‘You’re sure Dr Kharber was upset because of the youth of his patient and not because he saw Sonya?’ Roman countered.
‘He raised his hat to her and Maria. Even allowing for his lack of sleep I hardly think raising his hat would prove to be an upsetting experience.’
‘You said he was upset.’
‘I didn’t. You said Sonya was.’
‘I saw Sonya wiping away tears. For her to be visibly distraught…’
‘It is cold outside. Enough to make your eyes water.’
‘It is,’ he agreed
‘But you’ve drawn a different conclusion?’
‘And if I have?’
‘If you believe that Nathan Kharber has upset your fiancée shouldn’t you be talking to her, not me, about it?’
‘I didn’t come here to discuss my fiancée with you, Koshka, but to make sure Adele has everything she needs.’
‘You are fond of Adele?’
‘You know I am. I assume she is with Nathan Kharber?’
‘You know better than to ask that, Roman. The first rule of the house is I never discuss my clients with anyone.’
‘Then Nathan is not just your doctor, he’s also your client?’
Annoyed with herself for speaking unguardedly, Koshka took a notebook from her pocket and dropped it on to her desk. ‘I just told you I don’t discuss…’
‘Clients?’
‘Or my doctor.’ She settled on the chair behind her desk and swung it round so she faced him. ‘If I were you I would think very hard about marrying a young girl who is infatuated with another man and in all probability nowhere near ready for marriage.’
‘Sonya’s ready for marriage, she just doesn’t know it.’
‘If she marries you I hope you’re proved right, Roman.’ Koshka opened a drawer in her desk and dropped the notebook alongside a pile of others. Roman recognised one of the books in the drawer, a brown embossed leather volume.
‘That’s an interesting book.’
‘What book?’
‘That book.’
Koshka tried to close the drawer but Roman was too quick for her. He lifted it out and opened it.
‘I thought it appeared familiar, but although I devoured my father’s copy cover to cover several times, I omitted to make a note of the binding. But then,’ he held up the closed book. ‘It looks just like any other book, except it’s missing a title and author on the spine.’
‘I believe the intention of the publisher was to do just that. Produce a book that resembled “any other” so as not to draw attention to anyone reading it in public. I give a copy to all my girls. It should be recommended reading for every woman over the age of eighteen.’
‘Really?’ He was surprised. ‘Even virgins?’
‘Especially virgins. Contrary to general belief, inexperienced girls are not little angels who need protecting from the realities of life.’ She took a clean glass from the drinks tray and poured herself a small cognac. She held the bottle up to him. He shook his head. ‘Just like boys, girls are immensely curious about sex. Yet well brought-up young ladies are taught it is a subject never to be mentioned in polite company, indeed never to be discussed even in private with one’s husband. I give the book to my girls because it’s a useful guide if they have cause to question their clients’ ideas of the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.’
‘Acceptable behaviour?’ he questioned incredulously. ‘Have you read that book? It sets no boundaries for acceptable sexual behaviour.’
‘Yes it does, Roman. The most important boundary of all. That there are no boundaries, provided every party involved freely consents and no one is injured, physically or emotionally.’
He sipped his brandy. ‘Sound common sense, but then you are renowned for that – and for your kindness.’ He flicked through the book.
‘You can keep it if you like.’
‘Did Adele suggest I need the titillation?’
She laughed. ‘I just told you…’
‘Gossip about clients and their penchants is forbidden,’ he finished for her. He set the book aside. ‘I still have my father’s copy in one of my houses, although I could probably reproduce that book, line for line including illustrations, from memory given the number of times I sneaked into my father’s library and stole it to read behind the locked door of my bedroom.’
‘Did you learn anything from it?’
‘Enough about how sex works to please myself, and hopefully my partner du jour.’
‘And Sonya?’
‘If we marry I’ll take care of her needs, and wishes. But when it comes to the emotional side of relationships, I learned everything I know from you during that last visit I made to my father when I was fifteen. Do you remember it?’
