Love and Apollo Read Online Free PDF Page A

it is very serious, so please, please, Sir Mortimer, do help me to learn the language so that I can at least make myself understood to His Majesty.”
    â€œI would expect the King will speak a little English, but you should have plenty of time on the ship taking you there.”
    â€œThe Duke told my Mama that we will be sailing to Larissa in a battleship and that too is thrilling.”
    â€œI agree with you, but however exciting the voyage is, you will have to work hard, my dear, so as to be able to impress the people of Larissa when you arrive.”
    â€œI will try very hard.  I feel so lucky it is one of the languages you know.  It could easily have been a country such as China or even Japan, where I would not be able to speak a single word.”
    â€œI do know a little Japanese!” smiled Sir Mortimer.
    Then before Valona could say anything, he added,
    â€œNow if you are going to any Balkan country, it is very important that you should be able to shoot.”
    Valona looked at him in surprise.
    â€œYou think I might be attacked?”
    â€œOne never knows and as I have told you so often when you talk about traversing the world, a woman should always be able to protect herself.”
    For that reason and also because it amused him, he had taught Valona to shoot several months previously.
    He had placed a target at the end of his garden and made her try to hit the bull’s-eye at the longest possible range.
    When Princess Louise was told what her daughter was doing, she had smiled.
    â€œI cannot believe, my dearest, it will ever come in useful, but I am certain that your father, if he was alive, would have thought it a good idea.  He was always determined that I should be able to defend myself in an emergency, but I am glad to say one never came.”
    â€œYou did not have to shoot during the revolution in Piracus?” Valona had asked her.
    Her mother had shaken her head.
    â€œYour dear father rushed you and me to safety, but bravely he went back to see if there were any other women and children to save.”
    â€œAnd then the awful revolutionaries wounded him,” murmured Valona.
    â€œHe was rescued by one of our loyal servants.  All the others at the Palace were either killed or imprisoned.”
    There was always deep pain in the Princess’s voice when she talked about what had happened in her husband’s country.
    Valona did not pursue the conversation.
    She enjoyed learning to shoot with Sir Mortimer.
    She had only finished with her shooting lessons as she had become really proficient and there were so many other subjects to talk to him about.
    Now Sir Mortimer rose slowly to his feet.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Valona asked him.
    â€œI am going to look amongst my books to find if I have any printed in Larissian.  I am sure I have one or two and you must read them word for word when I am not with you.”
    â€œI was sure that you could help me,” sighed Valona, slipping her hand into his.  “When shall I come to you for my lessons?  Mama and I will be very busy in buying my new clothes.”
    *
    Valona had not exaggerated in the least, as during the next week she hardly had time to breathe.
    She and the Princess drove up to London every day soon after breakfast to visit the shops and then when they had chosen what they wanted, there were endless fittings.
    There were also a great number of small items to buy, which were essential but easily overlooked.
    After six days the spare room in their house, which was not very big, seemed to be filled from floor to ceiling.
    There were not only the beautiful dresses that made Valona gasp, because they were so incredibly lovely, but there were the matching hats which went with them.
    As well as the array of shoes, gloves, petticoats and nightgowns, there were dozens of other accessories which the Princess ticked off on her list as they bought them.
    Valona wanted to please Sir Mortimer