The Innocent's Surrender (11 page)

Andonis was glaring at him. ?You dare to address our sister by her given name?? he challenged belligerently.

She put a hand on his arm. Her legs were shaking under her, but she kept her voice clear and steady. ?You do not understand, brother. Kyrios Mandrakis has invited me to become his companion for a while, and I?I have accepted.?

She added, ?So there?s really no more to be said.?

And, head held high, she walked the length of the hushed room to where Alex waited for her, a faint smile playing about his mouth.

CHAPTER SIX

AS N ATASHA reached him, Alex took her hand and raised it courteously to his lips, only to turn it so that his kiss found, instead, the inside of her wrist, making the startled pulse leap and judder at the swift brush of his mouth.

Something he was no doubt well aware of, she thought, cursing him under her breath as her face warmed helplessly.

?Tramp! Whore!? The stunned silence in the room was suddenly interrupted by the screeched words from Irini, jumping to her feet, her face contorted. She pointed a shaking finger. ?Have I not always said, brothers, that we should not trust this English witch that our father brought to our home? See now how she betrays his memory with her lust for his enemy!?

Natasha moved swiftly?convulsively?her skin not merely warm now but burning, and felt Alex?s grasp tighten almost warningly on her fingers.

?Control her.? His instruction was curt, as he looked coldly down the table at Stavros and Andonis. ?Explain to her, some time, how her insults are completely undeserved. How this girl beside me, who has been a sister to you, is the real, the only victim of betrayal. And how it is thanks to her alone that your home still remains to you. Or had you not realised that??

His condemnatory glance moved to Irini, standing now between the two crestfallen Papadimos men. He added icily, ?Maybe,
thespinis
, you should practise gratitude instead of calling Kyria Natasha names as foul as they are untrue.?

He paused. ?Our business is now concluded, and you are all free to go.? He released Natasha?s hand, instead encircling her with his arm, drawing her against him. He said softly, ?Except, of course, for you, my heart?s delight. We have a journey to make together.?

She stood in silence, staring down at the floor as the room emptied, acutely conscious of the lithe warmth of his body against hers. Angered by an awareness she seemed unable to control.

When they were finally alone, she said bitterly, ?Why did you bother to defend me against Irini? Isn?t that what you wanted her?and everyone else?to think??

?Originally, yes,? he said. ?Now they will all know, as well as I do myself, that you were a virgin when I took you, and that will be a much deeper wound for their pride,
matia mou
, believe me.?

Something that was almost a pain seemed to twist inside her, but was instantly dismissed. After all, she thought with an inward shrug, what else had she expected him to say? The feud was the only thing that mattered to him, and she was simply an integral part of his victory. He would never forget that, and neither would she.

He reached up a hand and removed the clips from her hair, letting it tumble free to her shoulders.

He said quietly, ?I told you last night. I like to see it loose.?

She was expecting him to pull her fully into his arms and kiss her, to establish his domination if nothing else, and was surprised to find herself released as he moved away to lean back against the edge of the table.

She swallowed. ?May I ask about this trip you?re planning? You may have noticed I don?t have a great deal of luggage with me.?

?That will not be a problem,? he said, smiling faintly. ?Arrangements have already been made to provide you with a new wardrobe,? he went on softly. ?You will find it waiting for you later.?

She gasped. ?You?ve bought me clothes?? Her voice rose. ?But that?s not possible. You don?t even know my correct size in?in anything.?

?I could have guessed,? he said drily, his eyes travelling down her body, ?but I did not have to. A maid that Kyria Irini recently dismissed for clumsiness told me happily all I needed to know.?

Natasha stiffened. ?Was there anyone working at the Villa Demeter who was not in your pay?? she asked.

?The cook,? he said, ?and the gardeners. I decided to discover for myself the food and flowers you favoured.?

?But when it came to clothes, of course, it would never occur to you that I might prefer to choose my own stuff.?

