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He bent his handso sweetness that left her tre They walked hand in hand back to the car and he settled her in and drove off down the lane that led back to the house She watched hied, secure in his love and loyalty

‘Oh, yes, there’s just one nant!’ she announced

Lysander took his attention off the rough surface of the lane to look at her in surprise and pleasure His charishtened his lean dark features

‘We’ll know for sure in another few days…oh, no, watch the wall!’ Ophelia shrieked as the nearside wing of the big car grazed the stone boundary

‘No goat jokes, agape mou,’ Lysander warned as he braked to a halt

But Ophelia was having a hopeless fit of the giggles and although she tried to be tactful and hold them in, she could

n’t

Eighteen hter out of Lysander’s arms

Shush…, she mouthed in silence, but there was no need to warn him The entire household knew that Poppy only slept a handful of hours a day and was very dey—and his adoration A nanny had joined the staff, but only when Lysander had ed to persuade Ophelia that she didn’t need to exhaust herself to prove that she was a good mother

Weary after a busy afternoon sitting in her buggy watching her led into her cot She had blonde curls, big dark eyes and an adorable smile, a combination that Ophelia reckoned would so woman Just now she was a very pretty baby, rand a father, and Haddock was singing nursery rhyain

Ophelia had had a straightforward pregnancy, although she had got fed up with the physical restrictions created by her bulky shape in the later stages Putting her feet up and resting had proved a severe challenge for soreat lengths to keep her entertained while Virginia and Pamela had proved wonderfully supportive

Virginia was ular weekends at Madrigal Court Ophelia had persuaded the older woman to help her with the redecoration and colour schee, for Virginia had great taste and Ophelia ardens were in the process of being restored and Ophelia now had a teaot on very ith her ance, Ophelia dressed up a little more often and could now handle all sorts of social occasions without batting an eyelash At the centre of her assurance was the reassuring knowledge that her husband loved and wanted her no matter what she wore and no matter what she did

Lysander and Ophelia had only recently returned from a week on Kastros They walked downstairs and out onto the newly built terrace that overlooked the rounds were full of spectacular colour and provided afor the wonderful old house Pre-dinner drinks were served Lysander reached for Ophelia’s hand ‘I have so I want to tell you and I don’t kno you’ll take it’

Ophelia tensed ‘Is it about Molly?’

‘No, no further advances in that field, I’m afraid,’ he admitted ruefully ‘But what I have to tell you does relate to your fa’

Ophelia held tight to his hand and frowned up at the lean, strong face that she loved so ? Are you serious?’

Lysander began to explain He had been over in New York on business where he’d met the man as to have been Aristide’s best man when he married Ophelia’s mother, Cathy ‘In those days, Petros was a close friend of Aristide’s and I asked hi an answer,’ he said wryly, ‘but Petros told iven birth to a child before she met him and that it had all been hushed up Aristide was shocked and furious and iement’

‘My word…’ Ophelia raised her hand to her parted lips, her astonishment unhidden ‘Did you believe him? Do you think it was only a nasty ruenuinely believe in the story?’

‘Petros is no gossip and it was Aristide who told him Aristide shared only the barest facts: that a little boy was born to your e of him’

Ophelia shook her head in wonder that I may have an older brother out there somewhere’

‘It’s a possibility Don’t get too excited until we have soo on,’ Lysander warned her ‘You’re not upset?’

‘My goodness, no It’s very sad, though My hed as they walked back indoors for dinner ‘She really wasn’t very good at picking men—’

‘But you are,’ Lysander cut in, lowering his handso kiss that reduced her to quivering coape mou’

Her crystalline eyes danced ‘Only because you illing to pay the water charges But you didn’t accept the cash I offered you’

Much arinned down at her in the Great Hall ‘No, and then you used theelse!’

‘Did I?’ Ophelia was very ave the money I owed you to the vicar for the church roof fund’

‘It was still the best investment I ever made, Mrs Metaxis’

‘Lysander’s my hero!’ Haddock carolled on cue from the corner, carefully coached as he had been to react to the name Metaxis hat Ophelia deemed to be a more socially acceptable response

Unfortunately, Lysander had proved less impressed than she had hoped

‘Well, you are ainst her husband and gazing up at him from below her lashes with a look of unashamed admiration and contentment ‘I love you very much’

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