I really enjoyed this week together and I can't wait to be your wife.
Your loving Eleni.
Libby stared down at the letter for endless minutes, as if hoping that by studying the words hard enough they might alter their shape in front of her horrified eyes.
But they didn't.
They stayed the same, while the sick feeling inside her grew and grew.
Still holding the letter, she walked towards the terrace, hesitating slightly as she saw Andreas standing with his back to her, his broad shoulders blocking the view of the ocean.
He heard her approach and turned, the smile on his face fading as he saw her.
'You're as white as a sheet. What's the matter?'
She swallowed and dropped the letter on the table in front of her. 'This is the matter.'
He frowned slightly and picked up the letter, sucking in a breath as he scanned the contents. 'Libby-'
'Just don't even try and explain,' she advised him shakily, backing away from him so quickly that she stumbled into one of the chairs. She reached out a hand to steady herself and found that it was trembling.
He tensed. 'It isn't-'
'I believed you, Andreas!' She looked at him accusingly. 'When you told me that I was the only woman you'd ever loved, I believed you. But you're just like all the others. One woman isn't enough for you!'
Andreas swore softly and stepped towards her. 'Will you listen to me?'
'No.' Libby shook her head firmly, 'When you said that you were intending to propose, I didn't realise that there was a queue. So tell me, Andreas, when exactly did you plan to fit me in?'
'Eleni is not my wife.' His voice was terse and she tried to hide the pain she was feeling.
'Not yet maybe, but she obviously thinks that it's going to happen soon.'
Andreas gave an impatient growl and slammed his fist down on the table.
'Libby, less than half an hour ago I told you that I loved you. Do you really think I would say those words when I was planning to marry another woman?'
'Of course I do! Men do things like that all the time!' Libby's chest rose and fell as she struggled to breathe. What usually happened naturally now seemed to take considerable effort. 'Are you seriously trying to tell me that you had no relationship with her?'
He ran long fingers through his hair in an impatient gesture. 'I'm not saying that, but-'
'But you conveniently forgot to mention her,' Libby interrupted hoarsely. 'When I asked you about other women, you said that there wasn't anyone special-'
'Because there wasn't,' he said wearily, his hands dropping to his sides.
'She thinks she's going to marry you, Andreas.' Libby heard her voice wobble and hated herself for it. 'That sounds pretty special to me.'
There was a long silence and when he looked up his eyes were tired. 'For a short time I did think that I would marry her, but it's history now. On the other hand, perhaps we should both be grateful that you found that note because it's proved to both of us that you just aren't capable of trusting anyone.' His voice seemed to have lost all its warmth. 'I've told you that I love you more times than I can count, and I've shown you in as many ways as I know. If you still can't trust my feelings or your own then there's definitely no future for us. No relationship can work without trust and you just can't give it. You damn me without even listening to my side of the story.'
Libby looked at him, wondering how anyone could survive such highs and lows of emotions over such a short time. Less than an hour ago he'd been promising to make babies with her. Now their relationship appeared to be in pieces.
And he was blaming her.
In fact, he looked angrier than she'd ever imagined he could be. She was used to him being good-humoured and relaxed about everything, but he certainly wasn't relaxed now.
How could he blame her? She shook her head incredulously. 'Look at it from my point of view, Andreas. If you'd found that letter in my bedroom, what would you have done?'
'What would I have done?' His handsome face was devoid of emotion. 'I would have asked you about it, Libby, knowing that you would have had a perfectly innocent explanation. Knowing that I was the man you loved. You see, I trust you, agape mou.'
She looked at him in stunned silence and he shook his head slowly, his expression sad. 'I love you, Libby, and I know you love me, but it's never going to work between us unless you break down that great big wall you've built around yourself and learn to trust me, too.'
'Andreas-'
'Forget it.' His jaw tightened. 'There's a flight leaving for Heathrow late this afternoon. I'll book you on it. Our date is over, Libby.'