?Stuff is right,? he said thoughtfully, ?if that suit you are wearing is an example of your taste. Believe me,
matia mou
, its only charm is to remind me of how lovely you look without it.?

?And if I refuse to wear the things you?ve bought for me?? she demanded defiantly.

He shrugged a shoulder. ?Then go naked.? He sounded almost bored. ?Whatever you decide will be no hardship for me, I promise.?

She bit down the cutting remark she longed to fling back at him. She had to stop picking fights she couldn?t win, she thought bitterly, and remember only that she?d made a deal with herself to endure whatever he said?whatever he did?and she needed to keep to it. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her could not be allowed to be of any concern to her.

?Very well,? she said, keeping her voice neutral. ?I?ll wear what you?ve provided, if I must.?

?You are gracious indeed,? he said silkily. ?And, as a reward for your reluctant co-operation, I will make you a small gift.?

Jewellery, I presume, Natasha thought, biting her lip. As a symbol of his munificence, I have to be lit up like a Christmas tree.

But the hand that emerged from inside his jacket was not holding the flat leather case she?d expected, but an envelope.

She took it from him, and put it in her own pocket.

?Aren?t you curious to know what it contains?? he asked.

?Not unless it?s a one-way airline ticket to London,? she said. ?And that I doubt somehow.?

He clicked his tongue reprovingly. ?Your desire to be rid of me is almost wounding, Natasha
mou
.?

?But the cuts are hardly deep, and I?m sure you heal very easily, Kyrios Mandrakis,? she returned tautly. ?Besides, consolation won?t be too far away.?

?Not if I choose to seek it, no. But for now, I look forward to my desires being satisfied by you alone,
agapi mou
. Because in the days to come, the journey you make with me will be into pleasure. And you will not find it as difficult as you expect.?

He allowed her to assimilate that, and added, ?But, for now, you will be free of me for a few hours, as I need to spend some time at my office. I will join you for dinner later.

?You will go with Iorgos, after Ari Stanopoulos has spoken with you.?

?Your fixer?? It was difficult to keep her voice steady, with his words about pleasure still echoing in her head. ?I thought I?d already had my interview with him.?

?But there are also arrangements to be made in London to cover your absence, or had you forgotten such a place existed in the pleasure of my company??

He smiled at her. ?You have rent to pay,
ne
? A partner in business to be reassured and supplied with help also? Ari will deal with all these concerns on your behalf. You need have no worries.?

?Oh, no,? she said bitterly. ?Life is the proverbial bowl of cherries. And I suppose in due time Mr Stanopoulos will invent a discreet lie about my current whereabouts that I can take home with me.

?Or shall I simply say I was abducted by aliens? It doesn?t feel too far from the truth.?

He said gently, ?Then I shall have great joy in demonstrating to you that I am indeed human?and male. And if I were not awaited elsewhere I would do so here and now.?

As he moved away from the table Natasha took an involuntary step backwards, and his smile widened.

?Not so brave, suddenly,
agapi mou
?? he taunted her softly. ?Then stay that way, and please don?t sharpen your tongue on Ari. He is easily shocked. And play me no tricks, either,? he added as he turned away. ?Unlike the staff at the Villa Demeter, my people are loyal. No one will assist you in a daring escape. Besides, you know, I think, what the consequences would be for your family.?

?Yes,? she said. ?You?ve made that more than clear.? She paused. ?Have they already left, because I would like to say goodbye??

Alex swung back. ?After what they have done to you?the things that have been said?? His tone was frankly sceptical. ?You are very forgiving.?

She said steadily, ?No, I?m not. I only want to speak to?to Thia Theodosia. That is, if she?s still prepared to have anything to do with me.?

His voice was suddenly harsh. ?You should not humble yourself,
agape mou
. Please believe that you have no reason to do so.? At the door, he paused, glancing back to where she stood, taut, her hands balled into fists at her sides.

?Nor do you have to be afraid of me,? he said. ?Not again.? And went.

