Read Online The Desert Castle by Isobel Chace - Free Book Online

away, but when he was there it was better that the men should be left to their own talk, they preferred to gossip to other women about the things that really mattered. It was nice to have both, Marion had pointed out, and the women had gravely nodded their consent before they had asked her about Gregory ’ s reasons for sending for her from England. In vain had Marion protested that Gregory had had nothing to do with her coming.
    By the week-end, though, she was more than ready to start work. Denise, arriving in the early afternoon of Thursday, handed over the chemicals Marion had asked for, warning her to be sparing with them. ‘ I did not enjoy trailing around Beirut in search of such things. Next time, you had best come back with me and find them for yourself ! ’
    Marion thanked her with as much warmth as she could summon up and took them straight to her room, determined to get started as early as she could the following morning She heard Gaston ’ s arrival in the middle of the night in a haze of sleep. She was glad he had come because Lucasta liked him and nobody could have thought that she would ever be in the least bit interested in frescoes. If Marion didn ’ t know by now that she was bored stiff by any kind of painting, she would have been a much worse teacher than she was. Lucasta ’ s idea of getting through the hour devoted to the art class every week had been to turn it into a talking-shop with most of her friends and, providing that they didn ’ t annoy anyone else, Marion had allowed her to do just that.
    W hen Friday dawned, bright and clear, Marion could have hugged herself with excitement. She went into her room immediately after breakfast and shut the door firmly behind her, determined to begin on the shy little houri as soon as she had prepared her witch ’ s brew.
    T he morning passed with a speed that disconcerted her. She had been far more successful than she had hoped and she was bubbling over with glee when she ran down the corridor to the dining-room for lunch.
    ‘ May I come and see how you ’ re doing ? ’ Gregory asked her.
    S he was reluctant to show him her small beginning. In the most ridiculous way, she felt he would impose on the timidity of the delightful little creature she had so carefully revealed.
    ‘ I ’ m not really ready for visitors, ’ she said.
    H e looked disappointed and she relented, her longing to share her excitement with someone who would appreciate what she was doing overcoming her fellow-feeling for her little h o uri.
    ‘ Don ’ t expect too much, ’ she warned him. ‘ There isn ’ t much to see yet. ’
    ‘ I won ’ t, ’ he promised.
    I t was only then that Marion realised that no one else had turned up for the meal. ‘ Where are the others ? ’ she asked, a little uncomfortable at being alone with him. ‘ Why didn ’ t you go with them ? ’
    ‘ Because, like you, I have work to do, ’ he answered.
    S he looked down at her plate. ‘ Denise must have been disappointed, ’ she remarked.
    ‘ I dare say she ’ ll survive, ’ he murmured with all the heartlessness she expected ’ from him. ‘ Why don ’ t you like her, Marion ? ’
    ‘ I don ’ t know her well enough to like or dislike her. She ’ s a lovely girl and she seems to have a great deal going for her— ’
    ‘ But you are not greatly i nterested in material thin g s , so it can ’ t be that that bothers you. ’
    ‘ How do you know ? ’ she shot back at him.
    H is navy-blue eyes regarded her thoughtfully. ‘ I know. ’ He was uncannily sure he was right, ‘ Nor do I think you are jealous of her beauty. You are well enough yourself not to be afraid of any competition she might offer. So why don ’ t you like her ? ’
    ‘ I don ’ t dislike her, ’ Marion repeated.
    ‘ But there is something there ? ’ He hesitated. ‘ I can ’ t see Denise ever taking anything from you that you really want. She is a girl who has few friends amongst her own sex. Won ’ t you