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The situation was saved when Katie took away their plates and served the main course. Miranda had eaten moussaka in England, but it had never tasted this good and she ate hungrily, making up for the rest of the day, determined to keep her attention on her food and not the people surrounding her.

Theo filled her glass with wine, but she did not touch it, and when eventually they took their coffee into the other room it did not please her to find herself sitting next to him on the couch his mother had occupied earlier.

‘It would appear I have no choice except to put up with you for a few days,’ he ground. ‘It is an appalling situation, and I think my mother must have gone out of her mind!’

Miranda tossed her head, eyeing him angrily. ‘I think you’re the one who is insane!’ Or herself! She could not forget the way she had responded to him earlier—or ignore the fact that her body was even at this moment letting her know it found him physically attractive.

Pulses quickened, each nerve-end quivered and she had to look away before he read the message in her eyes. Unlike him she was unable to mask her feelings, and she had no wish for him to know the effect he was having on her.

It was sheer insanity, yet there was nothing she could do about it. Theo Alexidis had a hidden power which was stronger than herself. He emitted sexual shock-waves that if you were strong enough you ignored, otherwise you had no choice but to accept that they were getting through to you, and do your best not to let it show.

‘I am mad,’ he admitted, ‘for letting you get the better of me, or should I say for cunningly getting my mother on your side. How did you do it, I wonder? Or perhaps that shouldn’t be too difficult to work out. If you knew about us, you must have also known that my great-grandmother was English, and that my mother has a soft spot for English people. It would be no great feat persuading her to let you stay for a few days.’

‘It was not my idea,’ said Miranda sharply. ‘Although I don’t expect you to believe that.’ She would have liked to go to her room, except that her need to talk to Georgios was greater than escaping from this objectionable man who had set himself up as his brother’s keeper.

As soon as she had finished her coffee Mrs Alexidis excused herself and Theo dutifully helped her from the room. She looked very tired and leaned heavily on his arm. Miranda hoped it had not all been too much. It made her feel at fault, knowing that she herself was the reason why Mrs Alexidis had joined them that evening.

She turned to Eleni. ‘Your mother has not overdone it, I hope? I should feel awful if she had a relapse because of me.’

Eleni smiled reassuringly. ‘She’s tougher than any of us think. After a night’s sleep she’ll be fine, and she really enjoyed eating with us. She was much brighter than I’ve seen her in ages.’

Georgios got up and came to sit beside her. ‘It is sweet of you to be so concerned. I think you are going to brighten up our lives while you are here.’

What a statement for a husband to make! Her stay here was not going to be all that short, if she could help it. She either remained here permanently, or Georgios came back to England. How she wished Eleni would leave them for a moment!

She looked at Georgios imploringly, willing him to get rid of his sister. He smiled warmly but did not get the message.

‘I wish I did not have to go to work with Theo,’ he said. ‘I would enjoy exploring the island with you.’

‘But surely you don’t have to go?’ Miranda forgot the other girl for a moment. ‘Georgios, there’s so much that’s puzzling me. We must talk.’

‘I’m puzzled too,’ he admitted. ‘It doesn’t make sense, you claiming that you’re my wife.’

‘What is all this?’ interjected Eleni excitedly. ‘What am I missing?’

Georgios laughed self-consciously. ‘I think I must look like Miranda’s husband. She keeps saying that I am he. Will you tell her I’m not?’

‘You can’t be,’ said Eleni quickly. ‘But it must mean you have a double. Isn’t that the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard? But why do you call yourself Miss Martyn, Miranda? Have you quarrelled? Is that why your visit is a surprise?’

‘So many questions!’ Theo stalked into the room. ‘This whole story is a figment of Miss Martyn’s imagination.’ He had taken off his bow tie, and his shirt was open to reveal yet again that strongly muscled chest.

‘Why would she lie?’ demanded Eleni. ‘It is possible that there is someone else who looks like Georgios.’

