Valona heard a knock at her door.
She realised that it was the Duke’s valet telling her that it was time for her to get up.
She pulled back the curtains over the portholes and saw that the sun had just risen – it was very early indeed.
She knew the Duke was worried about not wasting time and reaching Larissa as soon as possible.
But he was allowing her to visit Delos.
She dressed herself in a few minutes, not taking any notice of her hair that hung loosely over her shoulders.
Then in flat-heeled shoes she ran out of her cabin and up on deck, where she saw that they were anchored in a small bay.
There was a seaman to help her down a rope ladder into a small boat where two more seamen were waiting to row her to the shore.
It was only a short distance to Delos and apart from bidding her “good morning,” they did not speak.
They ran the boat up the beach and helped her out.
She hurried up a narrow path that led to the top of a low cliff.
She had read in one book that the small mysterious island of Delos lay very low in the water, as the author had said, ‘with only the small hill of Cynthus to hold it from floating away.’
It took Valona a few seconds to reach the top of the cliff and then she found herself standing as she had longed to on the island of Delos.
As she had expected the island was a mass of spring flowers. Anemones flooded the meadows that were filled with many gleaming columns and ruins of what had once been temples.
Looking ahead of her Valona was still.
Now she could feel the wind blowing softly around her and was filled with a sense of enchantment she had always known she would find in Delos.
A dozen books had told her that a heavenly light always fell over the island and Apollo’s presence could positively be felt.
As she stood there she could see the light flashing against white marble, which lay visibly among the flowers.
Over the whole island the air seemed to be like a dancing quivering flame.
She could not explain it, yet it was there just as she had expected it to be.
Although she felt she must be imagining it, she was aware of the light glittering and shining high up in the air.
There seemed to be a mysterious quivering, a low beating of silver wings and the whirl of silver wheels.
She walked a little further along the meadow.
As she did so, she felt the shimmering presence of Apollo himself.
It was as though she could see him with her own eyes, and he was looking unbelievably handsome.
Behind him lay the many white Temples built in his honour.
As Valona moved very slowly over the anemones, she found herself remembering what she had read.
How the Goddess Leto had given birth beside the wheel-shaped lake to Apollo, the fairest of the immortals, and his twin sister Artemis and how the whole earth had rejoiced.
To celebrate the birth of Apollo, ‘the islands of the Cyclades wheeled round in Holy joy.’
Strange perfumes had wafted over the island and white swans suddenly appeared on the lake.
Apollo had found his rightful home here and ruled the world from Delos, which he had conquered by the power of his beauty.
For a moment Valona could not see ahead of her.
She knew that there was hardly a square inch of the island that did not lie under the shadow of countless broken columns.
No one lived on the island – the only inhabitants were the grey speckled lizards that sheltered underneath the stones.
Yet in the expectant quietness of the scene around her, she became acutely conscious of the presence of some unexplained mystery.
She remembered that in 426 BC General Nicias had decreed that Apollo was not being worshipped properly as a God should.
He had led a large delegation from Athens to purify the island and there had been countless feasts, games and sacrifices. The General had presented Apollo with an enormous bronze palm tree and then ordered a huge statue of Apollo to be erected on Delos to the glory and beauty of the God.
Never had so many precious gifts been offered to a God and when he returned to Athens, General Nicias hoped that after all he had done he would now bask in the God’s favour.
But the Athenian invasion of Sicily that he commanded ended in disaster in 413 BC and Nicias was captured and savagely put to death.
The bronze palm tree fell over in a wild storm and the broken pieces which fell near the sacred lake lay there for two thousand years.
Then the island was explored by the English in the reign of Charles I and the French came collecting pieces of the statues and other precious souvenirs.
The great statue of Apollo, which had fallen to the ground, was gradually broken up and pieces were carried away to England and France.
Much of the statue, Valona knew, remained on Delos, but it lay too far for her to go and see it.
