Body Language

By Catherine Carson

Maude Philpott was and always had been a plain girl who found it difficult to fit in to the diplomatic circles her Ambassador father Sir Reginald moved in. After years of dreaming about desert princes she finally took her life in hand and left her Father and the desert behind in the hope of finding a new life in which she could feel comfortable being herself.
Qasim al Abia had learned to look beyond a beautiful face or intelligent mind, but that did not stop him wondering if the British Ambassador’s plain daughter had any saving graces. He too left his desert home and thought to seek a position in the Abian Embassy in London. His last meeting with Maude before leaving Abia had confused him and he resolved when they met again he would bring some excitement into her life.
The few encounters they have only adds to his confusion and to her dreams being renewed until the night of a Reception at the Embassy of Abia which resulted in Qasim returning to Abia and Maude once more facing shattered dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781291997309

Book preview

Body Language

Body Language

By Catherine Carson

Standard Copyright © Catherine Carson 2014

ISBN 978-1-291-99730-9 eBook

Profile of the author

Born in Scotland I now live with my husband in the North West of England.  We have three children who, between them have given us six wonderful grandchildren.

I studied commercial subjects at school and college and spent most of my working life in the offices of various companies, starting as a junior in a local garage typing invoices for car repairs.   I left Scotland and crossed the border to England to marry the man I met whilst on a holiday with my extended family and eventually became a secretary with a beer bottling company leaving six years later when the first of our three children came on the scene. 

Returning to the workforce when our children were young adults I finally untied the apron strings to join the offices of a large wholesale book supplier and embraced the advancement in technology since I had first learned to type on a manual typewriter and take notes in shorthand.

During the years I became something of a letter writer as friends and family lived in many parts of the country and indeed the world.  Often friends and family would tell me…..‘You could write a book’ to which I always replied…..‘But would anyone read it’. 

When my granddaughter asked if I would write a book especially for her I confided in my good friend Lisa Schmidt and she told me to go for it.  That book became the first of many stories which had been lurking in my imagination for a good number of years.

Once started I found the stories simply kept coming and often an overheard conversation or a glimpse from the passenger seat of the car would trigger a likely scenario which my imagination would then elaborate and weave into a story.

My hope is that my writing brings a little pleasure into the life of my readers and allows them to leave the mundane world behind for a few hours as they meet the characters I adore creating.

www.facebook.com/catherinecarsonbooks.uk

www.catherinerenacarson.jimdo.com

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Dedication

I have so enjoyed writing this book and hope my loyal following enjoy reading it and I dedicate it to all of them.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names.  They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author and all the incidents are pure invention.

Other Books by this Author

The Mouse in the Library

Family Ties

Overall Construction          

Wounded Wolf

Coffee and Cakes

Memories Rekindled

Wholesale Love

Hope’s Conflict

Estates of the Heart

Sibling Rivalry

Fighting for Custody

White Knight Black Knight

Through the Garden Gate…

Love Lost and Found

Alphabet Bachelors

A Dreamer’s Tale

A Precious Jewel

Footbridge of Solace

Girl Meets Boy

Demolition of the Heart

When Life Gives You Lemons

Return to the Past

Pretence & Reality

Opening a Can of Worms

Fields of Contention

A Heart Encased In Steel

Russian Revenge

~~~~~~

Tapestry of Love-Bk 1

Twins Exchanged-Bk 2

Highland Feud Bk-3

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Soil, Seed & Betrayal-Bk 1

Desert Prince, Exiled Princess-Bk 2

Body Language-Bk 3