Not only like, thought Miranda bitterly, he
was
her husband. But until she had spoken to Georgios privately how could she explain? With the two brothers both disputing her claim she would look a fool. Not one member of the Alexidis family knew what Georgios had done, excepting perhaps Theo, and he was not on her side anyway. She was completely in Georgios’s hands until he decided to tell the truth.

It was an exhausting evening, with Eleni determined to find out all she could about Miranda’s husband, and Theo equally determined it should remain taboo.

‘I’m ready for bed,’ said Eleni eventually, and had she not been so desperate to talk Miranda would have gone too. Stubbornly she waited up, fighting an overwhelming tiredness. There was not much chance that Theo would leave them alone, but if they all went to bed at the same time she would see which was Georgios’s room and could sneak in later when Theo was asleep.

But Theo observed her smothered yawns and said coldly, ‘I suggest you go to bed, Miss Martyn. Georgios and I will be having our last smoke on the verandah. There is not much point in you waiting around.’

It was almost as if he knew the real reason she had stayed up. But apart from disputing the fact that she was tired, and he would know she lied, there was nothing to do but retire gracefully.

Except that she had no intention of going to bed, or even getting undressed. She would sit and wait—and listen. It was imperative that she talk to Georgios tonight. She couldn’t go on like this, it was driving her crazy.

From beneath her window she heard the low murmur of their voices, but although she strained her ears she could not make out what they said. She wondered whether they were discussing her. Whether Theo was giving his brother strict instructions on no account to admit to knowing her. It was an insane situation—one that she had never envisaged when marrying Georgios three months ago.

When all became silent outside she moved across to the door, and her patience was rewarded when she heard soft footfalls pass her door.

Gingerly she opened it, in time to see a strip of light as two doors closed, but not quick enough to see who had gone into which room. Feeling thoroughly disgruntled, she went back inside and sat down on the bed. Now what?

If she went into the wrong one Theo would guess what she was planning and be extra vigilant in future. And she did not feel she could face him again tonight. Her reaction to his kiss earlier was still sufficiently embarrassing to make her want not to be alone with him again.

But her need to speak to Georgios was stronger than her fear of Theo. She crept out of her room and listened at each of the doors in turn, hoping that the sounds inside would somehow help her distinguish which of the brothers it was. She knew Georgios intimately enough to be able to tell it was him if he coughed or even grunted as he took off his clothes.

What she did not expect was for the door to be opened abruptly. There was no mistaking what she was doing, and she looked defiantly up into Theo’s darkly angry face.

‘As I suspected!’ he spat, and without giving her time to speak he jerked her into the room and closed the door.

‘If you’re hoping to have a quiet chat with my brother, I should forget it.’ He stood with his back to the door, a formidable figure, arms folded across his naked chest, white underpants sitting snugly across narrow hips. His long powerful legs were covered with fine dark hairs, his feet bare.

Miranda found it impossible to tear her eyes away from his superbly muscled body and she was dismayed to discover that he was having a far more electrifying effect on her than Georgios ever had.

Both brothers were handsomely tanned, but Georgios did not have the same excellent physique— or indeed the overpowering virility which made this man superior to anyone else.

Not that he was flaunting his sexuality, far from it. The fact that she had caught him in this state of undress was bad luck so far as she was concerned, but made no difference at all to Theo.

‘Georgios does not want you pestering him. You can gain nothing from it, so why don’t you admit defeat and go?’

Miranda flashed her eyes angrily. ‘That’s what you would like, I know. But the rest of your family have made it clear that I’m welcome. Therefore I shall stay until I’ve got to the bottom of this preposterous cover-up. What you expect to gain out of it, I have no idea. But the fact remains that Georgios is my husband and I intend remaining here until he admits it.’

Theo’s chest lifted as he drew a deep impatient sigh. ‘Miss Martyn, I have not, as you imply, put Georgios up to this. His denial of you came from himself, not me. I am merely giving him my support because Georgios has shown signs of becoming attracted to you. That would be very unfortunate, very unfortunate indeed.’

