The bride and groom took three sips of wine from a shared cup, while Father Grigor reminded them that the Common Cup ritual was based on the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. He told the congregation that the cup represented life and symbolized the mutual sharing of joys and sorrows, an indication that from that moment on the bride and groom would share everything, doubling their joys and dividing their sorrows.
Sarah gripped the back of the pew in front of her. Her knuckles whitened as she fought the pain of yet another contraction. Richard looked at her in concern as Father Grigor and Alexei led Roman and Sonya three times around the altar. The choir began to sing the first of three hymns.
‘I’m taking you outside,’ Richard murmured.
‘I can’t move for a moment.’
Without hesitation Richard swept Sarah up into his arms. Praskovia moved and Richard carried Sarah out of the pew.
Father Grigor stared at them for an instant before running to open the vestry door. He tripped over his cassock and slammed into the door, hitting his forehead. When he finally wrenched it open, he ushered Richard and Sarah inside. Anna left the side of the altar. Father Grigor dived into the vestry and handed her one of his spare clean robes. She slipped it over her bridesmaid’s dress and closed the door behind her.
Father Grigor returned to the front of the altar in time for the last hymn. He waited until the last note had been sung, before reciting the parting blessings upon the newly-weds.
He repeated the words but it was obvious to everyone in the congregation that he wasn’t listening to his own speech. He looked from Roman to the vestry door as he recited, ‘Be thou magnified, O Bridegroom, as Abraham, and blessed as Isaac and multiply as Jacob. Walk in peace and work in righteousness, as the commandments of God.’
As he turned to Sonya a baby wailed behind the door of the vestry. Smiling broadly, the priest recited, ‘And thou O Bride, be though magnified as Sarah, glad as Rebecca, and multiply like unto Rachel, rejoicing in thine own husband, fulfilling the conditions of the law, for so it is well pleasing unto God.
The congregation joined him in the final ancient phrase.
‘Na zisete – may you live!’
‘As well we might,’ Father Grigor added, ‘with another new soul in the world.’
Glyn and Praskovia’s house
April 1872
‘You will apologise to Roman and Sonya for us for interrupting their wedding,’ Sarah asked Ruth, as she, Alexei, Glyn, and Praskovia visited her bedroom shortly after they’d returned home.
‘Apologise,’ Alexei laughed, ‘they think it’s funny! Roman says he only hopes his children will be born as quickly, and Sonya said your son will be a blessed and holy child after being born in a church.’
‘Not too holy, I hope. I wouldn’t like a monk in the family!’ Richard qualified. He was sitting next to Sarah on the bed, his left arm wrapped around her, while he gently stroked his son’s cheek with his right index finger.
‘It’s entirely my fault for ignoring Praskovia. As a nurse I should have known better,’ Sarah looked down at her son. ‘But at first I really thought they were false labour pains and by the time I realised they weren’t it was too late to walk out of the church unobtrusively, or even with any dignity.’
‘At least you saw most of the wedding. I’m only sorry you’ll miss the wedding breakfast,’ Praskovia commiserated.
‘Tell Roman and Sonya we’ll be with them in spirit,’ Richard added
‘There’s nothing like a quiet night in with the family.’ Glyn moved the shawl from Pavlo’s head so he could see his face. ‘I recommend it.’
‘I’m looking forward to it.’ Richard couldn’t tear his gaze away from his son. ‘You will watch Morgan and Owen for me and make sure that they don’t disgrace themselves.’
‘They won’t,’ Anna bustled in with a tray, which she set on the bedside table. ‘I’ll speak to the boys before they go to Mrs Ignatova’s. You can watch them while I stay and look after Sarah…’
‘I don’t need looking after and the bridesmaid needs to be at the wedding breakfast with the bride and groom so it’s time my midwife was on her way,’ Sarah interrupted.
‘As I’m staying here to take care of my wife and son, you go to the party with the others,’ Richard added.
‘A man look after a new mother and child?’ Anna questioned in astonishment.
