by Anne Hampson
Laura was shaking her head. 'You don't know me,' she said again. 'It isn't sensible to marry someone who's a complete stranger to you.'
He smiled faintly. 'In Greece strangers often marry, because marriages are still arranged in villages and remote islands. A man sees a girl, likes what he sees, then approaches her parents and asks if he can marry her. She might not even have been aware that this young man had noticed her—he could have done so when passing her house, perhaps on several occasions. If the parents agree, then the couple meet at the engagement party. They are usually married very shortly afterwards.'
'It's a barbaric custom!'
'We weren't discussing the customs of my country,' he said quietly. 'We were talking of marriage between you and me. You said we can't marry because we're strangers. I have merely pointed out that strangers do often marry.'
'The whole thing's totally illogical.' Laura drew away, then found she was missing the comfort, the strength of his hands.
'On the contrary, it is the most sensible course for you to take. If you return to England you will have the problems you've spoken of, because you can't legally adopt the child. Not merely because you're single but because you haven't the consent of the father—and the mother if she's still alive.'
'She'd have to be found.'
'Another problem for you to tackle.'
She looked at him straightly, and although she admitted that he was offering her the easiest way out possible, and that if she refused him she would find herself in about as bad a situation as it was possible to be, she said firmly, aware from his expression that he already knew what she was going to say, 'I won't marry you, Paul. Desperate as my plight is, I shan't marry a man I don't love.'
'You mention your plight. What about Mandy's?'
'Something will turn up—'
'Who are you trying to convince, yourself, or me?' One straight eyebrow was lifted in a sort of challenge that was reflected in the piercing blue of his stare.
'I shall never marry you,' she stated emphatically, 'so save your breath. No amount of persuasion will make me change my mind.'
But even in the midst of this firm resolve, Laura became aware of yet another problem, that of finding a replacement for Teresa until the girl was well enough to resume her duties. Undoubtedly Teresa was a treasure, completely trustworthy, taking on tasks which weren't obligatory—like making some of Mandy's clothes, and coming back if asked to baby-sit at night if Phil and Laura were going out to dine or dance.
Well, the problem of a replacement might be difficult but it wasn't impossible. There were au pair girls to be had. But how would Mandy react to a new face, a stranger looking after her? True, she was at play school during the mornings, but there were also the long afternoon hours—for often it was after seven when Laura arrived home—though, in the main, it was earlier, around six o'clock. A deep sigh escaped Laura, but she looked away swiftly, convinced that if Paul managed to get this further problem out of her he'd exploit it in some way.
Chapter Five
Why, Laura asked herself over and over again, did Paul want to marry her? He had denied her suggestion that physical desire was the prime factor and she believed him. He was attracted to her for other reasons, he had said, and again she believed him. She knew he had watched her with Mandy and was impressed by the love and care she gave her, so perhaps his starting point had been her suitability as a mother for his children. Somehow, though, she found it hard to accept this, and for several reasons. Firstly, there was his gentleness in her distress, which seemed to prove that it was her and her alone about whom he was primarily concerned, this even though he was at the same time quite clearly concerned about Mandy. Secondly, she could not believe that Paul would marry her—or any woman for that matter—merely because she would make a good mother. Laura's puzzlement grew until it became al-most impossible to put it out of her mind, as she so fervently wanted to do.
'Why aren't you coming into the pool with us?' It was Paul's attractively accented voice which brought her back to her surroundings and to the realisation that Mandy was surely having the best time of her short life. For it was Paul who seemed to be the one who was looking after her, the one she ran to if she had anything to tell, or to cry about—as for example yesterday, when she fell into a bush while chasing a butterfly, and cut her lip on a thorn. Laura had been there, quietly sitting on the patio—just as she was at this present moment— overwhelmed by problems, and thinking about Irene; but it was to Paul that Mandy had gone.
