth as she could muster. ‘What do you think, Georgios? This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. I’ve had enough of the others always being around when we’re together. I want to talk to you, without anyone else listening.’

He sat down warily. ‘You’re not still insisting that I’m your husband?’

‘Of course,’ said Miranda, her face twisted with pain. ‘Why do you deny it? Don’t you love me any more?’

Frown lines appeared between his brows and he shook his head in tiny nervous motions. ‘Miranda, it’s you who’s got it wrong. Hell, I hope you’re not after money. I don’t like to think that ‑’

Miranda reached out and touched his arm. ‘Georgios, you don’t have to lie any more. If this is the way you want it, if you’ve fallen out of love with me, then okay, I’ll go back to England and we’ll have a divorce. But please, for God’s sake, don’t deny knowing me!’ She plucked at his shirt sleeve, her eyes wide and imploring, a lump as big as a billiard ball in her throat.

Again he shook his head and he seemed to be searching in the back of his mind. He placed his hand on hers, stilling their ceaseless movement, his own eyes worried and distressed. ‘Believe me, Miranda, I would like nothing more than to say I do know you. But I haven’t been to England since I was a boy. Unless ‑’ He broke off and for a moment it seemed as though he was not with her.

‘Unless what?’ she asked urgently. ‘Georgios, what is it? What are you hiding?’ There was something he did not want her to know. The secret to this puzzle.

He looked at her but did not see her. He looked straight through her, confusion clouding his eyes. He swallowed hard, as if he, too, had a constricting lump of emotion.

‘Georgios!’ She leaned towards him and cupped a hand on either side of his face. ‘Georgios, what are you thinking? It’s to do with me, isn’t it? Georgios, you must tell me! I’m slowly going out of mind. If you don’t come out with the truth I’m going to end up in an asylum!’

He shook his head slowly. ‘It can’t be. Theo wouldn’t do this to me.’

‘Theo?’ she echoed incredulously. ‘What has Theo got to do with it?’ But it made sense. She had known all along that this despicable elder brother was at the bottom of it.

Then she became aware of a figure standing behind Georgios. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she looked up into Theo’s impassive face. Their eyes met and held and she was disgusted because she felt a trickle of awareness. What was more damning, he knew exactly how she felt. A tiny humourless smile curved the comers of his mouth before he turned his attention to his brother.

‘Dinner is waiting, Georgios!’

Georgios gave his brother an intense, probing glance, but as if under his influence obediently rose and walked out without a word. Come back, Miranda wanted to yell after him. Stick up to Theo, for pity’s sake. Don’t let him rule your life.

But it would be like trying to stem the tide. Georgios did as his brother said. Perhaps, after all, she was questioning the wrong man? Perhaps it was Theo she should be hammering away at? Theo was the one who had the answer to this riddle.

‘I hate you,’ she said loudly, and if Georgios overheard she was glad. If the whole household heard she did not care. Theo was an interfering bastard and she did hate him. He was ruining a perfectly happy marriage with his totalitarian attitude. For reasons of his own he had come between her and Georgios and had no intention of ever letting them get together again.

‘Do you?’ he asked coolly, seating himself in the chair his brother had vacated. The difference between the two men was more apparent than it had ever been. This was a real rough-tough character, who let nothing or no one stand in his way. His whole body suggested strength. His eyes were clear, fixed on her intently. He would never hesitate as Georgios did. His thoughts were clearly channelled, each action predetermined.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ she asked.

‘Not to me,’ came the unexpected reply. ‘I think perhaps you want to hate me, but find you can’t. You won’t admit it, but you’re a whole lot more attracted to me than you are to my brother.’

‘You big-headed swine!’ she returned sharply. ‘I’d have to be pretty desperate to fall for someone like you!’

Theo ignored that, saying quietly, ‘Georgios is not for you.’

Miranda lifted her fine brows, tossed back her silky fine hair. ‘Are you saying that perhaps you are?’

‘I’m not suggesting anything, except that you should give up on my brother and take yourself home.’ She smiled grimly. ‘You’d like that, I’m sure. But I’m a fighter, if nothing else, and until I find out what’s going on I intend to stay. You’ve put Georgios up to this. What I want to know is—why? Would you care to enlighten me, Mr Alexidis?’

He looked at her for a long tension-filled second. ‘Mr Alexidis again, is it? Yesterday, when you were imploring me to let you see my brother, it was Theo. Why not call me it again, Miranda? I rather like the way you say it.’

And if she was truthful she liked the way he said her name. His voice deepened, giving it an intimate sound that caused fresh shivers to run through her limbs.

But she kept her voice cool. ‘Very well, if it will make you happy, Theo it is. Now, will you tell me?’

His smile was wicked. ‘There’s nothing to tell. You would be wise to believe Georgios when he says he doesn’t know you.’

‘Georgios is under your influence,’ she said accusingly. ‘You’ve turned him against me. But he’s beginning to get suspicious. You’d better tell me the truth.’

His eyes, which looked coal-black in the subdued light of the room, studied her face calmly. ‘It appears I’d better have another talk with my brother.’

Holding his gaze, Miranda felt a surge of emotion in her stomach and the shameful thought that she wished she had met this man first. It was wrong to compare him with Georgios, but there was no denying that of the two, man for man, he would be the winner every time.

Simply looking at him set her pulses throbbing and made a mockery of her feelings for Georgios. She had been convinced, when she got married, that her love would last a lifetime. Even when Georgios disappeared and it became clear that his feelings for her were not as strong as hers for him, she had never doubted her own love.

Now this man made her unsure. She had never thought of herself as being fickle, yet every nerve in her body responded to Theo in a way it never had with his brother. Georgios had been eager to' marry her and she had willingly agreed, but now she wondered whether she hadn’t gone through with it simply to provide herself with a home and someone to whom she really belonged. Had she married for all the wrong reasons? Not that there was anything she could do about these new and entirely unexpected feelings. She belonged to Georgios. Sooner or later the truth would come out and they would resume their life together.

‘I think,’ said Theo, putting his hands on the edge of the bed and pushing himself out of the chair, ‘it is time for dinner.’ But before he straightened he brushed his lips in her hair, caressing her cheek with a gentle finger. ‘Goodbye for now, chryso mou. I’ll see you later.'

He had known exactly what thoughts were running through her mind! Her cheeks flushed as he left the room without a backward glance. She felt as humiliated as if she had let him make love to her. What was it about Theo that attracted her to him, especially considering the way he treated her? It was an indefinable something that drew her to him as irresistibly as a moth to a flame, and she would get scorched in exactly the same way.

The impact of Theo was so great that it was a minute or two before the memory came back of what Georgios had been about to say. Theo was involved more deeply than he admitted. He laid the blame on Georgios, said that his brother was speaking the truth, but Georgios had implied that Theo had something to do with it. And if Theo hadn’t walked in when he did she might have discovered the truth. Damn Theo! Now he was going to talk to Georgios again and make sure she never found out..

She still brooded, her eyes fixed on the door, seeing Theo’s wicked smile as he bent over her, when Katie arrived with her supper. Miranda was not hungry, but she found the sole excellent, and managed to eat some of the salad, though she did not touch the fruit or cheese.

She wondered whether either of the men would come in to see her again tonight. Would she get another chance to speak with Georgios before Theo got at him? Or would she be left alone with her muddled thoughts, feeling more and more confused with every hour that passed?

Katie came and took her tray, pursing her lips at the unfinished food, but there was no sign of the rest of the Alexidis family. Miranda had a feeling that Theo was deliberately keeping them out of her way.

She was almost asleep when Eleni eventually popped her head round the door. ‘Kalinikta, Miranda,’ she said softly. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t come up before. Nikos is here. I’ll bring him to see you tomorrow.’ And although Eleni had professed not to love Nikos there were certainly stars in her big ebony eyes. Miranda was pleased for her, but it merely served to emphasise her own unhappiness.

For some reason her ankle was more painful than it had been the previous night, keeping her awake for long hours, so that by daybreak she felt a physical wreck.

She heard footsteps pass her door as the various members of the household got up, but none came in to see her, and when she heard the helicopter she resigned herself to another eight hours at least before seeing either Theo or Georgios again.

After breakfast Eleni came in with Nikos, who proved to be a very likeable person; short, and with more weight on him than either of the Alexidis brothers, but handsome the way all Greeks seemed to be, and with a pleasing personality.

‘Miranda, Eleni has told me about you. How unfortunate you hurt your ankle. It is not too painful, I hope?’

She smiled and shook her head. ‘Not so bad now as it has been during the night. I could not sleep.’

‘You should have called someone,’ said Eleni at once. ‘Mother has sleeping tablets, you could have taken one of those—or at least some painkillers. I’ll ask Katie to leave you some tonight, just in case.’

And who would have heard her call in this great house? Theo, perhaps? His room was nearest. But there was no way that she wanted him in her room in the middle of the night.

Nikos spoke again. ‘It is a shame that you’re confined to your bed. I had intended taking Eleni out, but I think perhaps we should stay here and keep you company. If you like I will help you downstairs. You can sit by the pool while Eleni and I swim. You would like that?’

Miranda smiled and nodded. It would be a long day otherwise, and she really needed something to take her mind off her problems. ‘You are kind. Perhaps Katie could help me dress?’ Lying on a lounger by the pool would be no more exhausting than lying here in bed, and it would certainly be far more interesting.

Eleni swam well and she and Nikos fooled about happily. How Miranda wished she was not compelled to rest! The water looked so inviting, catching the brilliance of the sun as Eleni and Nikos churned its surface. It was difficult to believe that there had been such a devastating storm yesterday.

Katie brought out the iced drinks and when the sun got too hot Nikos moved her lounger into the shade. Tall cypresses gave the landscape an interesting shape and birds of paradise flowers, geraniums, and hosts of other exotic flowers added colour.

Lazily she watched sparrows fight and squabble, was entranced by the enormous leaps of giant grasshoppers, and the small colourful butterflies flitting from flower to flower. Her pleasure was marred only by thoughts of Theo and Georgios.

They ate lunch on the verandah—tomato salad and crusty fresh bread, followed by as much fruit and cheese as they could eat. Miranda found her appetite returning and did justice to the food Katie supplied.

Afterwards Nikos took her back to her room for the usual siesta. She slept heavily and when she awoke felt completely refreshed.

He had said he would help her downstairs again for dinner, and Miranda had agreed, convinced that the doctor was being unnecessarily cautious in making her rest for a whole week. It was not as though she was doing anything energetic. Simply moving from one room to another could surely do the baby no harm? It was boring lying in bed. They all had their own lives to lead, she could not expect them to spend their time with her.

Katie would be along shortly to help her get dressed, so she began to plan in her mind what to wear. It surprised her when the door opened and Theo came in, and the ready smile she had assumed for the maid’s benefit turned quickly to a scowl. But there was no way she could ignore the sudden leaping of her pulses, her response to him was automatic.

‘I’m sorry you’re not pleased to see me,’ he said pleasantly. ‘I thought I would keep you company for an hour before dinner.’

‘Why?’ she shot suspiciously. Never before had he gone out of his way to be nice.

‘Does there have to be a reason?’ The bronze eyes were not so hard as usual, although they still held that piercing intensity that seemed to bore into her.

She desperately tried to tear her eyes away from his face. He could set her on fire without knowing he was doing it, and it was difficult, if not impossible, to hide her feelings. ‘From you, yes. You’ve never made a secret of the fact that you’re anxious to get rid of me. There has to be some devious motive behind your being here now. Don’t try to cloak it with niceties, because it won’t work.’

‘Really, Miranda, your opinion of me is far from flattering.’ But he did not look perturbed, on the contrary his lips curved with amusement.

Miranda could not believe he was genuine, and her frown deepened. ‘It was meant that way,’ she said tightly. ‘Tell me why you’re here and let’s get it over with.’

He was already dressed for dinner, his crisp white shirt with its fine embroidery detail complementing his bronzed skin. For the moment the collar was open, revealing an expanse of tightly muscled chest and the gold medallion on its heavy chain resting snugly against it.

