A Dangerous Disguise Read online

  "They said you had 'confessed everything'," Greta said. "They had my name and said you had given it to them, so I must betray you in return."

  "Dearest Greta, forgive me. I did tell them your name, but that was in all innocence, before I realised what they meant to do. How could I have guessed?"

  "You couldn't. I thought it must have been something like that. They will not turn us against each other."

  There was no time for more talk because Lady Cadwick arrived with maids, and several costumes suitable for court presentation. Each one was white and elaborate, with a long train.

  Ola donned gown after gown, walking up and down before the long mirror, while the others squabbled amiably about which one suited her the best. At last they settled on an elegant white silk and lace, heavily draped over the bustle, and with a train that was three yards long.

  "The train may be a little difficult," Lady Cadwick explained. "When you have been presented to Her Majesty, you will have to back away without tripping over the train."

  They tried it, and Ola tripped over four times before she found the trick of it.

  To complete the elaborate ensemble she wore a long white veil, held in place by a coronet of diamonds which Lady Cadwick loaned her from the fabulous Cadwick collection. On top of this were fixed three ostrich feathers. In addition she had a large feathered fan, and long white gloves.

  Ola had wanted to be presented at court. It had never occurred to her that it would be like this!

  Lady Cadwick stood back and looked at her with pride. Then she dropped a deep curtsey.

  "Your Royal Highness!" she said.

  "Will I get away with it?"

  "Oh yes, you will, I promise. You look magnificent and just as you ought. Now, you are all ready to be presented."

  She was to be Ola's sponsor, for no lady could be presented at court without being introduced by another lady who had, herself, been presented. They travelled to the Palace in the Cadwick carriage, its ancient coat of arms emblazoned on the side.

  It was a very fine day, and the carriage was open, so that everyone in the streets could see Princess Ola on her way to be received by the Queen.

  Her last arrival at Buckingham Palace had been at the rear. Now she drove in splendour through the front gate and under the central arch into the courtyard beyond.

  From the moment the carriage stopped everything was done with great ceremony. Powdered footmen stepped forward to open the door. Ola descended very carefully and stood while Lady Cadwick checked to see that everything was right.

  Then they entered the Palace and began the long walk up crimson carpeted staircases, along broad corridors, until they came to the room that she had first seen in the Duke's company only a few days ago, when he had told her all about presentations.

  She had reached the sitting room where, he had said, the debutantes waited for their turn. Lady Cadwick ushered her in.

  The next moment she had a shock.

  The Duke was there, watching the door with painful anxiety.

  At first Ola thought that he looked right through her.

  Then he became tense.

  "I did not recognise you," he said, speaking awkwardly. "You look very splendid – Your Royal Highness."

  How she would once have loved the astounded look in his eyes as he saw her glory. What joy there would have been in his admiration as he saw her more beautiful than ever before!

  But not now.

  A chasm yawned between them.

  "Good afternoon, Duke," she said courteously. "As you can see, I'm playing my part. Do you have any advice for me? I realise that your special knowledge is valuable."

  "Be hostile to me if you wish," he sighed. "But don't let it take your mind off your job. In a few moments the Oltenitzan ambassador will be here. He knows everything and wants to help us, for the sake of his country. He will assist you all he can."

  She inclined her head, moving with excessive care lest she dislodge the ostrich feathers which waved wildly with every movement.

  She thought the Duke himself was looking splendid in court dress of white knee breeches and ceremonial sword. Ola was sure no man had ever looked so handsome.

  He left the room and returned after a moment with a thin, middle-aged man with a worried expression, whom he introduced as the Oltenitzan ambassador. He gave Ola a deep, respectful bow.

  "Your Royal Highness," he said, loud enough for all to hear. Then, lowering his voice, he murmured, "I am deeply grateful for everything you are doing to help our poor country."

  "I am very happy to help you in any way I can," she said politely.

  "Then if you would be so kind as to wear this."

  He opened a small box on which lay a diamond studded decoration.

  "It is the Grand Order of Oltenitza, First Class. All our Princesses have it, and I hope you will accept it with our gratitude."

  She smiled her pleasure, Lady Cadwick pinned it into her shoulder, and everything was complete. There was a bustle of movement. It was time for everyone to take their place.

  "You'll be the third to go," the Duke told Ola. "Don't be afraid."

  "I am not afraid," Ola said quietly.

  "No, I don't think you are," he said, and his voice was warm. "You won't fail at the mouth of the lion's den."

  She gave a wan smile. "There are worse lions' dens than this," she reminded him.

  He nodded. For a moment his hand clasped hers.

  Then he drew the ambassador away, leaving the debutantes and their sponsors preparing for their great moment.

  Ola tried to concentrate on what she was doing, but all she could think of was the feel of his hand on hers.

  Then it was her turn. The double doors were thrown open, revealing the crowded throne room beyond. Lady Cadwick and Ola moved into the doorway, where Lady Cadwick handed a card to the lord in waiting, who read aloud,

  "Her Royal Highness, Princess Ola of Oltenitza."

  Did she imagine it, or was there a hum of surprise?

