One Hour to Midnight Read online

  Pain and panic had raw emotion clogging her voice. "When is the transplant scheduled?"

  "A week tomorrow." Leon leaned forward clasping his hands between his knees. "If the transplant takes we should see a noticeable improvement within two or three weeks."

  "And if there's no improvement?"

  "There will be."

  Glancing at Leon, she knew if his force of will could make it so, there would be no cloud hanging over the child. A knot of anxiety curled in her chest and sweat damped the palms of her hand. Unable to bear the tension, she rose and poured herself another cup of tea, needing something to hold.

  "Would you marry me, Veronica?"

  She dropped the teapot, the clatter loud in the brittle silence. Taking extreme care, she set her cup down, but some of the liquid slopped over. She stared at the spreading brown stain on the white cloth before she slowly turned around.

  "I beg your pardon?"

  "Will you marry me?" Leon asked bluntly.

  "I thought that's what you said." She was surprised her voice worked, let alone sounded normal. "Why?"

  "Insurance."

  Veronica stared at him, shaking her head. Had the strain of Jordan's illness affected Leon more seriously than she'd imagined?

  "I'm not crazy."

  Heat flooded her face. Was she so transparent? "I never thought you were."

  "Yes you did." His flat contradiction heightened her discomfort. "There's new technology that can almost guarantee Jordan a long-term future."

  At a complete loss, she asked, "What has one got to do with the other?"

  "The strain of leukaemia Jordan has means a transplant will at best give remission, at worst a mere stay," Leon informed her bluntly, "but his only chance of a complete cure is from a sibling."

  "A sibling?" She stared at Leon for long, stunned moments, her mind in free-fall.

  He rose, crossed to her side, grasped her hands and held them tightly. "Marry me and have my baby, Veronica. Together, we can give Jordan a seventy-five per cent chance of a complete cure."

  He's surely not serious?

  But as she looked into his grey eyes, she knew he was serious. Anger became a slow burn.

  "That's utterly immoral." Her voice rose shrilly and she yanked her hands away from his and put the width of the room between them. How could he suggest such a thing? "You want me to have a baby to be sacrificed to save Jordan?"

  As apprehensive as she was about the coming week, Veronica would never consent to submit a tiny baby to such an ordeal.

  "You've misunderstood." Leon crossed the space gripping her shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh. "What Professor Carey suggested does not hurt or upset a baby."

  Stunned, Veronica jerked out of his hold and slumped into a wingback chair. "This was his suggestion?"

  "He's the expert in this field."

  She resisted the urge to squirm. "And did the good doctor suggest you seduce me last night, too?"

  "Don't be a fool!" Leon's lips thinned with anger. "Let's get this straight. The new technology involves harvesting stem cells from umbilical cord blood. These cells are proven to generate healthy bone marrow and, in a very high percentage of cases, give a complete cure for the type of leukaemia Jordan has. The best results have been obtained from the cord blood of a maternal sibling, and it can be freeze frozen and stored indefinitely. There's no question of sacrificing a tiny baby, or causing it pain."

  "I see." Anger made bile sting the back of her throat along with a sick sense of déjà vu. "A baby won't be sacrificed, but you're quite happy to see me sacrifice my life on a whim?"

  "Jordan's life isn't a whim." Emotion turned Leon's eyes almost black. "And here's me thinking you would be prepared to do anything to save your child's life."

  Jordan's not your child.

  With Kathleen's acerbic words echoed. Veronica rose and walked through the French doors and onto the shaded loggia. She needed distance between her and that arrogant son-of-a-bitch.

  Leon's footfalls echoed on the paving stones behind her. "Ricki?"

  "Don't call me that." She turned on him spitting like a cornered wildcat.

  "Sorry." He held his hands up and took a step backwards. "Don't you want to help your child, any way you can?"

  "Jordan's not my child. Being his birth mother doesn't count."

  Leon paced to the edge of the patio and back, jerky agitated steps. "Surely after last night, this can't come as too much of a shock?"

