'I would not dispute it,' Paul agreed flatly. He turned at last and stared at Argon with a stony face. 'As to my pride, do you really think I would sell myself to my cousin for your money?'
'If you marry Leonie the money becomes yours,' Argon said softly.
Paul's face stiffened. Leonie was bewildered. 'But ...' she began.
Argon held up a veined hand. 'Paul will have to have your consent, however, to make any major changes in the companies, and he could make no large withdrawals without your consent, either.'
'In fact, although I would nominally own Caprels Leonie would have the final say in decisions,' Paul suggested icily.
Argon nodded. 'Exactly. I would leave real control in Leonie's hands, but you would be master of Comus.'
Paul laughed bitterly. 'An empty title, however.'
'The choice is yours,' said Argon. 'I am tired now. Come back later and tell me what you have decided to do.'
They left the room in silence. Paul led the way down to the garden and stood on the bright, smooth lawn staring at the sky with a guarded expression.
'He can't be serious,' Leonie said, growing tired of the moody silence.
'Argon never makes idle jokes about money.' Paul thrust his hands deep into his pockets. He paced to and fro with the restless gait of a tiger, then turned suddenly and faced her. 'Well? What shall we do?'
She stared at him wide-eyed. 'Do? Why, we refuse, of course. You couldn't allow him to dictate your life like that.'
'So you will get the Caprel money,' Paul said coolly. 'My dear cousin, congratulations.'
She went white. 'I shan't accept it, don't worry.'
'Greece will acquire a wonderful new museum, then.'
'I just don't believe he would do that,' she protested. 'He's too fond of you.'
'Where business is concerned Argon has no emotions. He has found me wanting. He will not change his mind now.'
'I wish I'd never come here,' she whispered.
'Too late to wish the past undone,' Paul said crisply. He glanced at her out of empty blue eyes. 'Again I ask you, cousin. What will you do? The decision must be yours.'
She met his eyes hesitantly. 'Are you suggesting that we accept this marriage?'
'I am suggesting that I am willing to marry you if you wish it.'
'You would do that for the money?'
His face set like marble. 'My reasons are my own business. You must make the choice.'
'I have a right to know the reason for your decision,' she insisted. 'Earlier you seemed adamant in refusing. Why have you changed your mind?'
'Perhaps I don't share your rooted objection to arranged marriages,' he said.
'You've changed your tune suddenly. Didn't you say you would never sell yourself for money?' The words flew out before she had considered them and she wished she could recall them, but too late. Paul's set cold face warned her that he resented being reminded of his words.
'I've had time to think, perhaps,' he said, dropping the words in glacial syllables?"
'Oh, was that all it needed?' She felt a surge of wounded rage as she looked at his wild, handsome, sullen face. She had respected him when he refused to consider marrying her in order to regain his position as heir to the Caprel fortune, but now she bitterly despised him once more. 'A little time goes by and you're ready to put yourself up for auction? A pretty plaything for a rich woman? Well, I suppose the way you've lived so far has prepared you for such a bargain. I expect you've bought love yourself before now. But I am not accustomed to the ambience of the love market. I've never considered purchasing a human being before.'
Paul's face slowly hardened into a golden mask out of which his brilliant blue eyes glittered icily at her. 'Then you will have to consider it now.'
Leonie turned away angrily and moved towards the end of the garden and the start of the beach path. She wanted to be alone to think, to work out what it was she really felt. Paul followed her swiftly. Out of sight of the house, under the shifting shade of the pine trees, he caught up with her and stopped her in her tracks, his hands gripping her shoulders.