  Then she was moving forward towards the end of the room where the Queen stood waiting. Suddenly she could see everything with brilliant clarity, including the Duke and the ambassador, standing near the throne, their eyes fixed on her.

  Slowly, steadily she advanced until she reached the point at which she should curtsey. A presentation curtsey was like no other. It must be very deep, down on one knee to the floor, where it must be held for almost a minute.

  Then, rise and advance. Other debutantes kissed the Queen's hands, but as 'royalty' Ola was exempt. Instead Victoria leaned towards her and kissed her forehead.

  She was smiling, very slightly, and her lips moved to murmur, "Well done."

  Now the most difficult part. She rose and stepped back, reached behind her and gathered up her train. Slowly she retreated along the crimson carpet, until the doors swallowed her up again.

  At last she could let out her breath in relief.

  "You did splendidly," said the kindly Lady Cadwick.

  Before Ola could leave, the ambassador came to find her and thank her again.

  "My gratitude," he said. "You were very convincing,

  and there were several people there who were astonished."

  "I hope I may have done some good," she said. "Is there any news from your country?"

  He shook his head sadly.

  "I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow," he said.

  "Tomorrow?" Ola asked, puzzled.

  "Tomorrow night there's a dinner in Buckingham Palace for visiting royalty and ambassadors," the Duke explained. "Afterwards there is a ball."

  "Your presence at both will be very helpful," the ambassador said. "My friend here, the Duke of Camborne, will escort you. So you will be all right. He will take good care of you."

  "Yes," said Ola in a colourless voice. "I know he will take care of me."

  The Duke drew her aside.

  "Return to your hotel," he said, "and have something to eat. This afternoon I shall take you ou
t for a drive in the carriage. It's important that you should be seen in public. Please be ready at three o'clock."

  "What about Greta? Surely my lady-in-waiting should accompany me."

  "I hardly think – "

  "She doesn't like being left alone in the hotel. After what happened last time, she's frightened."

  "But surely she's not alone there now?"

  "No, one of Lady Cadwick's maids is with her. I should much prefer that she comes too."

  He looked at her sadly for a moment.

  "There's no need for this, Ola."

  "What did you call me?"

  "I meant, of course, Your Royal Highness. It is quite unnecessary to take Greta with us."

  "I wish her to come," Ola said firmly.

  He gave a small bow.

  "As Your Royal Highness pleases."

  'It doesn't please me,' she thought. 'It breaks my heart. But what else can there be between us now?'

  Lady Cadwick took her away for the journey back to the hotel. There she stood in the centre of her room while they all helped her to disrobe.

  The ostrich feathers were removed, then the diamond tiara, then the magnificent gown, bearing the Grand Order of Oltenitza, First Class.

  Gradually 'Princess Ola' was vanishing, leaving behind only herself. And she was no longer quite certain who she was.

  Lady Cadwick removed the order and handed it to Greta.

  "Princess Ola must wear this at the banquet and ball tomorrow night," she said.

  Greta nodded and put the decoration away carefully.

  When they were alone, Ola told her about the arrangements for the rest of the day, and Greta smiled.

  "We will be all right now the Duke has taken charge," she said.

  "Greta, we have to stop thinking of him as a friend. All the time I thought he was – " her voice shook, but she forced herself to recover, "all that time, he was going back to this terrible man to report everything we said or did."

  "But you cannot blame him for that," Greta pointed out reasonably. "If he realised right from the start that you were an impostor, what was he supposed to do?"

  "I don't know. It's just that when I think of the things he said to me, and I said to him – "

  "You never really told me what happened that first night you went out with him," Greta observed hopefully.

  Ola sighed.

  "It doesn't matter now. It's over and done with. Let's plan what we're going to wear this afternoon."

  "I'm really going too? Wouldn't you and he rather be together?"

  "And leave you alone here, trembling every time there was a knock on the door? You were distinctly nervous, I recall."

  "Yes, but not now. Nothing will happen while we're under the Duke's protection. I know you're not friends with him any more, but he has to keep us safe or be in trouble with the Queen. I'm happy to stay here so that you two can talk and sort it out."

  "I'm a Princess," Ola said. "I don't go out without my lady-in-waiting."

  As she spoke an expression of stubbornness settled on her face that Greta had never seen before. It was as though Ola had become somebody else.

  At three o'clock precisely the Duke was waiting for them below. He bowed to Ola and greeted Greta graciously. Although he had not wanted her to come, his good nature prevented him from revealing this in his manner.

  Also, he was beginning to feel that, since Ola was clearly not going to soften towards him, a third person might be useful.

  As they drove towards Hyde Park he said,

  "The two of you have a great deal to learn before tomorrow night. You must know about Oltenitza, as it will be fatal if anyone catches you out. You should, for instance, know about the port of Rizena, on the Aegean Sea, through which much of the county's prosperity comes."

  "You mean, it isn't land locked?" asked Ola, recalling her own blunder with a wry smile.

  "No, Your Royal Highness. In fact, I suggest that you travelled from that port."

  "Oh yes," she agreed. "I remember telling you so."

