Page 10 of Virgin's Night with the Greek

‘What about?’

‘Whatever they want. Anything, really. It puts them at ease. Lowers their guard. And from my point of view, it gives me insight into their character, which adds a certain sort of magic to the painting. Some find it hard. Selene’s the opposite.’

‘That doesn’t surprise me.’

‘I merely asked her some curated questions and mentioned how much I imagined my own mother would have wanted to be around for my wedding and the sacrifices she’d have made to ensure it was all about me. I suggested that today might be Daphne’s chance to shine. I know how difficult that can be sometimes.’

‘Do you?’

‘Yes.’

‘In what way?’

In a constantly-being-thwarted-by-her-condition kind of a way, mainly. How many exams had she failed because she’d been in such agony she hadn’t managed to turn up? How many arrangements with friends had she bailed on? How many jobs had she wanted to apply for only to realise she’d never be able to stay the course? Too many to recall.

But she was hardly going to go into all that. It was way too personal and even more inappropriate than kissing her reluctant host in the middle of a crowded dance floor.

‘The art world is a hard one to break into,’ she said, which both answered his question and was true.

‘You’ve made a good start.’

She thought of the contact details that filled her notebook and felt a surge of pride. ‘I hope so.’

‘Where’s the portrait now?’

‘In storage at a gallery here in Athens, where it will stay until the unveiling your mother’s planning.’

His jaw twitched and the frown was back. ‘The unveiling?’

‘That’s right.’

‘She’s utterly shameless.’

Despite the giddy pleasure she felt at being in his embrace, Willow bristled. ‘This is my work you’re talking about, Leo. There’s nothing shameful about any of it. Life drawing is a respected artistic tradition that’s been around for millennia. I’m proud of what I do, and if your mother wants to celebrate her sexuality then that’s to be applauded, too.’

Leo winced. ‘She’s nearly sixty.’

‘So?’

‘I should cut off her allowance.’

She stiffened in his arms and jerked back. ‘You’d do that?’ she breathed, staring up at him in shock.

‘Yes, if necessary. She’s a walking scandal and this time she’s gone too far.’

‘She loves life.’

‘She’s self-centred and thoughtless.’

‘Perhaps, but she’s also entertaining and, like you said, generous. She took a risk on me—a complete unknown—and she’s the one who arranged the exhibition of the portrait. From my point of view, she’s been nothing but supportive.’

Leo muttered something non-committal in response to that and then said, ‘What was your mother like?’

‘Maternal. Doting. Firm but fair and completely conventional.’

‘You said she died when you were fourteen.’

‘You have an excellent memory.’

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