Was he deliberately making himself important to the child? The question came naturally, owing to the attitude of the man who was so keen on marrying her. He had not given up; he was charm itself and had several times pointedly broached the subject of Mandy's unpredictable future if Laura insisted on taking her back to England. Her father was here in Greece, and therefore, it was logical that Laura should make some attempt to find him and let him know he had a daughter.
Listening to him, but with one part of her brain inevitably on her sister and the probable danger she was in, Laura found her mind becoming more and more confused, her resolve to go home wavering one moment yet strengthening the next. There was Phil, and her relationship with him, for she just could not visualise saying a final good-bye when they had been so happy together. Yet she knew for sure that he'd never take Mandy. There was her job—true, she had three weeks vacation and so could, if she wished, stay here for another fortnight. But she had told her employer she would be away for one week only. She had wanted the other two weeks for her honeymoon…
'Laura, are you coming in the pool?' The finely timbred voice again, but this time edged with anxiety. 'What is it?' he asked gently.
'I'll come in if you want me to.' She wished he wouldn't be kind and concerned like this. It made her want to cry on his shoulder.
'I asked what's wrong.'
'The usual heart searching,' she confessed, knowing he had probably guessed anyway.
'The remedy's simple, and it's in your own hands.' He paused but she looked away, not answering him. 'You're stubborn, Laura,' he said and his voice was crisp.
She turned, her eyes naturally going to the pool to see if Mandy was all right. She was sitting on the side, toes in the water and sunlight in her hair, lips pursed as if she were humming to herself. A water nymph, thought Laura and a tender smile caught her mouth. Her eyes returned to settle for a fleeting space on the man standing there, his bronzed body straight and aristocratic, the hairs on chest and legs glistening as globules of water reflected light from the sun. Laura's glance flicked his face to catch an unfathomable expression before the muscles relaxed.
'You say I'm stubborn. I say I'm sensible. Marriage without love can never work.' Her eyes flitted again to the child by the pool. 'I'll come in if you want me to,' she said again and saw his frown at her changing of the subject.
He regarded her for a long moment, a twisted smile hovering on his lips. Then he said guardedly, 'I'm sure Mandy will want you to. Go and change. The pool's just right, temperature-wise.'
Laura looked at him as she rose from the lounger on which she was sitting. A man of superlative attractions, both in looks and physique, she thought, and without warning she found herself experiencing once again those emotions awakened by this man, which had made her blush. She hoped she was not blushing now but very much feared she was, since her cheeks felt as if they were burning. She was remembering his kisses, the first one gentle, the second rather more passionate, and a little possessive, she now recollected, and a frown touched her brow. At the time it seemed natural for him to kiss her, as it formed part of the comfort craved and given; now, however, Laura was ashamedly aware of her disloyalty to the man she loved. She ought not to have allowed Paul to kiss her. A baffling sensation of weightiness settled upon her as she thought: many women would be thrilled and flattered by the interest of this man with the startlingly blue eyes and the Nordic characteristics, but she wanted only to have and hold the interest of Phil, the man for who
m, even at this great distance, her heart could beat wildly.
Paul was speaking again, telling her to wear the green bikini as it was prettier than the swimsuit she wore yesterday. His voice was low-toned and authoritative as he added, 'Don't be too long or it'll be time for Mandy to come out.'
Once in her bedroom Laura wondered whether to obey the request—or was it a command?—for her to wear the green bikini. The blue swimsuit was far less revealing. However, she decided to wear the bikini, but donned a beach wrap of light, velvet-soft towelling in white with a fine edging of gold cord round the collar and sleeves.
Amusement gleamed momentarily in his eyes when she came to the side of the pool, but he made no comment. She stood for a long moment, reluctant to take off the wrap.
'Come on; be quick!' shouted Mandy, who was holding on to a bar at the side and letting her body float. 'It's warm and beautiful and I can nearly swim!' The chubby face was all smiles, the big eyes alight with laughter. 'Uncle Paul said it won't be long now until I can float!'
