Welcome to Illyria, where our story takes place.
Do you know it? It’s a small state in Italy, on the shores of the Mediterranean. The coast is charming and picturesque, but danger lies beneath the surface. Savage rocks lurk in the turquoise waters. Usually a gentle sun shines, but sometimes fierce storms blow up out of nowhere. Things aren’t always what they seem, as many a sea captain has found out to his cost.
Illyria’s ruler is the Duke Orsino. He’s young, rich and handsome and, until recently, he was perfectly happy. Why wouldn’t he be? He had everything he could possibly want. But then he fell for a girl called Olivia, and all that changed.
Orsino couldn’t settle to anything. He prowled up and down the room, looking for something – anything – to take his mind off this marvellous girl who was driving him crazy. He noticed that the musicians had stopped playing and were looking at him expectantly.
‘No, don’t stop!’ he said, running a hand through his hair till it stood up on end. ‘If music be the food of love, give me excess of it… Perhaps it’ll work like eating too much. It’ll make me sick, and then that’ll put me off – love, I mean, not food – and I’ll be back to normal again. Excellent – there’s a plan, let’s try it! Go on – play, I tell you!’
The musicians glanced at each other, shrugged, and started up again. But after a few minutes, Orsino threw himself into a chair and groaned. ‘No, stop! It’s not working. Sorry, sorry, but it’s just not.’ He turned to his friend, who was idly strumming a lute, trying to play along with the professionals. ‘Curio, what am I going to do? It’s Olivia – I just can’t stop thinking about her!’
‘Er … perhaps you’d like to go hunting, my lord? Take your mind off things?’ Curio suggested helpfully.
Orsino sighed. ‘It will take more than that,’ he said. ‘I’m the one who’s being hunted. Hounded by love…’ His eyes lit up as another of his friends came in. ‘Ah, Valentine – here you are at last. Tell me quickly – what did Olivia say? Has she changed her mind? Will she see me?’
Valentine shook his head apologetically. ‘I’m sorry, my lord. Her maid says she’s still in mourning for her brother. She’s sworn to shut herself away for seven years. She won’t see anyone at all, and certainly not a suitor. She’s absolutely determined. She won’t even think about love.’
‘What? But that’s ridiculous! Although…’ Orsino brightened a little as a happy thought struck him. ‘Just think, Valentine! If she feels this much for a brother, imagine how she’ll feel when she does fall in love – which of course will be with me…’
On the coast, a few miles away, Viola’s hair was tangled with salt, and her clothes were soaked. Tears ran down her face, but she didn’t notice them. She stared out to sea, searching desperately for some sign that her brother might still be alive. The water was calm now, lapping gently at the beach. It was difficult to believe that last night a storm had whipped the waves into such a fury that their ship had been driven onto rocks and smashed to pieces. She had survived, rescued by the captain. He was standing beside her now, looking at her anxiously.
But for the moment she couldn’t feel grateful, as she knew she should. She and her twin were orphans. Sebastian was everything to her. They were close as only twins can be, and now he was missing. She couldn’t bear the thought that she lived while he had died, and she couldn’t imagine how she would be able to live without him. She’d raced up and down the beach, turning over every bit of driftwood, every piece of wreckage. But search as she might, there was no trace of him.
Viola’s shoulders sagged, and she turned wearily to the captain. ‘What country is this?’ she asked.
‘Illyria, my lady,’ he answered. He glanced round at the curve of golden sand. The waves, gentle now, lapped at the beach, and his face softened. ‘I know it well. As a matter of fact, I was born not far from here.’
Viola was hardly listening. ‘Is there any chance?’ she burst out. ‘Is there any chance at all that he might have been saved?’
‘It’s possible,’ said the captain. ‘The last time I saw him, he was holding onto a piece of wood. Who knows? Perhaps he survived, just as we did. But we have searched all along the shore and he’s nowhere to be found. My lady – what do you want to do?’
Viola was silent for a moment. Then, with an effort, she decided to pull herself together. She had survived. She had to make a choice. She could either give up and sit here weeping till she died, too, or decide what to do next. She made up her mind, and turned to the captain. Her tears would have to wait.
‘Tell me about this place,’ she said. ‘Who’s in charge here?’
‘The Duke Orsino, my lady,’ said the captain.
‘What kind of man is he? What’s he like?’
‘Well, he’s not exactly a close personal friend,’ said the captain, frowning. ‘But from what I’ve heard, he’s well thought of.’ He chuckled. ‘Actually, now I come to think of it, there was a story about him going round last time I was home, about a month ago.’
Viola waited.
‘Well?’ she said. ‘What was this story?’
‘Eh? Oh, they say he’s fallen for the Lady Olivia.’
‘And who’s she?’