She did not have to ask for Madame Papadimos, because it seemed that Thia Theodosia had already requested to see her, and was waiting to do so.

?She is in my office, Kyria Kirby,? Mr Stanopoulos told her politely. ?You will not be disturbed there.?

The only wall in the room that was not lined with books had a massive leather sofa standing against it instead, and Thia Theodosia, looking small, was seated in one deep corner.

She did not smile and the dark eyes had pain in their depths as Natasha came to sit next to her.

?Is it true, little one?? she asked quietly. ?Have you given yourself to Alexandros Mandrakis? Consented to live with him as his mistress so that the Villa Demeter can remain in our possession??

There was a silence, then Natasha nodded, jerkily. She said, an open ache in her voice, ?I?I wouldn?t let him make you homeless. But I realise what you must be thinking, and I?I?m so sorry.?

?You are sorry?? The older woman spoke with genuine astonishment. ?But how can this be, dear child, when you are to blame for nothing?? She sighed heavily. ?No,
pedhi mou
, this tragedy is my fault, and mine alone. I should have stopped it all a long time ago, but I did not have the courage.

?Now, sadly, the wheel has come full circle, and, like so many other innocents, you are the one to suffer.?

She paused. ?You should not have made such a sacrifice, but even so, it is not too late. You can leave with me now. Let the house go to Mandrakis, if he wants it, and allow my so clever sons to plot themselves a new future?if they can.?

Natasha bent her head. She said quietly, ?I gave my word to Kyrios Mandrakis, and I won?t go back on it. I?can?t.

?Irini accused me of betraying her father?s memory, and that?s exactly what I?d be doing if I allowed his home?the house he loved so much, and where he lived with you?to be taken by his enemies, along with everything else. I owe Thio Basilis far too much to let that happen.?

Madame Papadimos said, ?Ah, dear God,? and her eyes closed for a moment.

When she spoke again, her voice was low and sad. ?You should have been married three years ago, Natasha. Become a beloved and cherished wife and, by now, a happy mother. I knew it then, and said so, but I was not listened to, and, to my eternal shame, I failed to insist.?

Natasha stared at her in bewilderment. ?But it was my decision to stay single, and mine alone,? she objected gently. ?Darling, you can?t have forgotten that. Thio Basilis tried his best to persuade me, usually at the top of his voice,? she added, forcing a smile. ?But I had my own plans.

?And, in spite of everything that?s happened, I?m still sure I was right to stick to my guns, and make my own life.?

Thia Theodosia sighed again. ?But if there had been a man?someone you might have loved and who would have offered you his heart, as well as the protection of his name?what then, my little one?? She spread her hands. ?After all, where is this life you speak of now??

?It?s there?waiting for my return.? Natasha tried to sound buoyant.

?This?arrangement is strictly temporary. To the victor the spoils, and all that.? She lifted her chin. ?But Kyrios Mandrakis will soon be looking for new worlds to conquer like his namesake, and then I?ll be free.?

Madame Papadimos looked at her gravely. ?Will you, my child? Can you be so sure that is what you will still want?when the time comes? When you know him better than you do now??

Natasha gasped. ?I can?t believe you?ve just said that.? Her voice was shaky. ?You, of all people, Thia Theodosia. Do you imagine I could ever forgive him for the way he?s treated me? Or that I?d willingly spend an hour longer with him than I have to??

Thia Theodosia shook her head. ?I do not condone what Alexandros Mandrakis has done, whatever provocation he may have received. Never think that, my dear girl.?

She paused. ?I simply suggest that, perhaps, you should not judge him too harshly. This trouble between our families was none of his making.

?He was a child when it began, forced to take sides. And, maybe, a time will arrive when you might find him?kinder than you believe.?

Natasha?s mouth tightened. ?I don?t think so,? she said. ?I?ve already experienced what passes for kindness with Alex Mandrakis, so I know exactly what to expect.?