  "Indeed you did. I believe you also mentioned that your brother Piers and your sister Ludmilla came to see you off, before returning to their home in Hollentot Castle."

  And she had claimed to be an only child.

  Although the Duke had told Ola that he had seen through her from the start, it was only at this moment that it became real to her.

  She had been so sure that she could treat this as a game, with no idea of the powerful forces ranged against her. So she had blundered and blundered, and now she felt incredibly foolish.

  She had blamed John for betraying her to Danson, but the truth was a thousand times worse.

  How he must have laughed at her!

  While she had been losing her heart to a man who seemed charming and warm-hearted, he had actually been enjoying the joke against her.

  She felt she could bear anything but his derision.

  She closed her eyes against the pain that swept over her. Now she opened them again and faced him with cool dignity. It was the only way she could bear it.

  "Naturally they came to see me off," she said. "After which, they returned to the Castle, and were then trapped there by the Russians, where they have been ever since."

  "How do you know this?" he said quickly. "It happened after you left."

  "You told me," she replied. "When I arrived here, you informed me of the misfortune that had befallen my country."

  "And advised you to remain here where you are safe, rather than yielding to your understandable desire to return home and help your family and your countrymen," he supplied.

  "Yes, that was it. I realised that my best course was to stay here and seek the help of Her Majesty."

  "Well done."

  "But wait. How did you know about my family's fate."

  "There are agents in the field who send back information to appropriate sources."

  "Ah yes!" she said with an air of remembering. "Sir Bernard Danson is so excellent at his job, is he not? So accurate."

  "Sir Bernard is an ambitious man," the Duke said through gritted teeth. "It sometimes leads him to jump to conclusions."

  "But of course he can only act on the information presented to him," Ola pointed out sweetly. "And so much must depend on the way it is presented."

  After a sulphurous silence the Duke asked,

  "May I enquire if Your Royal Highness meant anything particular by that remark?"

  The 'Princess' regarded him with an imperious eye.

  "Let us merely say that he is probably not the only man who may sometimes exaggerate," she told him.

  After that, not another word was said until he returned Ola and Greta to the hotel, and informed them, in a colourless voice, that he would call for them both at seven.

  "I have a special treat for you tonight, for I'm taking you to the theatre," he explained. "Lady Krasler, do you manage to see theatrical performances very often?"

  "I have never seen one," said Greta in a thrilled voice.

  "Then I shall look forward to your enjoyment. Good day, Your Royal Highness."

  Ola climbed the stairs seething. She had half formed the intention of taking Greta at her word and going without her that evening.

  Now the Duke had made that impossible, and it crossed her mind that he had done it on purpose.

  Now it was he who did not want to be alone with her.

  *

  Greta was so delighted at her first visit to the theatre that Ola was determined not to spoil it for her, and did her best to enter into the spirit of the occasion.

  They helped to dress each other, for now Greta could wear one of the silk dresses Ola had bought her on the first day.

  Ola's own gown was a very pale yellow silk, which threw her auburn hair into dramatic relief. But choosing jewels for it was a problem.

  Her mother's jewels were of good quality, and had seemed suitable until then. But the diamond tiara she had borrowed from Lady Cadwick had been on a different level entir
ely. That, Ola now realised, was how royalty should dress, and she could not do so.

  "I can't wear pearls with this colour," she said. "I need something warm."

  "There are your garnets," Greta said, sounding doubtful. Garnets could never compete with diamonds.

  Ola made a face.

  "Yes. My garnets. Oh dear."

  There was a knock on the outer door. Greta went to answer it and Ola heard the Duke's voice. She hastened out of her room.

  He was splendid in white tie and tails, a crimson satin lined opera cloak over his shoulders.

  He bowed.

  "Forgive me for coming early Your Royal Highness," he said, "but I wanted you to look at these. I believe they would be suitable for you to wear."

  He was carrying a black velvet box, such as was usually used to carry jewels, except that this was larger than usual. Before their astonished eyes he opened it out onto the table.

  Both women gasped.

  Inside was the most fabulous set of emeralds and diamonds that they had ever seen.

  There was a tiara, a heavy, two strand necklace, earrings, a bracelet, a ring. They were more than merely beautiful and expensive. They were luxurious, fabulous, exotic, glorious.

  They were jewels for a Princess.

  "I guessed well," the Duke remarked. "They will be perfect with that gown."

  "But – where do they come from?" Ola breathed.

  "They belong to my family."

  "Then I can't wear them," she said at once. "They must be well known and will be recognised."

  "Not at all. My mother wore them once thirty years ago. Since then no other woman has worn them. They were lodged in the bank's vaults, where they have remained ever since. I promise you, nobody will know them."

  The emeralds and diamonds gleamed and glistened like stars, tempting her.

  "It is essential that you wear them," the Duke said firmly.

  While she still hesitated, he lifted the necklace and went to stand behind her. He was eight inches taller than Ola and it was easy for him to drape it around her neck. She felt his fingers lightly touching her, then the jewels cold against her skin.

  He stepped back to allow Greta to fit on the ear-rings, then the tiara, the bracelet.

  A truly magnificent woman looked back at Ola from the mirror.