She could smell the freshness of him, noted the way his hair, still damp from a shower, followed faithfully the lines of his well-shaped head, and every nerve in her body responded.

He was compellingly male, and no woman in her right senses would be able to resist him. Even while married to his brother Miranda could not deny the hungering of her senses, and she knew that above all else she wanted to be taken into his arms.

His smile widened. ‘I spoke the truth. Strange as it apparently seems to you, I thought you could maybe do with some company. I’ll go, if that is what you wish.’

‘No!’ exclaimed Miranda before she could stop herself. ‘I—I’d—like you to stay.’ She lowered her lashes as she spoke, anxious to hide her eagerness, glad he could not hear the pounding of her heart as she thought about the pleasure of an hour of his company. If they weren’t arguing it could be very sweet indeed.

She risked a glance at him and saw complacency, masked immediately by indifference, but he had guessed what her reaction would be! It was disconcerting that he knew her as well, if not better, than she knew herself.

He drew a chair up close to her bed and as he did so Miranda slid further down between the sheets, tucking them beneath her chin, only the tips of her fingers and the pale oval of her face visible, her golden hair spread out across the pillow.

‘You act as though I might take advantage of your recumbent state. Don’t you trust me, Miranda?’

She eyed him steadily, mentally crossing her fingers that her quickened heartbeats were not reflected on her face. It was incredible the way she reacted simply by looking at him, as though electric impulses shot from him to her, triggering off a whole host of emotions over which she had no control.

‘I think you know the answer to that,’ she said. ‘You’re hiding something from me. You’re forcing Georgios to deny me. Quite how you’re doing it, what hold you have over him, I don’t know, but believe me, I shall not give up until I receive a satisfactory explanation.’

‘I was not talking about that, as you well know.’ A smile softened the harsh contours of his face, white teeth gleamed in the light from the bedside lamp which had been switched on as she slept. He reached out and touched her fingers which still desperately clutched the edge of the sheet. ‘I was talking about you—and me.’

Miranda’s eyes shot wide as she quickly slid her hands out of sight, the swift current his touch evoked sending rivers of excitement down her spine. ‘If that’s the case, then no, I don’t trust you,’ she cried. Or was it herself she did not trust?

This awakening of her senses was confusing, this leaping response from her to him. She wondered whether he felt it too, or if his was a deliberate attempt to prove she was not in love with Georgios, to make clear that she was as willing to enjoy his attentions as anyone else’s.

Was that behind his visit now? Was that why there was a calculating gleam in his eyes? Or was it merely the artificial light playing tricks?

‘Aren’t you jumping to conclusions?’ he mocked. ‘Because I stroke your hand it does not mean I want to leap into bed, although I’m not saying the thought is unpleasant. But as you’re likely to be here for a few days yet I thought we might call a truce to our constant hostilities.’

‘Why?’ demanded Miranda, hiding her embarrassment behind annoyance. He had deliberately made her feel that she had read more into his suggestion than was meant.

‘Perhaps because I—feel sorry for you?’

‘Like hell you do,’ Miranda snapped. ‘You can’t wait to get rid of me. Exactly what your game is now I don’t know, but ‑’

‘You’re on your guard?’

There was still that aggravating smile which made him look human. For reasons known only to himself he chose to be nice to her. ‘Every second,’ she declared stoutly. ‘You can sit and talk by all means, but that’s all.’

He shrugged and settled back in his seat, elbows resting on the arms, long fingers linked.

Miranda contrarily felt disappointment that he had given in so easily, and unbidden came memories of his kisses. Quite unconsciously she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips, a vague ache in the pit of her stomach, which told her in no uncertain terms that she was sexually attracted to this man.

She ought never to have invited him to stay. It was sheer madness. She should have known how she would react. He was deeply and disturbingly masculine, with a compelling virility that could not be ignored. No woman could possibly look at those sensual lips or dare a glance into his hooded mysterious eyes without feeling a response of some sort. He was a wildly exciting male animal, with long lethal limbs that at this moment were deceptively relaxed, but could become galvanised into action without so much as the flicker of an eyelash.

No one would ever know what Theo thought, he hid his feelings behind a mask. She had caught a glimpse behind on only rare occasions. It softened when he spoke to his mother, became interested when he discussed shipping with Georgios, but for the biggest part of the time his emotions were hidden.

What had caused the change this evening she had no idea, all she knew was that he created havoc with her own emotions. She was in an extremely vulnerable position, at his mercy almost. If he did choose to exert his undoubted strength there was little she could do about it.

‘The real reason I came to see you,’ he said suddenly, ‘is because my mother is extremely disturbed over your pregnancy. She has asked me to try and trace your husband.’

Miranda’s eyes clouded. ‘I’ve not intentionally misled Mrs Alexidis. I wouldn’t do that, she’s a dear old lady, and I like her a lot.’

‘But you don’t respect her enough to tell her the truth?’ There was hardness in his tone now.

‘Would she believe it, the real truth, any more than you do?’ protested Miranda. ‘I couldn’t tell your mother I was married to Georgios, could I, when he hasn’t told her himself? I wanted to sort it out with him first—except that we rarely have the chance to be alone. He must hate you, Theo, ruling his life. You take him to work with you, you bring him back, you tell him when it’s time for dinner, you probably tell him when to go to bed and when to get up. Isn’t he allowed a mind of his own?’

Theo drew a harsh breath. ‘Georgios needs a guiding hand. I can’t explain now, but believe me, there is. a very good reason why I am keeping you two apart.’

‘So you do admit that you’re deliberately stopping him from seeing me?’ Miranda sat up exultantly, forgetting she was in her nightie. ‘Is that fair? I think I ought to tell him about the baby. It might make him come to his senses, realise that he’s a man and can no longer let you rule his life.’

‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you.’ Theo’s eyes glittered dangerously. ‘There are many things that you don’t know, a lot of reasons why Georgios must not be told.’

‘Such as?’ demanded Miranda loudly.

‘I can’t tell you,’ he said. ‘I just wish you hadn’t come.’ He looked amazingly sad for a moment. ‘Let me send you home. I’ll make sure that you want for nothing. Both you and the baby will be well looked after.’

She eyed him coldly, sick with disgust. ‘Is that an admission that Georgios is the father? Why don’t you want anyone to know? Is it a crime he’s committed? Had you decided who he should marry, the same as you did for your sisters? And now, because he had the guts to make a stand for himself, you’re denying him the pleasure of his wife and child?’

Never had she been more angry. She was stiff with rage and wished she could leap out of bed and attack this man who thought he was God.

‘Calm down, Miranda.’ Theo leaned forward and took her hands which were extended rigidly towards him.

Resisting furiously she tried to pull free, but his fingers were as hard and inflexible as an iron clamp. ‘How I hate you!’ she cried. ‘You have no right to do this. Let go of me!’

Instead he moved even closer, holding her hands firm against his chest. ‘You’re very beautiful when you’re angry.’

His warm breath fanned her cheek and she withdrew as far as his invincible grip would allow. But he slid off his seat and on to the edge of the bed. ‘You’re irresistible!’

She knew he was going to kiss her, and although every instinct told her to turn her head, something equally strong held her immobile.

Watching his face as it drew closer, she became mesmerised by the dancing lights in his unusual bronze eyes. She forgot to breathe, although her heart beat a painful tattoo against her ribs. It had never been like this with Georgios!

His musky aftershave assailed her nostrils, the warmth from his body set her on fire. She closed her eyes, unable any longer to look into those piercing dark eyes that probed her soul and read every thought that passed through her mind.

Forget Georgios, some devil inside her said. Here’s a real man. Take what’s being offered and enjoy it. She had no option. Theo’s mouth was already on hers, moving sensually, expertly, demanding and exacting a response.

He pinned her against the pillows, his fingers pushed through the softness of her hair, moulding her head so that there was no way she could escape.

He covered her face with kisses, teasing, tantalising, until at length he drew an aching response. Of their own volition her hands snaked round the back of his neck. In contrast to her own fine hair his was wiry— strong—like everything else about this man. She liked the feel of it, twisting it in her fingers, quite unconsciously giving him no chance to escape either.

His mouth left her face to bum a trail down the slim column of her throat, and every nerve in her body responded. She forgot Georgios, she forgot her pregnancy, she forgot her injured ankle. There was a compulsiveness about Theo that could not be ignored.

Her heart pounded, blood rushed through her veins and she found herself incapable of thinking about anything but the sweet ecstasy of this moment. Her brain dulled, only her senses leaped in response to the sheer masculinity of him.

It no longer occurred to her to push him away, to fear whether they might be interrupted. She felt as though her limbs were melting. Any moment now he would totally consume her. She was as putty in his hands and the emotions cascading through her were such as she had never felt before.

There was an urgency in his actions, and she felt the strong beat of his heart against her side. She could not look at him. She kept her eyes tightly closed, heeding the dictates of her body rather than her mind. Not that she could any longer distinguish right from wrong. All that seemed to matter was that she enjoy every second of Theo’s embrace. His kisses were indescribably heady, causing her to hunger for more of this sweet madness.

He pushed aside the unresisting material of her nightdress, cupping one breast even as his mouth moved to possess the other. Miranda lay back and decided she had never before felt the sheer agonising ripples that raced through her. Wave after wave of emotion racked her body so that she arched closer, moaning softly, and wanting this moment to go on for ever.

Theo himself put a stop to it, lifting away and saying thickly, ‘If I don’t go now I won’t be responsible for my actions.’

Her lids were heavy, but when she finally managed to steal a glance at him Miranda was shocked to see an emotion as deep as her own ravaging his face. It was so unusual for feeling of any sort to be expressed on those hard features that she instinctively lifted her hands and touched his cheeks.

She felt no contrition; maybe that would come later. Her only regret now was that he had stopped. She wanted this moment to go on for ever. They had experienced an animal hunger that they each knew only the other could assuage. It was an entirely new and out-of-this-world feeling, so far as Miranda was concerned, and she thirsted for more of what this exciting man could offer.

He took her hands and pressed kisses into their palms, then he gave them back to her, pulling up the sheet to cover her swollen breasts. ‘Enough is enough, chryso mou. Believe me, I had not intended that to happen, but if it has done nothing else, it has at least proved that your love for Georgios is not so great as you claim.’

Miranda compressed her lips, but could not hide the sadness in her eyes. Unfortunately he spoke the truth. After Theo his brother would be a disappointment. In the first days of her marriage there had been an eagerness about Georgios that had drawn a response from her almost equal to that she felt now, but gradually his passion had subsided.

It had not bothered her; she had thought, in her ignorance, that this was how it was with all men. But now she realised that Georgios had been no more than infatuated with her. He didn’t love her. He couldn’t do, or he would never have agreed to play Theo’s ridiculous game.

There were no words to describe how she felt, not that Theo seemed to expect any. It was as if he knew exactly what thoughts were going through her mind. ‘I’ll send Katie with your dinner,’ he said softly.

‘I’m getting up,’ she returned. ‘Nikos said he would help me downstairs.’

Theo frowned. ‘Nikos? What right has he? Doesn’t he know you’re supposed to rest?’ His face changed dramatically, once again becoming all angles and tough uncompromising lines.

His harsh tone helped Miranda forget the response she had just felt. ‘He took me out to the pool this morning. It’s done me no harm.’

He looked appalled. ‘How do you know? The doctor said that because of your fall there was a danger of losing the baby unless you rest completely.’

Miranda shook her head angrily. ‘I feel fine. It’s only my ankle that’s bothering me. I hate lying here, it’s like being in prison.’

‘Is that all the thanks we get for taking you in?’ he snapped. ‘You’d best not let my mother hear you say that.’

‘I am Georgios’s wife,’ she cried. ‘You’re not doing me a favour at all!’

He looked at her for a few minutes before saying quietly, ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ And he actually sounded concerned!

‘Of course I’m sure. I should know how I feel!’

‘And you still want to go down to dinner?’

She nodded.

‘In that case,’ he said reluctantly, ‘I’ll take you myself. Nikos has no right interfering in what doesn’t concern him.’

