Leon’s intransigence had been so deeply rooted that she’d thought he’d refuse even to see her. She and John had consequently planned on resorting to the courts for access and they had been resigned to a lengthy legal battle.
In preparation two weeks previously, John had brought in everything she’d need: extra clothes and medication, the dwindling remainder of the money from the sale of the house where she and Taki had lived—and a selection of toys and clothes for Lexi.
But now Leon was agreeing to talk to her! Unable to hide her delight, she turned starry eyes on him.
‘I’m grateful for your time, Leon.’ Longingly she added, ‘How is she?’
Hard eyes sliced into her delight, reminding her that she had a long way to go before she got what she wanted.
‘Very well.’
She hesitated, needing to know more. ‘Happy?’ she asked lightly.
‘I’m delirious, thank you,’ he mocked, looking nothing of the sort.
Emma bit back her irritation. She’d be able to judge Lexi’s state of mind soon enough. Leon might do everything in his power to restrict access, but surely no court would support him? A mother must count for something out here.
‘I wondered,’ she asked hesitantly, ‘do you have any photos?’
The need in her voice was more than obvious. Let him know how much she cared, she thought, wondering why he didn’t answer straight away. Leon ought to know how badly she wanted to see Lexi. He might then realise that the courts would recognise that too—and therefore be persuaded that Lexi’s life would be enhanced by visits from her birth mother.
She held her breath when his hand slipped into the inner pocket of his jacket. Without a word he handed over a slim leather case. Emma’s fingers shook as she slid the photos out and looked at her daughter for the first time in two long years.
‘Oh!’ she said breathily.
Still a sunny-faced child. Sturdy, laughing, obviously happy. In cute bathing costumes or sweet dresses, with her hair up in delightful bunches or dancing on her shoulders. On a boat, in a pool, surrounded by presents…
So many photos, she thought in wonder, blinking through her tears. Her heart somersaulted. Bleakly she realised that Leon must adore his niece. And…Lexi…would she adore him?
A pain scythed right through her. She fought back a moan. Perhaps she was making a mistake! Horrified, she raised her head to meet his devil-dark stare, her eyes huge with distress.
‘Yes, Emma. She’s happy. So why smash a child’s carefree life?’ he asked quietly.
She couldn’t answer. A lump sat hard and hurting in her throat. She blinked at him in acute misery as her carefully constructed plans began to tumble down on her head.
John had insisted that Leon always spoke of Lexi as a chattel. Never with love. She knew that Leon had talked about doing his duty in looking after Lexi, and honouring a promise he’d made to his father.
Based on the fact that he’d told her he’d never wanted to assume responsibility for his niece, Emma had assumed that his interest in Lexi was minimal. Naturally she’d believed that Leon’s own child must be the favourite and that little Lexi came a very poor second-best.
Whereas the opposite seemed to be true. Leon apparently kept the contents of a photo album on him, every picture depicting Lexi. Her mouth trembled and she touched her injured breast with a faltering hand. Briefly a flash of something indefinable flickered in Leon’s eyes. A glint of…triumph?
‘Go home,’ he murmured softly. ‘Save yourself grief. And Lexi. Think of her feelings if you suddenly appear on the scene. The upheaval, the shock…’
He sounded confident, utterly sure that she’d accept the wisdom of his words. She frowned, trying to iron out the discrepancy between John’s report and the lovingly collected photographs kept close to Leon’s heart.
John wouldn’t lie—he had her own best interests at heart. Whereas Leon would do anything to dissuade her. So what was the truth of the matter? How could she be sure that she wasn’t about to tear her daughter’s life apart?
Her heart cramped. If she ever thought she’d damage Lexi, she’d abandon all plans of abduction. Maybe, she thought in dismay, her journey had been all for nothing!
CHAPTER TWO
EMMA struggled to unravel the truth. Leon couldn’t be trusted. It would suit him very well if she gave up and went home, abandoning her child for ever.
She frowned. Something was nagging at the back of her mind. To do with the photos. What could it be? There were a lot. And… Her head lifted as it dawned on her what was wrong. Lexi had been alone in every shot.
‘Is she in any other photos you’ve got? Could you have a look?’ she asked, pretending to be dispirited in the hope she’d catch Leon off guard.
‘You’ve seen them all. These are the only ones I have on me.’ He purred, sure it seemed, of success.
‘Just the ones of Lexi.’
‘My beloved niece,’ he said with surprisingly believable sincerity, piling on the sentiment.
She could have hit him. That confirmed her theory! Every knotted up muscle in her body relaxed and she stared at him with cold blue eyes.
‘How extraordinary! It’s a strange father who carries a dozen or so snaps of his niece but none of his own child.’ She gave him a sugary smile, seeing that he looked totally disconcerted. Her eyes gleamed. ‘Might there be a reason for that?’ she murmured.
‘What reason could there be?’ He growled, an extraordinary tautness bringing his cheekbones into high relief.
‘Deception,’ she retorted, lashing him with a scathing glance. ‘I think that you knew I’d be here and so you deliberately collected the photos to show me—’
‘A kind gesture, surely?’ He frowned at her.
‘Not under the circumstances, no.’ she replied, lifting a challenging chin. ‘You’ve made it clear that you don’t want me to meet my daughter. Why, then, would you whet my appetite by showing photos of her? To tease me? I think not. You wouldn’t risk increasing my desire to see her.’
His eyes blackened. ‘How about pride?’ he said bitingly. ‘To show you how well she is cared for—’
‘You don’t fool me!’ she scoffed. ‘John’s told me about your indifference to Lexi—’
‘Has he, now?’ Leon muttered grimly. ‘Has he indeed?’
‘Yes. And it broke my heart to know she wasn’t important to you.’
‘She is—’
‘Oh, maybe as a Kyriakis, as your brother’s child, but not because you feel any love for her. I got the impression she was a nuisance. My daughter! That’s what’s hurt me so much. She’s with you because of your wretched pride and because you think you’re better than me—’
‘That last part is certainly true.’
‘We’ll see about that!’ she said flaring, beside herself with anger. ‘Lexi needs me. I’m here to bring some love into my daughter’s life.’ She choked.
‘You’ll bring confusion and uncertainty—’
‘No, I won’t,’ she insisted hotly. ‘I can’t believe you almost succeeded in deterring me. How could I have been so stupid as to doubt my own instincts? You cynically assembled those photos to imply that