“Pish. Hurry up. I miss you!”
Sophie laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would have arranged everything.”
She could practically hear Liv’s careless shrug. “I got a deal on a last minute flight. I hope it’s okay?”
“Okay. It’s bloody fantastic. I’ll see you soon.”
She moved quickly back to the bedroom and pulled a colourful dress off a hanger. It was a gorgeous shade of peach and turquoise and flattered her skin tones and eyes. The dress was simple cotton, strapless so that it ran straight across the top of her cleavage, hugged her to the waist and then flared in a short skirt to inches above her knees. It was perfect for the warm weather they’d been enjoying. Sophie slipped a pair of wedge-heeled sandals onto her feet and tidied her hair, then moved through the house.
The problem, of course, was that she had no idea where the cars were, and nor did she know who kept the keys. “Alena?” She emerged almost apologetically back to the pool.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Please, call me Sophie.” She said with a smile. “My sister has come to the island, and I’d like to go and collect her. Only I’ve no clue where the garage is.”
“Ah!” Alena’s face broke out into the most genuine smile Sophie had seen her employ since coming to the island. “That eez wonderful. But ‘Arry will drive you.”
“No, no, I don’t want to disturb him.”
“Mr Petrides ‘as asked ‘im to ‘elp you.”
“Oh.” She nodded awkwardly. “If it’s no trouble then.”
Sophie hadn’t yet met Alena’s husband but she knew he busied himself in the gardens and with the fleet of vehicles Alex kept on Corfu. When Alena appeared with him a few moments later, Sophie saw he was a short, round man with a twinkling gaze and kindly expression.
“It’s an honour,” he said, in native English.
“Likewise.”
“Alena says you would l
ike to go to town?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “To Kerkyra. My sister’s there,” she finished lamely.
“My wife said. Are you ready?”
“Now? Yes. Yes I am.” She was suddenly desperate to see Olivia. Her sister could surely make everything seem better.
“Then let’s go.”
Sophie fell into step beside him as he made his way along the courtyard towards a long, low barn. He pressed a button in his pocket and the gate slid open to reveal seven sports cars. Sophie counted them to be certain. They were each immaculate and prestigious. There were several with unpronounceable names she’d never even heard of.
He caught her looking at the row of cars and grinned. “Do you have a preference?”
She shook her head quickly.
“We’ll take the Alfa. You’ll like it. Fast and elegant.” He opened the front passenger door for her. “It is one of Mr Petrides’s favourites.”
“Great.” She swallowed back the painful discomfort at the reference to her husband. “You’re from England?”
“Sure am, ma’am. Up north way.”
“Please, please, I beg you, stop calling me ma’am.” She already felt like a weird imposter. The confidence that she belonged in Alex’s life and home had rapidly evaporated.
“Mr Petrides prefers a degree of formality …”
“Perhaps he does, but I can assure you, I don’t.” The engine purred to life and Harry steered it down the narrow drive with admirable expertise. “I’m Sophie. I’m Australian. We’re not at all formal, really.”