Yet she was aware that it was still there and was, according to all she had read, filled with a tremendous power.
One visitor to the statue had written,
“It was splendid in its loneliness, its perfect beauty and its terrible power.”
Valona was a long way from it, but as she stood looking towards the East, she could feel the magic of the young God once thirty feet high.
In her mind she could see him with his parted lips, his uplifted hands and his eyes gazing out to sea.
More than two thousand years had passed since Apollo’s statue had been erected on the island, yet she knew in her heart that time had in no way weakened him.
It was then that she began praying to Apollo with all her heart and soul.
She asked him to bring her true the love she longed for.
As the God of Light and Love, Apollo represented the fulfilment of dreams to all who worshipped him.
‘Help me, please help me!’ she begged. ‘The love I seek is the same love you give to the world and it is even more powerful than anything else mankind could possess.’
She was sure that Apollo had heard her.
Then she remembered that the Duke was anxious to be on their way to Larissa.
She turned around and for a moment it seemed as if she was turning her back on Heaven itself as she walked away from the light that emanated from the ruins.
There was no movement anywhere, except the yellow butterflies hovering over the flowers.
Yet she felt as if the God himself had spoken to her and his arms embraced her.
Valona ran back down the winding path onto the beach where the seamen were waiting for her.
As soon as she stepped into the boat, they pushed it into the water and rowed her back to the battleship.
She climbed aboard and murmured, “thank you” to the seaman who helped her up on deck.
Then she went below and into her own cabin.
She closed the door and flung herself down on the bed hiding her face in the pillow.
She felt as if she had touched the stars.
After this she would never be the same again.
*
The battleship was now moving and leaving Delos behind. Its speed quickened and they were hurrying on to Larissa.
Yet Valona knew she held within herself the Light of Apollo.
Several hours later, fully dressed and with her hair neatly arranged, Valona entered the Saloon.
The Duke was sitting on a sofa reading a newspaper that had come aboard at Athens.
“How did you enjoy your visit to that mysterious island?” he asked her.
“It was the most wonderful experience I have ever known and thank you so very much for allowing me to go ashore.”
“I felt that you wanted to be alone, so I did not join you.”
Valona thought it was just like him to be so kind and understanding.
She sat down on one of the comfortable chairs in the Saloon and the Duke said,
“The Captain has informed me that if we keep up this speed we shall arrive at the Port of Zante, the Capital of Larissa, at around about six o’clock this afternoon.”
As he spoke to her, Valona remembered again what was awaiting her at Larissa and felt as if she had come crashing back to earth with a bang.
She had been living briefly in the mystic world of the Gods and now she was forced to face the difficulties and problems of earth.
“Do you think,” she asked in a small rather scared voice, “they will expect me to marry the King at once?”
“If the situation is quite as bad as our Ambassador in Athens told me, I do believe they will want to make you their Queen as soon as possible.”
Valona gave a little sigh, but she did not speak.
The Duke was thinking how brave she was.
He was so aware that any young girl would shrink from the horror of being married to a much older man who was in ill-health.
Especially as there was no time to make his acquaintance first or even become friends before she was to be his wife.
He was wondering what he could say to console her when the Stewards came in to lay the table for luncheon.
“I am sure that the chef has taken on some fresh food at Athens which we shall enjoy,” remarked the Duke.
He walked across to the porthole and looked out at the sea.
The Aegean Sea was brilliant blue and glassy calm with the sun shining overhead.
It was the sort of weather any traveller would be happy to find when exploring a new country and the Duke knew that normally he would be delighted.
But there was still the ominous darkness of the Russians hanging over what lay ahead for them.
To take his mind off these worries he discussed the history of Greece again with Valona and soon they were both enjoying an animated discourse on the merits of the Greek Philosophers.
It always amused the Duke when he found a very pretty woman who used her brains, as he had noted that far too many of the beauties in London were only interested in themselves and their appearance.
