His Virgin Mistress Part 15

'How could you?' Olivia flicked another disparaging glance at the receptionist. 'But he had apparently tried to reach you by phone without any success.'

Joanna swallowed. 'He was coming to see me?'

'Who else?' Just for a moment a trace of Olivia's usual arrogance coloured her tone. Then, turning to the reception ist again, she said curtly, 'Do you know where Mr Kastro is?'

'Mr Demetri Kastro?' The girl was fl.u.s.tered.

'As I doubt my father is capable of leaving his bed, I have a reasonably good idea where he is,' countered Olivia irritably. 'Ne, I meant my brother. Is he still here?'

The girl licked her lips, 'I- I-'

'I see you are still terrorising the staff, Livvy,' remarked a dry voice from behind them, and Joanna swung round to find the man she'd told herself she least wanted to see strid ing towards them from the direction of a bank of lifts. In a dark blue b.u.t.ton-down s.h.i.+rt and black pants, his jacket looped casually over one broad shoulder, Demetri was at his most intimidating.

His eyes held hers for a brief, yet dev astating moment, before moving back to his sister. 'What is going on?'

Joanna blushed. She couldn't help herself. The realisation that the last time she'd been with this man he'd been slumped naked across her quivering body caused a wave of heat to envelop her.

G.o.d, how was she supposed to deal with this? How was she supposed to deal with him?

Thankfully, Olivia wasn't looking at her. Waving the re- ceptionist back to her desk, she said crisply, 'Just a small misunderstanding. Demetri. As you can see, Mrs Manning is here. But if that stupid girl had had her way she would have been ejected from the building.'

'Mou Theos, is this true?' His eyes turned back to Joanna, dark and unreadable now in his tanned face. 'Why did you not return my call? I could have arranged for someone to meet you at the airport.'

'Well-'

'I think Mrs Manning prefers to be independent, Demetri,'

Olivia broke in smoothly. 'Besides, I doubt she has your number.

Unless you left it for her, of course.'

'She could have reached me via the hospital,' replied Demetri shortly. But then, as if realising he was being far too heavy-handed, he switched his attention back to his sis ter. 'So, Livvy, am I to understand that you have been de fending Mrs Manning's right to see our father?' His lips twisted. 'I am impressed.'

'Save your sarcasm, Demetri.' Olivia wasn't amused. 'Perhaps you should escort our visitor upstairs, ne? After all, it is Papa she has come to see. Not us.'

Demetri swung his jacket down from his shoulder and pushed his arms into the sleeves with careless grace. 'Why not?' he conceded, his politeness tinged with bitterness, 'It would seem that my journey is no longer necessary. I must ask Spiro to get on to the airline and cancel my ticket.'

'I will do that,' said Olivia, accompanying them across to the lift. 'Is he at the Athens office?'

'He was an hour ago,' agreed Demetri, pausing to allow Joanna to precede him into the panelled cubicle a uniformed attendant had waiting for them. 'Efharisto!'

'Efharistisi mou,' responded Olivia drily, and walked away.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

The attendant's presence in the lift meant any kind of pri vate conversation was difficult, and Joanna told herself she was glad.

She and Demetri had nothing to say to one an other. She was here to see his father, as Olivia had said. She should be grateful that his sister had chosen to be civil to her. Without Olivia's intervention she would have found her position impossible, particularly if Demetri had left for London.

'You had a good journey?'

Demetri's enquiry caught her unawares. She had been concentrating on the indicator light as it moved up through the floors. It was with some trepidation that she discovered he had come to rest his shoulder against the wall of the lift beside her, successfully blocking her view of the attendant.

'It-was all right,' she replied, not in the mood to explain that her seat had been over the wing and she'd been nearly deafened by the roar of the engines, 'It was delayed for half an hour.'

Demetri's nostrils flared. 'You should have returned my call,'

he said with sudden vehemence, 'I would have ar ranged your flight.'

'That wasn't necessary.'

'No.' A sardonic expression crossed his face. 'You enjoy thwarting my wishes, Joanna. I was beginning to think that Spiro had given me the wrong number.'

Joanna's head felt light. 'I'm sorry.'

'Are you?' To her consternation, he lifted his hand and traced the line of her jaw with his finger. 'Why do you not look at me, agapitos? Are you so ashamed of what we did together?'