‘Nikos doesn’t know about the baby,’ she said softly. ‘Only you—and your mother.’ But it was wrong that Georgios himself did not know! Suddenly she made up her mind she would tell him tonight. He had a right to know, no matter what Theo said, no matter what secrets were being kept from her. It might well be the one thing that could put this whole incredible situation into perspective.

Once Georgios realised she was going to have his child he would no longer let Theo rule him. He would be pleased, he would tell his mother that Miranda was his English bride, and Mrs Alexidis would be pleased too, because she liked her.

Miranda smiled, feeling as though a load had been lifted from her shoulders. It was going to be all right.

There were six of them to dinner, Mrs Alexidis having decided to put in one of her rare appearances. Her two sons sat on either side of her, with Eleni and Nikos next to Georgios and herself between this new man and Theo.

Theo had carried her down, lifting her into his arms as effortlessly as if she were a baby. It had caused a repetition of the base emotions she had felt earlier, and she had linked her arms round his neck, despising herself even as she savoured them.

She had made up her mind to tell Georgios of the true state of affairs, expected him to acknowledge her and take her back as his wife, so why then did she let these feelings for Theo raise their ugly head?

What type of a woman was she who could respond like this to a man who was not her husband? More important, to a man who had gone out of his way to keep her and Georgios apart! She ought to hate him, she did hate him, so what was the meaning behind her response?

It was a question she could not answer. A question to which she doubted she would ever find the answer. He was an extraordinarily virile specimen, with an earthy magnetism that could not be ignored.

And sitting by him at the table did not help. Although Georgios was directly opposite, although it was to him that her eyes were constantly drawn, it was Theo’s presence she felt. Theo who made her feel jittery with nerves and sick with excitement.

What had nearly happened in her room had left her shattered, loathing herself but also exhilarating in the wild passion that had coursed through her. Despite her decision to talk to Georgios it did not lessen these treacherous feelings.

Mrs Alexidis expressed concern over Miranda’s presence. ‘My dear, should you really be out of bed?’ Miranda smiled, unaware that there was a dreaminess in her eyes. ‘I feel well,’ she returned. ‘In fact, apart from a little discomfort in my ankle, I’ve never felt better.’

And Theo said, ‘I argued with her myself, Mother. But she’s a stubborn young thing. Don’t worry, though, I shall see that she doesn’t overdo it.’

What right had he to set himself up as her guardian? thought Miranda heatedly. But she smiled nevertheless. ‘Such concern—I’m flattered!’

‘Take advantage while you can,’ laughed Eleni. ‘I bet you’ve never been pampered like this?’

Miranda’s eyes flickered towards Georgios, but he continued to drink his fish broth as though none of this concerned him. ‘I never hurt my ankle before,’ she said with attempted lightheartedness. ‘I’ve always been able to look after myself.’

‘I remember when Georgios was small and he broke his ankle,’ said Mrs Alexidis. ‘He did not like it one little bit. He hated not being able to get about.’

Georgios looked then at his mother. ‘I broke my ankle?’

For a second she looked as though she had said something that she shouldn’t, but before she could answer Nikos laughed and interrupted. ‘One more discovery, Georgios. Don’t worry, one day soon you’ll remember everything. Maybe then you’ll wish your memory had never come back. Take advantage while you can. It sometimes pays to be ignorant.’

Miranda’s spoon fell from her fingers, dropping straight into her bowl and splashing soup in all directions. She looked at Georgios—and suddenly everything became clear.

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘Of course,’ said Theo before Miranda could speak, ‘you did not know that my brother had an accident and lost his memory. It is not something that we talk about. I apologise if we’ve shocked you.’

Miranda’s heart pounded uncomfortably as she continued to stare at Georgios. No wonder he hadn’t remembered her! No wonder he had treated her like a stranger. But why, why, why hadn’t anyone told her? Why had Theo decreed it best to keep it a secret?

It was an effort to drag her eyes away and look at Theo. ‘Why don’t you talk about it? Wouldn’t it be best for Georgios? Wouldn’t it help him remember?’ Poor Georgios! She could not imagine what it would be like to have memories locked in your brain without any means of releasing them. It must be agony.

Theo eyed her steadily. ‘The doctor said it was best to let his memory return naturally, not to try and force it. So it was mutually decided that once we’d filled him in on everything he needed to know we would make no reference to the past, no deliberate references I mean. Naturally it’s not always possible, sometimes we slip up, like my mother did now, but you’ve not been here long enough to hear any of that.’

Or you’ve all been ultra-careful, thought Miranda bitterly. Theo had decided she should not be told. He had warned Eleni, but forgotten about Nikos. And obviously he could not tell his mother. He had had to rely on her discretion.

‘It’s a nuisance sometimes,’ admitted Georgios, ‘but like Nikos says, it has its advantages. I’m quite sure there must be some things I’d prefer not to remember.’

Mrs Alexidis’s hands fluttered to her throat and she gave a faint cry. Miranda was alarmed to see the colour drain from her face.

‘I think,' said Theo firmly, ‘that that is enough of this conversation. Try not to distress yourself, Mother. Finish your soup.’

‘I don’t think I could eat any more,’ she said in a choked voice, looking at her younger son with sorrow and pain.

It was clear to Miranda that she had taken his accident badly, and that his resultant loss of memory affected her even more deeply. It would certainly not do her heart any good worrying about him. It was perhaps wise that they chose not to talk about it, and unfortunate that Mrs Alexidis had brought the subject up herself.

‘Then I’ll help you to your room,’ said Theo gently, pushing back his chair and helping his mother up. ‘Eleni, tell Katie.’

‘Can I help?’ asked Miranda, feeling that in an indirect way she was to blame. If she had not mentioned her ankle then it would not have brought back memories of the time Georgios had broken his.

Theo shook his head. ‘I’ll be back in a minute. Carry on with your meal as though nothing has happened.’

Nothing happened! After a momentous discovery like this? She could not wait to question Georgios. ‘When was the accident?’ she asked as soon as they were out of the room.

‘Five weeks ago to the day,’ he replied.

Miranda’s heart stopped, and then raced at doublequick time. The day he had left her! The day he had walked out and never returned. Now she knew why.

‘I got knocked down by a van at Corfu airport, apparently. There were no real physical injuries, just this amnesia. You’ve no idea, Miranda, what it was like to wake up in hospital not knowing who I was or where I lived, or even why I was there. Fortunately Theo was with me. He’s been my right arm. I don’t know what I’d have done without him.’

‘Oh, Georgios!’ she breathed. ‘How awful! You must be so mixed up. Can’t you remember anything?’

'Nothing at all.’ He sounded apologetic. ‘I try not to let it bother me, but there are times when I would give all I possess to remember. It’s like acting a part in a play. I’ve been given all the details about my background but have experienced none of them personally. Or—it’s like being reborn. I’ve no childhood I can remember, nothing.’

There was black despair in his eyes that Miranda had never seen there before. ‘And do you think your family is doing the right thing, not talking about it? Wouldn't it help if they brought up little things that had happened, such as your mother did now? Can’t you really remember breaking your ankle?’

He shook his head. ‘It will take time, the doctor said. I’ve learned to live with it. It makes no difference to me whether they mention the past or not. None of it means a thing.’

But it made all the difference to her! How she wished Nikos would leave the room as well. There were many private things she wanted to ask Georgios. Then Theo and Eleni returned and the older man skilfully channelled the conversation in another direction.

After coffee in the sitting room Eleni and Nikos left them, declaring their intention of taking a walk in the garden before bedtime. There was a radiance about Eleni which belied her earlier protestations that she did not love Nikos. Miranda imagined it would not be long before they named the day.

But as for getting Georgios on his own, Theo was as resolute as before to keep them apart, and shortly after ten suggested he carry her back to her room.

She was in no position to argue, but as soon as he had deposited her on to her bed she said accusingly, ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Georgios? God, how cruel you are! Why won’t you let him remember me? Why?’

‘I won’t allow him?’ He managed to make her sentence sound ridiculous. ‘I have no control over my brother’s memory.’

Miranda glared up at him. ‘But you could let me convince him that we were in love. Why does he take your word instead of mine? He must wonder about it. He must think it very strange that I’m so insistent.’ Theo lifted his broad shoulders expressively, releasing his bow tie and unfastening his collar as if it threatened to choke him. ‘Naturally he would believe me rather than a complete stranger.’

‘But that’s the whole point,’ cried Miranda. ‘I’m not a stranger. If he could remember he’d tell you.’ She beat her hands on the bed. ‘Oh, it’s so stupid! I’m going to make him believe me. I am!’

‘You’ll do no such thing.’ Theo stood over her, his voice harsh and authoritative. ‘Until Georgios regains his memory I want you to promise me you’ll say nothing.’ There was no tenderness in him now. He was as hard as nails, the implacable mask fixed on his face, eyes cold.

Miranda felt screwed up inside, recoiling from Theo as though there had never been anything between them. ‘You mean that when my ankle’s better I’m to go? That you hope it will be an end to this saga?’

‘It is best,’ he said.

‘But you’re not prepared to tell me why?’ At moments like this she wondered how she ever found him attractive. There was certainly no electricity running between them at this moment.

‘It’s for Georgios’s own good.’ His cold eyes flicked over her mercilessly. ‘And yours. It’s a pity you ever became involved with him.’

‘So you do admit that I’m telling the truth?’

‘I know Georgios went to England,’ he said, ‘so it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility.’

‘Yet you’ve never told him he went there? You let him believe that he’d never seen me before.’ Miranda felt oddly cold, wrapping her arms round her body and rocking backwards and forwards. She found it difficult to accept that Theo could be so cruel. ‘You can’t order Georgios’s life like this,’ she cried. ‘He’ll never get better if you don’t help him. You’re making matters worse, can’t you see that?’

Theo sighed impatiently, his face all angles, skin drawn tightly across jutting bones, mouth grim. ‘It is at the doctor’s suggestion that we refrain from mentioning the past. And I agree with him. And I want you, Miranda, to comply too. It should not be hard for the few days that you are compelled to remain here.’

‘And then you’ll ship me back to England and hope poor Georgios will never find out about the baby.’ She glared hostilely. ‘What are you going to do when his memory returns? You won’t be able to tell him then that he doesn’t know me, and he won’t thank you for what you’ve done. He’ll probably kill you.’

Theo smiled dryly. ‘I don’t think so, he’s not the type.’

‘Nor am I the type to meekly fall in with your arrangements.’ She stopped rocking and faced him angrily. ‘You can’t keep watch over me day and night.

I intend finding a way to talk to Georgios whether you like it or not!’

It was difficult holding his eyes when they pierced her so intently. He dared her to defy him, looking forward to it even.

She heaved a sigh and turned her head away. ‘Get out!’ she grated. ‘The sight of you suddenly makes me sick!’

It was unexpected when his hard fingers lifted her chin, forcing her to look again into his face. ‘I hope you don’t mean that.’

‘Why?’ she demanded. ‘What difference would it make to you?’ She tried to prise his fingers away, but he was determined not to let her go, bruising her skin with a pincer-like grip that brought tears to her eyes.

‘Would you believe me if I said I do care what you think of me?’

She flashed him a wild look. ‘Not one little bit. You get your kicks by walking over people. I’d have to be an idiot not to see that. Will you please let me go!’

To her consternation Theo bent his head and possessed her mouth with his own, taking his fill, and then letting her go with an abruptness that caused her to jerk backwards.

‘To remind you that you don’t always find me disagreeable,’ he said coldly. ‘You’d best remember that the next time you feel like telling me I’m repulsive.’

Miranda wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, her beautiful green eyes full of distaste. She watched him until he left the room, a tall proud man, every inch an autocrat, and then crumpled in a heap on the bed.

She hated herself for her involuntary response to his kiss. Even though it had been taken in anger every pulse had leaped into instant confusion and it had been difficult to hide her reaction. Had he not gone when he did, had he remained to check on her feelings, he would have undoubtedly discovered that she was in no way immune.

