And then she saw the letter.

She probably wouldn’t have looked twice at it if it hadn’t been for the fact that the bold handwriting seemed to leap from the page and the first four words penetrated her brain like a sharpened knife.

Andreas, I love you.

Feeling suddenly sick, Libby reached down and picked up the letter, opening it up so that she could read the rest of it.

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—’