The Desert Castle Read Online Free PDF Page A

night. It would be a pity to miss your first sight of the desert by driving through it in the dark. ’
    ‘ Then you really do live in a castle? ’
    H e raised his eyebrows. ‘ Did you doubt it? ’
    A note of excitement entered her voice. ‘ A Crusader castle ? ’
    ‘ No, but I expect you ’ ll see one or two of those too while you ’ re here. Mine is more like a hunting lodge. It ’ s not really a castle at all. It dates back to the eighth century A.D., when the Umayyad Caliphs had their capital in Damascus. They liked the luxury and comfort of city dwelling, but every now and then they remembered they were Bedu straight from Hijaz, Mecca and Medina, and they ’ d retreat for a while back into the desert, and fly their birds and race their horses. Some of them are famous enough to be a tourist attraction, but mine is a small one, away from the beaten track, and the Jordanian Government allows me to live there for the moment, provided I do what I can to restore it to its former glory. I think you ’ ll like it, ’ he added with a faint smile.
    ‘ If it doesn ’ t rain, ’ Lucasta put in. ‘ Mother says it leaks like a sieve. Does it ? ’
    G regory turned his head. ‘ I never argue with your mother, ’ he answered.
    ‘ Why not ? ’ Lucasta asked. ‘ She isn ’ t always right. ’
    ‘ Hardly ever, ’ he agreed in steely tones.
    L ucasta caught her lower lip betwe e n her teeth, looking very young and vulnerable. ‘ I ’ m sorry you had to have me again, ’ she blurted out, ‘ but Marion and I will do our best to stay out of your way. ’
    H is head shot round to look at his niece. ‘ Marion? How come you ’ re so highly favoured ? ’
    L ucasta managed a tired smile. ‘ The impertinence of youth, ’ she said. ‘ I didn ’ t bother to ask her, but she can hardly go on being Miss Shirley if we ’ re to have any fun together. ’
    ‘ Brat, ’ her uncle said with real affection. ‘ What makes you think I didn ’ t ask to have you ? ’
    L ucasta ’ s eyes shone. ‘ Did you ? ’
    ‘ Yes, I did. I thought you ’ d be better off roughing it in the desert with me than sitting in that house in London waiting for your eighteenth birthday. Besides, you ’ re old enough now to keep out of my way when I ’ m working. I won ’ t have my routine disturbed—even for you ! ’
    ‘ Tell that to Marion, ’ Lucasta laughed at him. ‘ Isn ’ t that what sh e ’ s here for? That ’ s what Mother told her, along with her usual lecture not to get ideas about snaring her defenceless little brother. ’
    ‘ And how did you take that ? ’ Gregory asked Marion drily, dr umming on the back of the front seat with his fingers.
    M arion sat up very straight. ‘ I wondered that your sister should think it necessary under the circumstances. ’
    ‘ What circumstances ? ’ he asked blandly.
    L ucasta said calmly, ‘ She means Judith ! ’
    ‘ Oh, that ! ’ Her uncle sounded more than a little amused. ‘ You ought to know, Miss Shirley, that Judith Cameron is a friend of my sister ’ s. I see her sometimes when I ’ m in London, but any plans for our marriage remain strictly in the fertile imagination of my sister Felicity. ’
    ‘ But, Gregory, you have to admit you said Judith is the most luscious piece Mother has found you yet. She dotes on you, you know she does ! ’ Lucasta challenged him.
    ‘ She ’ s charming, ’ Gregory smiled.
    ‘ Don ’ t you love her at all ? ’ Lucasta pressed him, disappointed.
    ‘ I enjoyed her company—in London. Hothouse flowers should never be transplanted from their own environment, though. Their brilliant colours fade and even their perfume is apt to disappoint. ’
    L ucasta chuckled. ‘ Poor Judith. I hope you let her down lightly ? ’
    ‘ That, infant, is something you ’ ll never know. I fancy we understand one another. ’
    I’ ll bet! Marion thought. She forgot that she hadn ’ t liked the sound of Judith Cameron when she had been told about