Baby Out of the Blue. Annie West

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ he’d seemed reasonably happy. But now there was a distinct air of melancholy about his plump features.

      ‘I suppose that depends what you’re looking for,’ she murmured, not really wanting to get into any in-depth discussion about his life.

      ‘So what are you looking for, Jane?’ Stefan’s brows arched and his tone was faintly malicious. ‘Is being a success in business really all you want from life?’

      ‘I don’t know what I want,’ said Jane bluntly, and it was nothing but the truth. ‘Um—where is everyone? Having breakfast?’

      ‘My father rarely comes down before lunch,’ replied Stefan carelessly. ‘My mother usually spends the morning with him, though, with Ariadne being here, she may decide to change her routine. Yanis has returned to the seminary, and—my other brother left over an hour ago.’

      ‘Demetri?’ Jane was amazed. She hadn’t even heard the helicopter. But also relieved, she told herself. It had to be easier now he was gone.

      ‘Demetri,’ Stefan agreed. ‘He expects to be back tomorrow evening.’

      ‘Tomorrow evening!’

      ‘Yes, tomorrow evening.’ Stefan regarded her with some amusement. ‘So, how do you propose to entertain yourself until then?’

      Jane’s colour deepened. ‘I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t come here to see Demetri.’

      ‘No?’ He didn’t sound convinced and she wondered if that was what his father and mother thought, too. Not to mention Demetri himself. But she didn’t want to think about him.

      ‘Your father asked to see me,’ she said now. She linked her hands together. ‘I couldn’t—I didn’t want to refuse.’

      ‘Humph.’ Stefan shrugged his shoulders. He was of a shorter build than Demetri and there was something essentially feminine about his mocking smile. ‘If you say so, who am I to disagree with you? Perhaps I’m allowing Mama’s influence to colour my judgement.’

      Jane shook her head and would have retreated into the hall in search of friendlier company, when he spread his arms disarmingly. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’m a bitch, I know. You mustn’t take any notice of me, Jane. Come: let me take you for a walk. We can go down through the garden and onto the beach.’

      Jane hesitated. ‘Oh, I don’t know whether—’

      ‘Please.’ Stefan could be charming when he chose. ‘Or we could sit by the pool. I know how you like to swim.’

      She might have taken that as another sly comment but at present putting on a swimsuit might be unwise. In consequence, she decided to accept Stefan’s former offer. ‘A walk sounds—appealing,’ she said, crossing her arms and cupping her elbows in her palms. It had to be better than hanging about here waiting for her mother-in-law or Ariadne to appear.

      They left the house through sliding doors that opened from the morning room. This part of the villa looked much the same as Jane remembered, with duck-egg-blue walls, yellow and white pottery on glass-topped tables and a cool marble floor. Half-drawn Roman blinds in shades of green and brown and orange should have clashed with the vivid décor, but they didn’t. It was a cheerful room, spoilt only by the memory of the argument she and Demetri had had here the morning before she left the island for good.

      Or what she’d thought was for good, she reflected, preceding Stefan through the sliding doors. Now there was so much confusion inside her, she didn’t know what she thought.

      Thankfully the terrace held no such horrors. Italian tiles, vine-hung trellises, marble steps leading down to a huge circular pool. They bypassed the steps and the cedar-wood cabins that housed both showers and a sauna, following a path that led between lawns that were presently being watered by an efficient sprinkler system. The lawns were edged with bushes of flowering cactus, the path paved and immaculately free of any weeds.

      It was all very lush, very beautiful, but also incredibly hot. Jane, who hadn’t thought about buying sunscreen when she’d packed her bag, hoped she wouldn’t get burned. But nothing about this trip was turning out as she’d anticipated and she had to seriously revise her expectations.

      There was a welcome breeze blowing when they stepped onto the sand and Jane kicked off her sandals and carried them by their straps. The sand wasn’t yet hot enough to burn her feet and she walked purposefully towards the water.

      ‘Eh! Pio arga! Slow down,’ exclaimed Stefan, hurrying after her. ‘We have all morning.’

      You may have, thought Jane drily, but she didn’t say it. Nevertheless, she had to wonder why Stefan was content to laze his days away here on the island when it seemed obvious his father was doing very little work at the moment.

      The waves curled about her bare feet, their initial coldness giving way to a delicious warmth. This was the best time of the day to swim, she remembered ruefully. Before the sun could burn you even through the water.

      ‘You have to learn to relax, Jane,’ Stefan said, puffing a little as he came up beside her. ‘You are not in England now.’

      ‘Do you think I don’t know that?’ Jane kept her eyes on her feet, watching as the sand slid away beneath them. Then she shrugged and looked up at him. ‘What are you doing here, Stefan? Have you been sent to keep an eye on me?’

      Stefan gave her a wounded look. ‘Do you think I would agree to that?’

      Jane arched a mocking brow. ‘I’ll take that as a yes, shall I?’

      ‘No!’ He was indignant. ‘I thought you might be glad of some company, is all.’

      Jane regarded him intently for a few seconds and then she turned away. ‘OK.’ She started to walk along the sand, her feet in the shallows. ‘So tell me what you’ve been doing. Don’t you work for your father any more?’

      Stefan’s mouth compressed. ‘I’m sure you’re not interested in my problems, Jane. But I am intrigued by your relationship with Demetri. Are you aware he’s going to marry Ariadne as soon as his divorce is absolute?’

      ‘Yes, he told me.’

      ‘And did he tell you why?’

      Jane sighed. ‘Is this relevant, Stefan? Demetri wants a divorce. End of story.’

      ‘No, it’s not the end of the story,’ retorted Stefan shortly. ‘There was no need for Demetri to get a divorce, not unless he chose to do so, of course.’

      Jane frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘I mean I was perfectly willing to give our father the grandchild he so desperately craves. But I was not good enough. My relationship with Phillippe is not good enough, despite the fact that we have been together for over six years.’

      Jane halted to stare at him in disbelief. ‘You mean, you and Phillippe Martin are—are—’

      ‘A couple?Yes.’ Stefan raised dark brows. ‘Of course, you met him, did you not? Didn’t Demetri tell you we lived together?’

      ‘He said you were—friends,’ said Jane, feeling СКАЧАТЬ