Barbara Cartland - The Lovelight of Apollo

She smiled and then added reflectively,

“It was my country and I have wanted her to see it too. There is nowhere in the world that can compare with that sublime country.”

“That is what my father always said,” Princess Marigold agreed, “and it broke his heart when the revolutionaries took away his Throne.”

“I suppose they were incited to rebel by the Russians,” Mrs. Grandell said. “They have caused trouble in so many of the Balkan States. I have heard recently that they have also been busy in Greece.”

Princess Marigold had heard Queen Victoria’s views on Russia’s recent behaviour, but she felt it unnecessary to become involved in that discussion at the moment.

Instead she said,

“I know that Avila will love Greece and I expect you have told her many stories about it that she will feel as if she is going home rather than to a foreign country.”

For the first time since they had started their conversation, Mrs. Grandell smiled at the Princess.

“You understand,” she replied softly.

“As Greeks,” the Princess said, “we both know it is important for Avila to see Greece and how better than being taken to everything that she asks to see because they believe she is me?”

“That is exactly what I was thinking,” Mrs. Grandell nodded. “Yet I can only pray, Your Royal Highness, that our little plot will not be discovered. Because if it is, there will be a great number of people very angry with us.”

“No one is more aware of that than I am,” the Princess agreed. “I assure you, I shall be extremely careful and will not be happy until the Battleship moves out of Port carrying Avila instead of me!”

Avila clasped her hands together.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, ma’am!” she cried. “How can I ever tell you how grateful I am for this wonderful opportunity?”

She looked so pretty as she spoke that the Princess could not help saying,

“How is it possible that we look so alike? Surely, Mrs. Grandell, you must be aware of some explanation for it?”

To her surprise Mrs. Grandell then rose to her feet.

“I think, Your Royal Highness, it would be a mistake to speak of anything except for the task that lies ahead. I have so much to teach Avila before she leaves and a lot to tell her about Athens which is the one part of Greece she will certainly see.”

“You must see everything else you can,” the Princess turned to Avila. “In a way I envy you. At the same time, even for the great splendour of Greece, I cannot risk losing my future happiness.”

She rose from the sofa as she spoke and put out her hand towards Mrs. Grandell.

“Thank you for being so understanding. I knew as soon as Prince Holden said you were Greek not only that we shared the same language but also that we can understand each other without words.”

It was a pretty speech, said with all the charm that Princess Marigold could use when she chose to do so and when she wanted something special and would not be denied it.

“Your Royal Highness is very kind,” Mrs. Grandell said. “Avila and I will wait for your instructions and then carry them out to the letter.”

“Thank you again,” Princess Marigold smiled, “and now I must return to Windsor Castle to work out with Prince Holden every detail of what we have to do now.”

“And when do you expect to leave?” Mrs. Grandell asked.

“On Thursday,” Princess Marigold replied. “It will be from the Port of Tilbury and, of course, Prince Holden will send a carriage for you. I have not yet been told the name of the Battleship that I am supposed to be travelling in.”

She saw the expression of delight in Avila’s eyes as she spoke and said,

“That is something you will enjoy and naturally the Captain and the crew will be very proud to have been chosen to carry the Representative of Great Britain to Greece.”

“I think I ‒ must be ‒ dreaming!” Avila stammered. “This cannot really be ‒ happening to me!”

“It is,” Princess Marigold assured her, “and when you listen to all the long and dreary speeches which those who welcome you will make, you will find it very difficult not to yawn or go to sleep!”

Avila laughed and it was a very pretty sound.

“I am sure, ma’am, you are always clever enough to look as if you are enjoying it all, however dull it may be.”

“That is what I tell myself I should do,” the Princess said, “but I warn you, old men can talk and talk for hours.”

Both Mrs. Grandell and Avila were laughing at this when the door opened.

“May we come in?” the Vicar asked, “or are you still dreaming that you are living on Mount Olympus?”

“Of course that is where we are,” Princess Marigold replied. “For who could doubt that your daughter and I are Goddesses?”

As she spoke, she saw the expression in Prince Holden’s eyes and realised that was how she appeared to him.

She felt a surge of love sweep over her.

‘Even if Queen Victoria discovers our plot and punishes me,’ she told herself, ‘it will be worth the risk if I can be with him!’

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