The Marakaios Marriage (The Marakaios Brides 1)

* * *

Lindsay followed Antonios out of the olive grove, reluctant to leave behind the surprising camaraderie they’d shared. She’d enjoyed chatting with him, teasing and sharing, learning about one another. It was more than they’d ever done before during the three months of their marriage. The week in New York had been one of sensual rather than emotional discovery, and then during those months in Greece they’d been like strangers unless they’d been in bed. But today they’d actually felt like friends.

It made her feel both sad and happy at the same time, because while friendship with Antonios was better than the hostility she’d experienced over the last few days, it still made her ache with regret and longing.

They walked to the villa in companionable silence, and then Lindsay went into the bedroom to change. She exchanged her sundress for a pair of linen trousers and a matching sleeveless top, and touched up her make-up and hair.

Antonios was waiting for her in the living room when she emerged and his gaze fastened on her as soon as she opened the door.

‘You look lovely,’ he said, his voice full of warm sincerity as his gaze swept over her.

She blushed, although she wasn’t sure why. He’d told her she’d looked lovely before, had showered her with compliments, but this felt different. And then Lindsay knew why. Because for the first time Antonios truly saw her...and he still thought she was beautiful.

The realization made her understand afresh why she hadn’t told him about her anxiety. She really had been filled with shame and fear, terrified that he would reject her or even leave her. She’d convinced herself that she’d tried her best to tell him, but she really hadn’t. She hadn’t wanted to.

‘Lindsay?’ He came forward, one strong hand cupping her elbow. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes—’

‘You look pale.’

She shook her head. ‘I was just realizing how unfair I was to you, Antonios, not telling you the truth. I told myself I’d tried as hard as I could, but I know I really didn’t. Because I really didn’t want you to know.’

‘Between a rock and a hard place,’ Antonios surmised with a small sad smile. ‘We were doomed, weren’t we?’

‘I suppose we were.’ Which made her feel like bursting into tears. Wanting to hide her emotion, she turned away from him, making a pretence of straightening her top. ‘We should go. Your mother will be waiting.’

They walked over to the main villa where Daphne was waiting for them. Lunch had been set out for the three of them in one of the villa’s smaller dining rooms, with French windows overlooking a small walled herb garden. Lindsay had never been in the room before and its cosy proportions and atmosphere put her immediately at ease, as did Daphne.

‘How are you settling back into life in Greece?’ she asked as she took Lindsay’s hands in her own thin ones. ‘Is it very hard?’

Lindsay swallowed, hating to deceive her, yet knowing as Antonios had said it was both a mercy and kindness. ‘Not too hard.’

‘And I hope you’re treating her right,’ Daphne said with a stern look at her oldest son. ‘Antonios works too hard,’ she told Lindsay. ‘He’s just like his father that way.’

Lindsay felt the shudder of tension go through Antonios’s body and wondered at it. She slid him a glance, but his face was impassive as he held out a chair for his mother.

Daphne took a seat, smiling up at Antonios. ‘Evangelos was always working. I used to come into his office and sit on his desk.’

Lindsay let out a choked laugh and Antonios’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I didn’t know that, Mama.’

‘Why would I tell you?’ she asked with a surprisingly pert look. She turned back to Lindsay. ‘But it was the only way to make him stop working.’

‘Maybe I should have tried that,’ Lindsay joked, then bit her lip as she registered the past tense. Her gaze locked with Antonios and she knew he’d registered it, too.

‘It would make for an entertaining change from what’s usually on my desk,’ he said smoothly. ‘Let me pour you some water, Mama.’

This was going to be so hard, Lindsay thought, busying herself with spreading her napkin in her lap. Pretending at a party was one thing, but to someone’s face, someone she cared about...

‘Let me call for the first course,’ Daphne said. ‘I’m afraid I don’t last for more than a few hours before I need a nap these days.’ She smiled apologetically and Lindsay touched her hand.

‘I’m sorry...’ Lindsay began. ‘If there’s anything I can do...’

‘There is no need for you to be sorry,’ Daphne said. ‘I’ve lived a good life, and I’d rather no one made concessions to my condition now. I want to live life as fully as I can for as long as I can.’

