They stood for a moment longer, both staring at the painting.
‘I have you to thank for this,’ she said at last. ‘For telling me to come here, for encouraging me to follow my dreams again…’ She took a deep breath. ‘For believing in me.’
He turned to her and placed his hands on her bare shoulders. ‘Tell me you hadn’t already thought about coming here long before I suggested it.’
She laughed. ‘I hadthoughtabout it, but I would never have come, not without you prompting me.’
‘Well, I hope you’re planning on painting for the rest of your time here, because what you’ve created so far is very special,’ he said. ‘Will you show it at the gallery when you return?’
‘The gallery?’ Her reply sounded more yelp than spoken word. ‘No, absolutely not. I’m a hobby painter, nothing more.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re too hard on yourself, Ella. You have a talent that deserves to be nurtured, and it also deserves to be shown to the world.’
She looked back at her painting again, digesting his words. If only she were brave enough to believe him.
‘I think I liked it better when we were talking about my family mystery.’
He chuckled. ‘Well, speaking of that, I’ve got another great idea.’
Ella groaned. ‘What is it this time?’
He looped his arm around her and steered her past her painting and the pretty wisteria, so that they were both looking out at the water. It was the most magical blue she’d ever seen, more vivid than she could have imagined before visiting Greece herself; the kind of view you could become lost in and stare out at for hours.
‘You told me that Alexandra Konstantinidis lives less than twenty minutes away by boat,’ he said, moving to stand behind her, his chin on her shoulder as he looked out at the water with her. ‘I think you should go there and visit her.’
Ella stayed silent, leaning back into Gabriel. He wasn’t wrong; she’d had the very same thought as soon as she’d found out how close she was.
‘This is your chance to solve the mystery once and for all,’ he said. ‘I think you’d regret it forever if you didn’t try to put this final piece of the puzzle together. Who knows? She might be able to explain the link and tell you exactly how your family is connected to hers.’
‘Or she might slam the door in my face and think I’m mad.’
Gabriel kissed her cheek. ‘She might. But isn’t it worth the risk?’
He was right, of course he was right, but the idea of turning up unannounced on the doorstep of a stranger, and telling her that she thought they might be related…She sighed and turned around in Gabriel’s arms, deciding to enjoy every opportunity she had to spend with him.
Tomorrow, she’d decide. Today, she was going to enjoy every moment she had with the man who’d dropped everything to travel to Greece for just seventy-two hours to be by her side.
20
LONDON, 1973
Alexandra trailed her fingers across Bernard’s bare chest, through the sprinkling of hair there, and then across to his shoulder, exploring his skin. He was propped up on one elbow, looking down at her, and when her fingers stopped he brushed a kiss across her lips. She’d never been with a man before him, and she knew that she could bask in his attention and adoration for hours, content just being tucked beside him.
She would have to go soon, to make it home in time for curfew, but all she wanted was to stay cocooned in his arms. They’d told her aunt they were going out for dinner with Bernard’s friends, but instead they’d gone to his apartment, preferring to soak up every moment they could alone.
‘I hear you’re making incredible progress with your tuition,’ he said between kisses. ‘You’re a star in the making.’
‘I think you’re exaggerating. Who did you hear that from?’ She swatted at him, her cheeks flushing at his praise.
‘I heard it from your tutor,’ he said with a laugh, still trailing his fingers across her skin. ‘So it cannot be wrong. He said he’s surprised your previous teacher didn’t recognise your talent, and to be honest, so am I.’
Alexandra didn’t comment. Her previous teacher had been sufficient, but it had been nothing like the tutelage Bernard had arranged for her. She was seeing Franz twice per week, and he expected nothing less than perfection, constantly pushing her to try harder compositions, which had her practising for hours every day. It was the happiest she’d ever been, studying something she truly loved, although she wasn’t entirely sure if the praise being given to her was warranted. There was always a little voice in her head telling her that Franz was only bothering with her as a favour to Bernard.
‘One day all the orchestras around the world will be open to female musicians, and we’ll be able to tour the globe together,’ Bernard said as he stroked her hair. ‘We could choose whichever country takes our fancy, and play in some of the most beautiful venues. I can just see us, the perfect musical pair.’
‘I’ve always wished to see Vienna,’ Alexandra confessed, her mind racing with all the places she wanted to travel to. ‘It seems like one of the most romantic places in the world.’
‘Then we shall set our sights on the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and live in an apartment overlooking the Karlsplatz square,’ he said.