No one could touch a fire without getting burnt, nor could she touch Theo without a similar sensation. Not for the first time she asked herself what it all meant, why she reacted to him in this manner. There was one reason she refused to consider. It was too ludicrous for words.

She managed to get undressed and into bed without waiting for Katie, though each time she put her foot to the ground sharp pains shot through her ankle and it was a relief to lie down.

There were so many thoughts racing through her mind that it was impossible to sleep. She had never dreamed that Georgios was suffering from amnesia, but it answered so many questions that she wondered why the thought had never occurred to her. He could never have acted with such brilliance, he would surely have given himself away.

It was still a puzzle why she had never been told, although perhaps not so unlikely considering she was a total stranger in their midst. But why did Theo insist that she keep her own relationship with Georgios secret? This was a riddle she could not solve no matter how she tried.

She thought his excuse that the doctor had asked them to refrain from deliberately mentioning the past pathetic. Unless Georgios had something to hide? But what? Their life here seemed remarkably ordered and perhaps even dull. They followed a daily routine which never seemed to vary.

He had said, when she met him in England, that there was a rift between him and his family. This evidently had something to do with it. But unless anyone volunteered the information she could hardly go around asking.

Eventually she dropped into an uneasy sleep, waking when she heard the sound of voices outside her door. It was Theo and Georgios, but by the time she had pulled her wits together they had passed on.

She glanced at the clock and saw that it was a little after twelve. She had been in bed two hours. It felt like ten. She closed her eyes and wondered whether she could possibly make her way to Georgios’s room without arousing Theo. It was disappointing to admit that she could not. Her ankle would not allow her to tiptoe, and anything above that would surely be heard. Theo would be on his guard, more particularly since she had vowed to find a way to speak to Georgios. More than likely his door would be open—or her own locked!

The next few days were frustrating. Georgios did another of his disappearing acts, staying, she presumed, with Phrosini in Athens. Eleni had Nikos and they frequently took his boat over to Corfu. Admittedly they regaled her with accounts of what they had seen and done, but she could whip up no enthusiasm.

Mrs Alexidis paid her regular visits, but it was clear to Miranda that she did not approve of her keeping her supposed husband in ignorance of her condition, and Miranda was afraid to say too much in case she inadvertently triggered off another of her attacks.

She saw little of Theo. He dutifully called in each evening to see how she was progressing, but Miranda felt it was simply because he was anxious for her to be gone, and not because of any real interest in her wellbeing.

By the end of the week her ankle had mended sufficiently for her to be able to walk on it without experiencing too much pain. Mrs Alexidis lent her one of her sticks and with its aid she was able to move out of the house and into the gardens, enjoying the glorious sunshine, but not appreciating it truly, because above all she wondered how it was going to end.

Any day now Theo would declare she was fit enough to go home. And she knew without a shadow of doubt that he would keep Georgios away from here until she did so. She still had Phrosini’s address in her bag, but there was no way she could make it to Athens in her present condition. Not that Theo would let her get away with a second attempt. Once he considered her mobile enough to get about freely he would keep her under surveillance night and day.

On Saturday Georgios came home, although it was not surprising that she was allowed no time with him. On Sunday morning Eleni suggested they visit the caves. ‘Miranda must see them before she leaves,’ she said excitedly. ‘It is an experience no one visiting our island must miss.’

Miranda flickered a glance towards Theo, not believing he would agree to such a proposition. There would be every danger she could sneak a few minutes with Georgios, unless he devoted his entire attention to her.

Amazingly he smiled and nodded. ‘An excellent idea, Eleni. Ask Katie to pack lunch. We might as well make a day of it.’

They all piled into the Land Rover, Georgios driving, and went down the mountain road to the beach where Miranda had arrived a little over a week ago. She could not believe that it was such a short time. It seemed so very much longer. So much had happened since saying goodbye to Sallianne.

Had her friend received her letter? she wondered. Was she worried about the outcome of all this? There was no doubt that she had seen the result as inevitable, convinced before she came over here that Miranda was wasting her time. What would she make of this last momentous discovery? It was certainly a turn-up for the books. Neither had envisaged Georgios having an accident and losing his memory.

They boarded a smart white craft that was moored by the jetty. Nikos I, it was called, and as Nikos himself handled it Miranda could only assume it belonged to him.

The sea was a clear sparkling turquoise, iridescent as the boat churned its surface. The undulating hillsides of the island were cloaked in olives with only an occasional brilliant splash of wild flowers. It was a halcyon day, warm, but not too hot, the sky a cloudless blue.

Only the company was less than perfect. If she and Georgios alone were making this journey, how much they could sort out. He stood now with Theo on the opposite side of the deck, a smaller, slighter man, but attractive all the same. They both wore white shirts and cream slacks, but there was no disputing that Theo was the more aggressively masculine of the two.

Until he looked at her Miranda did not realise that she had concentrated her attention upon this older brother. Now she turned quickly away and pretended to see something of interest on the shoreline. Her heart thumped erratically and she wished desperately that he hadn’t the power to do this to her.

The attraction was magnetic. She could not keep her eyes or her mind off him. Quite what quality he possessed that caused her to react this way she could not work out. It was something stronger than herself. It went against every instinct. He spelt trouble, big trouble, yet she was more attracted to him than she was to Georgios. It was a fact, and there was nothing she could do about it.

When he touched her she jerked around, her heart thumping wildly. ‘You look lonely,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you join Eleni and Nikos?’

She glanced towards the helm. ‘I don’t think they’d thank me for it,’ Eleni’s head rested on Nikos’s shoulder, his arm curved about her slim waist. They were in a world of their own.

Miranda felt a pang of something approaching envy as it occurred to her that that was the sort of relationship she would like with Theo. Always they were at each other’s throats: How wonderful it would be to have him look at her the way Nikos did Eleni!

Admittedly Theo had kissed her, but it meant nothing. It was a game. He liked to prove to her that she was as ready to accept him as any other man. He wanted her to admit that she had no feelings for Georgios.

The trouble was, the longer she remained here the closer to the truth that became. Theo was ousting his brother as she had never expected any man to. He was proving to her that the love she thought she had felt for Georgios was not the real thing.

Maybe she should leave before Georgios regained his memory. It was becoming increasingly clear that she could not live happily with Georgios again. Always now Theo would intrude—not in the flesh, necessarily, but in spirit. He would live in her mind for ever.

She wished he would move. It grew more difficult to breathe with every second he stood near. They were not touching, yet she was as aware of the hard muscular strength of his body as if they were.

A white-hot heat shot from him to her and she had to swallow a tight constricting lump in her throat.

‘Pasakopi Cave is quite a sight if you’ve not seen it before,’ he said, making her jump because he had been silent so long, ‘It’s quite chilly, though. Have you brought a wrap?’

Miranda shook her head. ‘I didn’t know.’ But she would not feel the cold if Theo remained close. He lit fires within her that were as good as any coat.

Georgios joined them, leaning on the rail at her other side. It was quite something having these two Alexidis brothers so close, but devastating to realise that she had transferred her affections.

She tried not to look at either of them, glancing down at the clear sea, pointing in delight when she saw shoals of coloured fish alongside.

A slight breeze blew back her fine golden hair and she closed her eyes, lifting her face to the sun. It was the only way she could shut out these disturbing men. With every second that she spent in Theo’s company it became more clear that she was falling even deeper under his spell. There was something magnetic about him that attracted her no matter how violently she opposed it. It was almost as if fate had brought them together—but too late! She was already married to his brother! There was nothing either of them could do about that.

Not that Theo was drawn to her in the same way. He was concerned only that she leave the island, amusing himself at her expense in the meantime.

The boat hugged the coastline for a while, then Nikos dropped anchor and they went ashore in a rubber dinghy. There was a curve of white beach and beyond that an opening in the cliffside which Miranda presumed was Pasakopi Cave.

They left their picnic hamper on the beach, then walked across to the cave, Eleni and Nikos leading the way. Georgios followed, asking questions as if he had never seen the place before, and she and Theo brought up the rear.

It was a narrow opening and they went in one after the other, walking Indian file towards a faint light in the distance. The path sloped down, the cold sides of the mountain almost touching their heads. In fact Theo was compelled to stoop.

He was behind Miranda and she glanced back every few yards to make sure he was still there. ‘Hoping you might lose me?’ he quipped. ‘I’m afraid there’s no chance of that. I know these caves like the back of my hand. Are you cold?’

She touched the surface of her bare arms and they felt icy, but inside she glowed with warmth. ‘I’m all right,’ she said. ‘How far do we have to go like this, and what’s that light at the end?’

‘You’ll see in a minute,’ he replied. ‘The path widens soon, then you’ll have a spectacular view.’

His voice was close in her ear and when she looked over her shoulder he was so close that the shock made her lose her footing. She stumbled and he caught her quickly, pulling her back against the hard muscular length of his body.

Alarm bells rang in Miranda’s head as she savoured for a second this moment of contact. It would not be long now before she left the island and never saw Theo again. She could not afford to waste one precious minute of time.

‘Your ankle,’ he said harshly. ‘Is it painful? We’ve not much farther, but if you think it will be too much I will take you back to the beach. We can wait for the others there.’

It hurt, admittedly, but it was strapped up well, and she really did want to see this cave with its magical lake, tempting though the thought of spending time with Theo was.

‘I can manage,' she said, struggling to free herself from his suffocating embrace, wondering what the others might think if they saw them together like this.

He let her go, but as soon as the tunnel widened sufficiently for them to walk side by side he slid his arm about her, and other than cause a scene there was nothing Miranda could do.

Not that she really wanted to. It felt good, he would never know how much she enjoyed feeling his firm thigh touch hers, or the echo of his heart against her shoulder, or the red-hot warmth from his fingers where they rested beneath her breast. The ache in her stomach that she now associated with Theo had begun again, but when she looked ahead and saw Georgios walking alone she felt guilty and pulled roughly away. 'I can manage,' she snapped. ‘Don’t fuss!’

But although he did not touch her Theo continued to walk at her side, and her awareness of him increased rather than faded. For the moment, though, her attention was taken by the lake in the distance. What she had at first thought was a point of light was in fact a sheet of water lit by overhead sunlight through a hole in the roof of the cave.

The effect was dramatic and Miranda could not take her eyes away from it. When they caught up with the others they stood looking into the crystal-clear water. They could not see the bottom and Miranda asked Theo how deep it was.

'No one knows,' he admitted. ‘Many fathoms. My father used to say it was bottomless, although I think that was to scare us.'

‘I went in once,' said Eleni, ‘but I couldn’t find the bottom, and then Georgios told me that a sea monster lived in there and I’ve never tried again.’

Georgios smiled. ‘Twenty feet long with protruding eyes and a pointed tongue.’

Eleni squealed. ‘Georgios! You remember?’

He shook his head and blinked. ‘A brief flash, nothing more. Now it’s gone.’

‘But it’s a sign,’ said Eleni. ‘Oh, Georgios, I’m so glad!’ She flung her arms around her brother and hugged him. ‘Theo, say something, for pity’s sake, don’t stand there looking disapproving. It’s the first step. Isn’t it wonderful?’

Miranda knew what Theo was thinking. He was afraid that Georgios’s memory would return before he got rid of her. ‘I’m very pleased,’ he said tightly. ‘Good for you, Georgios. It shouldn’t take long now. How does it feel?’

Georgios shrugged and pulled a wry face. ‘No different. I can vaguely remember this cave, but that is about all. I know I’ve been here before, but cannot remember ever doing so. It’s a peculiar feeling. I can’t really explain it.’

‘Who cares?’ laughed Eleni. ‘It’s a beginning. Let’s take the boat out and see what else you remember.’

Miranda had not noticed the rowing boat anchored to one side of the lake. Now they all scrambled in, Georgios and Nikos taking an oar each, Eleni behind them, leaving Miranda to sit with Theo. The narrow seat was hard, designed only for one.

Again she found herself pressed against Theo, flames of desire leaping through her as each motion of the boat brought them closer together. She trailed her fingers into the water, surprised to discover it was ice-cold. She scooped a handful and it was as clear as tap water.

