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marriage.
    It was, he determined, only love that could hold it together and make it the perfection that every man desired in his heart.
    â€˜I will definitely not marry until I absolutely have to,’ the Duke resolved to himself firmly.
    Turning his thoughts away from marriage, he thought with satisfaction of a certain charming and exceedingly attractive dancer, who would, he knew, be waiting eagerly for his return.
    She was an amusing and delightful part of his life, and yet if he had to give her up tomorrow it would not break his heart, nor would it break hers.
    There was too much at risk in marrying; Gerald had proved that – believing he was deeply in love and would live happily ever after with his beautiful bride before disaster struck.  Now he was trapped forever in a marriage that was in name only, whilst his true love was forced to marry another.
    â€˜If that happened to me,’ he pondered, ‘I would find it impossible to go on living.’
    His thoughts were all gloomy that night.
    *
    The next day they were steaming towards Athens and Valona had them all laughing again.
    â€œNow you will be seeing the Goddesses of Ancient Greece,” stated the Duke.  “Both you and Rose will realise how inadequately you have managed to copy them!”
    Before the two could protest, the Marquis added,
    â€œOn the contrary, Arthur, I think both the ladies we have with us are the personification of beauty.  If there is any competition it is from Athene and Aphrodite who will have to look to their laurels and smarten themselves up!”
    â€œThank you!  Thank you!” cried Lady Rose.  “That was such a pretty speech and Valona and I want to believe you.”
    â€œYou know you can believe everything I say about you,” the Marquis murmured in a low voice.
    She turned to smile at him and the words she was about to say died on her lips.
    Again they were looking into each other’s eyes.
    The cabin seemed to vibrate with their love.
    Valona was busy that evening looking amongst the books she had brought with her for the one on Greece, that she had borrowed from Sir Mortimer.
    Naturally she had read it many times already.
    She turned over the pages knowing that tomorrow she would be able to see some of the beauties of Greece.
    She thought it must be the most exciting moment of her entire life.
    Her mother had so often talked to her about Greece and her father’s country was a part of it.
    However, Valona was more interested in Delphi and in the small Greek Islands, especially Delos where Apollo was born, besides all the other stories of Greece, which she had read about and loved ever since she could remember.
    â€˜I shall see them!  I shall really see them!’ she told herself.
    She thought that tomorrow would never come and it was hard to go to sleep.
    She felt excitement rising in her breast.
    Annoyingly it took longer to reach Greece than she had expected and it was almost dark when they eventually moved into Piraeus, the Port of Athens.
    â€œI suppose it’s too late to go ashore now,” she said wistfully to the Duke.
    â€œMuch too late,” he answered.
    â€œAnd we will not leave too early tomorrow?”
    She was worried as she spoke that the Duke might think they had lingered longer than he intended in Venice and therefore they must not stay for too long in Athens.
    He shook his head.
    â€œNo,” he told her, “we will stay here and I will take you ashore tomorrow as soon as breakfast is over.”
    â€œ Thank you ! Cousin Arthur.  Thank you!”
    At breakfast the next morning she jumped up and ran below even though she had not finished her coffee.
    â€œI am going first to the Embassy,” announced the Marquis.  “I don’t suppose there will be any message from Her Majesty, but the Captain is already a bit surprised that we are taking so long on what he was informed was to be a quick voyage to Larissa and