His Virgin Mistress

‘Yeah.’ Demetri was ironic. ‘And tomorrow and tomorrow,’ he acceded flatly. ‘Come. Let us go and find a drink. I do not want the old man to think I have got anything to hide.’

‘Do you think he has?’

‘Who knows?’ Demetri made a careless gesture. ‘I wonder why he has brought her here.’

Spiro pulled a face. ‘I think I can hazard a guess,’ he remarked, and Demetri gave him an impatient look.

‘Yeah, right,’ he said shortly. ‘She is to be his guest at Alex’s wedding.’ He frowned. ‘I wonder where Mr Ma

‘If there is a Mr Ma

‘You think she is lying?’

‘No.’ Spiro shook his head. ‘But she is not wearing a ring. Do you think she is divorced?’

‘Who knows?’ Demetri was weary of the whole conversation. ‘Rings do not mean a lot these days. Besides, what does it signify? She is here. That is the only thing that matters.’

‘Do you think their relationship is serious?’

Demetri was taken aback. ‘Do you?’

‘Perhaps.’ Spiro looked pensive. ‘Your father seems to care about her. Do you not think so?’

Demetri scowled. ‘So what are you saying? That he intends to marry her?’

‘Hardly that.’ Spiro drew in a breath as they started towards the door. ‘But serious illness can do strange things to people, filos mou. Being reminded of your own mortality can leave you with a desperate desire to embrace life.’

Demetri snorted. ‘Since when did you become a philosopher?’

‘I am just trying to be objective,’ Spiro protested. ‘And, despite reports to the contrary, Mrs Ma

‘You feel you know her that well?’ Demetri was scornful.

‘No.’ Spiro was defensive now. ‘But I have been here since yesterday, when they arrived. I have watched them together. And, if I was scrupulously honest, I would say that they have known one another a considerable length of time.’

‘Have you known my father long?’

The question was asked by a slim dark woman, whose resemblance to her father was unmistakable. Constantine had told Joa

Joa

She had cornered Joa

‘Quite long,’ she responded now, directing her attention to the jewelled items that had drawn her across the room in the first place. She had delivered many of these boxes to Constantine herself, and it was fascinating to see them all together in the display case. Aware that Olivia was still beside her, she added, ‘Aren’t these beautiful?’

‘Valuable, certainly,’ said Olivia insolently. ‘Are you interested in antiques, Mrs Ma

Joa

Olivia’s thin brows elevated. ‘Really?’

‘Yes, really.’ Joa

‘An auction house?’ Olivia immediately picked up on the information. ‘In London?’

‘That’s right.’ Joa

‘What do I do?’

Olivia was clearly taken aback, but before she could say anything more her father came to join them. Slipping an arm about Joa

‘Because you will not let me do anything else,’ retorted Olivia shortly. Then, struggling to contain her anger, ‘In any case, I do not think it is any of Mrs Ma

Joa

Deciding there was nothing she could say which would placate Olivia, she turned to Constantine instead. ‘How are you?’ she asked, before he could remonstrate with his daughter. ‘You’re looking tired. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather eat upstairs?’

‘I am sure you would,’ murmured Constantine, for her ears only. But, for all his attempt at humour, he was looking drained. The day had taken a toll on his depleted resources and he should have been resting. But she had always admired his strength of spirit, and he demonstrated it again now. ‘How could I desert our guests? Besides, I am ready for my di

Knowing better than to argue with him, Joa

‘When I have finished this,’ agreed Constantine, indicating the remnants of the spirit in his glass. He held the glass up to a nearby lamp. ‘Do you know, you can only get real ouzo in Greece? I have tried it elsewhere, but it is never the same.’

‘Ought you to be drinking alcohol, Papa?’ Olivia had been observing their exchange in silence, but now she took his other arm. ‘You have been ill, Papa. I worry about you.’ She glanced disparagingly at Joa

Constantine’s lips tightened. ‘I am delighted that you are so concerned for my welfare, Livvy. But I am sure Demetri has told you I am very well. Besides, I have the beautiful Joa

And twice as expensive. Joa

Spiro Stavros was with his employer. Both men were in their early thirties, but Spiro possessed none of Demetrios’s brooding good looks. Nevertheless, they were both tall and powerfully built. But Joa

Olivia left her father’s side to greet her brother, and Constantine took the opportunity to speak privately to Joa

Joa

‘Do you think they believe we’re lovers?’ she asked in a low voice, and Constantine gri