She felt sad, and it occurred to her that she did not want Georgios to regain his memory. She was suddenly, inexplicably afraid, afraid for the future. She wished with all her heart that she had never come here.

If she had waited Georgios would have returned as soon as he remembered. They would have resumed their married life and she would have been happy. Now she felt mixed up and unsure and wondered what the future held.

What would Georgios’s reaction be, she wondered, when he realised that she really was his wife? He would think it strange that she had not been even more insistent, but would he realise that it was Theo who had kept them apart? There were many questions to be answered, and she hated to think what Mrs Alexidis’s reaction would be.

The boat moved through into an inner cavern and for a moment Miranda forgot her fears. Stalactities hung in twisted shapes and sizes, some like storks on one leg, another like an old owl, yet others in the form of statues.

There was little light in this inner cave and Miranda shivered involuntarily. The weird shapes seemed to mock her and suddenly she longed for the warm sunshine.

Theo draped his arm across her shoulders and she leaned comfortingly against him, hearing Eleni ask Georgios whether he could remember anything else, but for the moment suspended in a world of her own.

This big handsome Greek made her forget everything and everyone. In his arms she was aware of him alone, hearing only the rapid beat of her heart and the rush of blood through her head.

The boat moved slowly back to the edge of the clear azure lake. Theo jumped out and offered Miranda his hand. As she looked down at the foot or so of water that separated them she saw his reflection, and unbidden came Eleni’s theory that if you tossed a coin you saw the face of the man you were going to marry.

Perhaps as well she hadn’t thrown in any money, considering she was already married, but she could not deny that the sight of Theo’s face in the water gave her a start.

There was a confident curve to his lips as he helped her across, making Miranda feel sure he knew exactly what thoughts were running through her mind, and he did not let her go until the tunnel forced them to move in single file.

It was a relief to breathe fresh air and feel the warm sun on her face, and because her ankle ached she flopped immediately down on the sand.

‘How about a swim before lunch?’ Eleni stood and looked at everyone, her hands on her hips, a picture of vitality, of youthful eagerness. Miranda wondered whether she had only just discovered that she loved Nikos. It certainly added a bloom to her cheeks and a sparkle to her eyes.

Nikos and Theo both agreed wholeheartedly and began shedding their clothes. They each wore swimming trunks and Eleni, too, had on her bikini beneath her dress.

Georgios looked at Miranda and shrugged expressively. ‘No one told me to come prepared. Looks like I’ll have to sit this one out.’

‘Me too,’ laughed Miranda, privately thinking it could not have worked out better had she planned it.

Involuntarily she looked at Theo, her heart jerking oddly at the sight of his near-nakedness, at the strongly muscled chest and long powerful legs.

There was a frown on his face as he glanced at them. ‘You are not joining us?’

‘We haven’t brought our swimming gear,’ said Georgios. ‘You should have said. I never realised Pasakopi Cave boasted such a splendid beach.’

‘My fault,’ said Theo at once. ‘But that’s no excuse. Use your underpants, they’ll soon dry in the sun. You, too, Miranda—don’t be shy. There’s no one here but us.’

Miranda was filled with longing as she looked into his dark disturbing face, shuddering uncontrollably but unable to tear her eyes away. She felt a primitive urge to feel that superb body next to hers and was tempted to do as he suggested. But she wanted to talk to Georgios and this might be the last chance she would get before leaving. ‘I’m tired,’ she said. ‘I’ll rest, if you don’t mind?’

He frowned, but there was nothing he could say in front of the others, so he swung on his heel and followed them into the inviting blue of the Ionian Sea.

Miranda watched him go, captivated by the sight of his deeply tanned body, conscious of the ache in her limbs, an overwhelming desire to run after him.

When Georgios spoke it was a while before she heard him. ‘You look as though you’re dying to get out there.’

She turned and smiled ruefully, glad he did not know her real thoughts. ‘Another day, perhaps, when my ankle’s better. I don’t think I should have walked on it so soon—it’s aching fit to burst. I’m glad your memory’s coming back, Georgios. I was shattered when I learned about it.’ She felt she ought to prepare him for the shock he would get when he discovered who she was. ‘Are you looking forward to remembering all that’s happened over the years?’

‘Wouldn’t you be?’ he parried.

‘It must be awful having to take for fact everything that anyone tells you, without really knowing for yourself whether it’s true.’

‘You mean I might not even be an Alexidis?’ he laughed.

‘Something like that,’ she agreed. Glancing towards the sea she saw Theo, his sister and Nikos all swimming strongly away from them. They appeared to be having a race of some sort. It would be a while yet before they came back. ‘Take, for instance, me saying you’re my husband. Don’t you wonder whether I’m speaking the truth?’

He looked at her, smiling ruefully. ‘Would I be so lucky? Theo never stops telling me that you’re not, and he should know. He says I’ve not been to England for many years. Why are you so persistent? I’m sure you’re not after money. I refuse to believe that.’

Yet he believed she was not his wife! Miranda looked at him sadly. It was uncanny the feeling it gave her when Georgios spoke like this. He really had no recollection of her at all.

She looked again at Theo in the water and recalled his insistence that Georgios must not be told about herself, or the baby—and knew she would do as Theo asked. It was madness, yet she could not help herself. Theo exercised a hold over her that she could not understand. All she knew was that she had to do what he said.

‘I can’t explain,’ she said quietly. ‘Not now. One day you’ll find out. Oh, look, they’re coming back. Let’s get the food ready—I’m starving!’ It was a relief to change the subject.

The meal was delicious—freshly baked bread, giant juicy tomatoes, garlic sausage and tasty salami, cucumber, onion, cheese and fruit, and plenty of wine to wash it down.

Miranda could not remember enjoying a meal so much. Whether it was the fresh air, or because Theo sat at her side, his long naked legs with their fine dark hairs curling close against the copper skin, stretched out alongside her own.

Whatever, it was an occasion she would never forget, and she felt sad when Eleni suggested they go home.

The boat trip seemed shorter than on the way out. In no time at all they were back at their starting point, climbing into the Land Rover and driving up the mountain to the villa.

There had been no further rock slides. The weather since the day she had sprained her ankle had been superb. The track was good now, the Land Rover climbing easily. Miranda looked out at the trees loaded with olives, caught glimpses of the sparkling sea through their feathery branches, and knew that this island had woven its magic spell over her.

Whether she remained here with Georgios or flew back to England alone, it would always hold a special place in her heart. She refused to consider that Theo might have something to do with it.

They pulled up outside the villa with a squeal of brakes, tumbling out, laughing over something Eleni had said. Theo was driving, so he took the vehicle round to the garage at the side of the house and Georgios draped a careless arm about Miranda’s shoulder.

'I've enjoyed today very much,' he said. ‘I hope you have too? Spraining your ankle can’t have been much fun-’

‘It’s been wonderful,’ said Miranda, smiling up into his face. A strange feeling came over her. How could Georgios touch her, talk to her, smile at her, yet not recall living with her, making love to her? She carried his baby. He had a right to know. It was wrong to keep it a secret, no matter what Theo said.

Eleni and Nikos had run on ahead. She was alone once again with her husband. It suddenly became important that she tell him. ‘Georgios,’ she began, ‘there’s something you ought to know. Theo was lying when he said you’d never been to ‑’

But Georgios was not listening. His hand had dropped from her shoulder, his steps faltering until he stood motionless, staring towards the villa, at the woman who had appeared on the verandah.

She was a tall striking woman with flashing black eyes and a haughty tilt to her chin. She wore a bright red dress that clung to her voluptuous figure like a second skin, her long fingernails painted to match.

Her lips were parted in an uncertain smile as she moved towards Georgios, her hips swaying sexily. Not for one moment did she take her eyes from his face.

Miranda looked from her to Georgios. It was clear the woman knew him, but did she know that he had lost his memory? His brows were creased in a tight frown as he struggled to remember.

Even as she watched comprehension dawned and he paled. ‘Zoe! You’ve—come back?’

He spoke in English, but the woman answered in Greek, accentuating her words with quick nervous gestures of her elegant hands. She paused to look questioningly at Miranda, then continued as if she was not there, finally flinging her arms round Georgios’s neck and pressing her lips to his.

Whatever Miranda had expected it was not for Georgios to return her kisses with an eagerness that embarrassed her. She tinned away, was relieved when she saw Theo walking towards them, his dark eyes taking in the touching little scene.

Neither Georgios nor the woman named Zoe heard him approach. They were temporarily lost in a world of their own. Miranda felt her cheeks flame even as Theo placed a protective arm about her shoulders.

‘I think Georgios’s memory has returned,’ she said in a choking whisper. ‘At least he seems to know this woman. Who is she?’

His fingers tightened, digging painfully into the soft flesh of her upper arms. ‘That—’ said Theo grimly, ‘is Georgios’s wife.’

Georgios’s wife, wife, wife. The word echoed mockingly in Miranda’s ears. Seconds later she fell in a dead faint.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Miranda gained consciousness as Theo carried her into the villa. Her eyes fluttered open and she struggled in his arms, recalling all too vividly the piece of information he had given her.

He held her more tightly and she looked up into his strong face, seeing a compassion and gentleness that had never been there before.

‘Tell me it’s not true!’ she shrilled. ‘Tell me I’m dreaming. I am Georgios’s wife, not that woman! Where is she? Where is Georgios? I must talk to him. He’ll remember me now, he’ll tell me you’re lying. Put me down, Theo. Put me down!’

To her own ears she sounded hysterical. She was hysterical. This was a nightmare. It couldn’t be true. Theo was making it up, it was yet another way of getting rid of her. Yet he looked concerned—as though he cared how she felt. Which was ludicrous. Theo cared about no one except himself—and maybe his mother.

‘Lie still,’ he ordered softly. ‘You’re in no state to walk.’

‘I want Georgios,’ she repeated stubbornly, not caring that she sounded like a child in a tantrum. She tried to look over his shoulder, but the whipcord arms bound her to him. She felt the throb of his heart and the warmth of his body, but for once was immune.

Theo laid her on a couch in the sitting room. The second he released her she struggled up, but he pushed her back down and kept his arm for a moment across her waist. ‘The time has come for the truth,’ he said. ‘I had hoped to spare you this ordeal. I had hoped to get you back to England before any of this came out. When I sent for Georgios I never realised things had gone this far. He has a lot to answer for.’

‘He sure has!’ Miranda sounded bitter. ‘That woman’s not his wife—he married me. And what do you mean, you sent for him? Why? Because he was living with me and you wanted to put an end to the relationship—or was it really because his mother was ill? I must admit she didn’t look so ill as I expected. Was it an excuse?’ In that moment she hated Theo very much. If he hadn’t interfered none of this would have happened.

‘My mother is extremely ill,’ he said gravely. ‘Only her strong constitution keeps her going. She refuses to give in. It upset her a great deal when Georgios and Zoe split up. Not a day went by when she did not ask about him. I didn’t tell her he was living with another woman—it would have broken her heart. It didn’t do her much good when he lost his memory, but at least he was home. I think she’s only hanging on to see him and Zoe back together.’

Miranda closed her eyes and shuddered. If Zoe was Georgios’s wife—and it did not sound as though there was any doubt about it—what did that make her? ‘What happened?’ she asked weakly. ‘Why did he leave her?’

‘She left him,’ said Theo tightly. Miranda looked at him and saw the grim line of his mouth. ‘She was never happy. She’s a very strong-willed woman and she found Georgios—weak. She walked out frequently, but always came back. I think deep down she loved him. On the last occasion, though, she swore she would never return. It was an ultimatum. She expected Georgios to go after her. He didn’t, he simply disappeared too. No one knew where he had gone.’

‘I suppose that was when he came to England?’ said Miranda weakly. ‘How did you find him?’

‘I employed someone to trace him,' he said. ‘My mother was so distraught that I needed to know where he was in case—he was needed here. I told no one.’

‘But you knew he’d married me?’

‘I knew he was living with a woman,’ said Theo. ‘I didn’t realise he’d been foolish enough to go through with a bigamous marriage. My God, if he’d wanted to bed a woman he could have done it without breaking the law!’

