Free The Paper Princess by Marion Chesney Page A

prove to be too terrible, I heard no good of him at all. I remembered how you said we could escape with the jewels, but we would always be hunted and not be able to live openly, even though Mr. Palfrey did not know we had them. So John and I decided that if we could get you to London, and give you a new identity—one that would be grand enough, and would allow you to sell the jewels openly to the best jewelers—you could have a Season and find a gentleman to suit you.”
    “And who am I going to be?”
    “Princess of Brasnia.”
    “That is ridiculous. There is no such place.”
    “There is now,” said Miss Chubb cheerfully, “for I have just invented it. I used to attend the London Season in the old days with my charges, before I came here to work for the Channings. It always struck me as odd that English society was almost ignorant of geography. So, you are now Princess Felicity of Miadaslav, which everyone knows is the capital of Brasnia, and I am your companion, Madame Chubiski.”
    “We'll never get away with it,” said Felicity, wondering whether to laugh or cry.
    “Rich people can get away with anything,” said Miss Chubb cynically. “I have enough of my life's savings left to make a good show of it in Falmouth. You see, in our disguises, we arrive at the best inn, The Pelican. We say we are the menservants of the princess. She has just arrived in the country, and we demand the best rooms and a private parlor. Once in our rooms, we take off our disguises and put on our best clothes, and you, my dear, drape yourself in some of the showiest of the jewels. We stay two nights and then begin our journey to London—a slow, triumphal progress. By the time we arrive, everyone will know of our coming. Also, everyone will know that the princess did not come with money but with a great quantity of jewels, which she will trade from time to time.”
    “I feel sick,” said Felicity dismally. “What if I am exposed as a fraud? I shall leave my head on a chopping block at the Tower.”
    “Now, that is only for impersonating an English peer or pretending to be any member of the English aristocracy,” said Miss Chubb comfortably. “The only way you could face prosecution is by using a fake title to get money out of people, which of course you will not do.”

    “I don't like it,” murmured Felicity. “Good heavens! Lord Arthur Bessamy and his friend, Mr.
    Godolphin. What if I should meet them? They will recognize me.”
    “You just stare at them haughtily and ask them why they are insulting you by suggesting you might be some country girl. Besides, the whole county will know of our deaths tomorrow. By the time the Season has begun, everyone will have forgotten about us—even Lord Arthur.”
    “But Lord Arthur struck me as being clever. I am sure he will know there is no such place as Brasnia.”
    “Nonsense! I assure you the English aristocracy cannot even point out on the globe the places they visited during the Grand Tour.”
    “But what ... ?”
    “Miss Felicity,” interrupted Miss Chubb sternly. “Do you want to marry the baron?”
    “Oh, no,” said Felicity. She sat nervously biting her fingernails, a most unladylike habit, as she worried about her future. But even if the masquerade should only last a short time, what fun she might have. What independence!
    In the darkness of the carriage, Felicity began to smile. “Madame Chubiski,” she said, “you are a wonder!”
    “I have a very vivid imagination,” said Miss Chubb ruefully. “Anyway, let us try to get some sleep before we arrive at Falmouth.”
    Dawn was gilding cobbles of the town of Falmouth when John Tremayne brought the carriage to a halt outside The Pelican.
    “Here we go,” muttered Miss Chubb.
    Felicity could only stand by and listen in amazement as Miss Chubb, a hat pulled down to conceal most of her face, began to show a previously hidden talent as an actress. In heavily accented English, she grandly set about turning The