‘This isn’t fair.’

‘Life’s not,’ he said shortly. He had evidence of this right in front of him. He’d had a son for nine years and he hadn’t known.

She stared at him, speechless. He stared out of the window. Tried not to think that yes, it was unfair. As kids they’d planned to do this side by side. They still could if she…if he…

It had to be thought of. The lawyers had demanded he think of it.

How could he think about it?

‘You will be there tonight,’ she said urgently, and a blunt voice inside him said no, let her sink. Not telling him he had a son…

But then he looked at her, he caught the terror, and he caught something else.

The Athena he’d once loved. She was still in there.

And this island…It was his home and he loved it. He had to support her, come what may.

And he had to convince her to stay.

Enough. One step at a time.

‘I’ll be there,’ he told her.

‘With me,’ she said urgently. ‘I won’t remember names. People will know me and I won’t remember them. I’ll say the wrong thing. Nikos, you have to help me.’

‘I’ll help you.’

He hadn’t said it right. He sounded petty, angry, resentful. And she got it. Terror turned to anger again, just like that.

‘Don’t you dare.’

‘Dare what?’

‘Dump this on me. You talked me into this. You made me come home. I’m your responsibility, Nikos. I came home because of you.’

‘You came home because of the island.’

‘I came home because we talked ourselves into loving this island together. If you’re even thinking you need me to stay, then you need to support me every step of the way.’

‘I’ll support you tonight,’ he said.

Beyond tonight was a place he was too fearful to think about.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE castle was a time warp.

The limousine pulled up in the castle forecourt. Athena climbed out.