Blackmailed by Diamonds, Bound by Marriage A Mediterranean Marriage

THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND of footsteps echoed around the ancient stone stairs that led to the basement of the museum. Angie Littlewood glanced up from the notes she was making, distracted by the unexpected disturbance. Upstairs the museum was heaving with visitors but down here in the bowels of the old listed building there was an almost reverential silence, a silence created by thick stone walls and the academic purpose of the researchers and scientists who worked behind the scenes. Angie felt a flicker of surprise as she saw Helen Knightly appear in the doorway. As Museum Curator, Helen was usually fully occupied upstairs with the public at this time of day and Angie's surprise turned to consternation as she saw the distressed expression on her colleague's face. "Are you all right, Helen? Is something the matter?" 'I don't know how to tell you this, dear." Helen's face was slightly paler than usual and Angie's heart took an uncomfortable dive as her mind raced ahead, anticipating the problem. Obviously it was something to do with her mother. Gaynor Littlewood had been so traumatized by the events of the last six months that Angie was sometimes afraid to leave her alone in the house. "What's happened?" 'There's someone upstairs asking to see you." With an inward sigh, Angie carefully replaced the piece of ancient pottery she'd been examining and rose to her feet, still holding her pen. "If it's my mother again, then I apologise," she said huskily, adjusting her glasses and her white coat as she walked towards the curator. "She's found the last six months very hard and I do keep explaining that she can't just turn up here unannounced--" "It's not your mother." The curator gave a nervous cough, a gesture that did nothing to ease Angie's growing feeling of unease. If it wasn't her mother then it had to be a funding issue. Research posts were always precarious and money was always in short supply. She felt a sudden stab of panic.How would they manage without the money from her job?Angie opened her mouth to prompt the other woman but the heavy tread of male footsteps on the stairs distracted her. She glanced towards the door as a man strolled into the room without waiting for either invitation or introduction. For a brief moment Angie stared at him, her attention caught by the strength and perfection of his coldly handsome face. He resembled one of the legendary Greek gods, she thought, her mind wandering as she studied the perfect bone structure, the masculine jaw and the hard, athletic physique. All the Greek myths she'd ever read rushed through her head and for an extremely unsettling moment she imagined him stripped to the waist, bronzed muscles glistening with the sweat of physical exertion as he did battle with the Minotaur or some other threatening creature while some hapless female lay in chains on the floor waiting to be rescued. "Dr Littlewood?Angie!" Helen's tone was sharp enough to disturb Angie's vision and she gave herself a mental shake, reminding herself that sponsors didn't expect archaeologists to be dreamy. And this man was obviously someone extremely important. He had an unmistakable air of command and authority and her eyes slid to the two men who had planted themselves in the doorway behind him. Their manner was respectful and watchful, and added to her feeling that the man was hugely influential; he was probably considering making an extremely large donation to the museum. Although she would rather be left in peace to do her research, she was only too aware that posts such as hers existed only because certain organisations or individuals were financially generous. Clearly Helen Knightly was expecting her to fly the flag and make a good impression so she pushed down her natural shyness,ignored her deep-rooted belief that men as glamorous and sophisticated as this one never looked twice at women like her,and stepped forward. It didn't matMorgan, Sarah is the author of 'Blackmailed by Diamonds, Bound by Marriage A Mediterranean Marriage', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373125982 and ISBN 0373125984.