On the subject of Greece they both naturally talked about Olympus.
The Duke had visited the mountain only to find it rather disappointing.
“There was no feeling of holiness that I somehow expected to find there,” he reflected.
Valona longed to tell him how different Delos was – yet somehow it was impossible to put into words what she felt when she had stood on the island.
She still felt the glory of it within herself.
The Duke was aware that there was a reserve about her that had not been there before, so he deliberately turned the conversation to other matters.
When luncheon was over, they went up on deck.
There was little to see except the blue sea through which they were moving at what the Captain said proudly was a record speed.
“We will certainly be at Zante, Your Grace, by six o’clock, if not earlier,” he boasted.
“I do congratulate you, Captain, I had no idea that these heavily armoured battleships could travel so fast!”
He realised that his praise pleased the Captain and after paying him several more compliments, he and Valona went below.
“I intend to write a letter to Mama,” she said. “I hope if we post it as soon as we arrive, it will not take too long to reach her.”
The Duke picked up the newspaper again, while she sat down at the writing desk.
She wrote two pages to her mother, telling her what she had seen in Athens and also a little about Delos.
She did not mention what had happened with Lady Rose and the Marquis, knowing that it was a secret that must not be revealed to anyone till the Duke gave her permission to do so.
This meant that she could not tell her mother either that she had agreed to marry the King in Rose’s place.
Then, as she signed her name with endless love and kisses, she was aware that the battleship was slowing down.
She was about to say that it seemed a little strange, when she looked round and saw that the Duke was asleep.
She therefore started another page of her letter and told her mother how very kind and considerate the Duke had been to her.
The only good news she could think of concerning her own future was that her mother would doubtless enjoy coming out to Larissa.
The engines of the battleship, having slowed down, started up again.
As they did so, the Duke woke up.
“Have I been asleep?” he muttered.
“You have,” answered Valona, “and I think it must have been the engines that woke you.”
“Engines? What do you mean?”
Before Valona could explain, the door of the Saloon opened.
The Steward announced,
“His Royal Highness Prince Ajax, Your Grace.”
Both the Duke and Valona stared at the newcomer in astonishment.
Then, as he entered the Saloon, Valona gave a gasp.
For one moment she thought she must be dreaming and imagining what she saw.
The man joining them seemed to be her image of Apollo himself.
The Duke and Valona rose to their feet as Prince Ajax came towards them.
It was then that Valona told herself her eyes must have deceived her – it was a tall, exceedingly handsome young man who had just joined them, but not the God of whom she was still dreaming.
The Duke looked at him in surprise and asked,
“How is it possible that Your Royal Highness has joined us?”
The newcomer smiled.
“I have been watching and waiting for you for what seemed to me to be a very long time.”
“I must apologise for that, Your Royal Highness,” replied the Duke. “I am afraid that we have taken longer in coming from London than we expected.”
“I was reckoning on your arrival almost a week ago and I have had three ships looking out for you and waiting to flag your approach if it was in daylight or to send a ball of fire into the sky if you came at night.”
He gave a sigh of relief and continued,
“But now you are here – and I can only say how glad and grateful I am to see you!”
As he spoke, Prince Ajax looked towards Valona.
Hastily, the Duke, although still astonished by the Prince’s arrival, announced,
“May I please be permitted to present Her Royal Highness, Princess Valona?”
Valona curtsied and the Prince bowed.
“May I offer you some refreshment?”
“I have come aboard now,” he said, “because it is essential that you should understand the situation we are in before you actually arrive in Larissa.”
“Perhaps Your Royal Highness would prefer to sit down,” offered the Duke, indicating the sofa.
Prince Ajax did as was suggested and the Duke sat beside him with Valona in an armchair close to them.
There was silence for a moment and then he looked at the door.
“I presume that no one can hear us and it is safe for me to speak?”
“Quite safe, Your Royal Highness.”
