A Castle of Dreams (6 page)

Viola spent only moments tying back her long fair hair with a piece of ribbon she had discovered in one of the dressing table drawers.  It was bright red and far too gaudy, but she did not think that anyone was going to criticise her today.

Opening David's door, she peered in cautiously and found he was still fast asleep.

Mrs. Livesey was sitting in a chair next to the bed, also dozing.

David looked pale, certainly, but Viola thought his breathing seemed easier than the day before and a flood of relief raced through her.

She tiptoed out of the room without waking either nurse or patient and made her way down the steep winding staircase into the Great Hall.

The front door – heavy and intimidating, made out of nail-studded oak – was standing ajar and Viola could not resist slipping out into the fresh air.

She gasped in delight as before her lay the tumble of overgrown gardens and then the mauve of heather clad moors swept up and away towards the imposing mountains in the very far distance.

“Oh, what a
wonderful
sight!”

“I am so glad you think so.”

Viola spun round.

The Duke of Glentorran was standing behind her, a smile warming his normally stern dark face.

Clad in an old green jersey and riding breeches, he held out his hand to Viola.

“Good morning, Lady Viola.  I do hope you slept well.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.  I did indeed.”

“And your brother?  I have not yet had a chance to speak to Mrs. Livesey about him.”

“He is still asleep, but he looks a little better to me.  Your Grace – I am very sorry we have to impose ourselves on your most generous hospitality in this way.  I would have liked to make arrangements for us to travel to London today, but the doctor has assured me  – ”

The Duke held up a commanding hand.

“Stop at once please!  Not another word.  I am only too pleased to be of service.  And I know Meg is delighted to make your brother's acquaintance once again, but I only wish that it was under happier circumstances.”

“Have you heard any news of our fellow travellers and the crew of the ship?”

The Duke nodded his head and clicked his fingers at two spaniels, who were sitting patiently at the bottom of the steps waiting for him.

“A message arrived late last night from the village.  They are all well fortunately.  The Captain and his men are to report to Glasgow to speak to Officials there.  The others are travelling to London today, I believe.”

“Oh, that is a great relief.”

He smiled.

“Would you care for a short walk before breakfast?  The view of the Castle is very fine from that small hill over yonder.”

Viola nodded her agreement and, side by side, they made their way down the steps and through a wilderness of overgrown shrubbery and flower beds.

The late spring flowers were still in bloom.

Viola frowned as she saw tulips and lilies trying to force their way through heavy weeds and brambles.

The Duke noticed her expression.

“Yes, I'm afraid that the gardens have indeed fallen into poor repair lately.  Meg does try to manage – she has a canny vegetable plot on the other side of the stables – but this was our mother's greatest pride and joy – her flower garden.  We are not experts and our old gardener is finding it a sad trial.”

He whistled to the dogs that were rooting under a bush for rabbits and then continued,

“I am afraid Glentorran has fallen on hard times.  I cannot afford to keep a staff of four or five men any longer just to work in the gardens.”

Viola was about to comment how difficult he must find it running a large estate such as his, when he went on with a quiet intensity in his voice,

“I do have to apologise most profusely to you, Lady Viola.  My behaviour when we first met in London was not that of a gentleman.”

“Oh, I have long forgotten all about that,” she cried.  “So much has happened since then.  You see, my father – ”

“Your good friend, Charlotte Brent, told me in no uncertain terms a day later that you and your brother are in the same circumstances as myself and Meg!  Two brothers and sisters both fallen on hard times!  She explained to me that you had even borrowed that expensive dress you were wearing as well as the fabulous sapphire necklace.”

He laughed suddenly.

“Why, if you had indeed owned that fabulous piece of jewellery, I might well be asking you for a loan instead of the bankers!”

Viola listened quietly to his words.

They had left the overgrown garden behind by now and were climbing the track that wound around the side of the hill, leading up towards the moors.

The wind was sweet and clean in her face and she could hear dozens of oystercatchers and curlews calling as they swooped over the heather.

The Scottish air tasted like wine.

Here at Glentorran was such a long way away from the glittering heated ballroom where they had first met.

She risked a sideways glance at the Duke, who was whistling for his dogs to come to heel.

Although everything had changed dramatically for her and David, his life remained the same, difficult and still full of problems.

How could she possibly tell him about their good fortune?  That the Earl of Northcombe and his sister Viola were now fabulously rich?

And she could buy several sapphire necklaces if she so chose.

‘But you must tell him!' she thought swiftly.  ‘You cannot possibly live under his roof for a month under such false pretences.  That would be –
cheating
.'

But as she was about to open her mouth to speak, the Duke caught her arm and spun her round.

“There!  Isn't that the most beautiful sight you have ever seen?”

Viola gulped in amazement.

They were high enough to look down on Glentorran Castle where it sat on its prominent headland, the deep blue sea behind it, the turrets and chimneys making it look like a picture from a child's story book.

“It's truly breathtaking.  You must be extremely proud of it.”

The Duke ran his fingers through his tousled black hair.

“We are taught as children that pride is a bad thing.  But I am proud of my country and my land.  The Dukes of Glentorran have lived and worked here for centuries.  I will do anything to keep the Castle and the estate intact for my heirs. 
Anything
!  It is my sacred duty.”

Viola caught her breath.

Suddenly she could recall Charlotte's words, telling her that the Duke was hunting for a rich wife – that he
had
to marry money in order to save Glentorran.

Oh, she so wanted the Duke to like her for herself, for who she was, not for what she possessed.

And how would she ever know his true opinion of her if he once discovered that she was wealthy?  She would never believe that he did not pay her attention because of her money and what it could buy.

