"Better?" he asked quietly.
She nodded.
"I just need to lie down a bit."
"I know just the place."
With her still in his arms, he made his way towards the library. The room was cozy with a cheerful fire blazing in the hearth. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling with some comfortable sofas strewn around the rich cream carpet. He settled against several plump cushions and used tissues to dab at the moisture on her face.
"I suppose they're wondering what's happening," she murmured.
"I have a feeling they already know."
He wiped her face with a gentle hand.
"I'll give mother and my sisters a few minutes-"
He broke off with a grin when the door was pushed open.
"And they are here."
He turned to see his mother bearing a tray.
"Some English tea and crackers," she murmured briskly. "Shoo darling and allow the women to tend to her."
"But-"
"Go."
"We'll take care of her," Lori leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"Go and try and keep Georgios from murdering Alexander. They're playing cards," Grace said briskly, patting his arm.
"We'll call you when and if we need you," Lilly piped up with her serene smile.
He left, but hesitated at the door, until his mother walked over and closed it in his face.
"There."
Clapping her hands together, she placed the tray on a lovely cherry wood table in front of the sofa.
"We were trying to decide if it was the Moussaka or the souvlaki."
Easing up on the cushions, she eyed the four women and wondered if she should have insisted on Christos staying.
"I think it's a combination of everything."
Picking up the cup, more to give her hands something to do than anything else, she took a sip of the tea and tasted lemon and honey.
"I was quite greedy and should have paced myself."
Mary-Ann patted her hand, pleased at her response.
"We love to cook. I'm Irish and married to a Greek."
She waved a hand at her daughters.
"I taught them the art of preparing meals their husbands would appreciate. We have a chef, but taking the weekend for ourselves is a way to be together as a family. We all lead such busy lives that if we're not careful, we miss each other and family comes first. Always."
