"I never knew the explanation was as simple as this," he said huskily. "It is a good thing Irene isn't here now or I'd choke the life out of her."
"Darling, don't. She wanted you and she fought for you in the only way she knew how."
"Would you fight for me?"
"I have," she said. "I fought with my pride."
"Do you regret it?"
"Never! Where there is love, pride does not matter." She sighed and, hearing it, he caught her by the shoulders.
"There is still something on your mind. Tell me, Laura. There have already been too many secrets between us."
She hesitated and then, realising there could be no complete surrender without complete truth, said: "If you didn't love Irene, why did you tell her that our marriage wasn't a real one?"
"I didn't. Irene's an astute woman and she probably learned enough from you to make a good guess."
Laura thought back to the bitter half-hour she had spent with Irene in this very room. Nikolaos was right. Irene had said she knew everything about their marriage, but she had never said what that "everything" was!
"You're right," she said shakily. "I'm sorry for misjudging you."
"I don't blame you. I was just as guilty myself for not realising the mischief Irene could do." His mouth curved. "But there's still one question I'm surprised you haven't asked me."
"Oh?" Laura frowned. "What's that?"
"The tie-pin," he said gently. "You haven't asked me why I left it at her flat."
"I don't want to know. I don't want to think about the past. We've all our future together and ——— "
"Laura, Laura." His hands came out and gently shook her by the shoulders. "You say all this with your lips but your eyes say something very different."
"Do they?" she said huskily. "I'm sorry, darling."
"Don't be sorry, my love. I'm glad that you are jealous." He smiled. "But you've no need to be. Irene must have found my tie-pin here. I never went to her flat and I was never her lover. From the moment I fell in love with you there has been no other woman."
"Oh Nikolaos… oh darling." She put her arms round his neck and feeling her close, his last vestige of control disappeared.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he said fiercely. "Because now that you've come back I'll never let you go."
"I don't want to go. I want to be with you for ever." She pulled his head down and their lips met, her body melting against his in a surrender made all the more sweet by the bitterness that had gone before.
Then he gave an exultant laugh. "Now I'll show you what it means to be a Dimar!" He picked up the telephone and there was a rapid conversation which Laura could not follow.
"Tell Maria to pack your clothes," he said as he replaced the receiver.
"Where are we going?"
"To the yacht." He looked at his watch. "I've ordered my plane to stand by at London Airport and in three hours' time we'll be on the Windrush."
Laura caught his hand. "What a wonderful idea for us to go back there and begin our life together. I never knew you were so romantic!"
"I will spend the rest of my life showing you," he said and held her close in his arms, and Laura knew that to learn the language of love with Nikolaos was all she would ever want.
THE END
Rachel Lindsay - The Taming of Laura Page 18