  "Sex, good as it was, is one thing, Leon. This is something else entirely." Veronica sucked in an angry breath. "Tell me, when exactly did you have this very informative conversation with Professor Carey?"

  Dull colour ran up his neck under his tan. "Is that important?"

  "Very." She tapped a foot on the pavers. "Before you came to Auckland to see me?"

  He had the grace to look away. "It was a little while ago."

  He planned this before he sought me out?

  "You are a real bastard, Leon Karvasis." She took a step towards him, hands clenched into fists. "And you have a nerve to expect me to believe Sonia was lying."

  He raked a hand through his hair leaving it standing up in spikes. "This has nothing to do with Sonia, or the past. This is between us."

  "There is no us."

  "Isn't there?" Leon stepped towards her, lips thinned to a hard, angry line. He gripped her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Since the moment I laid eyes on you, Veronica, you've been a pivotal player in my life. Deny that if you can."

  She pulled away from him. How can I deny this when it's applies equally to me?

  "Jordan needs a mother." Cynicism replaced Leon's anger. "Teaching can be done by anyone, mothering your child is something only you can do."

  She took a shaky breath. Leon made it sound so simple. Tending to the needs of a sick child under the supervision of medical staff was one thing.

  Mothering a child was another thing entirely.

  Did I possess what it takes to be a mother? Julia certainly doubted my ability. My mother palmed me off and I followed the family tradition when I walked away from my baby.

  Now, Leon stood in front of her, fully expecting her to become an instant mother to a sick child, a child moreover who, in the extremity of illness, had cried out for the woman who'd nurtured him.

  "I'm offering marriage, Veronica," Leon continued when she remained silent. "And the chance to have another baby, or more children if you so desire, to fill your empty arms. Last night proved sex won't be a problem."

  The blunt words made her wince. Was that what last night was about? Try before you buy?

  "It's a wonder you didn't use last night to further your plans."

  Leon caught her shoulder and turned her to face him. She shivered at his anger. "I deliberately used protection to prevent any suggestion of coercion."

  "But then you held the master plan."

  "Master plan?"

  "Isn't it something like wed her, bed her and impregnate her?"

  "You're being irrational."

  "Well excuse me," she huffed, grappling with a wounding sense of betrayal. How dare Leon use her love for Jordan against her? "You map out a plan for my life and expect me to get down on my knees and say thank you."

  "Rubbish!" The scathing word silenced her. Leon spread his hands in an expansive gesture that epitomised his despair. "Hurling abuse is not addressing the issue. Jordan's life is at stake, here."

  This graphic reminder made her shudder. She glanced at Leon and was trapped by his intent, steady gaze. How could she be sure that what he was suggesting was even feasible?

  Although, to be fair, she'd found him honest about every aspect of Jordan's illness.

  Why am I even considering his outlandish proposal?

  Because marriage to Leon would give her the chance to reconnect with the child she'd never ceased grieving. Not to mention the chance to call Claremont home.

  Ricki would grasp the offer.

  Veronica was
more pragmatic.

  She never underestimated the difficulty. Jordan regarded Julia as his mother; his feverish cries reinforced it.

  Surely, I deserve more? This question came from the lonely, unloved little girl who dwelled inside the woman.

  "Why don't you discuss it with Prof Carey?" Leon suggested. "We're both mature people, Veronica. This decision isn't clouded by emotion, we can make it work."

  "I would like your certainty. I need my head examined, to even consider marrying a Karvasis."

  "And yet once you wanted so badly to do just that."

  "And just maybe I've grown up and now understand that there are givers in this world, and there are the takers. And we both know to which pool you and your brother belong."

  The colour ebbed from Leon's face.

  Veronica quashed any remorse. It was way past time Leon understood she was no longer the pregnant teen whose head was stuffed with foolish dreams.

  "Will you consider it? Jordan's life is precarious."

  "I know and understand that. I will talk to Professor Carey." This was as much as she would concede despite Jordan's worrying vulnerability.

