The Marakaios Baby (The Marakaios Brides 2)

He spoke with such bland indifference that it took Margo a few seconds for his meaning to penetrate. ‘Leo, I thought it was you who didn’t want to spend time with me. You’ve been angry with me for months, and I understand why—’

‘I’m not angry.’

‘No? If I look like I’m steeling myself,’ Margo said, her heart starting to beat hard at this sudden, unexpected honesty, ‘it’s because I’m bracing myself for whatever mood you’re in—whatever you’re going to say. Sometimes...sometimes it feels like you’re still punishing me for leaving you.’

He stared at her for a long moment, his eyes like shards of ice in his fathomless face. Margo waited, her breath held.

‘I’m not punishing you,’ he said at last. ‘Not any more. I admit when you first came here...when I believed you’d been unfaithful...I may have been acting out of anger, or even spite.’ He sighed, the sound weary. ‘A petty, useless emotion if ever there was one. But I don’t want to act like that any more. We need to move on, Margo, and make this marriage something we can both live with.’

‘Which is?’

‘That I don’t know yet. But hopefully we’ll find out in time.’ He moved past her towards the door. ‘Now, let me show you the rest of the villa.’

She followed him through the house as he showed her various rooms: a formal living room and a smaller, cosier TV room, the large dining room where they’d had breakfast, and another less formal room for family meals. A music room, a library, a second kitchen for parties... Margo started to feel overwhelmed. The house was huge. And Leo wanted her to be its mistress.

‘What exactly do you want me to do, Leo?’ she asked as they left the second kitchen.

He turned to her with a frown. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean what are my responsibilities? You mentioned that you wanted me to be in charge of your household...’

‘I only meant that as a courtesy to you and your position here. I don’t expect you to have duties.’

Which made her feel more confused than ever. ‘I don’t understand...’

‘Margo, we’re married. You’re the—’

‘Mistress of the house? The chatelaine? Yes, I understand that.’

‘You can do as much or as little as you like. If you want to consult with Maria about meals, or housekeeping, or anything, you’re more than welcome. If you want to redecorate, go ahead. I’m trying to give you freedom, not a burden.’

‘Thank you,’ Margo said after a moment, because she didn’t know what else to say.

She might have established her career in acquiring household items for a large department store, but even so she wasn’t about to bring her skills to bear here. She doubted his sisters would appreciate her changing so much as a cushion. As for meals... Her cooking skills had always been limited. She couldn’t imagine planning meals for everyone.

And yet...

This was her life. She needed to own it.

‘Do Xanthe and Ava both eat in the main house?’ she asked. ‘Will we have meals with them every day?’

‘They come and go. Neither of them really work, although Xanthe does a little PR for Marakaios Enterprises. Ava travels to Athens frequently. I suspect she’s seeing someone there, but she’s quite close-mouthed on the subject.’

So she’d have both women underfoot...watching and judging her. Margo pressed a hand to her middle to suppress the lurch of queasiness that prospect gave her.

Leo, of course, noticed.

‘Are you well?’

‘I’m fine, Leo. I’m actually feeling a bit better today than yesterday.’ A good night’s sleep and no more travelling had helped in that regard. ‘But I do need some more clothes and things.’

‘I can take you into Amfissa this afternoon for some supplies. And, if you’d like to make a list, I’ll arrange for whatever possessions you want to be sent here from your apartment in Paris.’

‘All right,’ Margo said. And although she didn’t like the thought of some stranger rifling through her things she had the sense to know that another long trip would exhaust her, and she appreciated Leo’s kindness.

He took her upstairs, where he pointed out Xanthe and Ava’s bedrooms, in a separate wing from theirs. And then he hesitated before opening the door to a slightly smaller bedroom next to hers.

‘I thought, when the times comes, this could be the nursery.’

She glanced at the beautiful yet bland room, decorated in pale greens and creams.

‘You can completely redecorate it, of course. Have you...?’ He cleared his throat. ‘Have you given some thought as to whether you’d like to know if it’s a boy or girl?’