‘I’ll supervise him,’ Sarah said. ‘Go, have fun. You need it the way you work.’
‘That’s an order from your big brother and sister-in-law,’ Richard added firmly.
‘Along with a huge thank you from both of us for our son.’ Sarah gripped Anna’s hand.
‘I was determined to deliver your baby after missing Praskovia’s.’
‘Have you a name picked out so we can toast the unexpected guest at the wedding after drinking the bride and groom’s health?’ Glyn asked.
‘We couldn’t make up our minds which Mr Edwards to name him after if he turned out to be a boy, so we decided to call him Edward, and as I have my father’s name and saw no point in repeating it, we thought we’d name him Edward David Victor after the brothers we lost to the cholera.’ Richard looked to Anna for approval. Too overcome by emotion to speak, she smiled through her tears and nodded.
‘Hear that, Pavlo.’ Praskovia lifted her baby in her arms and kissed his cheek. ‘You have a playmate. Edward.’
‘Everyone out,’ Anna shouted in her best authoritative nurses’ voice. ‘Someone go and make sure the sleighs are harnessed and waiting.’ She straightened the bedcover and lifted the tray in front of Sarah. ‘I’ll be back early.’
‘No you won’t,’ Richard countered. ‘Go and enjoy yourself, sis, see you in the morning.’
Sarah smiled at her. ‘Thank you again for our son. Next time I promise I’ll have a girl so we can name her Maryanna after you and your mother.’
Catherine Ignatova’s house
April 1872
‘Abandoned your bride already, Roman?’ Catherine joined him at one of the tables the waiters had used to lay out the champagne glasses.
‘Mr Hughes invited her to dance. It would have been churlish of her to refuse.’
‘It would. He dances so well for a man of his size.’
‘Better than me?’ Roman raised an eyebrow.
‘Stop fishing for compliments, it doesn’t become you. You don’t mind moving into my half of the house until you and Sonya leave on your honeymoon?’
‘Not at all, Catherine. As Sonya is used to living in this half, it made more sense and it makes very little difference to me as I have been eating most of my meals here. The only thing I will have to sacrifice is my own bedroom in favour of Sonya’s. And while we’re talking of rooms, thank you for the loan of this.’ He pressed the master key she had given him into her hand.
‘Thank you for returning it.’ She dropped it into her reticule.
He looked at her over the rim of his glass. ‘Thank you for being so understanding.’
‘It’s hard to believe from the way I look now but I was young once, and I know young people are human. Just one thing, Roman: she is my niece. Please don’t hurt her – in any way.’
‘I promise you I never will – intentionally.’ He glanced over his shoulder to the doorway as a figure walked in, swathed in black lace veils. ‘If you’ll excuse me, one of my father’s closest friends has just entered.’
‘I saw her at the service but she left before I could speak to her.’
‘I know she would like to wish the bride well. Will you meet her with me and introduce her to Sonya.’
‘It would be my pleasure, Roman.’ She took his arm when he offered it to her. ‘I’m glad we understand one another.’
‘I know you’re only concerned for Sonya, Catherine. As am I.’
They walked over to Koshka who was standing in the doorway.
‘I’m so glad you came,’ Catherine embraced her.
‘The bride looked so h
appy in the church. You’re a lucky man, Roman, she’s very beautiful, as is the bridesmaid.’
‘You recall the dresses?’ Catherine asked.
‘Unchanged in a world I no longer recognise.’
‘The music will stop in a moment,’ Roman prophesised. ‘I’ll reclaim my bride and introduce you.’
‘I have a sleigh waiting, Roman…’
‘It can wait five minutes. We’ll go into the library and wait for you and Sonya there, Roman. How would you like us to introduce you?’ Catherine asked.
‘You’ve told her?’
‘Everything,’ Roman assured Koshka, ‘which is why Elizabeth Tsetovna would be appropriate. It was the name you used when you lived with her father?’
‘It was. Does she know the name I have used for so many years?’
‘She does.’
‘It would not be appropriate in this house.’
The music ended. Catherine and Koshka left for the library. John Hughes walked Sonya to Roman.
