Free Stormy the Way by Anne Hampson

he said, and she herself took a shower. And now she was standing in the middle of the lovely bedroom, staring at the communicating door, which was closed. No sound at all. What a strange wedding night! No kiss since they had left England, no endearing words, no glances of desire or expectation. With a wildly beating heart she at last covered the distance between the door and herself and knocked timidly. No sound, and she knocked again, louder. Was Leon ill? she wondered, her heart taking a sudden bound as without waiting another second she opened the door. Yes, that would explain all; he was ill - had been ill all the time but didn't want to worry her with it—
    'What the devil do you mean by bursting in here like this!' He was lying in bed, reading! Tara blinked, his angry question lost on her for the moment as she stood there in the open doorway, her curves enchantingly revealed under the long nightdress she wore.
    'You're - reading,' she stammered stupidly. 'You're rereading a b-book!'
    Insolently his eyes roved her figure. Was this cold indifferent man the same ardent lover who had carried her on the tide of his passion to the point of near surrender? - the man who, later, had insisted on the minimum amount of delay because, he said, he could not wait for her? They had waited only until they could have the house to themselves, and after Androula and Paul had attended the wedding they went on to their respective universities.
    'We'll be together,' Leon had whispered, 'just the two of us, until Paul and Androula come home few:
    Christmas.'

    'Have you any objection to my reading a book?' inquired Leon at last, breaking into her chaotic thoughts.
    Her trembling hands were spread in a sort of helpless, pleading gesture. Tears filmed her eyes and her lovely lips quivered tremulously.
    'It's our wedding night,' she whispered, shaking her head and, without thinking, coming further into his room. 'Have - have I d-done something to displease you?'
    'Not that I can recall, Tara.' Another sweep of those pagan eyes, but they were as cold and lifeless as obsidian and equally hard. 'Why aren't you asleep? You must be tired after all that travelling.'
    Suddenly her anger surged. She was still bewildered and desperately unhappy, but her pride had been injured, and her face was burning with humiliation because of his arrogant manner and his glances of contempt, and because of the supreme embarrassment through which she was passing. But she managed successfully to stem her anger and to adopt a cold and haughty attitude which, she told herself, would provide him with far less satisfaction than a furious outburst would have done.
    'I am tired, yes,' she replied stiffly. 'I merely came in to say good night
    - since you omitted to do so.'
    The black eyes kindled; she had the unpleasant conviction that her poor little effort had afforded him immense amusement. What was his game? Suddenly she recalled an earlier suspicion....
    'Good night, then—' he was saying, but she had already voiced her own question.

    'Why did you marry me, Leon?'He paused a moment, considering.
    'Well, you'll have to know soon,' he said with a shrug. 'I married you to save my brother.' Her face went white.
    'To - to save Paul?' To save Paul! She wanted to laugh - loudly, and to shout out the truth. Hysteria had to be crushed as it rose like a flood within her, filling her right up to her throat, which felt totally blocked.
    To save Paul! That was the only reason why Leon had tempted her, made love to her, demanded that she marry him at once. 'To save Paul!' she repeated in a cracked and high-pitched tone when, at last she was able to articulate words at all. 'You never loved me? It was all an act?'
    'Obviously it was an act,' he returned heartlessly, his cold glance matching the icy inflection of his voice. 'No man in his right senses would love a woman of your sort.'
    She flinched at these words, but her voice was low and controlled as she said,
    'You don't mind that