~~~~~~

An Open Book-Bk 1

Afraid to Love-Bk 2

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A Second Chance-Bk 1

Taming the Playboy-Bk 2

~~~~~~

Estranged Husband & Father-Bk 1

Identical Mistake-Bk 2

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Sigh of the Claymore-Bk 1

Beyond Claymore-Bk 2

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Sneaking Into His Heart-Bk 1

Scent of the Heather-Bk 2

Chapter 1

‘Prince Qasim al Abia may I introduce my daughter Maude.’  Maude Philpott hated her name and cringed whenever her Father insisted on introducing her to every young man he could find at the official events they attended in his capacity as British Ambassador.

‘I believe we have already met Sir.  Good afternoon Maude I trust you are well?’  Prince Qasim had learned never to judge women by their looks but this young woman was the exception to every lesson he had ever learned.

Maude Philpott was the plainest girl he had ever met and over the years since her Father had become the British Ambassador he had tried time and again to find some redeeming feature or trait which he could find appealing; her plain countenance was accompanied with a bland personality, or so he thought.

‘I am well thank you Prince Qasim.  Prince Rafik and Princess Aisha must be very proud of their achievements for the children of Abia.’   ‘Your duty is now done so go find someone who will look adoringly up into your eyes and pamper to your ego.’ Maude thought. 

Her Father had become Ambassador to Abia some five years ago and she had first seen Prince Qasim but it was only since leaving college she had spent more time in the desert country. 

As Ruler Prince Rafik and his wife Princess Aisha had vowed to reform the education system for all children in Abia and now five years later they were celebrating the completion of their programme to build a school in every community with qualified staff to ensure every child received a good education.

Growing up with a Father in the Diplomatic Service had not been easy for Maude.  She hated being shipped back to England to the boarding schools where she had never fit in with the other girls.  Never being considered a clever girl, her Father had hoped she would somehow shine in other areas but her lack of coordination on the sports field saw her sitting on the side lines as a spectator.

Had her Mother stayed around long enough to help her awkward plain daughter things may have been different but after five years of trailing from post to post she finally decided this was not the life she wanted and ran off with a wealthy landowner who could provide the lifestyle she desired.  Her Father was given full custody of his daughter and found it easier to ship her to boarding school. 

‘I understand you have finished college and have decided not to continue with your studies.  It seems a shame you will not attend university.’  Qasim was finding it difficult to find things to talk about and wondered how long he needed to wait before he could politely take his leave of this girl.

‘Really? Prince Qasim, you think having failed miserably to attain qualifications of any importance I should further embarrass my Father and apply for a university place to which I haven’t a cat in hell’s chance of being accepted?’ Maude had seen the look of disinterest in Qasim’s eyes and was angered he felt it necessary to make conversation with someone whom he obviously found had no saving graces.

‘I am sure you did not fail miserably.  Your Father was very proud of your achievements in……’  ‘Hell what had she achieved?’ ‘……your studies.’

‘You mean he actually boasted I can bake an edible cake or I can sew on a button.  Then again it may be he boasted I could sit on the side lines and watch the activities of the college cheer leaders and the football players they find so fascinating.  You know Prince Qasim there is a young woman over there whom I am sure you would much rather be talking to, so why don’t you just go.’  Turning her back on the astonished Prince she walked to her Father to tell him she was going back to the Embassy and would see him later.

Qasim felt as if he had been slapped hard across his face and perhaps he had.  Maude Philpott had assessed the situation correctly he had been wondering when he could take his leave of her and he had no idea what she had studied at college or what qualifications she had gained.

‘You seem perplexed Qasim has Ambassador Philpott’s daughter intrigued you?  She is something of an enigma to her Father.  The poor girl has been shunted from post to post and he does not know what to do with her now she has decided she has had enough schooling.’  Sheikh Wasem spoke quietly to his younger son.

‘Intrigued is the wrong word Father, troubled would best describe how I feel. I think I may have misjudged Maude Philpott and I am sorry I considered her as a person with nothing to offer.  She is simply a young woman who has never been given the encouragement she needs.’

Deciding there and then he would bring some excitement into Maude Philpott’s life he watched her approach her Father before leaving.

Sheikh Wasem studied his son and followed his gaze as he watched the young woman in question leave the assembled guests and he smiled to himself.  Perhaps Qasim was beginning to realise the importance of the lesson he had learned about looking for something more than a pretty face or intelligent mind.  Maude was a young woman who hid her talent behind a façade of anonymity as well as being capable of interpreting a situation within minutes – an asset in the world of diplomatic relationships which her Father relied on but never acknowledged.

‘Will you be joining everyone at the Desert Palace or will you be going back to London immediately?’  Wasem asked his son.  ‘I shall not be going to the Palace I think I shall remain here, there is something I wish to discuss with Ali Mansour.’

Ali Mansour was the First Minister of his brother’s government and Qasim had been toying with the idea of joining the diplomatic service of Abia and wanted to discuss what his duties would be if he joined the Abia Embassy in London.

Chapter 2

Maude Philpott had left Abia the day after the official celebrations and told her Father she intended taking a job in London.  ‘What exactly are you going to do Maude; it’s not as if you have any real qualifications, you should perhaps consider taking a little time to decide what course your life is going to take.  You will be twenty soon and you may consider becoming a nanny to a young family or a companion to your Great Aunt Phyllis.’

‘Father this is the twenty-first century, young women no longer become companions to elderly aunts and I have no inclination to become a nanny to other people’s children.  I am sure I shall find something which will suit my abilities and who knows I may even meet a young man who will be willing to relieve you of the burden of having to feel responsible for me.’

Reginald Philpott knew he