Free A Castle of Dreams by Barbara Cartland Page B

fingers brushed against her neck.
    â€œThank you!  It’s lovely,” she managed to whisper, deciding that it was just her imagination that had made her think he had paused briefly between the words Grace and Darling !
    Angus took back his knife, glanced towards Viola and then said something in a strange language to the Duke before hobbling out of the rose garden, chuckling under his breath.
    â€œWhat on earth did he say?” Viola asked the Duke, desperately searching for a safe subject.  “It sounded very weird.”
    â€œThat was in Gaelic, the language of the Highlands.  You will often hear it spoken around Glentorran.  Now, let me escort you back to the Castle.  I am sure you will be glad of a cool drink after your walk.”
    He offered Viola his arm, which she accepted gratefully, but was well aware as they left the rose garden that he had not told her what remark the old gardener had made about her.
    The Duke held back a long branch that swept down from a bush across the overgrown path.
    â€œMen like Angus McAndrew and his son are the life-blood of Glentorran,” he told her.  “They have worked, man and boy for the estate all their lives.
    â€œI have no idea how old Angus is, but his father and his father before him worked for the Glentorrans and that is the same for almost every family for miles around.
    â€œSo I am sure you can imagine how hard it is for me to even consider for a moment giving up the estate and leaving them to their fate.  But I would expect your family will have similar problems.”
    He laughed unhappily, as he added,
    â€œMoney may well be the root of all evil, but I could do a lot of good with just a little!”
    Viola cast a swift glance up at his troubled face.
    She could hear the passion and despair in his voice and longed to speak out – to tell him that she was no longer poor.
    She recognised she was living in his home under false pretences.
    It would only take her a second to tell him – but she hesitated, because in that short time, she realised she would lose his friendship for ever.
    How he would despise a girl who pretended to be poor when she was not.  He would see her as someone who had no moral fibre and no idea of what was decent, right or wrong.
    â€œIn America I learnt that they are trying to do away with the idea that one man should have the well-being of a whole district in his hands,” she ventured.
    The Duke shouldered his way between two overgrown shrubs and Viola followed behind him, unaware that a cascade of white blossom had fallen on her golden hair.
    He turned round and almost exclaimed out loud at how beautiful she looked.
    For a second he felt compelled to tell her and then with a strong physical effort, he schooled his expression to remain calm.
    There was no way he could have a future with Lady Viola Northcombe.
    He had nothing to offer her – only a life of poverty, and he was quite sure she had already experienced enough of that.
    No, he was sure that Viola would soon meet some rich titled fellow who would whisk her away to his home and he, Robert, would never see her again.
    He forced himself to remember what she had been talking about.
    â€œYes, there is a lot to be said for making my tenants more self-reliant.  As the fishermen are, of course.  They can feed their families and sell their catch at market.  They will not suffer if Glentorran has to be sold.
    â€œBut there are hundreds of others on the estate who will find their world a colder and more difficult place if I am forced to give up the Castle.”
    He tried to sound cheerful.
    â€œOch, this is a dreary subject for so fine a day!  Don’t you worry about my problems, Viola.  I will be away to London again soon.  I am sure my bankers will find me someone who is keen to invest in an impoverished Scottish Dukedom!”
    Viola turned to him.
    She could bear this no longer!
    She would tell him the