Love and Apollo by Barbara Cartland Page A

filled with a tremendous power.
    One visitor to the statue had written,
    â€œIt was splendid in its loneliness, its perfect beauty and its terrible power.”
    Valona was a long way from it, but as she stood looking towards the East, she could feel the magic of the young God once thirty feet high.
    In her mind she could see him with his parted lips, his uplifted hands and his eyes gazing out to sea.
    More than two thousand years had passed since Apollo’s statue had been erected on the island, yet she knew in her heart that time had in no way weakened him.
    It was then that she began praying to Apollo with all her heart and soul.
    She asked him to bring her true the love she longed for.
    As the God of Light and Love, Apollo represented the fulfilment of dreams to all who worshipped him.
    â€˜Help me, please help me!’ she begged.  ‘The love I seek is the same love you give to the world and it is even more powerful than anything else mankind could possess.’
    She was sure that Apollo had heard her.
    Then she remembered that the Duke was anxious to be on their way to Larissa.
    She turned around and for a moment it seemed as if she was turning her back on Heaven itself as she walked away from the light that emanated from the ruins.
    There was no movement anywhere, except the yellow butterflies hovering over the flowers.
    Yet she felt as if the God himself had spoken to her and his arms embraced her.
    Valona ran back down the winding path onto the beach where the seamen were waiting for her.
    As soon as she stepped into the boat, they pushed it into the water and rowed her back to the battleship.
    She climbed aboard and murmured, “thank you” to the seaman who helped her up on deck.
    Then she went below and into her own cabin.
    She closed the door and flung herself down on the bed hiding her face in the pillow.
    She felt as if she had touched the stars.
    After this she would never be the same again.
    *
    The battleship was now moving and leaving Delos behind.  Its speed quickened and they were hurrying on to Larissa.
    Yet Valona knew she held within herself the Light of Apollo.
    Several hours later, fully dressed and with her hair neatly arranged, Valona entered the Saloon.
    The Duke was sitting on a sofa reading a newspaper that had come aboard at Athens.
    â€œHow did you enjoy your visit to that mysterious island?” he asked her.
    â€œIt was the most wonderful experience I have ever known and thank you so very much for allowing me to go ashore.”
    â€œI felt that you wanted to be alone, so I did not join you.”
    Valona thought it was just like him to be so kind and understanding.
    She sat down on one of the comfortable chairs in the Saloon and the Duke said,
    â€œThe Captain has informed me that if we keep up this speed we shall arrive at the Port of Zante, the Capital of Larissa, at around about six o’clock this afternoon.”
    As he spoke to her, Valona remembered again what was awaiting her at Larissa and felt as if she had come crashing back to earth with a bang.
    She had been living briefly in the mystic world of the Gods and now she was forced to face the difficulties and problems of earth.
    â€œDo you think,” she asked in a small rather scared voice, “they will expect me to marry the King at once?”
    â€œIf the situation is quite as bad as our Ambassador in Athens told me, I do believe they will want to make you their Queen as soon as possible.”
    Valona gave a little sigh, but she did not speak.
    The Duke was thinking how brave she was.
    He was so aware that any young girl would shrink from the horror of being married to a much older man who was in ill-health.
    Especially as there was no time to make his acquaintance first or even become friends before she was to be his wife.
    He was wondering what he could say to console her when the Stewards came in to lay the table for luncheon.
    â€œI am sure that the chef has taken on some fresh