A Garland of Marigolds by Isobel Chace

calmly.
    Camilla was prepared to argue the point.
    “ Joseph wouldn ’ t mind if we started without him, ” she said impulsively.
    “ No, but his companion would! ” her brother retorted.
    I pricked up my ears, astonished. “ Is there anyone else here? ” I asked.
    Gideon ’ s smile became mysterious and quite aggressively masculine.
    “ Not here. Joe has gone to fetch her for dinner. She comes around quite a lot when we ’ re here. ” His eyes sparkled. “ She ’ s very pretty and a gentle little thing. You ’ re both to be kind to her! ”
    Camilla gave him a very sisterly look.
    “ You ’ ve been holding out on us! ” she accused him. “ Who is this mysterious woman? Are you in love with her? ”
    Gideon gave her a lazy slap. “ That ’ s none of your business! ” he reproved her. “ Her name is Julie Burnett and she lives here. Her father stayed on after independence. He has a bungalow in the next village—he retired there. I ’ m afraid it makes for a rather dull life for Julie. ”
    “ How old is she? ” Camilla demanded.
    He looked at me consideringly. “ I suppose she ’ s about the same age as Miss King. ”
    Camilla frowned. “ I should think she ’ s older than that! Suki ’ s father hasn ’ t retired! ”
    It was my turn to frown. I was not enjoying the two of them discussing me while I was sitting there, especially not as something told me that in Gideon ’ s eyes at least I was only a pale shadow of this Julie, who was quite obviously the love of his life.
    “ The Burnetts didn ’ t get married until quite late. Julie is their only child and the apple of their eye. ”
    Camilla made an unpleasing face. “ I can imagine! ” she said.
    Gideon ’ s face lost its good humor.
    “ Camilla! Julie is a very attractive person, and if you can ’ t be civil you can go to your room. ” And then, most unfairly, he turned on me. “ And that goes for you, too, young woman! ”
    Just what I might have answered, I hate to think, but at that moment we could hear the jeep approaching and, a second later, Joseph ’ s exuberant laugh as he brought Julie around the house to join us.
    It is difficult to describe the impact Julie had on Camilla and me. She was very small and dainty and walked with a bouncy little step that somehow made sure that everyone was looking at her. She was something to look at, too! Her hair was the palest gold and her clothes and her makeup were stunning. With difficulty, I stopped myself from staring at her and went through the movements of greeting her. If this was what Gideon wanted, I thought, no wonder he disapproved so heartily of me!
    “ How do you do, Miss Burnett, ” I said bravely.
    Her gray eyes rested gently on mine. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. I watched her closely as she turned away to Camilla and managed, just in time, to stop myself disliking her for the faintly patronizing smile she gave the younger girl. I would not allow myself to make any impulsive judgments.
    We all sat down in a little semicircle. Miss Burnett pulled her chair as close to Gideon ’ s as she could manage, and I was oddly comforted when Joseph pulled his closer to mine with a proprietorial air that at another time would have amused me.
    “ Settled in? ” he asked me.
    I nodded, pleased by the attention he was paying me. I felt at home with Joseph.
    “ More or less. ” I grinned suddenly. “ I haven ’ t tried the bed yet! ”
    He gave me a sympathetic look, joining in my laughter.
    “ When I first arrived I didn ’ t get a good night ’ s sleep for a week! But after a while you begin to appreciate the simplicity of the arrangements in this dreadful heat! ”
    To my surprise Miss Burnett giggled and joined in the conversation.
    “ I suppose they ’ ve given you one of the Indian beds, a charpoy . But you don ’ t have to be so uncomfortable. You can obtain anything you want in Delhi. ”
    Gideon hooted with laughter.
    “ At a price! And who wants