PAGAN ADVERSARY Read Online Free PDF Page B

up and draw away from him, combing
    shaking fingers through her fair hair.
    Her legs were trembling, but she made herself stand up, nervously
    ramming her disordered blouse back into the waist of her skirt. She
    stole a sidelong glance at him, biting her lip.
    He was leaning back watching her. His tie was loosened, and the
    black hair was dishevelled. His dark eyes were brilliant, not with
    thwarted passion, but with stinging, cynical mockery.
    He said softly, 'You were saying something about your immunity, I
    think.'
    Hot colour flooded her face, and she lifted her hands, pressing them
    almost helplessly to her burning cheeks. Then, as Nicky's whimper
    threatened to develop into a wail, she walked across the room and
    lifted him out of his cot. Thumb in his mouth, still half asleep, he
    hitched a chubby arm round her neck as she carried him towards the
    centre of the room. Alex Marcos stood waiting, hands on hips. Nicky
    lifted his head and stared at him.
    Harriet said gently, 'This is your uncle Alex, Nicky. Say hello.'
    He wasn't good with strangers. He didn't always oblige. Perhaps in
    her secret heart, Harriet hoped this would be one of those times, and
    that he would either become silent and clinging or—which was more
    likely— roar with temper.
    But he did neither. He summoned a shy engaging smile and said,
    "Lo,' before burying his. face in Harriet's shoulder.
    Alex spoke to him in Greek, and Harriet felt the little body in her
    arms stiffen as if the soft words had parked off an association, an
    elusive memory he was trying to recapture. Eventually a small
    muffled voice said uncertainly, 'Papa?'
    Harriet felt tears prick at her eyes.
    'Did you have to do that?' she demanded.
    'He is half Greek,' Alex said flatly. 'It is right he should remember and
    learn to speak his father's tongue.'
    'You heard what he said. He thinks you're his father.' Harriet spoke
    fiercely.
    'As far as he is concerned, that is what I shall be. Explanations can
    wait until he is old enough to understand.'
    'And the succession of surrogate "mothers" in his life? How old will
    he be before you explain them?'
    He said silkily, 'Guard your tongue, my little English wasp, or you
    may have cause to regret it. Yes, I enjoy the company of women, in
    bed and out of it. Why should I deny it? Perhaps you have forgotten
    that if Nicos had not woken when he did I might well have persuaded
    you to share some of that—enjoyment.'
    Harriet's lips parted in impetuous denial—and closed again in silence.
    Alex smiled faintly. 'Very wise,' he approved. 'I hope you behave
    with equal wisdom during the rest of our dealings together.'
    Harriet stared at the floor. She said, 'I would prefer to deal with Mr
    Philippides.'
    'I'm sure you would,' he said sardonically. 'Now, I wish to get to know
    my nephew, and preferably without your sheltering arms around him.
    Would it be convenient for him to spend the weekend with me?'
    She glanced up. 'You have a house in London?'
    'I have a hotel suite.'
    'And you're going to look after him?' Harriet shook her head. 'He—he
    still wears nappies a lot of the time --' -
    'I've brought a nursemaid with me from Greece,' he said impatiently.
    'She will deal with such matters, not I.'
    'I see.' She did see too. She saw his power, and the certainty and
    arrogance which that power bestowed, and she hated it. So sure of his
    ultimate victory that he'd even brought a nanny, she thought. 'And if I
    refuse?'
    He lifted his brows. 'Are you sure that you can? You may resist my
    claim to total rights, but as his uncle surely I can demand rights that
    are equal to yours at least.' He paused. 'I give you my word I will not
    attempt to take the boy out of the country. Will that satisfy you?'
    Harriet moved her shoulders wearily. 'I doubt if I could stop you,
    whatever you wanted to do,' she said. 'When would you want to
    collect him? Tomorrow afternoon? If you give me a time, I'll have his
    things ready.'
    'Shall we say three o'clock? And