Love and Apollo by Barbara Cartland

expression in his eyes how much he wanted to kiss her.
    With an effort he called out,
    â€œHurry!  Only when we are on board shall I know that there is no chance of your being spirited away to Larissa.”
    Lady Rose turned and caught Valona’s hand.
    â€œCome and help me,” she begged.
    They hurried into her cabin.
    As the door closed behind them, Rose put her arms round Valona and kissed her cheek.
    â€œHow can I thank you, Valona?  How can I tell you what it means to me to be able to marry Gerald?  I have been so desperately unhappy at the thought of leaving him.”
    â€œI am so glad for your sake, Rose, that his wife has died.”
    â€œI have dreamt that my prayers would be answered, or perhaps it is really your prayers, dearest Valona.  You said we would be together sometime.”
    â€œI was certain you would be, but I did not think it would happen so soon!”
    â€œAnd you did not think it would involve you,” Lady Rose added.  “Oh, I am so grateful, so very very grateful, but I don’t know how to put it into words.”
    â€œWords do not matter, Rose, but do hurry or Gerald will be angry with you.”
    â€œI really don’t think he could be angry with anyone today,” sighed Lady Rose happily.
    She turned towards the cupboard in the cabin where her clothes were hanging,
    â€œBecause I do love Gerald so much I want to be married in white.”
    â€œWhat about your wedding dress?” asked Valona.
    â€œOh, it is far too grand and hasn’t been unpacked.”
    â€œThen why not that dress?”
    She pointed to a large white gown hanging in the cupboard.
    â€œIt’s one of my best evening dresses.”
    â€œThen why should you not wear it on what is the most important occasion of your life,” suggested Valona.
    Rose’s eyes lit up.
    â€œAll right, now I think about it this gown has a lace wrap which will make a perfect veil for my head.”
    â€œThen what you must do,” Valona said quickly, “is to put that on in the carriage.  If the Marquis wants to be incognito and no one is to know about your wedding, you cannot be seen leaving the battleship dressed as a bride.”
    â€œNo, of course not, Valona.  How silly of me.”
    â€œPut on your white dress, which I can see is not cut too low, and you can wear a small hat just to leave the battleship and get into the carriage.  Then I will arrange the veil on your head and we must find something to hold it in place.”
    Rose thought for a moment.
    â€œThere is a pretty wreath in the drawer.  It belongs to another dress that is pink and white, but I daresay a few pink roses on my head will not matter.”
    Valona found the wreath.
    It was rather small, but she reckoned that it would hold the veil in place perfectly.
    The pink roses were very pale and there were white ones nestling amongst them.
    â€œYou will look lovely!” she exclaimed, “and all you need now is a bouquet.”
    â€œI expect Gerald has already thought of it.”
    She was right.
    When they hurried down the gangplank with Lady Rose wearing a small blue hat on her head, the seamen on duty appeared to take no particular notice of the two ladies.
    The Marquis was intelligent enough to divert their attention by asking the way to the British Embassy.
    One of the seamen, who had been to Athens before, described the way.
    The Marquis thanked him and hurried on down the gangway to join the rest of the party who by this time were inside the closed carriage.
    Rose was holding a small bouquet of lilies in her hand.
    â€œWhat about our luggage?” she asked the Marquis as they drove off.
    â€œI have arranged with my valet to take it as soon as possible directly to the ship we will be sailing on.  He will inform the Captain of the battleship before he leaves that I have received very bad news, which means I have to return to England immediately and I am doing