‘For whom?’ she demanded hotly. ‘Yourself, because you don’t approve of me? I know about your father’s prejudice, but since he’s no longer alive I think Georgios should be allowed to marry whoever he wants. Your mother wouldn’t complain, I’m sure. You’ve all got English blood in you, whether you like it or not.’

He frowned harshly. ‘You think that is my only argument? Really, Miss Martyn, you’re pitiful. My main concern is the tactics you are using. I think they’re disgusting!’

This man certainly believed in pulling no punches! The intensity in those hypnotic bronze eyes virtually cut the ground from beneath her feet. He made her feel about two inches high, but no way was she going to let him get away with it.

‘When are you going to believe that I’m not after money? Is it a mania with you? Do you suspect every person who shows an interest in your family of having an ulterior motive? If you ask me, it’s you who’s to be pitied. I ’

‘That is enough!’ he cut in harshly. ‘As a guest in this house you will conduct yourself properly. I will not tolerate insults. If you cannot hold your tongue, then go.’

Realising that he would pick on any excuse to get rid of her, Miranda bit back an angry reply. She had to think of Georgios, and the baby. They were her main concern, even if it meant letting this swine of a man get the better of her. At least she now knew which was her husband's room. She had no intention of giving up. Theo had to sleep; he could not sustain his vigilance all night.

But he was not finished with her yet. ‘Tell me,’ he said, making no attempt to move away from the door, ‘exactly how did you think you were going to make my brother admit he was your husband? No man would be that foolish, unless the girl was a breathtaking beauty, when he might think he was on to a good thing and accept what he could while he could.’

Meaning he did not think she was attractive enough to carry off any such plan! Thanks for nothing, she thought tightly, wishing the sight of his superb body did not bring memories flooding back.

He could do things to her that Georgios was incapable of. He could arouse emotions she had not known she possessed. So why, if she was distinctly unattractive, had he kissed her? Or wasn’t the answer clear? He had simply been proving something to himself, and she—unfortunately—had played right into his hands.

‘Georgios
is
my husband,’ she cried, hoping she did not look as guilty as she felt. It seemed wrong to stake her claim when her traitorous body was responding to Theo.

She had to get out quickly, but with him guarding the door how was that possible? She didn’t dare go near him for fear of giving herself away.

‘Georgios says no.’ That simple statement called her a liar, and how could she argue when she had no one to back her up? When Theo was so much stronger and was stubborn in his belief that she was after Georgios’s money and nothing else?

‘As you seem to think you know all the answers,’ she said wearily, ‘may I be permitted to return to my room?’

‘But of course.’

His bland smile should have warned her, the way he stepped to one side and opened the door. But she was so relieved to be let out that she skipped past him and into her own room as quickly as her feet would take her. It was not until she heard an ominous click that she realised Theo had followed and locked her in.

Vainly she tried the handle, lips compressed, temper boiling. But unless she wanted to arouse the whole household there was little she could do but concede his victory and get some sleep. Tomorrow she would be older and wiser and ready for any other tricks he might consider playing. How she hated him!

She did not expect to sleep, not with the worry of Georgios’s reaction. But she did and woke just after eight with the sun already high in a cloudless sky and every indication of another gloriously hot day.

After washing and dressing she tested her door and found it open. Eleni was in the dining room, her empty coffee cup in front of her. '
Kalimera,'
she said cheerfully. ‘I trust you slept well?’

‘Surprisingly well,’ admitted Miranda. ‘Where are Georgios and Theo?’

‘Already left,’ said Eleni. ‘They’re early risers. You won’t see them for the rest of the day. We’re going exploring, so eat your breakfast and let’s start before it gets too hot.’

Miranda hid her disappointment, not that there was any chance she could have spoken to Georgios alone, and helped herself to fruit juice and a roll which she spread lavishly with butter and honey. The coffee was Greek, so she had more orange juice instead and then pronounced herself ready.

Like Eleni she wore fiat sandals and shorts with a strapless top, but she popped a cotton blouse into her bag in case she needed to cover up. With her fair skin she had to be careful not to get too much sun too quickly, or she ended up looking like a lobster and feeling absolutely raw.