A Castle of Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page A

heartbroken.
    â€œWilder was not pleased when we said we wanted to return home to England,” David said shrewdly.  “I have a distinct feeling that he would like to become more than your business partner, my dear Sis!  I caught him looking at you at times and there was rather more in his expression than admiration from a mere colleague!”
    Viola blushed and turned to gaze out of a porthole at the angry grey seas.
    Lewis Wilder, had, indeed, become something of a trial in the last month of their stay in New York.
    At first she and David had been grateful for all his help.
    He had been their father’s partner and as such he introduced them to the staff of their new home, to lawyers and bank managers and explained about the oil fields they now owned between them.
    Lewis Wilder had supported the bewildered brother and sister through the trauma of their father’s funeral and arranged for flowers and announcements in the newspapers both in America and back home in England.
    He had a wide circle of friends in New York, all of whom were eager to meet the young English aristocrats.
    After several weeks of mourning Viola and David had found themselves with a busy and exciting social life, helped by all the money they could possibly spend.
    â€œYou are quite right. He did ask me to marry him,” replied Viola.  “That was one of the reasons I wanted to go home so badly.  I found being constantly in his company was becoming extremely disagreeable.”
    David coughed again.
    â€œSorry, Sis, my falling ill did rather slow us down. I hope that Wilder didn’t make too much of a nuisance of himself while I was laid up?”
    Viola shook her blonde head, feeling reluctant to bother him with reports of how offensive the big American had actually been.
    He had made it very clear that if they were married, he would then have the power her money would give him to build up a vast oil-producing empire in the South-West of America.
    There had been a dreadful scene when she refused his proposal and, although he had called at the mansion the next day and apologised to her, Viola was quite certain he was only pretending to be sorry.
    Lewis Wilder was a man who always got what he wanted.  Powerful and arrogant, he could be very charming when he chose to be.
    Viola felt strangely threatened by him and although she knew that he could not marry her against her wishes, she made up her mind to return home to England.
    But just as they had both decided to leave America, David had been caught in a heavy rainstorm while he was out sketching and had developed pneumonia.
    For a long week Viola had remained by her twin’s bedside, doing her best to help the doctor and nurses, living in dread that he would not survive.
    But luckily God had listened to her fervent prayers and thankfully David had pulled through, although he was still extremely weak.
    As soon as she was convinced that he was over the worst of his illness, Viola had booked passage on a liner heading for Britain.
    But when she told him of her arrangements, David had said he was sorry, but he could not face all the people, the size of the ship and the hustle and bustle of an Atlantic crossing.
    Fortunately it was then that Viola had heard that the Van Ashtons, acquaintances of theirs, who owned a large, luxurious, ocean-going motor yacht, were preparing to sail for England on holiday.
    It was to be a small party – three couples with their staff and the crew of the yacht.
    Mrs. Van Ashton, a large lady who was delighted to be friends with a real English Earl and his sister, had been thrilled when Viola asked if she and her brother could join the yacht and readily agreed to take them.
    They steamed majestically out of New York for the Atlantic crossing, little knowing what the spring weather would hold for them.
    â€œWell, Lewis Wilder is out of your life now,” said David one afternoon while he and Viola settled into a quiet corner of