He had noticed the graceful way she walked and he knew that with her strange beauty the Prince of Wales would find her entrancing.
Then he thought that it would be a shame for her to be spoilt.
She was so like a lily-of-the-valley.
But it would be a mistake to change her into an orchid, which was exotic in its own way but had no fragrance.
‘Dammit all, I am becoming poetical!’ he surmised. ‘The sooner I get to Rome and contact the Princess, the better.’
When he was in his bed, he found himself lying awake.
He was listening to the voices he could still hear even above the rattle of the train.
He did not know what they were saying.
Yet the lilt and youth of their voices was recognisable.
It was a long time before he fell asleep.
*
The next day Alina was thrilled by all that she co