'You're certainly doing very well.' A smile for the child, but Laura's heart was heavy. Their flight was booked for Thursday, but she felt most reluctant to take Mandy home so soon. She was so happy… so innocent of the trouble she was causing, mused Laura, who, having caught Paul's eye, took off the wrap and dived into the water.
Dinner was over and they were on the patio drinking coffee when Paul said unexpectedly, 'Have you come to any decision about continuing your search for Joseph?'
She shot him a glance, recalling her previous impression that Paul was in no hurry for her to find Mandy's father. Now, however, she had an idea he wasn't of the same mind as before. But why?
The answer came without any effort on her part. He was convinced that Joseph would refuse to have the child, and therefore, Laura's position would remain as it was at present. Did this mean, then, that he wanted her to be troubled, to have the terrible weight of these burdens on her mind? She shook her head mentally.
No, all he wanted was for her to stay here and marry him. 'I don't think it's possible for me to find him since I have no idea where to begin, and in addition, I haven't much time.' There was no response to that, but as she watched his face in the subtle, muted glow from the amber lamp hidden in the vine cover above their heads, she could not miss the swift compression of his lips at her reference to the shortage of time at her disposal. She hoped the involuntary gesture meant that he was resigned to her leaving on the flight she had booked.
But did she really want to leave? The question did not startle her simply because she was again seeing Mandy, so happy and in her childish contentment not even thinking of the end of the holiday, of the moment when she would board the plane for home. Also, Laura was dejectedly conscious of all the other problems facing her once she arrived home. Phil would call, and be angry at her failure, especially when he realised that Laura's attitude was as firmly set as his own, and that, come what may, she would fight tooth and nail to keep the child in her care. Then there was the task of finding another nanny, the anxiety over her sister's whereabouts and the danger she could be in. Laura recalled, though, that Paul had said Irene was safe so long as her whereabouts remained unknown to those who were seeking revenge, and for this reason it would seem to be wiser to abandon any idea of trying to discover where Irene and her lover had gone to.
Laura looked at Paul, wondering why he had not commented on what she had said. He seemed to be lost in thought but she knew his eyes, through those thick, fair lashes, were fixed upon her face. The silence hung heavily for a long time with neither appearing ready to break it. From the olive trees came the whirr of cicadas and the occasional croaking of frogs. Then an eerie stillness settled over the gardens and the orchard of citrus fruits and figs and pomegranates; it stretched to the valley where the vineyards were shapeless in the shadows cast by an enormous moon piercing a thin cloud cover, vineyards climbing up the valley sides in faultless, well-tended terraces. The night sounds came again—the frogs and cicadas and, from afar, folk music being played on a Cretan lyre and lute. An owl called and Laura could well imagine some timid creature hastening for cover.
Paul spoke at last, to say very quietly, 'Why don't you marry me, Laura?'
Strangely, she had half expected the question to come tonight. Nevertheless, she wasn't ready for it and it was some time before she responded, 'I wish you would forget all about it, Paul.'
'You haven't answered my question.' Paul's voice was crisp.
'I don't understand why you want to marry me, knowing I can never love you.' She was looking at him but with a perfunctory stare and so she could not accept that he had actually flinched at her statement. And yet… Nerves fluttered; she felt dazed without being able to put her finger on the cause. She heard herself say, in slow, bewildered tones, 'Why do you want to marry me, Paul? There must be a reason—a very good one.'
The blue eyes met hers and in their depths she saw hesitation, uncertainty, and then he shook his head in an almost imperceptible movement, and his voice lacked expression as he replied, 'I believe I've already given you the reason, Laura. You have something I have never before found in a woman—'
'You've had many women?' She had no idea why she was asking this, since it could not be of any interest to her whatsoever.