‘How could I forget. You were such a charming boy.’
‘As opposed to man.’
‘Now you’re a charming man, but like all aristocrats educated in England I can’t help feeling there’s something disingenuous in your personality. That your charisma is merely a veneer. Crack it and insincerity will ooze out.’
He laughed mirthlessly as if to confirm her suspicions. ‘You’re right, of course, just as you always are. It’s the result of the grounding boys are given in English public school. Etiquette and manners at the expense of feelings. When I arrived in St Petersburg for that holiday I wanted to believe that my father had invited me to visit him so that we could get to know one another. I didn’t even realise he was ill that summer until the house master sent for me a month into the new term to tell me that he’d died. Thank you for being so kind to me, and especially for making me understand that my father’s coldness towards me was none of my doing.’
‘As I’ve already said, you were a charming boy, but I couldn’t help noticing that you were also very lonely.’
‘I was religious in those days and used to pray to God every night that my father would marry you.’
‘A prince and a notorious courtesan,’ she murmured, ‘more than prayers would be needed to make that work.’
‘Tsars have been known to give dispensations.’
‘When aristocrats wanted to marry an innocent girl who was socially beneath them, like Count Sheremetev, perhaps, but a courtesan, particularly one as infamous as me, would have ruined your father’s reputation – and yours.’
‘The sins of the father are invariably handed down no matter how his children may try to avoid them.’
‘Your father had many faults, Roman. Not showing or telling you how much he loved you was probably the worst.’
There was a knock at the door. Koshka called out, ‘Come in.’
Fritz opened it a crack and stuck his head into the room. He didn’t see Roman who was sitting behind the door. ‘Good morning again, madam.’
‘Good morning again, Fritz. You wanted something?’
‘The doctor has just left, he told me to tell you that all is well. And Adele wanted you to know she was victorious.’
‘Thank you, Fritz, but next time you have private information to impart please wait until I’m alone.’
Roman leaned forward so Fritz could see him. ‘Good morning again, Fritz.’
‘Good morning again, Prince Roman. My apologies, sir, madam. I didn’t expect to see the prince still here.’
‘So I gather, Fritz. Would you please tell the rest of the staff that I do not want to be disturbed?’
‘Yes, madam.’
Fritz withdrew and closed the door behind him.
‘So, Adele was victorious,’ Roman repeated. ‘I take it that means she enticed Nathan Kharber into her bed?’
‘Not all victories are related to clients, Roman.’
‘Really?’ he enquired sceptically.
‘Occasionally the girls use the word when they’ve attracted a new regular visitor,’ she capitulated. ‘But you really do appear to be fixated on Nathan Kharber, Roman.’
‘Interested, not fixated.’ Roman picked up his brandy and finished it. ‘That is exc
ellent cognac, you must give me the name of the brand. As Adele has spoken to Fritz I assume she is now free, so I will say my goodbyes.’
‘Don’t forget the purse.’
‘Thank you for reminding me,’ He picked it up, pocketed it, rose from his chair and kissed her hand.
‘Roman, it’s none of my business, but why this headlong rush to marry Sonya? She’s young –’
‘But as I said, not too young to marry. Business necessitates that I leave Hughesovka shortly for St Petersburg. If I don’t marry Sonya I can’t take her with me unless we drag along her chaperone, and frankly I find Maria somewhat inhibiting as well as boring. If I left Sonya here in her unmarried state, any lout could come into the town while I’m away, catch her on the rebound from Kharber, and snatch her from under my nose.’
‘Lout?’ Koshka questioned.
‘Have you seen some of the men walking around the town?’ he asked.
‘I try to avoid the rougher elements.’
‘And I’m trying to protect Sonya from them. She’s beautiful enough to ornament the court.’
‘You want to introduce her to royalty?’
‘Royalty are no different from the common herd.’
‘Given my acquaintance with aristocrats, I’d say no different at all, especially when it comes to the baser urges,’ she agreed.