One of the staff came in to set the first course before them, a fruit salad with grapes and succulent slices of melon.

‘Tell me, Lindsay,’ Daphne asked as soon as the staff member had quietly left again, ‘do you miss America very much? Did you leave many friends behind?’

Lindsay couldn’t help but glance at Antonios, whose face was carefully expressionless. ‘Not so many,’ she said.

‘And your research? Will you be able to finish it here? You are not far from achieving your doctorate, are you?’

‘I have a few more months of work at least,’ Lindsay answered. ‘Most of the research can be conducted from anywhere, as long as I have my laptop.’

‘I’m sure you will have to make some trips back to America,’ Daphne said, and Lindsay nodded in relief.

‘Yes, I will.’

‘Not too many, though,’ Daphne continued. ‘A man and a wife belong together.’ She speared a slice of melon, her gaze suddenly seeming almost shrewd. ‘Six months apart is a very long time.’

Lindsay threw a panicked gaze at Antonios, not sure how she should answer.

‘Lindsay had some business to deal with, back in America,’ he said, his voice as smooth and controlled as ever. ‘With her house and such things. Her place is here now, Mama, with me.’

‘And why couldn’t your place be with her?’ Daphne countered, a playful smile curving her mouth. ‘In America?’

Antonios’s composure slipped for a second as he stared at his mother, slack jawed. ‘Because I can’t run Marakaios Enterprises from America,’ he said finally.

Daphne nodded, her playful smile turning down at the corners. ‘No,’ she agreed softly, ‘you can’t.’

* * *

Antonios pushed his plate away, wishing this meal could be more pleasant for all of them. Deceiving his mother so directly was far more difficult than he’d envisioned, and he could tell Lindsay was finding it hard, too.

As for his mother’s suggestion he leave Villa Marakaios...the idea was absurd. He’d poured his soul into the family business, had sacrificed all semblance of a normal life to keep things afloat. He couldn’t walk away from it, even if he wanted to.

Thankfully, Daphne moved the conversation to more innocuous matters as they ate their way through three courses, and Antonios was glad to leave contentious matters aside as they chatted simply. He liked watching Lindsay, the way her eyes sparkled when she was amused, the way she tilted her head to one side when she was considering a point. The clear peal of her sudden laugh made him long to make her laugh again. Make her happy again, even if just for this week.

By the time dessert had been cleared Antonios could see that his mother was fading and so he made their excuses, kissing her on both cheeks, as Lindsay did after him, before they left the main villa to head back to their own.

The afternoon air was still and drowsy, the grounds silent and empty in this hot part of the day.

‘Are there any more engagements today?’ Lindsay asked and Antonios shook his head.

‘No, but there will be preparations for the party tomorrow, and then the actual celebration the day after.’ He glanced at her, wanting to be considerate but knowing she would resist being coddled. ‘Will that be all right for you?’

‘I think so.’

‘I want to make things easier for you,’ he said, his manner stilted yet sincere, the awkwardness of it making him cringe inwardly. ‘But I know you don’t want me to treat you differently, either.’

‘You’re being very kind, Antonios. I appreciate all you’re doing for me.’ For a moment she looked as if she wanted to say something more and Antonios felt his heart lurch with fear and hope. Then she shook her head, her eyes shadowed as she touched his hand. ‘Thank you,’ she said, and walked on to the villa.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LINDSAY TILTED HER FACE to the sun and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth—as well as the respite from the preparations for Daphne’s party. Even though Antonios had insisted she didn’t need to, she had joined his sisters in the villa’s main salon to help with the decorations.

Antonios was so clearly making an effort to help her, she felt she could do no less and help him. And if they’d had this kind of understanding before, would it have made all the difference? Could their marriage have survived, or even flourished?

Restlessly, she shifted in her seat, plucked a blossom of bougainvillea that twined its way up the stone wall. That question had been tormenting her in one form or another since she’d told Antonios about her anxiety. Maybe they’d needed to come to the brink of disaster to truly start listening and understanding each other. Maybe they’d needed the heartache and separation to come to a place where they could build something strong and true.