Love and Apollo by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

dreams.”
    â€œI saw you looking very animated when my friend the Marquis told us we were stopping at a number of ports on our way to Larissa, so I would imagine that you long to be a traveller.”
    â€œSo far I have only been able to travel in my mind and through the books I have read.  Now I am really going to see the great Rock of Gibraltar and the canals of Venice!  I feel sure that once again I am dreaming!”
    â€œI only hope you will not be disappointed, Valona, if one sets one’s expectations too high, there is always the chance that you wish the reality could have been a little bit better.”
    Valona laughed.
    â€œNow you are being cynical.  I am sure that none of us have any doubts that this magical ship will carry us into an enchanted fairyland!”
    The Duke was silent for a minute before he replied,
    â€œThat is what we hope Larissa will be like after we have arrived there.  Despite what Gerald might desire, we must not linger too long on the voyage.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?”
    The Duke hesitated for just a moment as he thought it might be mistake to tell her the truth and then he said,
    â€œI think, Valona, you are old enough to understand the Russian intentions in the Balkans and it will not please them that the King of Larissa is marrying again, although he is no longer a young man, and above all to an English bride related to Queen Victoria.”
    â€œHe already has a son, I hear.”
    â€œOne child is not enough for a safe dynasty.”
    The Duke spoke in a low voice almost as if he was talking to himself.
    â€œIf Larissa is really in such danger,” Valona asked him, “why do you allow your sister to go there?”
    The Duke smiled a little wryly.
    â€œIt is what the Queen desires and it is very difficult to oppose Her Majesty when she has made up her mind!”
    â€œI appreciate that and I was rather frightened that she might send for me and, when she had seen me, decide that I was too young.”
    The Duke laughed.
    â€œYou must be clairvoyant.  That is just what I was scared of too.  So in case the Queen said that she wanted to see you first, I quickly told her that you were away from home visiting one of your relatives.
    â€œThat was a lie!”
    â€œA white lie, shall we say, Valona, but I think if she had seen you, she might well have insisted on Rose being accompanied by some aged crone who would have found fault with everything we did from the moment we left.”
    â€œThat would have been dreadful.  And thank you, thank you, Cousin Arthur, for being so clever even if it was a lie.”
    â€œA white lie,” insisted the Duke, “and it is certainly permissible if it is helping someone else.”
    As they steamed past the ancient Tower of London and then the dockyards, the Duke told Valona something of their long and interesting history.
    A little later it was time for luncheon, so they went down to the Saloon.
    As they entered Valona could see that the Marquis and Lady Rose were deep in conversation with each other.
    They did not seem to be particularly happy and he was holding her hand in his.
    It then struck Valona that perhaps the Marquis had wanted to marry Lady Rose and she had been obliged to refuse him because she was to marry the King.
    â€˜If it was me,’ Valona thought, ‘and I was in love with anyone half as good-looking as the Marquis, I would refuse the King whatever Her Majesty might say about it!’
    After luncheon Lady Rose told Valona that she was going to rest and did not wish to be disturbed.
    â€œI have not brought a lady’s maid with me, so I do hope you will help me later with my gown.”
    â€œOf course I will,” replied Valona.
    Lady Rose continued,
    â€œMy brother’s valet, who has been with us since I was a little girl, is so clever at packing and unpacking it would be such a nuisance to have a lady’s maid on board as well, who