Joanna's eyes went wide, and this time she couldn't pre vent herself from looking at him. 'You shouldn't say things like that,'

she protested, her eyes darting round his broad shoulder to where the attendant was standing gazing at the indicator board.

'I-someone could hear you.'

Demetri lifted a dismissive eyebrow. 'He does not speak English.' he declared indifferently. 'And you did not answer my question.'

Joanna's chest fluttered. 'How-how is your father?' she asked, refusing to play his game. 'I'm looking forward to seeing him again.'

Demetri looked as if he would have liked to continue his baiting, but the mention of his father's name brought him upright from his lounging position. 'He is much better than when we brought him here,' he responded formally. 'He is lucky. His determination to keep us all in the dark could have cost him his life.'

It was a challenging statement and Joanna didn't know how to answer him. 'He- I expect he did not wish to cast a shadow over your sister's wedding celebrations,' she said uneasily, and Demetri gave her a sombre look.

'Let us not pretend that you did not know exactly what he was doing,' he said steadily. 'You were his-co conspirator; his confidante. But not his mistress, ne?'

Joanna's cheeks flamed again. 'Have-have you told your father that you know?' she asked faintly, and now colour deepened his tan.

'What do you think I am?' he demanded in a strangled voice, and now Joanna knew the most ridiculous desire to comfort him.

But she had to be sensible, 'I-I don't know what you are, Demetri,' she said, and before he could respond to this the lift stopped and the doors slid open, 'Is this our floor?'

'It is the floor where my father's suite of rooms is situ ated.' he agreed, stepping out of the lift with her. Then, after the doors had closed again, he gestured towards a door at the end of the corridor. 'You will find nurses in attendance.'

He glanced behind him. 'I will wait in the visitors' sitting room. It is along here. Ask the nurse to ring me when you are ready to leave.'

Joanna took a deep breath. 'All right.'

But she wouldn't. If she had her way she'd spend a little time with Constantine and then go back to her hotel. Until she'd spoken to him she didn't know how long he expected her to stay, but, whatever happened, the less she had to do with Demetri the better.

To her relief, Constantine looked much as he had done when they'd first arrived on Theapolis. He looked pale, of course, and tired, but his eyes were bright and became even brighter when they saw her.

'Joanna!' He lifted his hand to beckon her to him. 'Oh, Joanna. I am so glad to see you.'

'And I you,' said Joanna, her eyes misting with tears. 'I've been so worried about you. Constantine. The bulletins I got from the hospital were so-so impersonal.'

'Here-sit here,' said Constantine eagerly, moving so that she could wedge her hip on the side of his bed. He dismissed the hovering nurse with an impatient command, and then squeezed the hand he had captured when she sat down. 'Why did you not come before?'

'Well-'

'No, do not bother to lie to me, Joanna.' He was watching her closely, his dark eyes so like his son's that for a moment Joanna wondered if he could see right into her soul. 'It was Demetri, was it not? He sent you away.'

'No.' Joanna didn't want to take sides, but she couldn't let him think that Demetri was to blame, 'I-my holiday was over,' she said helplessly, 'I didn't know how long you were going to be in hospital and I had to get back to London.'

Constantine looked sceptical. 'Ne? Well, have it your own way. I know you are only protecting them. I am sure Olivia had her part to play, too. She was never happy with our relations.h.i.+p.'

Joanna hesitated. 'But you have told them now-'

'I think Demetri guessed,' admitted his father wryly. 'Oh, well, it was nice for a time, to have him envy me.'

'Constantine!'

'You do not believe me?' He studied her suddenly pink face with calculating eyes. 'Joanna. I have seen the way he looks at you. I know he is attracted to you, though he may not know it yet himself.'

'Constantine!'

'What? What?' His eyes narrowed. 'You are not flattered that my son considers you a beautiful woman?'

'He doesn't-' Joanna was fl.u.s.tered. 'That is, I don't think this is the sort of conversation we should he having.'

'Why not?' Constantine's greying brows arched interrog atively.

'Would you rather we discussed this wasted body of mine?

Would you rather I told you that the doctors are not sure how much longer I have left?'