Miranda looked at him coldly. ‘As a matter of fact, the idea was mine. Strange as it may seem, there are some women who prefer to keep themselves for the man they marry.’

‘Meaning you wouldn’t go to bed with him unless he put a ring on your finger?’ He looked disgusted. ‘Poor Georgios! I wonder what he’d say if he knew I could make love to you any time I want to.’

‘No, you couldn’t,’ cried Miranda indignantly. ‘How dare you say such a thing!’ But beneath her outrage she had to admit it was true. He had never pressed her that far, but such were the feelings he could arouse that if he ever persisted she would be unable to refuse. ‘And I suppose it was you who returned my letters?’ she demanded. ‘You’ve known about me all along, despite what you’ve said!’

Theo inclined his head. ‘It was a necessity, and he’s certainly got himself into a mess now because of your precious virtue. How he’s going to explain you to Zoe, I don’t know. More especially the baby. She’s not going to like that, not one little bit. If they’d had a child in the first place it might have saved their marriage—your child could ruin it.’

‘My child?’ Miranda looked up the length of his body until she found his eyes. ‘Mine? It’s as much your brother’s. I want to see him. Where is he, for God’s sake? Go and find him, will you?’

‘I think,’ said Theo, smiling calmly, ‘he’ll come looking for you before long. It will be quite interesting to see how he tries to get out of it.’

Again Miranda shuddered and closed her eyes, and she was so pale that Theo bent over her. ‘Would you like a glass of water, some brandy maybe? I realise it’s been a shock. I wish I could have spared you finding out like this.’

‘You could,’ shot Miranda strongly, looking at him with cold resentment in her beautiful green eyes. ‘You could have told me. Why was it all so hush-hush? Even poor Georgios didn’t know what he’d done. Can you imagine the shock he must be feeling now?’

But no more than she felt. It crushed her completely to realise she was not legally married to Georgios. That her poor baby would have no father. How could he have done this to her? Why had he done it, for goodness’ sake?

‘He has no one but himself to blame for marrying you,’ said Theo harshly. ‘But so far as his amnesia is concerned, well ‑’ He sat down on the edge of the couch near Miranda’s feet. ‘The doctors felt it was his body’s way of shutting out something that was painful. The fact that his marriage wasn’t a success was his own fault—and he knew it, so subconsciously he didn’t want to remember. The doctor said that if we reminded him of his inadequacies it would retard his progress, that maybe he would never regain his memory. He told us not to mention his wife at all because she was the psychological block.’

He looked at Miranda bitterly. ‘I realise now that you, too, must have lain heavily on his mind. There was more than we realised that he didn’t want to remember. When you came on the scene claiming you were his wife, can you imagine how I felt? I’d no idea how I was going to stop you from telling everyone what he’d done. My only consolation was that no one but me knew he’d been to England.’

At last Miranda was getting a clear picture, but it did not excuse his brother for what he had done. The more she thought about Georgios’s deception the more angry she became, and because Theo was with her it was Theo she attacked.

‘So you decided to be as nasty to me as you possibly could, rather than tell me the truth? Didn’t it occur to you that it would have been by far the kindest thing to do, instead of making me feel as if I was going out of my mind?’

‘I couldn’t take the risk,’ he said.

‘What risk?’ she snapped.

‘That you might tell Georgios. Can you imagine the strain it would have put him under? It was exactly what the doctor was trying to avoid.’

‘No more than the strain he must be feeling now,’ she cried. ‘He won’t thank you for what you’ve done, I’m quite sure.’

Theo looked at her coldly. ‘He hadn’t lost his memory when he married you. He knew exactly what he was doing. If it bothers him now it’s his own fault.’

‘My God, you’re hard!’ said Miranda strongly. ‘I’m glad you’re not my brother. You’d do no one any favours. What do you want me to do now, go home before Zoe discovers what he’s done?’

‘After thinking about it, I feel he won’t tell her,’ he said. ‘And I don’t want you to say anything either. For one thing, it won’t help their marriage, for another Zoe would be sure to tell my mother, and this is something she must never find out. He must not bring disgrace to the family.’

‘Georgios should have thought of that,’ she cried. ‘Why should I keep quiet? He’s ruined my life, does he deserve any better?’

Theo looked into her heated face and there was sorrow in his eyes. ‘My mother does,’ he said quietly. ‘You admitted you’re fond of her, so for her sake, if no one else’s, I ask you to hold your tongue.’

Miranda turned her head away, clenching her teeth in bitter despair. Her whole life was in shreds because of this family, and he asked her to say nothing!

‘I think I’d like to go to my room,’ she said faintly. She needed time to think, to sort herself out. Georgios had evidently taken Zoe off somewhere to patch up their quarrel, Eleni and Nikos were—goodness knows where. They had probably found themselves a quiet corner where they could be alone, having not yet discovered that the errant Zoe had returned.

No sooner had she spoken than she felt Theo’s arms about her, swinging her up, holding her firm against his muscular chest. ‘It’s best,’ he said. ‘You need to rest.’ He felt her trembling. ‘I think I should call the doctor. In your condition--’

‘You know nothing about my condition,’ she cried angrily. ‘For Pete’s sake stop fussing! I’m perfectly all right. I want to be alone with my thoughts, that’s all. You’ve no idea what it’s like to be told your husband is no longer your husband, that he never has been, that you’ve been breaking the law, living in sin.’

‘In sin?’ He looked amused. ‘I thought in your country no one cared much about that sort of thing these days?’

‘I do,’ she declared loudly. ‘Put me down! I can walk upstairs quite easily. There’s no need to treat me like an invalid.’

Very carefully Theo did as she asked. ‘Would you like Eleni to keep you company? Or Katie perhaps to help you into bed?’

‘I’m not going to bed,’ she protested. ‘Just leave me alone. It’s your fault this has happened. If you’d told me the truth when I got here I’d have accepted it by now and gone back home. I hate you, Theo, I really do, and I pity any girl who’s foolish enough to marry you. You’ve no idea what makes a woman tick. I doubt you’ve ever taken the time to find out. You always do what you think is best, regardless that someone might get hurt!’

She swung away and headed towards the door, wishing her legs felt stronger. They were going to let her down before she got out of the room. But somehow she made it, and when Theo did not follow she was able to pause outside and rest.

He had not looked pleased by her outburst, but it was time someone told him a few home-truths. She was right, no matter what he thought. He was almost forty, and not married. It spoke for itself. No one wanted him. He was far too dictatorial, he had had his own way for too long to ever care about anyone else.

By the time she reached her room Miranda was glad to throw herself down on the bed. She felt sick and the room spun, and she closed her eyes and wished herself a thousand miles away.

Why had Georgios done this to her? Why had he married her when he already had a wife? She understood now what he had meant by a rift in the family. She had thought he meant his mother, his brothers or sisters. In point of fact he meant Zoe.

Had he been trying to console himself, was that why he had married her? But had he really needed to go to such lengths? And now, the million-dollar question, would he go back to Zoe? Or were their differences such that they would never be reconciled even if Zoe was prepared to give it a chance? Was it herself he loved now?

Except that she no longer loved him! It was suddenly clear that it was Theo she loved. At last she felt free to admit it; there seemed no point in hiding her feelings any longer.

Not that she would ever get anywhere with Theo. He was not the marrying type. Had he been some woman would have trapped him before now. And who would want to marry such a bossy character anyway?

She must leave. She would go back to England and her new house that she and Georgios had furnished with such loving care—no, she had furnished—with Georgios’s money. He had not seemed to care what went into it, and he would not mind her keeping it, she felt sure. It was the least he could do.

In one way she could understand Zoe being disappointed in him, more especially if she was a highly independent sort of woman. Georgios’s weakness would be even more striking.

When her door was pushed cautiously open she half expected Theo come to see how she was. Instead it was Georgios, an embarrassed expression on his face, white teeth biting his lower lip nervously. ‘Miranda, what can I say? It’s all come back to me. I feel awful.’

She sat up and felt suddenly strong. Now she knew for certain that she not longer loved him it made everything so much easier. ‘You can start by telling me why you did it.’

He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hands into his. She was surprised to feel him trembling. ‘You know what happened?’

‘Theo told me,’ she nodded. ‘I guess it was a shock to us both, except that when you married me you knew exactly what you were doing. Why, Georgios? Please tell me why?’

For a moment he closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands. A shudder ran through him. Then slowly he looked at her, pain filling his brown eyes. ‘I needed to prove myself. It’s not easy to tell you this, but—Zoe’s so different from me. She’s strong, where I’m not. She was the dominant partner in our marriage and—she used to scare me. I loved her, don’t get me wrong, and I still do—but I could never manage the—physical side of things. She expected me to ‑’

‘It’s all right,’ cut in Miranda, hating to see his distress. ‘You needn’t go into detail. I think I’m beginning to understand.’

‘It was different with you,’ he said, ‘you were so undemanding, so gentle and kind. I thought that if ‑’

‘You could practise on me, it would be all right when you got back with Zoe?’ Miranda smiled wryly, surprised she felt no anger. ‘Except that I insisted on marriage before we made love. Perhaps I’m to blame?’

‘I ought to have gone after her,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘She would have thought more of me if I had. You’ve no idea what it’s like to feel inferior. I suppose it all began when I was a child. Theo was always my father’s favourite. They were of the same mould. Perhaps I should have been a girl. Neither of them lost any opportunity to tell me what a disappointment I was.’

‘So you clung to me because I was different, and I was drawn to you because I’d never had any family of my own. You represented security to me, Georgios. Did you know that? I don’t think I really loved you, not in the way a woman should love her husband.’

His face lightened fractionally. ‘You mean that? You really mean that?’

‘Yes, Georgios,’ she said sincerely. ‘I hope that you and Zoe will make a go of it this time. I honestly do. Have you told her—about me?’

He shook his head. ‘I hadn’t the guts. I suppose I’ll have to.’

Miranda smiled and touched his cheek with a gentle finger. ‘Don’t! It won’t help. I’m going back to England. The only other person who knows is Theo, and he won’t say anything. He was all for getting rid of me in the first place. I wish I’d never come,’ she added ruefully.

‘I don’t,’ said Georgios. ‘I’m glad you’ve seen my home, and met my mother. You must have thought it very strange I never brought you to see them.’

‘Not so strange as when you didn’t know me,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t imagine what was going on. I thought it was some plan you and Theo had concocted, but I couldn’t think why you were letting him do it to you. It must have been terrible not being able to remember anything. Can you recall now what caused the accident?’

He nodded grimly. ‘Indirectly it was Theo. He phoned me to say my mother had had another heart attack, and that it was all my fault. It was a shock to hear his voice. I had no idea he even knew I was in England. In the twelve months I’d been living there I’d had no communication with any of the family.

‘Naturally, though, I left immediately, especially when he said she wasn’t expected to live. He met me at the airport in Corfu and immediately tackled me about you. I said it was none of his business, but Theo said it was when it made Mother ill.’ Georgios’s eyes clouded.

‘It upset her that Zoe and I didn’t get on. Our wedding had been arranged by our respective parents and although I didn’t feel ready for marriage I went through with it. I loved Zoe and she loved me. It was not until we were married that we discovered our incompatibility in bed. I reckon I was as much a disappointment to Zoe in that respect as I’d been to my father in other ways.’

‘But the accident,’ insisted Miranda, ‘you still haven’t told me.’

He looked confused for a moment. ‘I’m sorry, I got carried away. It was after Theo and I had argued about you. I couldn’t bear to listen to him any longer—he sounded just like my father. I simply ran away. I saw this air-freight van bearing down on me and the next thing I knew I was in hospital. I couldn’t even remember who I was.’

‘You’ve told Zoe about all this, of course?’

‘Except you,’ he nodded. ‘I feel awful about it, but ‑’

‘But it wouldn’t help,’ she finished for him. ‘I know that, Georgios. It’s far better that she never hears about me.’ Or the baby! Even Georgios must never know about the baby.'

Quite unconsciously she put her hand on her stomach, as if by so doing she could hide her secret from him. ‘Where’s Zoe now? You mustn’t let her catch you here.’

