Leading Lady Read Free

odd, now, to find herself trying to pass as a princess. ‘So, she left you? Just like that?’
    â€˜What else could she do? My father’s letter had been delayed. There was no time to lose. The only thing was to hurry back to Vienna, decide there whether to take the northern route, or go south and home by sea. It’s going to be a terrible journey either way, I’m afraid, with France and so much of Italy closed to the British.’
    â€˜And Bonaparte up at Boulogne, inspecting his invasion fleet,’ said Martha.
    â€˜You must call him the Emperor Napoleon now.’
    â€˜Must I? And King of Italy? I wonder what your mother and Count Tafur think about that.’ She came to one of her sudden decisions. ‘Of course! I will invite them to come and pay us a visit, before winter cuts us off, here in Lissenberg. And I’ll give them your news at the same time, shall I, Belle? But, first, tell me all about this romantic event.’
    â€˜It was after we left Salzburg, on our way to Munich. It was so strange without Aunt Helen. And you, Martha! It was always the three of us before. I hadn’t thought I’d miss her so. Mr Fylde – Desmond very kindly offered to keep me company in my carriage.’ She was blushing again, the vivid colour enhancing her brilliant looks. ‘He said we had never had a chance to talk. It was true, you know, Aunt Helen was always there. Oh, Martha, when we were alone he said such things … How he worshipped me, adored me … His sun rises and sets in me … And then – we hadn’t noticed, but our carriage had fallen behind the others – suddenly there was a crash, the coach rolled over. He saved me from harm, Martha, at the risk of his own life. We’d lost a wheel, crossing a tributary of the Salzach … No one in sight … We had to spend the night in a little hovel of an inn. He was so good to me, Martha, treated me like a princess. Not a word, not a look out of line.’
    â€˜And in the morning?’ Martha kept her tone rigorously neutral.
    â€˜Such an unlucky chance … Well, not really, since the outcome is so happy. The carriage had been repaired overnight,but it could not come up to the inn, the lane was too narrow, so we walked down, Desmond and I, and found it waiting, ready for us. But with another carriage beside it. Would you believe it? They were friends of Desmond’s, singers in another troupe, bound the other way, for Vienna. They had recognised the carriage and stopped to see if they could be of any help. And there we were, the two of us, coming down from our inn, for all the world like Darby and Joan. The road was rough, Desmond had my arm, and I am sure I looked absolutely nohow when I saw them, standing there by the carriage. Desmond didn’t lose his head for a minute. He pressed my arm, no time to say anything, greeted them with enthusiasm. And introduced me as his wife. No explanations, nothing, just the announcement. And then, of course, it was all kissing and congratulating, and I had a little time to recover myself. It was over in a few moments, none of us had any time to lose. Then, we were back in the carriage, Desmond holding my hand, apologising, asking me to forgive him. But what else could he have done? It was only anticipating a little, he said. When the accident happened he had been about to beg me to marry him in Munich, quietly, to avoid all the fuss and botheration it would mean if we waited until we got back here. He had a friend there, a Protestant minister, who would tie the knot. Now, he thought we had no alternative.’
    â€˜And you agreed?’
    â€˜Of course I agreed! I love him, Martha. And when we got there, his friend was kindness itself, arranged everything for us. Oh, it wasn’t the wedding I’d meant to have – I suppose we all have our dreams. We just slipped off between rehearsals. Desmond said we wouldn’t announce it till we got