And I must talk to you about this tonight because Alex is going to rush me away tomorrow and I will not have another chance.’
‘For what, exactly?’
‘To make a suggestion. If you do not wish to go home yet, why not stay on Kyrkiros until your flight? You will be safe here.’
Eleanor went cold at the mere thought. ‘I couldn’t possibly.’
‘Why not? Once Alex has seen me off at the airport, he can get the ferry back here. I shall insist that he takes a holiday.’
‘Even if he agrees, he won’t want me around.’
‘My son needs to relax, Eleanor, and also needs some intelligent feminine company to relax with. He would never admit it, but his constant aim in life is to achieve bigger and better things than his father.’ Talia smiled sadly. ‘If you did some research on Milo Drakos, you know that is not easy. It worries me that my son leaves no room in his life for normal relationships. With his looks and money, there have always been women available to him as playmates, but since the affair with Christina Mavros he is wary.’ She sighed. ‘I so much want him to enjoy the companionship of an intelligent woman. What can I do to persuade you to stay here for a few days and provide him with that?’
Eleanor’s first instinct was to assure Talia nothing would persuade her, short of locking her in the Kastro dungeons. But then she had a better idea. ‘If you get me an exclusive interview with your son, I will stay for a day or so. My boss is so desperate for his scoop he even ordered me to wear something sexy to persuade your son to talk to me.’
‘So you were not really here for the festival at all!’
‘Oh yes, I was, to round off my series. But Ross McLean is panting for an in-depth interview with the entrepreneur who never talks to reporters. Your son’s warning killed all hope of that.’ Eleanor looked Talia in the eye. ‘But I swear that securing a scoop wasn’t my motive for beating off the kidnapper. I just couldn’t bear the thought of the man laying hands on someone like you.’
‘Someone like me?’
Someone so charming and delicate that the thought of some bruiser manhandling her had sent Eleanor into battle without a second thought. ‘Someone I liked so much,’ she said, flushing again.
‘The feeling is mutual, Eleanor, as I have already made clear.’ Talia winced at the sound of raised voices outside. ‘What now?’
Alex appeared in the doorway, his face like thunder. ‘I apologise for disturbing you, Mother, but we have another intruder. He insists on speaking with you before he leaves.’ He turned to the man behind him. ‘In deference to our guest, please speak English.’
Talia’s eyes widened as Milo Drakos, a commanding figure in a pale linen suit, strode into the room. He bowed to both women and lifted Talia’s hand and kissed it, his eyes locked with hers. ‘Forgive my intrusion. I was watching when you left the terrace and saw Alexei race after you with some of his men. I could not leave until I knew all was well with you,’ he told her, in a voice exactly like his son’s.
A delicate flush rose in Talia’s face as she freed her hand. ‘This is a surprise, Milo. What are you doing here?’
‘It is our son’s birthday, is it not?’
Alex made a hostile move, but at a look from his mother he backed off.
‘A card would have done, Milo,’ she observed, in a tone so sweet and cold it sent shivers down Eleanor’s spine.
He surveyed her bleakly. ‘Instead I came to mingle with the crowds, hoping to give my wishes myself. To my surprise, I was granted the unexpected privilege of seeing you here, Talia, and so I stayed, even knowing I risked instant ejection from my son’s island if he saw me.’
‘Of course I saw you,’ grated Alex. ‘But throwing you off Kyrkiros would have attracted unwelcome attention to my mother.’
Eleanor got to her feet hastily. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I’ll say goodnight.’
‘Goodnight, my dear.’ Talia smiled at her son. ‘Escort Eleanor to your room, please, Alexei mou.’
In silence so thick it seemed to drain the oxygen from the air, Alex led Eleanor along the hall to his own bedroom, his reluctance to leave his parents alone together coming off him like gamma rays.
‘I hope you’ll be comfortable in here,’ he said stiffly as he ushered her into a starkly masculine bedroom so unlike Talia’s it could have been in a different building.
‘I’m sorry to turn you out of your room,’ she said, equally stiff.
He shrugged. ‘In the circumstances, the least I can do. But I must collect some belongings before I leave you to the rest you must be desperate for by now.’ He looked back along the hall, his jaw clenched. ‘I apologise. I should have introduced you back there.’
‘I recognised your father from his photograph.’
‘Of course you did. You’re a reporter.’
‘Yes. I am.’ Eleanor sighed wearily. ‘And, before you ask, I won’t mention Milo Drakis in my article either.’
‘Thank you.’ To her surprise, Alex actually smiled. ‘Keeping the lid on all this drama must be hellish frustrating for you.’
‘True. But to avoid any hurt to your mother I’ll make do with a colourful account of the festival and say nothing about the rest.’
‘Even though someone tried to drown you?’ For the first time his eyes held a touch of warmth. ‘I hope this paper you work for pays you well. You earned danger money today.’
Her lips twitched. ‘According to my editor, I get money for old rope. He calls this kind of assignment a paid holiday.’
‘Not quite the way it went down today!’ He crossed to a wardrobe and looked over his shoulder. ‘Help yourself to a T-shirt, or whatever, to sleep in.’
The intimacy of the situation put Eleanor on edge as Alex went into the bathroom.
‘Tomorrow night,’ he said when he emerged, ‘You can sleep in my mother’s room.’
She stared at him in surprise. ‘I thought you were hustling me back to the UK tomorrow.’
He shrugged irritably. ‘I was, but while you were getting cleaned up earlier my mother pointed out that you should be allowed to enjoy the rest of your holiday as planned. I can’t guarantee your safety on Karpyros, but I can if you stay on here. You’d have Sofia to look after you and give you meals, and Theo Lazarides for security. You can have the run of the place, other than my office, and if you find the Kastro too intimidating to sleep in alone I can ask Sofia to move up here until you leave.’
‘Why are you doing this?’ she asked, astonished.
A flash of respect lit the dark eyes. ‘I owe you, Ms Markham. You risked your own safety, even your life, to help my mother today. I pride myself on paying my debts. Or do you have a different reward in mind?’
She nodded. ‘Actually, I do, but I’ll let your mother