‘She’s with my mother,’ he said, and smiled. ‘She’s telling her the good news.’ He caught Miranda’s hand urgently. ‘Miranda, I can’t thank you enough for the way you’re taking this. I’ve messed up your life, haven’t I? I hope you find some nice guy who can make you happier than me.’

‘I wasn’t unhappy,’ she said, tears welling, ‘only when you left. But I realise now that even if there hadn’t been Zoe we’d have split up sooner or later.

Ours wasn’t the right kind of love. We needed each other, that’s all. And if I’ve helped you come to terms with yourself, then some good’s come out of it. I shall never forget you, Georgios.’

‘Nor me you,’ he said, and he looked suspiciously near to crying himself. ‘I must join Zoe now, Mother will be expecting me. Thank you, Miranda. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

He gave her a swift kiss and left, and Miranda lay down again, feeling drained and shaken. The future looked empty. She would have a baby, her constant reminder of her unfortunate affair with Georgios, but no husband. No man would look at her twice when he realised she had a child to bring up.

Not long after that Eleni and Nikos came to her room. ‘We’ve been looking all over for you,’ said Eleni excitedly. ‘Georgios’s memory has returned, isn’t it wonderful? And his wife’s come back—oh, you didn’t know about her, did you? It was a taboo subject, until Georgios was better.’

‘So I believe,’ smiled Miranda. ‘Theo told me—and I’ve seen Georgios too. I’m so pleased for him.’

‘And guess what?’ bubbled Eleni. ‘Nikos and I have fixed the date. We’re getting married at Christmas. Everything’s happening. Oh, I’m so happy I could cry!’

Nikos said, ‘Is that supposed to be a compliment?’

She laughed and kissed him, then said to Miranda, ‘All we need now is for you to make it up with your husband. Your ankle’s better, isn’t it? You’ve no excuse now not to go and see him.’

Miranda decided it was time to end this story once and for all. ‘I’m sorry, Eleni,’ she said, ‘but the truth is I’m not actually married. I—I’d been having problems and I came away to sort myself out. Thanks to all of you I now have everything clear in my mind. I’m going back to England as soon as I can. Tomorrow, I hope.’

‘Man problems?’ suggested Eleni slyly. ‘Someone who looked a little like Georgios, making it all the more difficult to forget this man who made you unhappy? If you want my advice, Miranda, if you love him, grab him; if you don’t, kick him out of your life once and for all.’

‘As she tried to do me,’ laughed Nikos, ‘except that I’m like a rubber ball, I always bounce back. Eleni did not know what was good for her. Make sure you do not make the same mistake.’

Miranda murmured something noncommittal and they left. She did not fancy going down to dinner that evening, but could think of no way to get out of it. It hurt though, seeing Georgios with Zoe. The girl clearly loved him very much, and Georgios, too, seemed a different character. He had a new confidence that had hitherto been missing. It looked, Miranda thought, as though things were going to run smoothly for them after all. Their long break had done them both good.

Eleni and Nikos, too, had eyes only for each other. That left herself and Theo—Mrs Alexidis having declined to come down to dinner.

‘She’s very tired,’ said Theo. ‘All this excitement in one day is too much for her.’

‘But I expect she was pleased about Zoe and Georgios?’ Miranda recalled the occasion at dinner when she learned of Georgios’s loss of memory. His mother had gone quite faint. Now she realised why. It must have been on this poor woman’s mind all the time. Thank goodness she had never confessed to their meeting in England, their marriage. It would have killed her.

‘It is a weight off her mind,’ admitted Theo. ‘And now that Eleni and Nikos have named the day she is happier and more content than I have seen her in a long time.'

They talked politely for the rest of the evening. In fact it seemed to her that Theo was unusually polite. He treated her as one would any visitor to the house; he was kind, attentive, courteous, but nothing more.

Not once did his eyes soften, or his fingers accidentally touch hers. He was very careful to keep everything on an impersonal level. He was glad, she thought, that she was going. There was no longer any need for him to pay her attention. .

It was clear that on the several occasions when he had kissed her he had done so with the express purpose of emphasising the difference between himself and Georgios. He had hoped to turn her off his brother, to make her see that any relationship she had had with him was finished. Now Zoe had done the job for him.

His wife turning up so suddenly had brought Georgios’s memory back with a jolt. And they both seemed prepared to give themselves another chance. This time, it would work, Miranda felt sure. She harboured no bitterness. She was sad, naturally, that it had turned out like this, but at least he had given her a child.

All her life she had wanted a family of her own. Now she had one. The baby would want for nothing. She would devote all her love and attention to it; everything she herself had missed out on as a child, this one would have.

She refused to think about Theo, about her love for him. There was no point. Eleni had already told him that she was planning to leave.

‘I’ll see to your ticket,’ he said, and there was no way of knowing whether he was relieved or sorry. His face was as expressionless as it had ever been.

The next morning Theo came into her room before she was up. About to order him out, Miranda saw something in his eyes that stopped her. ‘My mother died during the night,’ he said quietly. Only the slight droop to his shoulders and a pulse flickering in his jaw gave away his distress.

‘Oh, Theo, I’m so sorry.’ The words were inadequate, but what else could she say?

‘Don’t be,’ he said brusquely. ‘She died peacefully in her sleep, it is the way she would have wanted to go. It was all too much for her, Georgios’s memory coming back, he and Zoe reunited, Eleni and Nikos agreeing to get married at last. It is what she has prayed and hoped for. I am happy that she is now at rest.’

Miranda felt tears prick the back of her eyes. ‘I loved your mother, Theo. I’m thankful she never knew about Georgios—and me. I wouldn’t have liked that on my conscience.’

‘I’m grateful you never told her,’ he said gravely. ‘There will be much to do now. You will stay for the funeral, of course? She would want that. She was fond of you too. She wanted you to be happy, it dismayed her to think that you were parted from—the father of your child. It was not natural, she said.’

The tears flowed freely now. No one had ever worried over her before. She thought Theo gave her a compassionate look, but through the blur of her tears she could be mistaken. She nodded and swallowed a constricting lump in her throat.

He went then, and Miranda thought about the old lady. Dear Mrs Alexidis! She had lived only to see her children settled. Now she would be reunited with her beloved Alexandras. Theo would continue to run the shipping line, Georgios—the new Georgios—would no doubt continue to help. Eleni and her Nikos would get married and have children. And she would probably never see any of them again.

The following days were clouded by sadness over the old lady’s death. It took the edge off Eleni’s happiness and the two brothers were kept busy making the arrangements.

They were a well-known and well-liked family. Condolences flowed in from all over the world, but following Mrs Alexidis’s instructions only immediate family were attending the funeral. Miranda felt she should not be there, but when she voiced her unease she was immediately shouted down.

‘Mother loved you as though you were her own daughter,’ Eleni told her. ‘Even on such short acquaintance. I know this is what she would want.’

And Zoe, who had at first been resentful of this stranger in their midst, said it was unthinkable she should leave now. ‘Georgios’s mother told me how you had arrived here accidentally. It is indeed an honour to be invited to stay in the Alexidises’ villa. She would be most distressed if she knew you were thinking of going.’

So Miranda had stayed, attending the service in their own private chapel, shedding tears of grief, not only for the old lady, but her own lost happiness. Little had she realised when setting out so hopefully from London such a short time ago that it would end like this.

The house seemed full with Phrosini and Cleo and their respective husbands, but once they had returned to Athens, and Nikos, too, said he could stay away from his work no longer, there were only the three girls in the house for the biggest part of the day.

Georgios and Zoe were very happy and Miranda could look at them without feeling the slightest pang of unease or jealousy. Nor did she hold it against Georgios for what he had done. She understood his reasons and was glad that he had at last found true happiness.

But it was time she went. She spoke to Theo during dinner a day or two after the funeral. ‘There’s no point in me staying any longer. Will you arrange my flight, please?’

He looked at her and there was no hint of emotion on his face. ‘If that is what you want, then I will see to it immediately.’

What did he mean, if that was what she wanted? What choice had she? What reason to stay any longer? Considering how eager he had been to get rid of her in the first place, it was a strange statement to make now.

‘Thank you,’ she answered politely.

She wondered why he was so distant from her these days. It hurt more deeply than she cared to admit. Only by exercising a great deal of will-power was she able to tell herself that she did not care.

She made herself believe this. It was the only way. If she gave in to the love that burned inside her she would be unhappy for the rest of her life. It was time to be strong. Once away from here she would forget Theo. She would settle down and have her baby and there would be no need for anyone else. Her life would be full. She would like to think that she could forget the Alexidis family altogether, but with her baby as a constant reminder that would be impossible.

Theo came to her room before breakfast the next morning, tapping on the door and waiting for her to call him in before entering. ‘I’ve phoned the airport. They can get you on a flight this morning. Is that too soon?’

His formality was almost too much to bear. He looked devastating in silver-grey trousers and a crisp white shirt, his jaw freshly shaven and the familiar smell of musk emanating from him.

‘That will do fine,’ she whispered, feeling close to tears. ‘It won’t take me long to pack.’ She could not take her eyes off his face. She wanted to remember every tiny detail; those unusual bronze eyes, his arrogant aquiline nose, and that infinitely kissable mouth.

Even looking at him she could recall the feel of his lips against her own. His kisses had been nectar. They had drugged her, excited her, stimulated her—and now she would never experience them again.

‘You look unhappy,’ he said surprisingly. ‘If it’s money you’re worried about, there’s no need. I will see that you are adequately provided for. The baby— do you intend keeping it?’

Miranda’s eyes widened. ‘What a stupid question! Of course I do. You didn’t really think I’d want to get rid of it simply because Georgios is—has—produced another wife?’

‘I see,’ he said quietly, stepping further into the room. ‘Do you hold it against Georgios? What are your feelings for him? Do you still love him?’

Had she ever? It was a debatable question. ‘There’s not much point, is there?’ she queried, refusing to give him an outright answer. ‘He’s happy now, at least I can be glad of that.’

Surprisingly he sat down on the edge of the bed. ‘You’re a remarkable woman, Miranda. Not many would take it like this.’

Only if they discovered they had never really loved their husband, and now loved his brother instead! Waves of sensation cascaded through her. Theo was far too close for comfort. She closed her eyes and willed him to go away.

He mistook her action for sorrow and touched her face, stroking back her fine shining hair, murmuring something in his own language.

Miranda quivered and shrank back against the pillow, afraid to look at him. She did not want his pity. ‘I’m all right,’ she managed to husk. ‘If you’ll go—I’ll get ready—and—I won’t be a nuisance to you any ‑’

Her words were cut off as his mouth closed on hers. Common sense told her to fight him off, but it was too good an opportunity to miss, whatever his motive might be.

It was a tender, infinitely sweet kiss. There was no animal passion such as she had experienced before, it was as though he was trying to atone for Georgios’s mistake, to assure her that all was well, that he would see she never wanted for anything.

But even though it lacked passion it aroused her as much as if not more than if he had taken her in hunger. It took every ounce of will-power not to wrap her arms round his neck and hold him close. She lay submissive, savouring each tiny movement of his mouth, exulting in the ripples of desire which chased through each and every limb. She might never again experience such a searing emotion. No other man would have the power to disturb her so deeply.

When he lifted his head she opened her eyes, and caught an emotion that was difficult to understand. It was a mixture of regret, desire and perhaps sadness. A fleeting glimpse of the man inside. It occurred to her that he did not want her to leave.

She lifted her hands and touched his face, one palm on each cheek, steadying it so that she could look into his eyes. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time. There was hidden depths she never discovered before, fires burning deeply. For a rare moment he had left himself wide open, cast that inscrutable mask to one side.

Their eyes locked and there was no way that either of them could turn away. Miranda’s heart drummed louder and louder until it was an actual physical pain in her breast. The blood pounded in her ears and she felt as though she was going to faint.

As if from a distance she heard Theo ask if she was all right. Her nod was barely discernible, she was afraid to move in case she broke the spell that bound her to him.