‘That was a poor choice of words. Please, replace royalty with “educated, civilised people, royal and otherwise”.’
‘So your plans for Sonya are entirely altruistic?’
‘Not entirely,’ he conceded, ‘I’m tired of fending off solicitations from society mothers anxious to marry their daughters off to me simply because I have money.’
‘So in return for protecting Sonya from “louts” you want her to protect you from ambitious mothers?’
‘I wouldn’t argue with that.’
‘So you see your forthcoming marriage as one of convenience?’
‘Of course.’ He went to the door.
‘You must love Sonya very much.’
He faced her. ‘Who says I love Sonya?’
‘You might fool her, and maybe even yourself, but not me, Roman. But don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Just don’t wait too long to tell Sonya how you feel.’
‘For once your intuition has failed you, Koshka.’
‘Perhaps, perhaps not. I notice you still have the book. A present for Sonya perhaps?’
‘I thought I’d pass it on to her. You did say it should be recommended reading for every woman over the age of eighteen.’
‘I did. Even should your marriage prove to be a happy one, you’ll still come and visit us from time to time?’
‘Whenever I’m in Hughesovka, and who knows, if my marriage never takes place or if it does and proves unhappy, perhaps you will find me another young lady to take Adele’s place now she has a new regular.’ Roman blew Koshka a last kiss before walking out of the door.
Chapter Twenty-four
New Russia Company Headquarters
February 1872
Tears blinded Sonya’s eyes as she sat in her cubicle next to John Hughes’s office in the company headquarters. She saw Vasily glance oddly at her when he brought in the morning mail. She began to open it, but she couldn’t concentrate on the letters. When she tried to read them, all she could see was Nathan’s face, as he’d said, ‘Good morning, ladies’.
He hadn’t looked her in the eye or paid her any more attention than he had Maria. Yet again, she recalled the words that had burned into her mind and haunted her since the day he’d spoken them. She could even recall the inflection in his voice…
We’re mushrooms and toadstools, Sonya. Fine when kept separate, put us in a pan together, and the dish turns to poison.
Poison – was that how he thought of her, poison? Something foul that would contaminate him and the religion he prized above all else. Even love … If she’d ever needed confirmation that the feelings she’d borne – and still bore – for him would never come to any fruition, she’d received it that morning.
‘You feeling all right, Sonya?’
She glanced up. Alexei was standing in front of her desk.
‘Fine.’
‘You don’t look fine.’
‘I’m just cold.’
‘It’s warm enough in here. I’d say almost tropical,’ he added after glancing at the fire that blazed in the stove in the corner of her cubicle. ‘If you’re cold you could be sickening for something. You should go over to the hospital.’
‘No, really. I probably just spent too much time walking outside before I came in here. Maria and I took some of Aunt Catherine’s fruit to the hospital.’
‘I hope you didn’t go into the wards. Ruth saw Sarah yesterday and she told her that diphtheria and scarlet fever are rife in the hole houses.’
‘I only went as far as the kitchen, Alexei, and you know how strict Sarah is about barrier nursing. Really I’m fine.’ She searched for a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. Before she found one he handed her his.
‘You look anything but fine to me. Why don’t you go home? I could send for my carriage. It’s no trouble. Lev would probably welcome the opportunity to escape from Lada for an hour if he could spend most of it sampling Lyudmila’s baking in her kitchen.’
‘Thank you for the offer but no, Alexei.’ She left her desk and reached for her coat and scarf. ‘I’m probably in need of some fresh air.’
‘You just said you spent too much time walking outside in the cold. You’re not thinking straight.’
‘Perhaps I’m hungry. It’s almost lunch time. I’ll call on Sarah and Praskovia and see if there’s anything Aunt Catherine or I can do to help the people in the hole houses.’
‘I doubt it. Mr Hughes has called a meeting otherwise I’d go with you, but I’ll ask one of the clerks to escort you.’
‘The Fire Brigade is patrolling the town.’