‘My mother?’ Sonya asked.
‘Is in the library with your aunt.’
Sonya led the way. She walked to the veiled woman sitting beside Catherine, took a package from the table next to them and handed it to Koshka.
‘Thank you for allowing me to look at this album.’
Koshka took it. ‘My most treasured possession. Roman and Catherine have told you…’
‘That you are my mother, yes. Thank you for allowing them to.’ Sonya knelt before Koshka and took her hands.
‘There is no need for that,’ Koshka said in embarrassment.
‘There is. I’ve thought about nothing except meeting you since the moment Aunt Catherine and Roman told me that you gave birth to me. You are my mother. You cared enough for me to hand me over to a woman who would love me and give me a life you couldn’t. I don’t think I could ever be so brave and unselfish as to give up a child of mine. Not knowing how much I would suffer after such a parting.’
Koshka lifted her veil and took Sonya’s hand. ‘Not only beautiful but understanding.’ Oblivious to the tears coursing down her cheeks, she forced a smile.
Sonya kneeled upright and kissed Koshka’s cheek.
Koshka gripped Sonya’s hands more tightly for an instant then relinquished them. ‘My very best wishes for your future, my dear, you make a beautiful bride.’ She rose to her feet and grasped Roman’s arm. ‘Roman, look after her.’
‘I have just made a solemn promise in church to do just that.’
‘I cannot stay as I have a sleigh waiting. I just wanted to look upon your face once more, my dear. I can see that you have made Roman very happy. Roman, always try to make your bride as happy as she makes you. God bless you. Both of you.’
‘When we return to Hughesovka may I call on you?’ Sonya asked.
‘That wouldn’t be proper, my dear.’
‘But we will see one another again.’
‘God willing.’ Koshka embraced Catherine, then Roman, and finally Sonya, before walking quickly away.
Alexei and Ruth’s cottage
April 1872
‘I’ve decided, I like being married to you,’ Alexei declared as Ruth rubbed soap into his hair and down his back.
‘I could turn into a screaming shrew next week.’ They were in the washing room of the banya attached to their cottage.
‘Then I’d have to chastise you with a venik.’ Alexei referred to the bundles of birch twigs found in every banya.
‘I’ve been meaning to ask about those. Do you ever beat yourself with a venik?’ Ruth questioned curiously.
‘Misha and I tried it once when we were young. We took it in turns to beat one another. Misha always did enjoy hurting people. For me it was the first and the last time … but perhaps I should try it again with you.’ He wiped away the soap that had trickled down his face, opened his eyes and looked at her.
‘Miriam insisted a good beating improved circulations and the colour of the skin.’
‘You girls whipped one another?’
She laughed. ‘That expression on your face is half reproof, half excitement.’
‘I was anticipating whipping you.’
‘I would whip you back, and not with a venik. The kitchen broom would stimulate your circulation more.’
‘In that case I’ll settle for a gentle embrace.’ He fondled Ruth’s breasts as she continued to rub soap in his hair.
‘Close your eyes.’
Thinking more soap was trickling down his forehead he complied without question. She picked up a bucket of cold water and tipped it over his head.
‘You could have put some warm water in,’ he gasped when he could speak again.
‘My brother says cold water is better for you than a beating with a venik, and as he’s a doctor he should know.’
‘For that I demand you warm me up.’
‘It’s almost time for you to go to work.’
‘Mr Hughes gave all of us the morning off. Just as well, after the excitement of the wedding and Sarah and Richard’s baby.’
‘Sarah and Praskovia’s babies are beautiful. Do you think ours will be as wonderful?’
‘More so, because it will be ours.’ He pushed the door to the steam room open, then stopped and looked back at her. ‘Are you…’
‘Sarah thinks our baby will be born in about six to seven months.’
‘Why didn’t you say something sooner?’
‘Because I wanted to be sure.’
‘I love you, Mrs Beletskaya. Come to bed.’
‘After the steam room,’ she whispered.
