Read Online A Castle of Dreams by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online

before they can be treated.  Our one doctor does his very best, but the poor cannot pay him and fish or vegetables don’t help him that much!
    â€œIf I had sufficient money, I would build a hospital somewhere close by.  A place where operations could be performed, broken bones set and lives saved.”
    And without another word he urged his horse into a canter and Viola’s mount followed.
    Together they crested a steep rise and reined in to gaze down on the coastline that lay before them.
    The sea this morning was like pale blue silk, hardly breaking over the rocky reef that ran parallel to the beach.  It was hard to believe that this was the very same sea that had so pounded and destroyed the Van Ashton’s beautiful yacht.
    The Duke pointed with his whip again.
    â€œOver there, do you see the manse and the houses surrounding it, Viola?  Follow along a way and you will see the harbour where the fishing fleet is moored.  That is all part of the Glentorran estate.”
    â€œOh, was it those boats who so bravely rescued us all yesterday?”
    â€œAye, that it was.”
    â€œMay I be allowed to thank them?”
    The Duke smiled.
    â€œCertainly.  Although they would not expect to be thanked for performing such a service.  They are all most independent characters, these people of our fishing village.  But we can make our way down there by all means.”
    Side by side they rode down the track towards the harbour.
    â€œWho was the man who so expertly rowed David and me to shore?” enquired Viola.
    He laughed.
    â€œOh, that was Fergus – Fergus Lyall.  I have known him all my life.  You see, when I was a bairn, I lived with my parents and wee Meg in Edinburgh.  But City life did not suit me and I was often sent up here to Glentorran to stay with my grandfather.
    â€œHe was very elderly and loved the quiet of the library.  Poor man, I was a wild rowdy boy who must have tried his patience to the limit!  I lived outdoors most of the time and soon found friends in the fishing village.  Fergus and I grew up together, until I was sent to boarding school, of course.”
    Viola could picture him in her mind.
    A small dark-haired boy in an old kilt and probably a dirty torn jersey, running through the long heather with a dog panting at his heels, full of the high spirits of youth, never dreaming of what lay ahead of him.
    The track to the village grew stonier and cut deeply between two sides of the cliff face.
    Viola needed all her horsemanship skills to keep in the saddle as Bonnie slid and slithered down the slope, her hooves sending up little sparks from the cobbles.
    At last they reached the harbour, a small half-circle cut into the coastline as if it was a bite taken from a piece of bread.
    A stone jetty ran out to the entrance of the harbour with all the Glentorran fishing fleet moored alongside, their paintwork gleaming red and blue, emerald and black.
    Overhead seagulls screamed and dived for small tit- bits as one of the boats had just landed its catch.
    Some of the women, shawls draped over their heads, were sorting out fish from crabs.
    â€œI love all the different colours of the boats,” Viola enthused.
    â€œEvery family traditionally owns a different colour.  Never tell anyone, but I have a preference for the scarlet ones, but Fergus owns that dark blue vessel, moored right at the far end.  His father taught us both to sail when we were just lads.”
    Viola admired the fleet, wondering how odd it must have felt for the Duke when he realised that he would grow up to inherit the Glentorran estate whilst his friend would stay a fisherman.
    â€œYou have remained friends?” she asked hesitantly, trying to understand.
    The Duke chuckled.
    â€œDear Lord, yes.  Here in Scotland the people have a different approach to titles, Viola.  I may be the Duke of Glentorran but as far as Fergus is concerned, I am still Rob, the