Rich as Sin by Anne Mather

Author:Anne Mather [Mather, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472099389
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 1992-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

SAMANTHA stood at the open french doors, gazing out at the ocean. The scent of mimosa hung in the still afternoon air, and the scarlet petals of geraniums tumbled from a dozen tubs strewn about the courtyard. In the centre of the courtyard, a stone nymph spilled water from an urn she was holding into the marble basin at her feet. It meant Samantha could always hear the cooling sound of running water, and she already knew the fountain was spread with lilies at its base.

Beyond the courtyard a walled garden gave on to a flagged terrace. And, beyond the terrace, steps led down to a sandy beach. From her position by the folding glass doors Samantha had a spectacular view of blue-green waters creaming along the shoreline, with the occasional glimpse of snow-white sails, nudging the horizon.

It was all quite breathtaking, and unbelievably beautiful. And certainly nothing like she had expected. Oh, she had been prepared for the light and colour of Greece, particularly after an English winter, but the unashamed luxury of Matthew’s grandfather’s house had left her feeling numb and confused.

She glanced round at her suitcase lying on the carved chest at the foot of the bed. Even her luggage looked lost in these surroundings. And as out of place as she was, she acknowledged with a sigh. She should never have come here. She should never have succumbed to Matthew’s sensual persuasion. How could someone who lived in this place ever require her assistance? It simply wasn’t credible. It had all been just a lie.

And yet, she admitted, sliding a weary hand through her hair, she had known from the beginning that helping Matthew’s mother organise his grandfather’s birthday party had never been the whole reason for her trip. So why was she feeling so depressed now? Just because the circumstances were vastly different from what she had expected, why did she feel so empty, as if something precious had been taken away from her?

She sighed, and, moving away from the windows, she surveyed the cream and rose splendour of her surroundings. When she had first been shown into these rooms she had been convinced someone had made a mistake. The richly furnished sitting-room, with its soft velvet sofas and carved cabinets, could not be for her. Any more than could the huge bed, in the room adjoining, with its exotically hanging draperies, or the lavishly equipped bathroom, sporting a step-in pool deep enough to swim in. These were not the apartments of someone who had come here under false pretences. And it was certainly not the kind of accommodation she had had in mind when she had agreed to come.

Which was really what was wrong, she acknowledged dully. Until she had seen this place, she had been labouring under the not unnatural illusion that, despite Matthew’s involvement with Melissa Mainwaring, he was not so different from herself. It was difficult to make sense of what she had been thinking, but she knew that, deep down, she had entertained some notion that she and Matthew might—–

She drew a breath.

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