Catherine Ignatova’s house
May 1872
‘You ready for your goodbye breakfast?’ Roman watched Sonya open her eyes.
‘No,’ She closed her eyes again and inched across the bed until the full length of her body nestled against his.
‘We have to leave within the hour if we are to get to the Monstov house before sunset tonight,’ he warned.
‘Do you never use inns?’ She’d watched him map a route for them to follow from Hughesovka to St Petersburg, stopping over every night at the private country houses of aristocrats and wealthy socialites he was acquainted with, but who she knew only by reputation.
‘Not if I can help it. There are areas of Russia and even Western Europe where there are no houses worth speaking of, only shepherds’ huts, small farms, and hovels. The few inns in those wild places aren’t even worthy of the name. When I venture into such primitive territory I camp.’
‘Camp – in a tent?’ she asked in amusement.
‘It’s what generals do, and provided you have the right equipment and enough servants to do the hard work it can be comfortable. But whenever possible it makes sense to take advantage of the generosity and hospitality of friends and acquaintances, provided you’re in a position to reciprocate. It’s wasteful to keep a full complement of staff with nothing better to do than sample your wine cellar and eat food stocks in a house that’s empty for most of the year. The best way I know of monitoring the industry or otherwise of housekeepers, butlers, and footmen is to give your friends permission to call unexpectedly on your property whenever they are in the area. It also,’ he kissed her gently on the lips, ‘means you have more privacy than you would staying in a hotel. Which is extremely important when planning a belated honeymoon. Time to rise.’ He gave her another kiss before swinging his legs out of the bed and on to the floor.
‘I’m missing you already.’
‘You won’t be once we start travelling for days on end cooped up in the same coach. But if everything goes according to plan we’ll be in St Petersburg five or six days from now and then we’ll see more people than any sane man wants to in one lifetime.’ He went into the bathroom but left the door open. ‘I’m looking forward to introducing you to the city.’
‘I’ve been there,’ she reminded him.
‘Not with me. I can’t wait to show you my St Petersburg.’ He lifted his robe from a hook inside the bathr
oom and slipped it on.
‘Which is different to everyone else’s St Petersburg?’
‘We have rather a nice palace there that I inherited from my father. After my mother’s death, he would never allow anyone to touch her possessions other than to dust them, but you don’t have to go into her suite if you don’t want to.’
‘I’d like to see it.’
He smiled. ‘Thank you. It might not be quite so painful for me to see it with you. I hated going into her rooms with my father because it upset him. In fact it was the only time I ever saw him show any emotion when I was growing up. That will be our morning coffee and hot water.’ He opened the door and took the tray from the waiting maid. ‘Good morning and thank you.’
‘Good morning, your Excellency.’ She dropped a curtsey, turned, and ran. The footman echoed her ‘Good morning’ before carrying two large jugs into the bathroom. He left them, bowed, and scurried after the maid.
‘Your aunt’s servants appear to be terrified of me.’ Roman set the tray on Sonya’s bedside table. He went into the bathroom, filled his shaving bowl with hot water, and proceeded to lather his shaving brush.
‘I think they are more embarrassed than afraid because they regard us as honeymooners.’
‘They obviously have no inkling that we practised first.’
‘I would be concerned if they did.’ Sonya poured two cups of coffee, slipped out of the bed, and carried one into the bathroom for him.
‘Much as I enjoy admiring you in your natural state, my sweet, when we’re travelling it might be as well to wear a robe in the bedroom in case someone walks in on us. Several of my friends run bachelor establishments with solely male staff.’
She reached for her dressing gown. ‘Really?’
‘You find that hard to believe?’
‘Not if there’s a brothel or accommodating females nearby.’
‘It’s good to know my wife is acquainted with the world.’
‘How could I fail to be when I’ve been married to you for a month?’
‘True.’
She fetched her coffee, sat on a stool, and watched him run the cut-throat razor over his lathered cheek. He winked at her in the mirror when he saw her watching him.
‘You said we’ll stay in St Petersburg about three or four weeks,’ she said thoughtfully.
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