Chapter 10
'AlL right, what happened?' Katy dragged Libby into the treatment room, her expression serious. 'It's been a whole week now and you still haven't told me anything. Even Alex is worried about you. He's ready to kill Andreas but he doesn't know what the motive is.'
Libby looked at her. 'It's just the usual.'
Katy frowned. 'What do you mean, the usual?'
Libby's eyes filled. 'Andreas had someone else.'
Katy stared at her for a moment and then shook her head. 'No. No way.'
'It's true.'
Katy wrinkled her nose and shook her head again. 'It can't be. Not Andreas. He loves you, Lib, I know he does.'
Libby shrugged and tried to look casual but it was impossibly hard. She felt raw inside. 'So? Since when has that stopped a man from forming other relationships?'
'You've had some rotten experiences,' Katy admitted quietly, 'and I know how badly it's affected you, but I'm sure that this time you're wrong. Andreas is crazy about you. I know he is. Tell me what happened.'
'I found a letter … ' Libby found herself telling every detail of that awful afternoon while Katy listened.
'But it doesn't make sense, Lib,' her sister said finally. 'Why would he virtually propose to you if he was planning to marry another woman? There must be a simple explanation.'
'The explanation is that he's the same as every other man,' Libby said stiffly, and Katy shook her head.
'You're not thinking straight,' she said. 'I'm absolutely sure that Andreas isn't the sort of man who would have two women on the go at the same time. He's too traditional. For goodness' sake, Lib, can't you see that?'
Libby stared at her. 'What do you mean?'
Katy sighed. 'For a bright girl, you're very dense when it comes to people. He's Greek, Libby. Family is hugely important to him. You said that he'd virtually proposed to you. Why would he do that if he was in love with someone else?'
'I don't know,' Libby confessed, 'and he didn't offer any sort of explanation.'
'Knowing you, you went in with all guns blazing and didn't give the guy a chance to explain.'
Libby stiffened defensively and then her shoulders sagged. That was exactly what had happened. For the first time she wondered if she'd been too hasty. Maybe there was an innocent explanation for the letter.
'I just find it impossible to trust him,' she said miserably. 'It's me, Katy. It's all my fault. I'm so messed up I don't think I'll ever be able to trust anyone. Perhaps you'd better just shoot me.'
Katy sighed and gave her a hug. 'I'm not going to shoot you. We're busy enough in A and E as it is. And you're not messed up. You're just very wary of being hurt after everything that's happened in your life. It's the same with Alex. You're both commitment-phobes and I suppose our parents can take the blame for that really. We grew up watching a perfect example of a disastrous relationship. But you've got to put that behind you, Lib.'
Libby struggled for control. 'I don't know how.'
'Do you love him?'
Libby gave her a wobbly smile. 'Oh, yes. So much.'
Katy beamed. 'Well, that's good.'
'Is it?' Libby sniffed and rummaged in her pocket for a tissue. It certainly didn't feel good. It felt agonisingly painful and getting through each day was a mammoth exercise in willpower.
'Of course it's good. A month ago you didn't think you could ever fall in love. At least you've moved past that stage.'
'I think I preferred that stage,' Libby said miserably. 'It didn't hurt as much as this stage.'
Katy ignored her. 'All you need to do now is relax and trust him.'
'It's too late,' Libby said. 'He's already decided I'm a lost cause.'
Katy shook her head. 'You really are hopeless sometimes. You can't switch love on and off, Lib. If he loves you then he loves you. And I'm willing to bet he's suffering as much as you are.'
'He said that our relationship didn't have a future.'
'Until you learn to trust him,' Katy finished, and Libby looked at her helplessly.
'You make it sound so simple but I have absolutely no idea how to do that.' She looked at her sister. 'How do I do that?'
Katy smiled. 'You have to believe that what you share is special. That it isn't something he could possibly find with anyone else.' She paused. 'Is it special, Libby?'
Libby stared at her, remembering the way she and Andreas had connected from the first moment they'd met, the laughter they'd shared, how well they worked together-and then she remembered their incredible physical relationship.