'Depends what you mean by many. I've had a few, like any other man. I'm human…' He broke off, pausing a moment. 'Just as you are human, Laura. We have certain needs, not least of which is the physical one, but that is not the paramount essential for compatibility in marriage. So many other things are important… But you must know this without my telling you.' So serious his tone and the way his words were delivered. Laura felt a strange and inexplicable choking sensation and with it came the desire to go to him, to lay her head against his breast and stay there, quietly, while she allowed her mind to become blank, to drift right to the borders of oblivion.
'You're a strange man, Paul,' was all she could find to say when at length she was forced to break the tense, prolonged interlude of silence which had fallen between them.
'Is it strange to ask a woman to marry me?' Faintly he smiled, as if he were amused in some small way.
'It is if you don't know the woman.'
'I feel I know you very well,' he declared. 'I've watched you. I've talked to you and I've advised you. Time, my dear, is unimportant in the face of what is happening to us.'
'Us?' She shook her head in bewilderment. 'To me, you mean, surely?'
'Perhaps mainly to you, but it's affecting me as well.' He paused but she found nothing to say. 'Think about it, my dear, and promise not to make any hasty decisions.'
My dear… Twice he had said it, and although she ought to dismiss it as unimportant, a mere figure of speech he could have used to anyone, Laura was unable to do so. The two words rang softly in her ears, and she knew again the urge to lay her head against his breast. It was all wrong! She loved another man, loved him to distraction, and so it must be wrong to allow herself to be affected like this!
'I think I must go to bed,' she said, fully aware that fear was the spur for this resolve to go from him, for he had travelled too fast for her right from the very beginning. She felt strongly that he would in the end influence her, guide her along a road she never wanted to take. 'I'm—I'm very tired.'
'Escaping?' Brief the enquiry as his eyes locked with hers.
'N-no… er… what an odd thing to—to say…' Her voice faltered to a stop as, rising from his chair, Paul took hold of her wrist and brought her to her feet. His fingers moved; she tensed at their warmth, their intimacy. 'Paul, this is absurd. There can be nothing between us; please accept that.' Her voice was surprisingly calm now as, using her other hand, she attempted to free her wrist.
'I'm going to kiss you,' he told her softly. And even as she began to twist her face away it was caught in a grip that was as firm as it was gentle, and the next moment she felt his cool breath on her face a second before his lips took hers in a kiss that took
the breath from her body and caused her to push with desperation against his chest. But she was helpless; he took his fill, his mouth caressing moistly, his strong yet supple frame pressed close to her slender young body. She felt small and helpless, but she felt protected too, and against all her inclinations she lifted her arms to put them around his neck. She pressed closer still, while her fingers spread into his fair, wiry hair and then down again to caress his nape before moving slowly to touch his cheeks. He was towering above her, staring down into her lovely face, his own features quite unmoving. She was shy, and ashamed; she knew she wanted to protest, to remind him of her love for Phil… and instead she went up on tiptoe and offered him her lips.
'You're very lovely,' he murmured and his voice was noticeably hoarse. 'I want you, Laura.' His lips, moist and demanding, caressed in sensual exploration, forcing her own apart and she knew a spasm of ecstasy at the roughness of his tongue on hers. She tried to think, to censure herself, but instead she was drawing a veil over everything but this moment, losing herself in a sensuous world of pleasure and of comfort. Yes, in spite of Paul's increasing passion he was giving her the comfort she craved, easing the burden which her problems had been laying upon her. 'Marry me, dear. I know we can be happy.'
Somehow, this brought Laura from the trancelike state which had held her in its grip, and she leant away, colour flowing into her cheeks, her thoughts disoriented, but yet she was hearing so clearly one word he had spoken: dear. Did he love her? It seemed impossible that it could have happened so swiftly, and yet hadn't it been proved that such a thing as love at first sight was possible? She looked up at him through her lashes, wishing she could read his expression. She felt instinctively that he was aware of her vulnerability at this crucial time in her life, and the chill of apprehension spread through her whole body. She must get away before he persuaded her to make the biggest mistake of her life.
