A Sacrifice for Love by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78213-409-1
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com
Published: 2013-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Caterina stared at herself in the mirror and decided that no one would recognise her, but she thought she must keep her head down and appear upset at leaving home.

She had asked Malca to go down again to the hall and she was to tell any of the staff, who were not going to the Cathedral and were waiting in the hall, not to try to say goodbye to her as it would upset her.

Malca came back smiling and said,

“It’s all fixed. The stage is set for you to make sure that His Royal Highness has not the slightest idea that ‘my baby’ is not beside him.”

“I will do my best,” Caterina promised. “But pray hard and don’t forget that I am relying on you to meet me when we reach the Battleship.”

“You can trust me. God bless you, Princess, and I’ll be prayin’ all the time that nothin’ will go wrong.”

A footman appeared at the door to say that His Royal Highness was waiting in the hall.

When he had gone, Caterina deliberately waited five minutes, as she thought that it would make the Prince more anxious to reach the Cathedral quickly.

Finally she walked slowly down the wide staircase with Malca lifting her train behind her.

It was not long enough to need pages, but it was much easier for her to walk when it was lifted up.

Caterina kept her head well down and when she did appear, Prince Adolphus greeted her,

“Oh, here you are, dearest. I think we should hurry as I am told the Cathedral is already packed.”

Caterina did not answer.

She went out through the door and climbed into the carriage. It was the one traditionally used for weddings and Royal occasions and was known as the ‘Glass Coach’ and it was easy through the thick clear glass to see two people seated inside it.

She thought, as she sat down, it would be difficult when they drove away from the Cathedral to prevent the crowd from seeing her closely.

Now it was easy to sit with bowed head behind the double veil, falling like curtains on either side of her face.

The Prince then climbed in on the other side and sat down beside her and the four white horses started off.

Although there had been very little time to notify the local people, there were already crowds on each side of the road and a number of small boys were waving flags.

The Prince raised his hand in the Royal fashion to the cheers as they passed.

Caterina did not move or speak.

She was aware that there was a bouquet laid ready for her on the seat in front of her and she thought that the orchids in it were very beautiful.

She tried not to think of anything except what was happening immediately and not to anticipate the dangers as they drove to the Battleship.

The crowds grew bigger and bigger as they neared the Cathedral.

The Square in front of it was absolutely packed with people.

Caterina could not help wondering if there were

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