'Please-'

'Oh, my dear...' His expression was gentle now. 'Do not upset yourself. I have accepted the situation and so must you. We all die some time. I consider I am fortunate to be given the opportunity to prepare for my death.'

Joanna shook her head, 'I don't know what to say.'

'You could say that you will miss me,' he prompted, lift ing her chin with a slightly unsteady hand. 'We have been good friends, you and I. Have we not?'

'You know we have.'

'Poli kala, it is natural that I should want to ensure your happiness before it is too late?'

'My happiness?' Joanna stared at him now. Then, as a possible explanation occurred to her, she added swiftly, 'I am happy. I have my work. You know I have a decent place to live. I have friends-'

'That is not what I meant, Joanna.' Constantine regarded her steadily. 'I know you have your work, and, yes, I have seen your apartment and it is as attractive as you can make it. But I want to ensure that if you tire of being at Martin Scott's beck and call you will have the funds to do some thing else. Whatever you wish.'

Joanna's jaw dropped for a moment. But then, recovering herself, she said firmly, 'No, Constantine.' She took a deep breath, 'I don't want anything from you. Except your friend s.h.i.+p.

And I believe I already have that.'

Constantine sighed. 'Do not be difficult, Joanna.' 'I am not being difficult.' She didn't want to upset him, but he had to understand that she meant what she said. 'Please, we've discussed this before.'

'Do you remember the day we went to Agios Antonis?' said Constantine obliquely. 'That was a good day, was it not? We went to the jeweller's and I persuaded you to let me buy you a small token-'

'It was hardly a small token.' Joanna interrupted him. 'Even now, I don't think-'

'The bracelet is yours, Joanna.' She could see he was getting agitated now, and she decided not to argue with him. 'I have enjoyed buying things for you, agapi mou.' His eyes darkened.

'There is so much more I would like to do, but-' He broke off then, and Joanna took the opportunity to rea.s.sure him. 'You've done everything for me, Constantine,' she said huskily, 'I don't know what I'd have done without you.'

He smiled a little wistfully. 'You are a good girl, Joanna. You have made me realise that I have done things in my life for which I am ashamed. As you know, it was I who encouraged Olivia to marry Andrea Petrou. I knew she was too young, too headstrong, but it was a political coup and that was all that mattered to me. Then, when she told me she wanted a divorce, I was not sympathetic.' He shook his head. 'Do you think she has forgiven me?'

'I'm sure she has,' said Joanna warmly, remembering how concerned Olivia had always been about her father. 'Why don't you ask her?'

'Perhaps I will.' He smiled. 'Perhaps I will. Thank you.' Joanna stroked the veined back of his hand. 'Just get strong again,' she said gently. 'That's what we all want. Then Demetri can take you home to Theapolis.'

'Ah, Demetri.' Constantine closed his eyes for a moment and Joanna wondered if that was her cue to leave. But be fore she could act on it he opened them again and said consideringly, Tell me, Joanna: what do you really think of my son?'

Joanna was astounded. It was the last thing she had ex pected him to ask, and she wondered if Demetri had lied to her after all.

Had he told his father about their affair? Had Olivia? Did Olivia know?

'Demetri?' she murmured at last, and Constantine gave her a retiring look.

'How many sons do I have, Joanna?' he enquired mildly.

'What is wrong? Do you dislike him that much?'

'No-' She couldn't allow him to think that.

'I thought not.' Constantine's tone was ironic. 'That is not usually the effect he has on your s.e.x.'

Joanna's tongue circled her upper lip. 'He- I- We hardly know one another,' she mumbled, not altogether truthfully, and saw the mocking glint come into Constantine's eyes.

But, 'No,' he conceded, apparently not prepared to pursue it.

Instead, he added, 'I told you, did I not, that he and Athenee Sama used to be close friends? Yes? And when she and her father came to Alex's wedding I think both Aristotle and I hoped...' He shrugged. 'But it was not to be. Something had happened. Demetri had changed. He was no longer interested in Athenee. In fact, he was not interested in any of the young women who flocked around him after the ceremony. Do you know why that should be so, Joanna? Can you explain why a man who has. .h.i.therto shown a per fectly natural interest in the opposite s.e.x should suddenly shun even the most innocent of overtures? Can you tell me that?'