  Relief shaded Leon's grim features as he went towards the door. "I'll set up an appointment."

  Marrying Leon was the culmination of a dream, so why did Veronica feel as if she'd just made a pact with the devil?

  Chapter Ten

  "You have guests. Shall I show them in?"

  Veronica looked up from her tapestry frowning as she caught the unmistakeable thread of disapproval in Cassie's tone.

  "Certainly." She laid aside the needlework she'd brought from New Zealand, her curiosity piqued. The clack of high heels echoed on the hallway floor. She stood to greet her visitors. When Sonia and a tall, spare man walked into the room, Veronica understood Cassie's mood.

  "Would you like me to bring refreshments, Ms Langdon?" Cassie's gaze sought Veronica's, her eyes filled with apology.

  "Thank you, Cassie. That would be appreciated." Veronica stepped forward and extended her hand to the man. "Hello Sonia and you must be José?"

  "José Moreno." The man shook her hand and Veronica found herself staring into shrewd eyes as black as coal. "And you must be Veronica?"

  "Yes, indeed." Something about this man had her instantly warming to him.

  Sonia walked over and sat on the sofa, José sat beside her. Sonia looked around the room with a disparaging sniff. "How can you bear to spend time in this dingy old part of the house, when you have so many other beautiful rooms?"

  Veronica looked at her, eyebrows raised. "These rooms are the family rooms, and built to capture the most shade. They are certainly far more comfortable in the summer, opening as they do onto the airy loggias."

  "Leon's as rich as Croesus and yet the décor in here never changes. He always refused to let Julia loose in here or in his office."

  I, for one, appreciate that Julia's hand has barely touched these rooms.

  "Leon's at the hospital with Jordan," Veronica said as she resumed her seat. "He's having chemo today and Leon stays with him during his treatments."

  "I'm sorry your son is so ill, Ms Langdon." José gave her an assessing look.

  "We all are." Veronica about to correct his misapprehension changed her mind.

  Cassie wheeled in the tea trolley. "Will you need anything else, Ms Langdon?"

  Veronica glanced from the laden trolley to Cassie and shook her head. "I shouldn't think so."

  As she poured coffee and offered her guests cakes, Veronica was acutely aware of Sonia's shrewd, assessing gaze. When she was seated, Sonia looked at her, blue eyes speculative. "You're very much the lady of the manor. Are you here to stay?"

  Veronica inhaled coffee the wrong way and spluttered. When she stopped coughing she gave Yannis's widow a steady look. "I'm only here until Jordan's ready for his transplant, Sonia, as you are well aware."

  No way was she going share her conversation with Leon with this woman.

  José caught Sonia's hand in his and they both faced her, their expressions made Veronica was wary.

  "Have you spoken to Leon?" Sonia asked her mouth pinched in a sulky smile. "José has to return to Argentina very soon, and we need a decision."

  Veronica sighed softly. "I can't imagine why you think I have any influence over Leon's decisions."

  "Well, he certainly doesn't listen to me." Sonia rose and paced across to the window and then turned to face them. "I went to see him and he told me I can go, but Katya and Andreas will stay here with him."

  Leon wants Yannis's children to live at Claremont? And he asked me to marry him and never thought I needed to know this?

  Veronica's hand clenched into a fist and catching Sonia's smile, instantly regretted the betraying action.

  "Hasn't he told you?"

  There was no way Veronica could misinterpret Sonia's expression.

  "It's inhuman to expect a mother to leave her children." José puffed up with indignation.

  "How can I go with you and leave Katya and Andreas behind?" Sonia lifted a hand and let it flutter back down into her lap. "Katya's only twelve."

  "Does Karvasis expect you to remain a widow cherishing his brother's memory for the rest of your life?"

  Veronica almost choked on those words and a swift under-her-lashes glance at Sonia enough to let her know the other woman held a similar opinion.

  "There's nothing to cherish. Yannis was a bastard," Sonia said venomously. "Just ask Veronica."

  She was spared the necessity of answering when heavy footfalls in the corridor announced Leon's return. He scowled at his sister-in-law and her partner.