Valona noticed from the expression in the Duke’s eyes that he was surprised by the Prince’s demeanour.
Again there was a somewhat uncomfortable silence, before Prince Ajax began,
“Perhaps it would be best also for your sister, Lady Rose, and the Marquis of Dorsham, the representative of Her Majesty, to hear what I have to say.”
The Duke held his breath.
“If you would excuse the suggestion, Your Royal Highness,” he replied, “it would be best if the Princess and I heard what you have to say first, in case it is upsetting.”
“Yes, you are right,” agreed Prince Ajax.
Once again he looked towards the door as if he was afraid that someone might be listening.
Then in a low voice, he declared,
“I have come to tell you that my father, the King, is dead!”
The Duke started.
“Dead, Your Royal Highness?”
“He died yesterday morning, but, as we have feared for at least a week, there was no chance of saving him.
“You can understand that the situation in Larissa is now more dangerous than ever. The Prime Minister and the Chiefs of Staff are all convinced that the moment the Russians learn of my father’s death, they will begin their move to take over the country.”
Valona clasped her hands together.
After a pause the Duke enquired,
“I presume that Your Royal Highness is now taking every precaution to prevent them from doing so.”
“The only deterrence to really prevent them would have been my father’s marriage to Lady Rose. Now, as I am King, it must be mine.”
For a moment the Duke stared at him.
“Yes, of course, I understand.”
“What we are afraid of,” he resumed, “is that they will strike before the marriage actually takes place. That is why no one else, with the exception of my father’s doctor and his valet, knows that he is dead.”
The Duke stared at him.
“Surely it has been very difficult to keep the news a secret.”
“It has been difficult because you did not arrive at the time we expected you. But now you are here, I have made arrangements to which I hope you will agree.”
“What are they?” enquired the Duke.
“The marriage will take place tomorrow morning and no one in the whole of Larissa will have any idea that my father is not the bridegroom.
“I am fighting for my people’s lives and my own and I assure you the only way I can save my country is to make the Russians realise we are now under the protection of Great Britain.”
“So Your Royal Highness will be married in your father’s place,” the Duke stated, as if he was determined to clarify the situation completely in his own mind.
“That is correct and immediately that the Marriage Service has ended, I and Lady Rose will be crowned King and Queen of Larissa.”
The Duke could see it was a very astute plan if the Russians were kept in ignorance of what was happening.
But Prince Ajax had referred to his sister, assuming that she was on board.
“I have something to tell Your Royal Highness, but I do not think it will interfere with your plan.”
“What is it?” the Prince asked a little sharply.
It made Valona believe that he was nervous in case his plan, which he had obviously thought out very carefully, could not be carried out.
“My sister was taken seriously ill while we were in Athens and the doctors claimed it was impossible for her to travel any further and essential that she should remain in their care.”
“Are you now telling me that your sister is not with you?” Prince Ajax demanded.
There was a note of horror in his voice that made the Duke respond quickly,
“My sister regrettably is not with us, but Princess Valona, the daughter of the late Prince and the Princess of Piracus, is prepared to take her place. She is in point of fact more closely related to Queen Victoria than my sister.”
The Prince now turned round to look at Valona and he gave her a long searching look.
Then he said in a different tone,
“I can only thank you, Your Royal Highness, and I will be exceedingly grateful if you will take Lady Rose’s place.”
“I will most certainly do so,” responded Valona in a low voice, “because I realise it is the only way Your Royal Highness can save your country.”
“It is indeed the only way,” he repeated. “And as I have already said, we must be married tomorrow morning. No one in the Palace will have the least idea until the very last moment that I am taking my father’s place.”
“I do understand,” muttered Valona.
For the first time Prince Ajax smiled at her.
“I believed you would – I remember how bravely your father fought against all the rebels in his country, but sadly they succeeded in throwing him off his throne.”
“And wounding him first,” added Valona, “so that he died soon after we arrived in England.”
