Love and Apollo Read Free

nothing that might happen at Windsor.”
    â€œI have always been told that Her Majesty is rather mean to her Royal relatives for whom she has no particular use.  But I am a bit surprised that she has not yet found a husband for Valona.”
    The Duke laughed.
    â€œI think if the truth were known, Her Majesty has forgotten about them.  I have never heard them mentioned when I have been at Windsor.  Princess Louise is in fact a distant relative also of the Queen and a quite unobtrusive woman who would not have made any claims on her.”
    â€œWell, as we shall be doing her a kindness as well as making use of the girl, you had better suggest that she takes Sarah’s place,” proposed Lady Rose.
    â€œIt seems a great deal more satisfactory than having anyone who would be suspicious the moment she saw you and Gerald together.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?  We are very discreet,” Lady Rose riposted sharply.
    â€œYou may be able to control what you say, Rose, but you cannot control your eyes too.  Anyone at all observant and perhaps a little suspicious, would know by the way you look at each other that you are both in love.”
    â€œA lot of good it’s doing us,” she grated bitterly.  “Oh, Arthur, how can I leave him?  How could I possibly marry another?  And how do you think I can live in a far off country where I will never even see him?”
    There was a note in her voice that made her sound very pitiful.
    The Duke put his arm round his sister protectively.
    â€œI know just what you are feeling, Rose, it is not a question of how you can live elsewhere without him, but how you can just remain here without causing an appalling scandal that would hurt him abominably and undoubtedly would upset the whole of our family.”
    Lady Rose was silent for a moment before saying,
    â€œYou are right, of course, you are right, Arthur.  I shall have to go and, if things are worse than I think they will be, I can always drown myself in the Mediterranean!”
    â€œYou are not to talk like that,” he told her sharply.  “Perhaps by some amazing miracle something will happen that will make things better than they are at this moment.”
    He was thinking that perhaps his sister would fall in love with someone else as he was certain that when she and the Marquis were apart for long enough, the agony would not be so intense.
    They might even forget each other.
    â€œWhen do I have to leave for this horrible hell of a place where I shall be utterly and completely miserable?” squawked Lady Rose.
    â€œIn ten days time and if you agree, I shall go and call on Princess Louise tomorrow and suggest that Valona accompanies you to Larissa.
    â€œThe girl’s father was a Greek, so she will be able to speak the language.  I believe that, like all the Balkan countries, Larissa contains a great deal of Greek in its own language.”
    â€œYou had better arrange that there is someone to come with us,” added Lady Rose, “who can at least tell me how to say ‘good morning’ or ‘good night.’  That is going to be difficult enough as I have never been any good at foreign languages.”
    â€œValona will be able to help you a great deal, Rose, and I really think we have made an excellent choice where she is concerned.”
    As he left his sister he was only hoping there would be no difficulties and that Princess Louise would allow her daughter to travel to Larissa.
    He could see no reason why she should object and it could not be very much fun for a young girl to be living at Hampton Court in one of the Queen’s Grace and Favour houses.
    Ancient diplomats occupied the houses or minor Royalty exiled from their own countries, who relied on the Queen of England to save them from starving to death.
    The Duke drove to Windsor Castle the next day and asked for an audience with the Queen.
    He told her that Lady Rose was deeply