‘Her father was a count. He died a year ago. The young lady was left in the care of her brother. But then, sad to say, he died, too. And the Lady Olivia was so upset, she declared that that was it.’
‘That what was what?’
‘Well, she said that since she’d lost the two men she loved most dearly in all the world, she wouldn’t receive anybody or have anything to do with another man for seven whole years. So – not good news for Orsino.’
Viola sighed. ‘Well, I can certainly understand how she feels. I’d like to crawl away and hide, too. But what she’s doing is a little extreme.’
‘Couldn’t say, my lady.’
‘No, of course you couldn’t. But it is, all the same. And it’s actually a bit inconvenient. I could have gone to her and asked for help. As it is…’
‘Yes, my lady?’
‘It’s going to have to be the duke, isn’t it? I’ll tell you what – I have the beginnings of a plan. I’ll dress up as a boy and go into the duke’s service – you shall take me to his palace.’ Viola paused. ‘I’ve seen one of my brother’s boxes on the shore. It’s the one he kept his clothes in. I’ll borrow some of them.’ She was quiet for a moment. ‘It’ll make me feel a little closer to him as well… It’s a good plan, I’m sure. There’s nothing for me at home and, anyway, I’m not leaving here till I know for certain what’s happened to Sebastian.’
The captain was startled. ‘But … are you sure, my lady? Is there no other way?’
Viola sighed. ‘Think about it. I can’t just turn up as a lost girl, can I? At best he’ll boss me about, and at worst … well, who knows what might happen? No, trust me, dear captain, this is the best plan – so you will help me, won’t you?’
Her eyes were very large and very blue, and her lip trembled pitifully. The captain sighed. ‘Whatever you say, my lady. Of course I will.’
Olivia had decided that her household was to live a life of quiet seclusion, in keeping with her grief over her brother’s death. But not everyone was happy with the new regime. In particular, her uncle, Sir Toby Belch. Sir Toby had always enjoyed a drink – or two, or three – much more than the next man, and saw no reason why this should change. Maria, Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, was trying to explain to him that his niece had had enough of his drunken antics.
‘My lady has ordered me to tell you that she won’t put up with you rolling in drunk at all hours. She’s in mourning and she simply cannot cope with that kind of behaviour.’
Sir Toby tutted impatiently. ‘Yes, yes, I know all that and it’s very sad, but don’t you think she’s overdoing it a bit? Life must go on, after all. Life must go on!’
‘She wasn’t overly pleased about you bringing Sir Andrew Aguecheek to the house, either,’ Maria went on. ‘Especially when you told her what a fine husband he’d make.’
‘Well, it’s true. Agueface is a splendid fellow and a fine figure of a man. Just the job for her.’
‘He’s an idiot, he spends money hand over fist, and his ears stick out,’ said Maria, who didn’t believe in mincing her words. ‘And you and he get drunk every night. She wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot barge pole.’
‘So you don’t think she’s very keen, then?’ Sir Toby pondered. ‘Oh dear, that’s very unfortunate. And here he comes, poor chap. Not a word! If he realises he isn’t in with a chance, he might take umbrage and go – and then what would I do for pocket money?’
Maria shook her head, made her excuses, and left them to it. She had a soft spot for Sir Toby, but really, there were times when he was his own worst enemy.
Viola’s plan had gone perfectly. Everyone readily accepted who she was. She had arrived at Orsino’s court as a man, and it never occurred to anyone to doubt her. Within a few days, she was one of the duke’s favourites. He found her – Cesario, as she was now known – astonishingly easy to talk to. She seemed to understand just how he felt – sometimes she even finished his sentences for him. Before long, he was telling her all about his helpless, hopeless love for Olivia.
‘So, there you are,’ he said finally. ‘Now you know everything. I’m lost. I’ve never felt this way before.’ He gazed beseechingly at Viola. ‘But you can help me, I know you can. There’s something about you – you’re different from the other fellows. She’d listen to you, I’m sure she would. Go and see her for me – make her understand. Make her love me!’
‘She probably won’t even let me into the house,’ Viola pointed out, thinking what an extraordinary colour the duke’s eyes were.
‘Make her. Do whatever it takes. Stick your foot in the door and refuse to move till you’ve seen her. You’re just a boy, she won’t see you as a threat. You have a sort of way about you…’ He looked at her, puzzled for a moment, then gave her a brilliant smile. ‘You won’t regret it, I promise – you can have whatever you want if you pull this off for me – anything, anything at all!’
Viola gazed up at the duke. He was so tall, so stunningly, mouth-wateringly gorgeous.
‘Can I really?’ she said wistfully.
‘Of course – anything!’
She watched as he walked away. And under her breath, she muttered, ‘Then marry me. Not Olivia – me!’
But it wasn’t going to happen, and she had a job to do. Viola sighed, and set off to do her duty.