“I am sure your father would not want Larissa to be taken over by the Russians. We therefore have to be very clever and outwit them, although I am afraid it is not going to be easy.”
“Surely Your Royal Highness is ready to thwart the Russians?” the Duke asked.
There was a little pause before he answered,
“I am afraid, as my father had been so ill for some time, that we have been most remiss in not enlarging the Army or bringing it up-to-date with modern weapons.”
The Duke looked worried and Prince Ajax went on,
“I have been travelling abroad as I wanted to see something of the world, and actually you do not remember me, but I was at Oxford University at the same time as you were.”
The Duke looked amazed.
“You were!”
“Yes, but I was at a not very important College, and I was not as skilled as you were on the cricket field, nor did I row in the Oxford boat against Cambridge.”
The Duke smiled.
He had been Captain of Cricket for one season and a keen rower.
“I am sure I would have remembered Your Royal Highness if we had ever met. But as we both know Oxford is a large collection of men and one is inclined to keep with those in one’s own College.”
“But his having been at Oxford,” remarked Valona, “explains why His Royal Highness speaks such excellent English.”
She gave Prince Ajax a little smile as she added,
“I have been struggling to learn your language before I arrived just in case no one could understand what I wanted or what I was trying to say.”
“It will give great pleasure to my people if you can speak to them in our language,” Prince Ajax enthused. “And I must thank you again for coming to our rescue.”
He rose to his feet and walked to a porthole.
“We shall be coming into port in five minutes time and I have to tell you who will be waiting to greet you on your arrival.”
“That, of course, will be most helpful, Your Royal Highness,” replied the Duke. “In fact Valona has prepared a little speech in your language if any of your people will be making one to her.”
“The Prime Minister will do that and he will have five or six Members of the Cabinet with him.”
He hesitated for a moment and then he added,
“I think it would be a great mistake to explain that the bride has been changed at the very last moment. Anything unusual happening, when the Russians learn about it, might prompt them to take immediate action.”
The Duke stiffened at the last words.
“So you do expect them to take action?”
“I have tried to take every precaution possible, but what we were really afraid of was that they would attempt to kill my father before he could reach the Cathedral for his marriage. Once he was dead, their attention would then be turned to me and I would undoubtedly die as well. As it is, I think the odds against my surviving are pretty short.”
“That is wrong,” exclaimed Valona unexpectedly. “I know you would love to be the King of your country and make it great again.”
Prince Ajax looked at her in surprise and the Duke explained,
“The Princess herself is half Greek and possesses a unique gift of clairvoyance. If she makes any prediction it invariably comes true – almost uncannily so.”
He looked at Valona as he spoke and knew that she was thinking of how she had assured Rose that she would eventually marry the Marquis and it had happened so very quickly that they could hardly believe it.
“What you have said is most reassuring,” continued Prince Ajax. “Equally we must take no chances, so would you mind if my people waiting for you think you are the Duke’s sister, which is who they are expecting?
“When we are married, you can use your own name and we will explain later that Rose was the second name you were baptised with.”
“Very well,” she agreed, “but it makes everything seem unreal and I can hardly believe it is all happening.”
As she was speaking, she realised that they would never understand what she had felt at Delos.
It was something she could tell no one and yet to her it had been completely and absolutely real.
Just as this strange and complicated plot was true even though it was hard to comprehend.
“As you can imagine,” the Prince was saying, “my people do not understand English titles and they have been speaking of Lady Rose as a Princess. I therefore think it is easier, until you later become Queen if I refer to you as Princess Rose. When the crown is on our heads, we can say you prefer to use your other name of Valona.”
Valona made a little gesture with her hands.
“I will leave it all in the hands of Your Royal Highness and I think we must just pray that our wedding goes off without any interruptions.”
“I have planned it all down to the smallest detail, including a large number of Union Jacks, which will not only decorate the route to the Cathedral, but will also be in the possession of children who will wave them as you pass by.”
