That was what scared him.
Theseus remembered being a small boy and wanting nothing more than his father’s attention. But his father’s attention had been wrapped up entirely in his eldest son and heir, Helios. As the spare, Theseus had never been deemed worthy of his father’s time, had always been left trailing in Helios’s wake.
The favouritism had been blatant, and with only a year between them Theseus had felt the rift deeply. His mother had tried to make up for it, lavishing him with love, but it hadn’t been enough. It had been his father’s respect and love he had so desired.
What if Toby found him lacking? What if he was as great a disappointment as a father as he had been as a son and a grandson?
He needed time.
His overriding priority was to get his son safely to the island and under his protection. Anything after that...
‘I will make the necessary arrangements after I have spoken to Helios,’ he said, ignoring her swift intake of breath. ‘There is much to arrange, agapi mou,’ he continued smoothly. ‘A prince’s wedding on this island is usually a state affair, but I am not prepared to wait for the months of planning that will take. I am going to tell Helios of our plans—I want my ring on your finger as soon as it can be arranged.’
‘I thought you were going to keep things a secret until after the Gala?’ This time there was no hiding her bitterness. He knew he was railroading her into this marriage, but he also knew it was the best course of action for all of them—especially for Toby.
‘Only from my grandfather. Since we’ve known of his illness Helios has been running things in preparation for when...’ He shook his head. She knew when. ‘Helios’s staff can work with mine to get the preparations up and running.’
‘You don’t hang around, do you?’
‘Not when it comes to important matters, no.’
She rubbed her eyes, then sighed. ‘Will Helios want to meet me?’
‘For sure. But don’t worry about it—he’s a good guy.’
‘And what about Talos? Will you tell him too?’
‘If I can get him to myself for more than a minute. He’s working closely with the Gala’s solo violinist, and if the rumours are to be believed—which they probably are, as palace gossip here is generally reliable—she’s playing more than just her violin for him.’
Jo gave a bark of surprised laughter at his innuendo.
He grinned as the sound lightened his heart. That was better. Seeing Jo laugh was a whole lot better than seeing her cry.
He might not be anywhere near a place of forgiveness, but he was no sadist.
He swallowed down the notion that seeing Jo cry felt like a knife being stabbed in his heart.
* * *
The sun had long gone down over Theseus’s Mediterranean beachside villa when the driver pulled to a stop outside. Toby had fallen asleep in the car, curled up in her arms. According to Nikos he’d spent the entire flight talking. No wonder he was so exhausted.
But, other than being worn out with all the travel and excitement of the day, Toby had been his usual happy self and overjoyed to be with his mummy.
The butler, a man who looked as if he should be surfing in Hawaii rather than running a prince’s household, was there to greet them. Nikos took Toby’s suitcase inside, leaving Jo, at her insistence, to carry Toby inside.
She’d packed her clothes and then worked on the biography until the call had come through that the plane was circling above the island. Dimitris had accompanied her to the airport. She’d had no idea where Theseus was; she hadn’t seen him since the morning.
Her blood had boiled. She had been totally unable to believe that the man who was turning three lives inside out was failing to meet his own son.
Now, as she followed the butler inside, treading over the cool marble tiles, she wondered if all her work stuff had been brought over as Dimitris had promised. She hoped they’d remembered to bring her suitcase. There were so many things to think of her head was full enough to overspill.
Although not as grand as the palace—how could any dwelling possibly compare with that?—Theseus’s villa had an eclectic majesty all of its own. The façade a dusky yellow, the interiors were wide and spacious; filled with more of the South American vibe she’d felt in his palace apartment. Bold colours, stunning canvases and statuettes—homely, yet rich. A place she felt immediately at ease in.
It was the kind of vibe she’d always imagined Theo’s home would have.