‘They are, but it won’t hurt you to have a personal guard. I shouldn’t have to remind you that we still haven’t caught whoever killed Naomi.’
‘It’s daylight. Mr Edwards’s house is a five-minute walk, Alexei. Besides, you have a meeting to go to and I’d rather be alone.’ She pinned her hat to her head without even checking in the mirror to see if it was on straight, before walking out of the building.
Alexei saw Vlad in the corridor, he beckoned him over.
‘Mr Alexei, sir.’
‘Follow Miss Sonya at a distance. Make sure she doesn’t see you and that she gets safely to Mr Edwards’s house.’
Sonya resisted the temptation to look towards the hospital windows. Oblivious to Vlad who was following her at a discreet distance, she acknowledged the members of the Fire Brigade who waved to her as she passed. When she reached Glyn’s house she opened the garden gate and went to the front door. Pyotr opened it before she reached the step.
‘Hello, Miss Sonya, how are you today?’
‘I’m fine, thank you, Pyotr. How are you?’
‘Very well, thank you for asking, Miss Sonya.’
Hearing voices, Praskovia left the dining room. ‘Sonya, what a lovely surprise. How nice to see you. Come in and go through to the drawing room. Pyotr, after you’ve taken Sonya’s coat and hat, go into the kitchen and tell them we need tea, sandwiches, and cake.’
‘Not for me please, Praskovia,’ Sonya demurred.
‘In that case, we’ll wait until lunch is on the table. Tell them to just make tea, Pyotr.’ She followed Sonya and drew two chairs close to the fire that blazed in the hearth. The clock struck the midday chimes as they sat down. ‘Knowing Sarah she’ll be up soon, although she missed a night’s sleep. Dr Kharber sent for her to help him operate on a diphtheria patient. His airways were too swollen for him to breathe.’
‘Is he all right?’
‘Sarah said he survived the operation and his prognosis is good.’
‘I hope you feel as well as you look, Praskovia,’ Sonya commented.
Praskovia rem
oved a cushion from the back of her chair in an effort to get comfortable. ‘If by that you mean I’m the size of one of the bullocks that pull Mr Hughes’s carts, you’d be right.’
‘I meant nothing of the sort.’
‘Strange isn’t it, Sarah’s baby will be born only a few weeks after mine,’ Praskovia rested her hands on her swollen abdomen, ‘yet she’s half my size.’
‘That’s because mothers – and babies – come in all sizes and shapes.’ Sarah swept in and kissed Sonya’s cheek. ‘I heard voices. So I came down to see who was here. I’m glad I did.’ She pulled a chair close to Sonya’s.
‘You should be resting,’ Praskovia admonished.
‘If I sleep all day I won’t sleep tonight.’ Sarah looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘Besides I should look in on the hospital this afternoon.’
‘You’re not going to work after being up all night?’ Praskovia reproached.
‘I’ll only be training the new nursing recruits for an hour or two. Hardly onerous, unless something happens and we take in more patients.’
‘Given that scarlet fever, diphtheria, and scabies are sweeping through the hole houses I think we’ve enough happening in this town.’ Praskovia picked up the cushion again and moved it behind her head.
‘Not easy to get comfortable when you have another one on board, is it?’ Sarah eyed Sonya. ‘You seem upset. You haven’t had an argument with Prince Roman, have you?’
Sonya shook her head as tears streamed from her eyes.
Praskovia pulled a white lawn handkerchief from her pocket and handed it over. ‘It’s crumpled but clean.’
‘Thank you.’ Sonya dried her eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be,’ Sarah spoke with feeling. ‘You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to but if you think it will help, we’re here.’
‘It’s just that …’ Sonya suddenly realised that she couldn’t tell Sarah or Praskovia that she was in love with Nathan. If the news reached Ruth or Alexei she’d be mortified. It was bad enough that Roman and Vasya knew she and Nathan loved one another. She searched her mind desperately trying to think of something – anything – believable that she could tell Sarah and Praskovia, but Sarah interrupted her thoughts.
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