‘Adoni.’ Alice sounded breathless and her chest rose quickly as if in agitation. In her short-sleeved floral dress she looked fresh, young and innocent. Then her smile solidified. Adoni took in her flushed cheeks and the glitter of her eyes and thought he’d never seen her look lovelier.
The knowledge didn’t improve his mood.
The shaggy-haired man at her side narrowed his eyes under tangled white eyebrows. ‘I hear you’re taking Alice to Greece.’ His deep voice boomed like the sea thundering into a cave. ‘I expect you to look after her.’
‘Jasper!’ She turned, breaking his hold and frowning.
‘I am and I will.’ Adoni held his gaze. ‘She’ll be better off with me than working herself to exhaustion.’
The older man stared a moment longer, then nodded abruptly. ‘That’s what she said.’ He turned to Alice. ‘But don’t forget, there’s always a place for you here. Maureen and I have missed you.’
Alice’s smile this time was wide and genuine. ‘Maybe Maureen has, though how you’d fit another person in your cottage I’m not sure. And I know you, Jasper. You’ve probably been so busy in the studio you don’t even know what month it is.’
She turned to Adoni. ‘Let me introduce you. Adoni, this is Jasper Hyde, an old friend of my family, and—’ she gestured to the other man, silent beside them ‘—Felix Christow, down from London for the day. Felix, Jasper, this is Adoni Petrakis.’
Adoni shook hands, amused by Hyde’s punishing grip, as if he sought to deter Adoni with a show of strength.
‘A family friend?’ Adoni queried.
‘Yes.’ It was Alice who answered. ‘My father and I moved into the end cottage after...’ she paused ‘...when I was twelve. Jasper and Maureen were our neighbours. They looked after us.’
‘No more than you did for us, Missy, these last years when David got sick.’
‘David?’ The name shot out. Were they talking of her ex-lover?
‘David Bannister,’ Jasper said. ‘Our friend and landlord. He lived in the big house I hear you’re planning to buy. He created the artists’ colony here with his wife, years ago. A good man.’ He shook his head. ‘Unlike his obnoxious nephew.’
The third member of their party spoke up. ‘Well, it’s time I headed back to London. Thank you for your help, Alice, Jasper.’ He shook hands with each in turn. ‘I’ll send invitations to the opening.’
‘I’ll look forward to it.’ Did Adoni imagine it or did Alice’s eyes glow more brightly?
‘Nice to meet you, Mr Petrakis. Perhaps I’ll see you at the opening too.’
As his car drew away Adoni turned to Alice. ‘Opening?’
‘Felix is curating an art exhibition in London of my mother’s work.’ She sounded proud and excited. ‘I promised to meet him to provide some background information for the exhibition.’
Jasper Hyde scowled. ‘He doesn’t even know? Yet you’re haring off to Greece with him?’ The old man’s disapproval showed in his mottled features.
Alice shrugged, obviously uncomfortable. ‘It’s not like that. We’re not...’
Jasper raised abundant white eyebrows and Adoni was fascinated to see colour wash Alice’s cheeks. He had no idea what was going on, but if he didn’t know better he’d believe Alice was nervous about telling the old man exactly what linked them. Sex and an unborn baby.
A strange attitude for a woman who’d openly lived with her previous lover on this estate.
‘It’s time we left,’ Alice said quickly. ‘It’s a long way to London. Give Maureen a hug for me and—’
‘Don’t forget that jam she made. I’ll never hear the end of it if you go without it.’
Alice nodded and, with one wary look at Adoni, hurried towards the back of the cottage.
She was barely out of sight when the other man spoke. ‘I expect to see Alice come home looking much less peaky.’ He swivelled and Adoni was surprised at the force of his piercing gaze. ‘You haven’t done a good job looking after her so far, for all your money.’ His gaze skated over Adoni’s tailored clothes with disapproval. ‘She’s not entirely friendless. If you hurt her—’
Adoni lifted his hand, palm outward. ‘I have no intention of hurting her.’ He was torn between annoyance at the man’s presumption and curiosity that Alice had such a vehement champion. ‘If I’d had my way she’d have been on vacation a week ago.’
‘Ah,’ Jasper said. ‘She always could dig her heels in. Just as well, or she’d never have been able to manage this place.’
Adoni frowned. ‘Managethisplace? The estate?’