Valona realised it would be a great mistake for the people as well as the Russians not to think she was entirely English.
The battleship was now slowing down and Prince Ajax said,
“Now we are moving into the port – are you both ready to come ashore?”
Valona gave a little cry.
“I must put on my hat!”
She hurried into the Captain’s cabin to find that her clothes had already been packed by the Duke’s valet and taken up on deck.
Her hat was lying waiting for her on the side of the bed and beside it were her handbag and her gloves.
She glanced at herself in the mirror.
As she did so, she thought it was a good thing that her mother did not realise how dangerous her position was going to be in Larissa.
Prince Ajax had not said so, but she was well aware that the Russians might try to shoot her so as to prevent the King from marrying her.
They would do it in some cunning way that would make it appear to have been an accident or indeed she might just disappear.
Whichever way it was, it would prevent the Royal marriage taking place and the patronage of Great Britain.
This was the one outcome that the Larissians were really afraid of.
She felt a little quiver of fear run through her.
‘I have to be brave and resolute,’ she told herself.
Then almost as if she could see him, she felt that Apollo was smiling at her.
He was assuring her of her safety.
‘You will be Queen of Larissa,’ he was telling her, just as she had told the Prince that he would be the King.
The Duke opened the cabin door.
“Are you ready, Valona?”
Valona picked up her bag and gloves.
“Yes, I am ready.”
The Duke took her hand in his, as she realised that Prince Ajax had gone ahead and they were alone.
“Don’t forget you are now my sister,” he reminded her, “and let me say I am very proud of you.”
“I hope you will be able to say that again after the wedding is over.”
“At least your bridegroom is going to be a lot more presentable than we could ever have expected. After all, having been educated at Oxford, he is most charming and, of course, a gentleman!”
Valona laughed as he meant her to.
“I thought we should get back to the old school tie and the Marquis will be very sorry he has missed meeting Prince Ajax.”
“We might well have turned today into an old boys’ reunion!” smiled the Duke as they walked up to the deck.
Prince Ajax had already run down the gangway and was speaking to a number of distinguished-looking men.
Beside them there were children holding bouquets and at a quick glance Valona could see a few Union Jacks waving on the quay.
“Do we go ahead, brother Arthur?” she asked.
“Naturally, sister,” smiled the Duke.
They slowly started to walk hand in hand down the gangway.
Valona already knew that the battleship was staying until after the wedding and there was therefore no reason to say goodbye to any of the Officers on board as yet.
A small child with a bouquet of lilies was waiting for her at the bottom of the gangway.
Valona sent up a little prayer for help.
Although it was the way she had always prayed, this prayer was definitely directed to Apollo.
She accepted the bouquet and then stepped onto the platform.
Prince Ajax presented the Prime Minister to her and the formality of the ceremony began.
He greeted Valona and the Duke and welcomed them on behalf of his father the King and all his people to Larissa.
They were more grateful than he could possibly say to Her Majesty Queen Victoria for her blessing the union between the King of Larissa and one of her close relatives.
Next, the Larissa Cabinet were presented to Valona, followed by the Lord Chamberlain, the General in charge of the Army and the Admiral of the Fleet, which, she found out later, consisted of only two rather small gunboats.
There were carriages waiting to convey them to the Palace and although the sun was shining and it was warm, they were all closed carriages.
Valona knew this was because they were afraid that the Russians might try to assassinate them before the wedding could took place.
Prince Ajax was clearly taking no chances.
As his father’s representative, he sat beside Valona in the first carriage with the Duke opposite them, his back to the horses.
There were not very many people on the roads and he explained that was because they had been expecting the battleship to arrive a few days earlier.
The Duke and Valona were aware that Prince Ajax had worked out exactly how long it would take a battleship to steam from England to Larissa unless it was delayed on the way.
