The Kouvaris Marriage

That was as far as she could go. And if it caused him pain with the reminder that he had loved Irini for years but felt unable to marry her because of her infertility, she regretted it.

That rang true, Dimitri conceded heavily. Alexandra had doted on Irini since the day she was born, and had wanted to see her in Maddie’s place. She probably did look on his poor darling as a usurper. But, ‘There’s more? Has she actually come out and said she finds you unwelcome?’

‘No.’

It was horrible to lie to him. But the truth would hurt both him and his aunt. And for what? The relief of ridding herself of the old lady’s insults and snide remarks? Seeing her banished would hang heavily on her conscience. Too great a cost.

It was time, more than time, that she stood her ground and refused to let Alexandra Kouvaris make her feel worse than worthless.

She found a reassuring tone. ‘I guess your aunt doesn’t make friends easily, but she’ll come round after our baby’s born—you’ll see!’ And if she didn’t she would learn to live with it, ignore it.

‘You’re sure?’

Her eyes slid from his again, he noted. Her affirmative nod was ready. Too ready?

Releasing her hands, Dimitri stood. His shoulders tensed beneath the fine fabric of his smoothly tailored business suit. One of the first things that had drawn him to Maddie was her transparency. Hiding her emotions didn’t come easily to her.

She was hiding something now. Something wild horses wouldn’t drag from her.

But loving patience might?

Right now patience was a virtue he was struggling to achieve. He said, as evenly as he could, ‘It’s time for lunch. Bring the folder. We’ll look at the plans in detail together.’

Misery engulfing her, Maddie swung her sandalled feet to the ground, gathering the folder of sketches and colour swatches that had earlier so delighted her.

He had sounded so flat. He was going away from her, distancing himself. Deep in the stark reminder of his lost true love?

Telling herself that she was going to have to live with the knowledge that she was second best, pretend she didn’t know that savagely cutting fact for the sake of their long-term future, waiting for the gift she so longed for—the precious gift of his eventual love—she walked to where he was waiting for her.

Maddie jolted awake, naked beneath the thin cotton sheet. The house was silent as evening approached. Dimitri was no doubt still in his study, concentrating on the raft of paperwork that needed his attention—a fact he’d imparted when after lunch she’d pleaded a sudden and very real weariness and come up to their room to rest.

She had slept the whole afternoon away. Was sleep an escape mechanism? she pondered wryly, remembering how she been itching to get away from the lunch table. Away from the atmosphere.

Dimitri had been distant, as if he were lost in thought, and his aunt censorious when she, Maddie, had made the first approach of conciliation after their run-in earlier, determined not to act like a wimp and let herself be walked all over.

Passing the folder over to the old lady, she’d found a smile. ‘These are the designs for the new nursery. What do you think? We’d value your opinion.’

Ignoring the folder—and the tentative peace offering—Alexandra had replied repressively, ‘One doesn’t read at meal-times. Besides, my opinion is unnecessary. My nephew wouldn’t dream of using a designer who did not cater to his impeccable taste.’

Another put-down.

Maddie had left the room, left them to it, the atmosphere brittle.

Swinging her feet to the floor now, she noted that her slight headache had been joined by a dull ache in the small of her back. She ignored both and headed for the en suite bathroom and a quick shower. She would freshen up, find something pretty to wear from the lavish wardrobe Dimitri had provided after that party of unfond memory when she’d first come to Athens as his bride.

She would find Dimitri and sparkle. Coax him out of that distant mood—if he was still in it! She had recently discovered that he liked her chatter. That, according to him, she could charm the birds from the trees with it!

Did Irini babble on about this, that and everything else? Or were their private conversations more serious, more intense, centring on their love for each other? The possibility of their marrying was now never to happen, because Dimitri had gritted his teeth and settled for second best for the sake of the family he was creating, his belated sense of honour making him discard their original plans.

And because the sex was good. More than good. Though he wouldn’t confide that slice of information to Irini!

Furious with herself for her unacceptable bout of morbid introspection, she dragged the door of the hanging cupboard open and pulled out the first garment her hand encountered. A silk shift, the colour of cornflowers. Dimitri had said it matched the colour of her eyes.

Surely he was beginning to love her just a little? Or at the least feel fondness?

It wasn’t too much to hope for, was it? Because it certainly felt that way. As if he meant to play a full and dedicated part in their marriage’s fresh start.

As if he was now putting her needs and happiness first, relegating Irini and his love for her to the past. So, okay, he had gone all quiet and distant on her when what she’d said had forcibly reminded him of the love he had put away from him. That was to be expected. It was early days yet, and he was to be excused because he had done the right thing, decided to make their marriage work for the sake of their coming child. Talked of their having more children in the years to come.