  "I thought I asked you not to come here and upset Veronica," he said, an underlying thread of steel in his tone.

  Sonia pushed a tress of blonde hair back behind one ear and gave him an insincere smile, her hand tightened on José's until the knuckles gleamed white. "Why? Were you planning on springing two teenage step-kids on Veronica without warning? Step-kids who already hate her guts?"

  "My guardianship of your children, Sonia, it non-negotiable," Leon said grimly, glancing at Veronica. "They'll only be here at Claremont during the school holidays. Term-time they'll both be getting the discipline they desperately need at boarding school."

  "I refuse to let my babies be shunted off to boarding school." Sonia fluffed up like an enraged bantam.

  "You, Sonia are the person who's created the problems. And it has to stop for their sakes, and your own." Leon took a step towards her. "I've enrolled Andreas at St Augustins and Katya at Royden and after the summer recess, they'll be going to those schools, regardless of what you choose to do."

  "I'll take you to court. You can't go over my head like this."

  As she watched Sonia glaring at Leon, Veronica sensed the other woman's impotence. José moved restively but Leon remained obdurate.

  It was obvious Sonia hadn't been honest.

  "You do that." Leon said evenly. "And you and I both know who'll win a court battle."

  "Oh you're impossible."

  José took a step forward, his fist clenched. Leon held up a hand, palm outwards.

  "Sonia," Leon glanced at José. "I have nothing against you marrying Moreno, I wish you both well. God knows, after being married to my brother you deserve every bit of happiness that comes your way.

  "But Katya and Andreas are both Australian, and members of the Karvasis family. At their age it would be wrong to uproot them into a totally alien culture, cut off from all their friends and family.

  "There's room for compromise here. I see no reason why they can't spend some of their holidays with you in Argentina, or you and Moreno spend holidays with them here. Your choice. But I would be derelict in my duty to them if I let you uproot them at their age when there is no need. When they've finished their schooling, then they can decide where they want to go."

  As Veronica watched them, she felt for Leon. He didn't need this stress on top of the worry over Jordan.

  "So
me choice." Sonia glared at Leon, her cheeks flushed, blue eyes flashing fire. She stepped closer. "Why are you doing this? Because you dislike me?'

  Leon gave a weary sigh. "I don't dislike you, but I do dislike and resent what you're doing to my nephew and niece. You've allowed your bitterness to spill over into their young lives. You've brought this on yourself."

  "Sonia," José laid a placating hand on her arm. "There is a lot of sense in what Karvasis is saying. You know you were worried about how Andreas would settle in with us, especially as he doesn't speak the language."

  Sonia rounded on him. "If that isn't just like a man."

  Veronica stood and slipped out the French doors and into the bedroom, closing the door and shutting out the increasingly heated argument.

  As for Sonia approaching her to persuade Leon…she shook her head. There was no mistaking Leon's concern for Yannis's children and yet to listen to Sonia, he was the uncle and guardian from hell. Ensuring Katya and Andreas were educated in the top schools was far from being vindictive or cruel.

  A short time later Leon stepped through the door into the bedroom, walked across to the window seat and sat beside her.

  "I'm sorry you were embroiled in that."

  "So am I." She noticed his strain and fatigue. "How did you know they were here?"

  "Cassie. We have a coded message system."

  She fixed him with a steady look. "When were you going to tell me about Andreas and Katya? That they were a part of the family deal?"

  Leon sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I had every intention of telling you. But with so much else going on, I didn't want to overwhelm you."

  "I see." Veronica stood and walked across to the dresser and stood fiddling with the brushes there.

  Leon walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders and their gazes met in the mirror. "There's no way I expected you to take on Yannis's children full-time as Sonia suggested."

  "What has she told them about me?"

  "She's been filling their heads with poison for years." Leon sighed, his breath warm against her neck. "Boarding school really is in their best interests. They need to broaden their horizons and have a chance to develop a life and friends outside their mother's sphere of influence."