[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.‘I knew Leon was away from home, so I decided to come and see you.Why didn’t he take you with him?’‘He was going on business and I wasn’t really interested,’ she lied glibly as she swept a hand, inviting him to sit down again.She took a seat by the window, feeling oddly shy and tongue-tied, for after all she and Nico were still almost strangers to one another.And yet here had been that indescribable bond of which she had been aware, sure that he felt it too.And now as he looked at her across the room she wished she could confide in him at this moment instead of waiting.Yes, somewhere at the back of her mind she knew she would one day confide in him.And if that were the case, then why not now? There had to be an opening, and this would never come while this awkwardness existed between them.It was Nico who eased the moment by asking how she and Leon had come to meet.‘I’d have asked him the other evening,’ he added, ‘but knowing him, I was cagey.Leon has never cared for being questioned, not about anything at all.’‘We met when I was a nurse,’ she answered, smiling at him.‘Leon had had an accident, and was occupying a private ward in my wing.’‘It’s incredible that he should have wanted to marry you after such a short acquaintanceship.’She laughed and only then did he realise he had not been very tactful.‘Sorry,’ he said with a rueful grimace.‘Unless I think well before I speak I tend to forget tact.’‘It doesn’t matter,’ she smiled.And then, ‘You came because you thought I’d be glad of the company?‘Something of the sort,’ he admitted.‘I felt you must be lonely, here on your own.Perhaps you preferred it, though, seeing that you didn’t want to go with Leon to Athens?’‘I was lonely, Nico—I own to it.I’m glad you came; it was nice of you to think of me.’He was pleased by her words and it showed in the way his eyes lit up.‘There’s a mystery, isn’t there?’ he was emboldened say after a slight hesitation.‘A mystery?’‘About your marriage to Leon—’ He stopped as if uncertain about continuing, but Tara, curious to learn anything she could, said encouragingly,‘Do go on, Nico.I’m interested in what you have to say.He looked at her perceptively.‘So I was right; there is a mystery.You see, Tara, Leon and Elene have been close friends for the past year and everyone had begun to take their marriage for granted.Then suddenly he went to England on business and came back with you.It’s a nine days’ wonder among all the people who know him, not only friends but business acquaintances and employees.Elene was very controlled that evening when we came here, but she was very upset when Leon phoned to tell her he was married.’Tara stared at him for a long moment, going over in her mind what he had said.‘Did they quarrel?’ she asked eventually.‘I believe they had a tiff.Elene’s very beautiful and the men run after her.She allowed one to take her out——’ Nico spread his hands and shrugged.‘It’s just a rumour I heard which might or might not be true.I do know that Elene attracted Leon more than any of the other——’ He stopped and coloured slightly.‘I’ve done it again,’ he said almost despairingly.‘I know that Leon’s had other women,’ she said casually.‘It’s only to be expected, isn’t it?’‘I suppose so.But one doesn’t remind a man’s wife of such things.’‘Forget it,’ she advised.‘Tell me some more about Elene.’‘Well, as I said, she was very upset.’ He paused and looked speculatively at her.‘You really want to know more?’ he asked doubtfully.“Yes, I do, Nico.’‘She believes that Leon married you on the rebound.’‘I see.So she obviously believes he was in love with her?’He nodded.‘We all believed he was in love with her.’‘Leon is not the man to fall in love,’ Tara stated, and, watching for Nico’s reaction, she saw his brows shoot up, but then he immediately nodded, not in agreement, but as if he had made a discovery.‘So he isn’t in love with you?’‘Neither of us is in love.’ It was out, and she knew full well that some explanation would be called for.She was still vague about enlisting his help but was sure that she would attempt to get assistance from him.‘How did he come to ask you to marry him?’Tara hesitated, feeling that to tell him everything might be risky since she had no idea just how deep the friendship was between him and Leon.She thought of what the consequences might be should Nico, after listening to her story, then go to Leon and repeat it all, out of a sense of loyalty.She had no wish to suffer again from her husband’s fury, for the fear he could put into her was very real.Nico was looking at her; he said she had gone pale and asked if she was all right.She nodded, still hesitant, still afraid.At last she said,‘How deep is your friendship with Leon, Nico?’‘We’re not really friends.We live here, on this small island, so it was natural we should get to know one another, and that we’d mix socially.But apart from that we have little in common.Elene has a luxurious house here but spends most of her time in Athens, modelling clothes for the famous fashion house of which Leon is the head.’ He paused, examining her face for a moment.‘You can trust me, Tara,’ he assured her eventually.‘I feel that you need to confide in someone, but it’s natural that you are hesitating.Did you not sense a sort of— How can I describe it?’ he said, considering.‘A bond if you like?’‘That’s exactly how I felt, Nico! I’m glad you felt that way too.‘So we’re friends?’‘Yes, we’re friends.’‘Then you can answer my question without any fear of my ever repeating anything I hear [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]