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One day, about a week later, Kerry received a message from Drakon, asking her to come and see him at the hospital. She was surprised because Theo had told her that he wasn’t well enough for visitors—and hadn’t been for some time. In fact the afternoon that Theo had flown from the island to meet Drakon at the hospital the old man had taken another turn for the worse. Theo had been refused access and the situation with the sale of the island was still unresolved.
Kerry looked at the handwritten note that Drakon had sent to her. She had the feeling that Theo would not be pleased if she went to see the old man alone—but he’d flown to Paris that morning and wouldn’t be back till late. She didn’t want to keep Drakon waiting. His health seemed so precarious that he might not be fit to see her if she delayed her visit.
So she left Lucas with the housekeeper and went to the hospital alone.
‘Thank you for coming,’ Drakon said, struggling to sit up straighter against the starched white hospital pillows. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to.’
‘Of course I came,’ Kerry said, crossing the room to kiss Drakon lightly on the cheek. She was startled by how changed he seemed—he looked so frail that she’d hardly recognised him at first.
‘There are a few things I want to ask you,’ he said, getting straight down to business. ‘Forgive me for not worrying about the social niceties—but I tire easily.’
Kerry looked at the old man, suddenly feeling wary. She had a feeling that she wasn’t going to want to answer his questions…
Theo signed the last of the documents securing his purchase of Drakon’s island and stepped back, away from the old man’s hospital bed.
‘You take care of my island,’ Drakon instructed him testily. ‘And take care of that pretty wife of yours. You’ve got a gem there—although I think you’re too pig-headed to realise it.’
Theo looked down at the old man, biting back the cutting retort that had come into his mind. The island was his now—he did not have to answer to anybody about what he chose to do with it. And—unfortunately—he was well aware of what kind of woman he had married.
‘Trust me—I know my wife,’ he replied smoothly. She was a woman who still had not learnt her lesson about meddling in his affairs. A woman who had gone behind his back yet again and betrayed his confidence.
Drakon snorted derisively, as if he was far from convinced by Theo’s words, then held out his hand to shake on their deal.
‘We’re finished here,’ he said. ‘Don’t let me keep you from your other business.’
Theo shook his hand firmly, a wry lift of his brow the only indication of what he thought about Drakon’s clumsy dismissal.
He left the hospital and headed straight back to the hotel. He could not believe what had happened. He had finally acquired the island for his aunt—but all he could think about was how Kerry had betrayed him. Again.
Kerry looked down at Lucas, already sleeping soundly. She walked out of the nursery and closed the door quietly, biting her lip distractedly.
She’d been in a permanent state of agitation since Drakon had called her to the hospital the previous day. She’d been determined not to do or say anything that would displease Theo, but it hadn’t made any difference—because Drakon already knew everything.
He’d told Kerry the story of Theo’s aunt and uncle, and how they’d lost the island. And then he’d simply watched her response as he’d quizzed her about Theo’s plans. When he’d suggested that Theo might be buying the island in order to give it back to his aunt, her reaction had confirmed his guess was correct.
She felt awful for inadvertently giving Drakon the verification he was looking for—but short of telling him an outright lie she hadn’t been able to hide the truth.
Although she knew Theo would be furious with her, she had decided to tell him what had happened as soon as possible. But he never seemed to be around. She’d tried to call him, but he was always in meetings. And in any case it wasn’t the kind of conversation she wanted to have over the telephone.
She walked out onto the roof garden, hoping to calm her nerves, but somehow the heavy fragrance of jasmine seemed too overpowering, and the trickle of the fountain didn’t soothe her as usual.
Suddenly she realised that she was thinking about the last time she’d waited for Theo on the roof garden, knowing that she was about to con
fess something that would make him angry. That time she had made a terrible mistake—and Theo had reacted by kicking her out of his life. This time she had not done anything wrong except not tell Drakon a barefaced lie to protect Theo’s privacy. But she knew he would still be angry.
She turned to go back inside, but at that moment Theo appeared in the doorway.
‘I’m glad you’re home,’ she said right away, pleased at how steady she kept her voice, despite the unease that filled her. ‘There’s something I need to tell you—something that happened yesterday.’
‘You went to see Drakon,’ Theo said, pre-empting her confession.
Kerry looked up at his face and felt herself tremble. Whether he’d meant to or not, Drakon had put her in a terrible position. And now she had to try to explain it to Theo.
‘He sent me a message,’ Kerry said. ‘I felt I had to go right away—he’s been so unwell that I didn’t think I should delay.’
‘I’ve also been to see him. In fact I’ve just come from the hospital now,’ Theo said, partially drawing a sheaf of papers out of his briefcase. ‘The island is now mine.’
‘Oh!’ Kerry gasped, relief running through her as she watched Theo return the documents to the safety of his case. ‘Oh, that’s wonderful.’
