The Secret of Excalibur Read Online Free PDF Page B

town, another pedestrian zone called the Square. A park stretched away down to the beach and the pier; Nina and Chase had strolled through it to the town centre after checking into their seafront hotel, passing a large tethered balloon offering tourists an aerial view of the resort.
    To Nina’s delight, the Square was playing host to a street market, stalls selling a wild and wonderful range of foods from all over Europe, everything from German sausages to exotic fruit. The air was filled with mouth-watering scents, forcefully reminding her that the only thing she’d eaten was an airline breakfast. Only the knowledge that she would soon be having lunch stopped her from sampling everything - although she was still sorely tempted.
    She had an odd feeling in her stomach, but it wasn’t solely from hunger. ‘I’m . . . I’m a bit nervous,’ she admitted to Chase.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Y’know, meeting your family for the first time. It’s just a weird thought, getting a whole new set of relations all of a sudden. And what if they don’t like me?’
    ‘If you’re that worried, we can just leave,’ Chase suggested, almost hopefully. ‘Get a head start on that trip to Indonesia. I’m up for it - I’d rather be somewhere exotic having an adventure than pissing about here.’
    Nina smiled. ‘Tempting, but you’re not getting out of this that easily.’
    ‘Arse chives. Oh, there they are,’ he said unenthusiastically. The centre of the Square was occupied by a circular café topped with a clock tower. Outside it, Nina saw three people: a small, grey-haired old lady, a girl whom she guessed to be in her mid-teens, and a woman of around forty with a rather severe haircut. The old lady and the girl waved at Chase; the woman did not. ‘Well, here we go,’ he said. Nina touched her pendant, wanting all the luck she could get.
    They met the trio by the café’s outdoor tables. ‘Uncle Eddie!’ cried the girl, running to him. She hugged him. ‘I haven’t seen you for ages!’
    ‘Hey, Holly,’ said Chase, returning the hug and smiling. His pleasure on meeting his niece again seemed completely genuine to Nina. ‘I’ve been busy.’
    ‘I know! And I know why!’ Holly released Chase and turned to face Nina, long brown hair swishing. ‘I know who you are,’ she said, beaming.
    ‘You do?’ Nina asked.
    ‘Of course! Come on! You discovered Atlantis! It was so great when it was announced, ’cause it meant my history teacher had been totally wrong about it not being real. That was fun, seeing his face when he had to admit it. I’m Holly, by the way. Holly Bennett.’
    ‘Nina Wilde. Hi.’
    ‘Hi! So, you’re going to be my aunt! That’s so cool. When’s the wedding?’
    ‘Yes, when’s the wedding, Edward?’ said the old lady, tottering up to Chase. ‘Ooh, let me have a look at you. It’s lovely to see you! My little lambchop. Come on, give your nan a kiss.’ Chase, to Nina’s amusement looking decidedly sheepish, bent down so his grandmother could kiss him noisily on both cheeks, then pinch them. ‘It’s so good to see you again!’
    ‘Hi, Nan,’ said Chase, cheeks pink, and not solely from the pinches. ‘Nan, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Nina Wilde. Doctor Nina Wilde. Nina, this is my nan - my grandmother, Catherine.’
    ‘Call me Nan: you’re going to be family.’ She shook Nina’s hand vigorously. ‘And you’re a doctor! Holly tells me you’re famous too. It’s wonderful that Edward’s getting married again. And you seem so much nicer than his first wife. I never liked her, she was very uppity. Where is she now, Edward?’
    ‘She’s in prison at Guantánamo Bay, Nan.’
    ‘Best place for her. Oh, it’s good to meet you.’ She shook Nina’s hand again, then turned back to Chase. Nina belatedly realised she hadn’t been able to get in a single word. ‘So, when is the wedding?’
    Holly also moved back to crowd Chase. ‘So why aren’t you famous too, Uncle Eddie? I wanted to