The Innocent's Surrender Read Online Free

had a face that you wouldn?t forget in a hurry, either, she thought, her breath catching, his olive-skinned features strongly marked from his frank beak of a nose to the deep cleft in his chin, via a mouth that could best be described as sinful.
    She hadn?t meant to linger on her appraisal, even though everyone else in the room seemed to be gawping at him too, but suddenly, as if alerted by some invisible antenna, he?d turned his head and those midnight-dark eyes under the straight black brows had looked right back at her, that astonishing mouth curving in a smile as his gaze swept over her in an assessment as candid as it was total.
    Undressing her, some instinct had told her, with his eyes.
    Natasha had felt a wave of warm blood wash from her toes to her hairline, as she prayed for the floor to split apart and swallow her into some fathomless depths forever.
    But it hadn?t happened, and she?d had to be content with merely turning her back instead. Pretending he didn?t exist.
    Now, as the memory stung her again, she said harshly, ?If he has been suddenly transformed into Mr Shrewd, then he?ll know this is a set-up. After all, Irini has hardly been discreet over her views of the Mandrakis family as a whole, and Alex in particular.?
    There was an odd silence. Once more the brothers exchanged glances, but this time they were both smiling broadly. Almost gleeful, in fact.
    And if I were a child again, Natasha thought, I?d be searching my bed for lizards.
    ?Irini?? Stavros shook his head, enjoying the moment. ?Even if she allowed it, we would not be so foolish. No, my little one, the bride we have offered Alex Mandrakis is yourself, Natasha mou .?
    His satisfied beam widened. ?So, what do you think of that? It is clever, ne ??

     
    CHAPTER TWO
    ?CLEVER?? Natasha?s voice rose. ? Clever ? It?s the most ridiculous idea I?ve ever heard in my life. The pair of you must have taken leave of your senses.?
    Her condemnation was received in frosty silence, and she saw Maria and Christina exchange affronted glances at this lack of respect to their husbands.
    ?But, Natasha, this is such a simple thing we ask you to do for us.? Andonis leaned forward. ?You have only to sign a letter which we shall send to Mandrakis, telling him you are willing to become his wife in accordance with our offer. Is that really such a difficulty?
    ?Because I promise you that he will never agree to this proposal. He has no wish to marry anyone.? He shrugged. ?Why should he tie himself to one, when so many beautiful girls are willing to share his bed without honour??
    Ignoring the shocked squeals from Maria and Christina, he went on, ?His age is, what? Thirty? In ten?fifteen years, perhaps?he will take a wife, in order to breed himself a son, if he can find a woman to have him.
    ?Until then, Natasha mou , he will do just as he pleases.?
    ?But do not worry,? Irini broke in scathingly. ?You are not likely to please him, with your pale hair and your white skin. A creature who looks as if no blood runs in her veins.? She laughed scornfully. ?How could you be wanted by any man? With Mandrakis, you will be quite safe.?
    Natasha was jarred once again by the memory of amused dark eyes coolly scanning her seventeen-year-old body, and of Lin?s excited murmur, ?They say he can make love in four languages. Isn?t he to die for?? And to her vexation, she now found herself flushing at the thought.
    There were a number of pithy retorts she could have made to Irini, she thought, including the information that she was currently dating a man in London who clearly didn?t find her in the least undesirable, but she controlled herself with an effort.
    She could also understand why Madame Papadimos was absent. Thia Theodosia will know nothing about this nightmare, she thought. Nothing?
    She said tautly, ?Safe doesn?t actually enter the equation. I refuse to be even marginally involved with this crazy scheme. Please let that be clearly understood.?
    There was a silence, then Stavros said