It was impossible for them to explain why they had been delayed so they merely ignored the expressions of surprise from all the members of the Government that the voyage should have taken so long.
The Prince pointed out various places of interest as they drove to the Palace and Valona could see that the City was a very attractive one.
There were tall trees on both sides of the road and a great many shrubs were in bloom – in fact there seemed to be a profusion of flowers everywhere.
When they turned in at the gates of the Palace, she gave a little cry of delight.
The whole drive up to the front door was a mass of flowers of every colour.
“It is so beautiful,” exclaimed Valona.
“I thought you would think so,” said Prince Ajax. “My mother was an ardent gardener and I know you will enjoy the big lake at the back of the Palace and the cascade that runs down from the woods.”
“I want to see everything and if it is all as lovely as this, it will be difficult to find words to describe it.”
“I will show it all to you, but after we are married.”
The way the Prince spoke told Valona that he was afraid for her to go into the garden.
She guessed without him saying any more that she would stay a prisoner in the Palace until after tomorrow’s ceremony.
The Palace itself was very attractive, but was not particularly large and it was built of a white stone that made Valona think of Delos.
When they entered through its front door, there were a large number of courtiers to greet them.
Once the formal introductions were over, the Prince suggested that Valona might wish to change for dinner.
“We are giving a large dinner party tonight and my father is only too sorry he cannot be present. He is being kept quiet today, so that he will be strong enough to enjoy the wedding tomorrow.”
Valona realised he was speaking loudly enough for the courtiers to hear what he was saying.
“Will you please give His Majesty my best wishes and tell him I am so looking forward to meeting him.”
She realised by the expression in the Prince’s eyes that he was pleased with her for what she had just said.
“I will certainly convey your message to my father immediately,” he smiled.
The Lord Chamberlain, as Master of the Household, took Valona and the Duke upstairs and they were shown two large and well-furnished bedrooms next to each other.
The Lord Chamberlain explained,
“Tomorrow, Lady Rose, you will be sleeping in the Queen’s room which is on the other side of the Palace. But I do hope you will be comfortable here tonight.”
“I am sure I shall be and thank you very much.”
The Lord Chamberlain paused.
“His Royal Highness has already told me that your Ladyship prefers to be called by your other name which is Valona. As it is your first name, it is the one you will use when you are married.”
“Yes, that is what I would prefer. I think I was only called Rose because I was able to pronounce it when I was very small!”
The Lord Chamberlain laughed.
“Most children like to refer to themselves by their pet names that are easy to pronounce. I know my daughter does.”
“Then I hope I will meet her as we have at least one thing in common!”
“You can be sure of that, my Lady.”
He was just about to depart when he stopped,
“By the way you will have to choose another Lady in-Waiting as you have not brought one with you.”
“It was unfortunate that mine was taken ill when we reached Athens. Of course we could have waited for her to recover, but my brother considered it might be dangerous where you were concerned.”
“He was right,” agreed the Lord Chamberlain, “and we will now provide you immediately with two Ladies-in Waiting, who you will meet at dinner tonight.”
“I shall look forward to it.”
He left her, and a lady’s maid who had been waiting in the background came to help Valona take off her hat and gown.
The woman could not speak a word of English and Valona reflected that Lady Rose would indeed have found it difficult to obtain anything she had wanted.
Their luggage had come ahead of them while they were being received at the port.
But Valona did notice that the trunks containing the wedding gown had not yet been unpacked.
She told the lady’s maid that it must be done before she went to bed. The maid understood and told Valona that everything would be ready for the morning.
This was somewhat reassuring, but Valona did not want to think about the wedding that was being pushed through so hurriedly.
Or of the Coronation which was to follow it.
She felt a little shiver go through her because it was all so intimidating.
Then as she undressed for her bath, she told herself she would think only of Delos and Apollo.
She was quite sure she had seen him.
‘It is so strange,’ she reflected, ‘that now somehow Prince Ajax seems more like Apollo.’