They turned round and made their way back down the track – the Duke calling to the dogs, talking cheerfully of breakfast and wondering if her brother was awake and able to receive visitors.

Viola answered him automatically, her mind totally occupied elsewhere.

She had made her decision and it was too late now to go back on it.

She and David would have to stay here in Scotland for a month until he was well enough to travel.

Then they would leave and the Duke would never need to know about the fortune they had inherited.

She hastened her steps as they reached the Castle once more.

It was vital that she spoke to David before he met with the Duke.

Viola was certain that her twin had not been in any state the previous night to talk about their life in America, but at any moment he could disclose the truth.

And that was something she could
not
allow.

No, David must swear to her that he would tell no one about their fortune.

Viola left her brother's bedroom and hurried back into her own to tidy up her wind-tossed hair before making her way down the spiral stone stairway in search of a late breakfast.

David had been awake and luckily on his own when she entered his room.

Mrs. Livesey had been about to leave when Viola arrived, carrying a tray with the remains of a bowl of thin porridge and a plate of thinly cut bread and butter.

She told Viola that David had passed a good night and that his fever was not so intense this morning.  He had eaten a little breakfast and, taking everything into account, there were good signs for his eventual recovery.

David had been fretful when Viola insisted that he should not tell anyone here at Glentorran Castle about their amazing change of circumstances in inheriting such a vast fortune from their father.

He could not understand why it was that she was so determined that the Duke did not discover they were now extremely wealthy.

“I don't want to lie to anyone, especially Meg,” he insisted, his fingers plucking at the edge of the linen sheet.  “I couldn't do that, Viola.”

“I wouldn't dream of asking you to lie,” she replied firmly, “but perhaps you could just not mention the subject of money at all!  You must have hundreds of other things you can talk about with Meg.  After all, it isn't at all usual to suddenly tell someone you only know slightly about the state of your family finances!”

David frowned.

He felt so damn weak and ill, but he could tell that this issue really mattered to Viola.

At last he agreed, but wished he could explain to his sister that he did not feel as if this was only the second time he had met Lady Margaret.

He felt he had known her all his life!  But he was convinced that Viola would not understand.

Breakfast was served in a small room on the Eastern side of the Castle.

The bright morning sun was streaming through the windows and although it made the room seem warmer, it highlighted the worn carpet and threadbare curtains.

It was obvious to Viola that Glentorran Castle did, indeed, need a vast amount of money to be spent on it.

The Duke and his sister were drinking coffee and reading the morning's post that had just arrived.

“I trust you find your brother is a little better?” the Duke enquired as Viola slipped into a seat.

“Yes, indeed.  I am sure that a few days' rest will see him fully recovered.”

Lady Margaret looked up, her eyes intense.

“We must be so careful not to hurry him and cause another relapse,” she now counselled.  “Doctor Monroe was most precise that David should take things very easily.”

Viola shook her head at the maid who was offering her a bowl of porridge and took some fresh bread from a basket in the middle of the table.  She then spread a large spoonful of honey on it, enjoying the sweet mouthful.

“It's our own heather honey,” the Duke informed her, glancing up from a long and official-looking letter.

His dark eyes gleamed.

“You find it pleasing, Lady Viola?”

She returned his smile.

“Yes, Your Grace.  It has a wonderful flavour and fragrance.”

The Duke now found himself staring at the sunlight from the window as it played on the gold tendrils of hair that fluttered around her ears in the draught from the half open door.

Pulling himself together, he suggested,

“I was wondering if you would care to be shown a little more of the Glentorran estate this morning?  You ride, I am sure.”

Viola smiled and nodded her head.

For all their poverty whilst growing up, riding had been one of the country pursuits her father had insisted that she and David learn from an early age.

“Then, if you will forgive me, I will leave you now to finish your breakfast and arrange for a suitable mount to be ready for you.  Shall we say at eleven o'clock?”

Viola laughed.

“As long as Lady Margaret can find me something to ride in, I shall be delighted.”

“Oh, call me Meg.  We did agree remember?  Lady Margaret sounds so heavy and old-fashioned!”

The Duke paused as he reached the door and, with a smile, added,

“And I am Robert.  That makes life far easier for everyone.  I don't hold with all the ceremony and rank that goes with my title.”

Lady Margaret smiled at Viola's expression as her brother left the room.

“Robert professes such modern views regarding his title, Viola.  He claims a Duke should
earn
the respect he is given, but not expect it as a right.”

Viola nodded, realising with some surprise that she agreed with the dark-haired Scottish girl.

“Now, if you have finished your breakfast, let's go upstairs and I will find you something to ride in.  Thank Heavens we are roughly the same height and shape!”

Just as they were crossing the hall, Mrs. Livesey appeared,

“Oh, Lady Viola, Captain Howard is in the morning room, waiting to speak to you if that is convenient.”

“My goodness, yes.  I must find out how the other passengers are today.  Will you excuse me, Meg?”

“Certainly.  I will start sorting out my wardrobe.  If you are to be with us for more than a few days, then you will need more than one outfit to wear!”

Viola hurried to the morning room to find Captain Howard standing with his back to the window, his peaked cap in his hands.

“Captain – oh, it is so good to see you fit and well.  How are the passengers – Mr. and Mrs. Van Ashton and all the others?  We had a message that they were safe, but are they fully recovered from their dreadful ordeal?  And what will you do without your beautiful yacht?”

Captain Howard, an elderly American, smiled, his stern grizzled face softening at the sight of this beautiful young English girl, who had been so charming to himself and his crew on their journey across the Atlantic.

“We all survived unscathed, thank you, my Lady.  Mr. and Mrs. Van Ashton and the remainder of their party are on their way to London.