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prevent her leaving.
    When the morning came, the carriage arrived soon after breakfast.
    All Valona’s luggage was piled into it and she and her mother drove off in considerable style waving goodbye to their elderly servant.
    â€œYou have explained to me, Mama,” said Valona as the horses drove through Windsor, “exactly what my duties are as a Lady-in-Waiting, but surely I shall not be the only one.”
    â€œI think you are the only English one, my dearest.  When she becomes Queen of Larissa, Lady Rose will be expected to have a number of Larissian ladies in attendance upon her.  They might consider it to be offensive if she had more than one of her own nationality.”
    â€œOh, I see what you mean.  So I shall not have to be on duty all the time.”
    â€œI expect that you will sometimes have time to read a book or go for a good long walk in the garden.  But in my experience of Royal households, there is always such a lot of protocol and bowing and curtsying that one never has a moment to oneself!”
    â€œI expect I shall be able to steal some moments and I only hope they have a library.  I have packed a number of books, but I could not bear having nothing to read.”
    â€œI should speak to the Duke before you reach your destination,” her mother advised.  “I expect, because he is such a charming young man, he will contrive some way of helping you.”
    â€œI hope so,” Valona agreed doubtfully.  “As well as books I shall want horses to ride.”
    The Princess wondered if her daughter was asking too much, but at the same time she knew herself how dull and boring a Royal Court could be, especially when there was nothing in particular happening.
    â€œAs everything has been done in such a hurry,” she said, “because of the death of the Lady-in-Waiting, whose place you are taking, I am sure if you really want to come home soon, the Duke and I will be able to find someone to replace you.”
    â€œThat is a consolation for me, but I am really a little scared of departing into the unknown and having nothing to do.”
    The Princess chuckled.
    â€œYou will find plenty to do, my dearest, and I look forward to your letters telling me you are overworked and longing to come home for a rest!”
    Valona laughed as she was meant to and then she kissed her mother on the cheek.
    â€œI do love you, Mama.  We have always managed to laugh however difficult things have been.”
    The Princess knew that their lives had really been a tremendous effort, especially after the loss of her husband.
    At the same time Valona was just so full of life and energy.
    It had always been easy for them to find something interesting to talk about or do, however little money they had.
    When they arrived in Park Lane, Valona was very impressed by Combe House, which stood by itself with a large garden behind it.
    The rooms seemed to her enormous after their tiny spaces at Hampton Court and all the Duke’s magnificent pictures and furniture made Valona gasp.
    â€˜This is the way my dear Mama should be living,’ she mused to herself.  ‘Only it should be a Palace.’
    The Duke was waiting for them both in the drawing room with his sister, Lady Rose.
    She was very pretty, Valona thought, and she took a liking to her from the moment Lady Rose thanked her for agreeing to come with her as Lady-in-Waiting.
    â€œI think it is angelic of you,” she said.  “It would be terrible if I had to be accompanied by some fussy old body, who never stopped telling me everything I did was wrong or someone who talked so much that I never got a word in edgeways!”
    Valona giggled.
    â€œI assure you that I shall never do either of those things.”
    There was, however, little time to talk and the Duke kept saying they should go aboard.
    Finally Valona said farewell to her mother and for a moment there was a suspicion of tears in the eyes of