Then with a superhuman effort he stood up, dragging his limbs as though they were made of lead, battling with himself every inch of the way. Miranda lifted her hands to him. ‘Theo, why are you going?’

His lids snapped like shutters over his eyes and the next second they had assumed their customary hardness. ‘Because it’s insanity,’ he said roughly.

‘What is?’ she cried.

‘Me—feeling like this—about you.’ The words were thick—and reluctant.

Her heart stopped, then raced at double-quick time. ‘How—do you—feel?’ she enquired hesitantly, faintly.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ he snarled. ‘And it’s bloody stupid, when you hate my guts!’ He swung away and strode to the door, yanking it open with a savage hand.

Miranda shot out of bed, and was at his side before he stepped through the doorway. It was now or never. If he meant what she thought he meant, then she had to speak before it was too late. ‘Theo!’ She touched his arm. ‘I don’t—hate you. I ‑’ she swallowed painfully, ‘I love you.’

Her eyes had never been more eloquent. They filled her pale face, twin lustrous pools of pain and love, of doubt; pleading for him to understand, to believe, to accept. Her whole future hung in the balance. If he rejected her now, if she was wrong ... It did not bear thinking about.

She trembled and closed her eyes, then felt herself caught by a pair of strong arms, clamped to an iron-hard body. A tremor ran through him, reminding her of the rock slide in the storm. This man of stone was crumbling. She had not been mistaken.

With a cry she lifted her head and their lips met in a kiss that was hard and demanding, that was full of desire and intensity, a kiss that said it all.

It was long minutes before Theo reluctantly moved, then Miranda nestled her head in his shoulder, afraid to look at him.

He stroked her hair for a moment, then abruptly put her from him. ‘I’d like to believe you, Miranda.’ There was a tightness to his jaw that she could not understand. ‘But—well, you thought you loved my brother once. What I’m looking for is a permanent relationship, not a transient affair. The woman I marry will be mine for life.’

She stared at him, feeling something die inside her. ‘You still think that I’m—gold-digging, perhaps?’ Her voice was little more than a whisper. God, what a fool she had been! How could she have been naive enough to think that he would believe her? He was well within his rights to doubt she was capable of loving anyone deeply enough to last a lifetime. She had not made a very good job of loving Georgios. Even if she had not found out about Zoe it would not have lasted. She had been crazy ever to get herself involved.

And now she was an even bigger idiot for telling Theo how she felt. Her own selfish desire for happiness had blinded her to the fact that he might not feel the way she did. He desired her, that was all. He did not love her. He couldn’t do, or he would not reject her like this.

‘I know you’re not after money,’ he said quietly. ‘I must admit, I did at first think that that was why you’d latched on to Georgios. But as I grew to know you I realised I’d been mistaken.’

‘Perhaps I should be grateful for that,’ she returned bitterly. ‘Please go. I don’t want to miss that plane.’

She held her breath, hoping he would ask her to stay, but he nodded grimly and walked out, and the click of the door seemed to Miranda to seal her fate.

But she did not allow herself to cry. She had made the biggest mistake in her life telling Theo she loved him, and it hurt like hell that he did not believe she was sincere. God knew why he thought she had said it. But she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing that she was upset.

She flung everything into her case, took a quick shower, and carefully made up her face. When she went downstairs Theo had already told the others she was leaving. Eleni made her promise to come back for the wedding at Christmas, but Miranda knew she would never set foot on this island again.

Georgios looked sad, hugging her briefly, unable to say much in front of Zoe. Miranda’s eyes were very bright. It was not easy to part so casually from a man who had once been your husband, a man who had not the slightest idea that she was expecting his baby.

Theo was taking her to the airport. The helicopter sat on its pad waiting and they were airborne all too soon. Neither spoke in the short flight across to Corfu. Miranda looked down at the brilliant sea, at the various islands scattered like jewels, and felt an incredible ache.

She had come here after one man, finished up by loving another, and was now going home without either.

At the airport he waited with her, still silent, unaware of the pain he was causing. Miranda could not wait for the moment she boarded; not until then would she be able to relax, drop the guard she had erected for his benefit.

It was a distinct shock when Theo walked to the plane with her, climbing the steps and taking a seat at her side. ‘What the hell ‑?’ she demanded angrily.

‘I want to see you safely home,’ he said.

‘To England?’ she queried incredulously.

He inclined his head. ‘You’re in no fit state to travel alone.’

‘Because I’m pregnant? For pity’s sake, Theo, it’s nothing. I’m as fit as a fiddle. Get off now, before it’s too late.’

‘And waste my ticket?’ He settled more comfortably into his seat, putting his head back and closing his eyes. There was a hint of a smile on his lips.

Miranda could not imagine why he was doing this. It was yet another of his incredible games. She folded her hands in her lap and wondered how she was going to get through the next few hours.

It was not until the plane had taken off that he spoke. ‘What makes you think you love me?’

It was such an unexpected question that Miranda’s head jerked and she looked at him with wide questioning eyes.

‘I wasn’t mistaken, was I?’ he asked. ‘You did say that?’

Her heart raced, but she refused to be drawn. 'I can’t see what point there is in discussing my feelings now.’ The most peculiar sensations were skidding through her limbs and there was nothing at all she could do to stop them.

She was more aware of Theo than she had ever been, of the long length of thigh so close to her own, the tough masculine body, and hands that could be gentle as well as ruthless.

‘You once thought you loved Georgios,’ he said softly. ‘I want to know why you transferred your affections to me. Or did you perhaps never love my brother? Am I mistaken and it was his wealth you were interested in?’

‘I imagined I loved Georgios,’ she admitted cautiously. ‘I realise now that it wasn’t the real thing. He represented security, although I don’t expect you to understand that.’

‘I’m afraid I don’t,’ he said. ‘You’re a very bad judge of character if you thought that about my brother.’

Miranda shook her head. ‘I knew he had his weaknesses. I don’t mean that. You see, my parents died when I was three and after that I never had a real home. I had no relatives, no one, merely a succession of foster-parents, none of whom were interested in a long-term commitment.’

‘So you grabbed the first man who came along who was wealthy enough to set you up in a home of your own?’

Miranda shot him a scornful glance. ‘I’m not mercenary! If you hadn’t ordered him back to Salamyndros we would still be together.’

‘It wouldn’t have lasted,’ he said. ‘Sooner or later Georgios would have felt a twinge of conscience—if not about his wife, then for my mother. We’re a very close-knit family, like all Greek families, and he must have known how upset she was by his disappearance.’ Miranda said nothing; what was there to say? What point was there in any of this? All Theo was doing was crucifying her slow minute by slow minute.

‘I’m sorry he deceived you,’ he said, ‘I really am. One way and another he’s made quite a mess of your life.’

‘I’ll survive,’ she shrugged. 'There are plenty of one-parent families. It won’t be easy, I know, but—I’ll manage—and without any help from you!' She shot this last statement belligerently, glaring as she did so.

‘I admire independence.’ There was a smile on his lips. ‘But it’s no good making your life a misery. Is that really the sort of lifestyle you want? Hasn’t your experience with my brother left you hankering after the better things in life?’

‘Money isn’t everything,’ she declared tightly.

‘How about love?’ It was a loaded question.

She refused to look at him, twisting her fingers nervously together. ‘Love isn’t everything either.’

‘Isn’t it?’ He tilted her chin towards him, his fingers firm. She was compelled to look into his eyes. ‘You said you loved me. I shouted you down, but now I’m asking you again whether it’s true?’

‘Does it matter?’ she husked, her breast heaving as she fought for control, a lump in her throat threatening to choke her if he did not let her go. ‘You don’t love me—so it’s really of no importance how I feel.’

His eyes never moved from her face. ‘I didn’t want to believe you. I told myself you were not to be trusted. I’ve been rotten to you, Miranda, I freely admit that, but ‑’ He stopped and sighed and searched for the right words. ‘But you’ve got to me like no other woman ever has. I simply couldn’t let you go, I had to find out whether you were speaking the truth.’

‘And now you know.’ She could not move, but she lowered her lids, looking down at the big capable hand that gripped her chin. Tiny dark hairs grew out of each pore and his gold watch peeped from beneath a white cuff.

‘You do love me?’

She nodded, still not looking at him. ‘I’m such a fool.’

‘Oh, Miranda,’ he groaned, and heedless of the other passengers he drew her into his arms. ‘Miranda, it’s me who the fool, a suspicious, lily-livered fool. I’ve been afraid of my own feelings, do you know that? I’ve fought and fought against falling in love with you—I’ve told myself you’re all kinds of a rotter—but it’s no use. I love you, Miranda.’

She looked at him then, her eyes filled with sadness. ‘I wish you hadn’t told me. It’s going to make it all the harder when we part.’

He stiffened and held her an inch or two away, his face fierce all of a sudden. ‘What do you mean? I want to marry you, Miranda, once everything’s sorted out. Haven’t I made myself clear?’

‘How can you?’ she cried. ‘Aren’t you forgetting the baby? Heavens, I can’t expect you to bring up another man’s child!’

A smile softened his features and he relaxed, weaving his fingers through her hair so that he could hold her head close and kiss her. ‘Not another man, chryso mou—my brother. It makes a world of difference. And besides, we’ll have children of our own, lots of them. They’ll all be Alexidises.’

‘It doesn’t seem right,’ Miranda demurred.

Theo shook his head indulgently. ‘I don’t mind, and surely that’s all that matters? It’s a delicate situation, I agree. If Georgios knew, he would want it, he’d fight tooth and nail for it, but could you see Zoe accepting another woman’s baby, even if her husband was the father? She’d go for good if she ever found out. This has to be our secret, Miranda. We’re doing them a favour. We can always pass it off as premature—or even let them think that ‑’

He did not go on, he did not need to. Miranda felt a' golden warmth flow through her. She was being offered a chance of happiness that she had never expected.

But she was still not sure that she would be doing the right thing. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘It’s too much to expect of you. There must be plenty of other more suitable girls. You can’t have reached the age you are without falling in love. Why have you never married?’ He grinned, his teeth very white against his copper-tanned face. ‘You think there’s something wrong with me? I’m afraid it’s more prosaic than that. It used to be the custom in Greece for the eldest son to see all his sisters married before himself. Admittedly, this tradition is not so common these days, but it was my father’s wish—and as I never happened to find a girl I wanted to marry, it was no hardship. Now Eleni’s settled and I’ve met you, and I have no wish to remain a bachelor any longer. So you see, you have no excuse.’

‘I can’t believe it,’ murmured Miranda. ‘Aren’t you jealous of Georgios?’

‘Like hell,’ he admitted. ‘But also grateful to him for bringing you to me. I think I knew the moment we met that I was in danger of falling in love.’

‘And I felt attracted to you. I was so ashamed, because I still thought I loved Georgios. Then when he refused to acknowledge me, and I spent more time in your company than his ‑’

‘You couldn’t resist me,’ Theo interjected wickedly. ‘I think we were made for each other. I think fate had decided we should meet long before we did.’

He kissed her then, and all Miranda’s fears faded. She even forgot they were not alone, returning his kisses with an abandon that surprised herself and delighted him.

‘Chryso mou. I do love you,’ he murmured into her hair. ‘I wish I could marry you right now.’

She smiled and shook her head. ‘What an impatient man you are, and what is this chryso mou you keep calling me? I hope it’s something nice.’

‘It means my golden one,’ he replied. ‘Because of your hair. It’s so beautiful, like threads of sunshine. You’ll always be my golden one, Miranda, even when you’re old and grey. You’ve brought joy into my heart such as I have never known.’

He paused, then said softly, ‘I hope my mother is looking down on us. She said it was a pity that you were married, because she thought you would make me an admirable wife.’

‘I never knew,’ said Miranda. ‘I do hope she forgives my deception. I never actually lied, I just let her think Eleni’s assumption was right. It seemed best.’

‘It was best,’ Theo agreed. ‘She died a happy woman, and you are now making me a happy man. What more can we ask?’

‘Nothing,’ said Miranda blissfully, nestling into the warmth and strength of his arms.