girl from one of the islands. Surely any offence would be compounded if someone like me committed it? I could be beheaded—’
‘Nonsense!’ Princess Theodora drew herself up, her eyes looked haughty even while her mouth was trembling. ‘I will see that no harm comes to you. I cannot force you, you are a free woman now. But if you do consent to take my place, Katerina, I will write a letter exonerating you from all blame. It will be made quite clear that you are acting under orders, my orders.’
A shadow fell over them, Lady Anna was standing in the doorway.
‘Not now, Anna.’ The Princess waved her away.
Lady Anna ducked back outside and the light strengthened.
Princess Theodora drew in a breath and took the purple slippers and veil. Pointedly, she replaced them on the pile. ‘Katerina, you said you wished to repay me for releasing you from servitude. Here is your chance.’
‘Yes, but…but…to impersonate you! Despoina, I could never carry it off!’
‘Of course you could.’ The Princess turned Katerina’s hands palm up. ‘When I bought you, your hands were work-worn, your nails broken. See how they have healed, you have the hands of a lady now.’
‘But—’
‘Think. You have learned our ways. I taught you to read. You can even write—’
Katerina let out a short laugh. ‘Only my name!’
‘That is enough to convince, particularly since most ladies cannot even read.’ The Princess glanced at her sleeping daughter. ‘Besides, if you agree to help me, I can offer you real freedom.’
‘Real freedom?’
‘I will give you a grant of land in…where did you say you came from?’
‘Crete.’ There was a lump in Katerina’s throat. She swallowed hard. She was not certain she wanted to set eyes on Crete again and had opened her mouth to say as much, but the Princess was unstoppable …
‘Crete it is then. I shall give you a grant of land in Crete. And gold. And since your time with us has turned you into a lady in all but name, I will also find you a noble husband, if you so wish. Katerina, I know it is no light thing that I ask of you.’ She gave a great sigh. ‘But perhaps you have changed your mind about wishing to help me.’
‘No…but …’
The Princess fell to her knees.
Katerina blinked. Lady Sophia stared. Princess Theodora, niece to the Emperor, was on her knees before her body-servant.
‘Katerina, I beg you, I implore you! Take my place, let Commander Ash…what was his name?’
‘Ashfirth Saxon.’
‘Let him escort you to Constantinople. Give me a month, pretend to be me for a month or two, that is all that I ask. I will try to wean her…and…and another couple of months will give me more time to get used to the thought of losing her. Please, Katerina?’
‘Despoina, do you really think matters will be easier two months from now? I am afraid you are merely delaying the inevitable.’
‘I need more time with her! Please, Katerina, if you had a child, you would understand. Go with the Commander. Please.’
For a moment Katerina could feel the penetrating blue eyes of Commander Ashfirth boring into her. ‘But…but he is a barbarian!’
The Princess’s expression softened. ‘Not all barbarians are cast in the same mould as Vukan, Katerina.’
‘Yes, I understand that. But the Commander will soon realise that I am no princess. My speech…it…it is not that of a lady.’
Her mistress shook her head. ‘It may not have been when you joined us, but it is now. Besides, he mistook you at the gate.’
‘It is one thing to mistake someone who is speaking through a grille and quite another to embark on a journey with them and not discover their true nature. The Commander will find me out and…and …’
‘He is a foreigner, as you have pointed out. A barbarian’s ear will not be finely tuned to the nuances of our language. He will not find you out.’ Rising, Princess Theodora shook out her skirts. ‘You have a quick mind. If you think about it, you will realise that you already know how to be me.’ Her eyes grew warm. ‘You have been my servant for…how long?’
‘Two years, my lady.’
‘That is quite long enough for you to have learned my mannerisms. As I said, we are similar in looks and colouring.’
‘But…but—he said you are summoned to the Great Palace in Constantinople, I have never set foot there! If by some miracle I were to reach it undiscovered, it would become obvious at once that the Palace is unknown to me.’
Princess Theodora frowned. ‘Ye…es, I see, that is a good point.’ Her brow cleared. ‘I know! You shall take several of my ladies with you. No one will think twice about the Princess travelling with her ladies-in-waiting, indeed, it will be expected. I shall make certain that Lady Anna is among them—she knows the Palace better than anyone. On the journey, she can describe it to you. She knows whom you will be likely to meet, she knows palace protocols, and—’
Palace protocols. Katerina was beginning to feel more than a little queasy. She wanted to help the Princess, but this …!
She shook her head. ‘My lady, it won’t do. What if I were summoned to meet the Emperor? He would know at once that I am an impostor.’
Her mistress gave a sad smile. ‘My real uncle, if you remember, was supplanted and put in a monastery. This Emperor has never met me.’
‘But didn’t he marry Emperor Michael’s wife? Surely she will realise—’
The Princess made a dismissive gesture. ‘Katerina, it is ten years since I was last at the palace, I was a child. No one will know that you are not me, I promise you.’ She smiled and clasped her hands together. ‘I would not ask you to do this if I thought there was any danger for you. I am sure Commander Ashfirth will treat you courteously, everything will be fine. A few weeks, Katerina, that is all I ask, a few weeks. Martina will be stronger then. And think, you will have riches and a grant of land.’
‘If I survive. Surely it must be dangerous?’
‘As I said, you shall carry letters, which will exonerate you if this turns out badly. I have grown fond of you, you must know I would not have you suffer.’ She looked towards the doorway, and raised her voice. ‘Anna, are you out there?’
The doorway darkened. ‘Despoina?’
‘See if there is a scribe to be found in the convent. If not, find me ink and parchment.’
‘Yes, my lady.’
Princess Theodora looked intently at her. ‘Don’t worry, Katerina. You shall take your orders with you. And we have a good two hours to transform you into a princess.’
