Madame Lazar, who was still unaware of the murmurings of his heart, noticed his silence and suggested that in the evening, if he wished, she could begin his instruction on dining etiquette, to which he graciously agreed.
Nasrosoltan wondered why lately, he seemed to turn from one feeling to another, always uncertain of how he truly felt. One moment he was so strong and self-assured: the next, fragile and full of doubt. Torn between the desire for Irina and stability, it was easy to choose stability when not in her presence. So, he kept himself busy with mundane activities to dull the senses that had awakened within him.
This course of action seemed to slowly work, giving him some relief from his painful week of doubt. However, this lasted only until the next lesson, where once again, his short-lived stability gave way to his desire to be close to the princess. Nasrosoltan began to accept that he could not be indifferent to his feelings, especially sensing that Princess Irina was of the same mindset.
The way she looked at him and smiled rekindled an almost-extinguished hope in his heart, and once again, he began to experience the elusive joy that seemed to be wherever Irina was. She looked even more alluring than he had remembered from just a week ago. Her eyes were the window into her graceful soul, and there was no place Nasrosoltan would rather be than sitting by her side at the piano.
With a serious tone, she turned and addressed Nasrosoltan. “Papa tells me you have been invited to the dinner party we are having next week. He must be very fond of you. I hope you do plan to attend. I would be delighted to see you there, as these affairs can be quite tedious, and your presence would mean much to me.”
Then Irina added encouragingly, “I know it is so soon after the passing of your dear friend, and I was worried you may decline, mired in your sorrow. I did say a prayer for your departed friend’s soul at church this past Sunday, and I also said a prayer for you, that you gain peace from your suffering.”
As she looked at him, her penetrating gaze reached deep into his being, and she effortlessly conveyed thoughts and feelings seemingly above her years.
“How kind of you to think of me and to say a much-needed prayer,” Nasrosoltan responded.
Princess Irina replied, “But I am always thinking of you. Lately, I cannot remember a moment that I have not!”
Then she placed her hand on top of his, and he noticed her hand was trembling. He grasped her hand tightly and quietly confessed, “I worried that I was foolish for having the same thoughts about you, but your words just now calmed such fear.”
Upon hearing Nasrosoltan declare his feelings for her, Irina lifted her other hand and lovingly caressed his as they stared into each other’s eyes. An emboldened Nasrosoltan continued cautiously, revealing what was deep in his heart. “Your touch has instantly washed away any doubt I may have harbored. I have never felt so alive as when I am in your presence!”
Irina said nothing in response but brandished a broad smile, her face blushing with nervous excitement. As usual, when music was not being played for long periods, Nana would make her way to the room to make sure all was right. Luckily, they both heard her footsteps on the wood-paneled floor in the corridor, which they took as their warning.
They immediately extended their distance on the piano bench, and Nasrosoltan began to play the piano to alleviate any of Nana’s concerns. This cat-and-mouse play with Nana only deepened the bond between him and Irina. They both laughed as if they were schoolchildren, and the feeling of such awkward moments seemed surprisingly exhilarating.
When Nana reached the music room, she asked if they needed anything so as not to look suspicious. Irina asked for Nana to bring them some tea to buy more private time with Nasrosoltan.
As Nana departed, Irina moved closer to him and once again placed her hand on his, finally uttering what was in her heart. “I have read about feelings such as these in novels, but thought of them as just writers’ fancies. I never expected to be so completely consumed with how I feel towards you now.” Nasrosoltan took her hand and kissed it gently in gratitude for expressing herself so freely, all the while keeping a fixed gaze into her eyes, stirring her soul.
He then came close to her ear and whispered, “And to answer your question, yes, I have already responded to the grand duke’s invitation.” Nasrosoltan added with a smile, “I look forward to spending an evening in your presence, for these lessons just once a week will no longer suffice.”
To show her appreciation, Irina did the unexpected and quickly kissed Nasrosoltan’s cheek. It seemed fate had determined that his story with the princess would deviate from the sad story of Schubert’s unrequited love for the countess, for Irina had now reciprocated his.
Nasrosoltan came to the palace this afternoon devoid of hope because of the tailor's comments, but now he felt on top of the world, brimming with renewed confidence. A confidence that only Irina’s love could have provided.
That afternoon, they practiced Schubert’s Fantasia for four hands repeatedly, becoming intimately familiar with it. They played the piece with much feeling, completely drawn into it, as the vibrant notes resonated with special meaning for them both.
Chapter 23
An Unexpected Guest
After a couple of more visits to Monsieur Dukemejian’s shop to fit his attire and a few evenings of Madame Lazar’s lessons in royal dining etiquette, Nasrosoltan finally felt well-prepared for the palace dinner. He was excited and nervous, wanting to make an excellent impression in this formal setting, but above all, he did not want to commit any social blunder.
He was comforted by Irina’s assurance that her mother disliked pomp and ceremony and that she found the glittering Russian court life to be an ordeal. Irina also mentioned that the grand duchess enjoyed intimate gatherings at their home instead, and he reasoned this meant it would be a comparatively quiet dinner without much formality.
As his carriage approached the palace gates, Nasrosoltan noticed a large retinue of bodyguards. This evening, he was not waved through as was customary. Each carriage was stopped, and identification and invitations were thoroughly checked.
Nasrosoltan was surprised to see such security measures in place. He assumed it was careful diligence on the part of the royal family due to the recent disturbances that had killed many, including his friend Rustam. His carriage passed through without incident, and he disembarked and was escorted into the palace, where to his surprise once more, he noticed additional security, including Imperial Guards.
Nasrosoltan was greeted by the grand duke, who welcomed him in and announced, “I am sure you have noticed the high security at the palace. We are honored that His Imperial Majesty, Tsar Nicholas, has decided to join us unexpectedly for dinner. When there is a chance, I would like to introduce you to him.”
Nasrosoltan thanked him, and the grand duke continued, “His Majesty is eager for the princess to perform something for him after dinner. I am sure your presence here tonight will add to her confidence. But I must say, it has been your instruction these past few months that has given her a renewed interest in music, and we are thankful that she takes it so seriously now.”
After the grand duke moved to the next room, Nasrosoltan was left standing alone, and he became self-conscious and even more nervous. He had never expected the tsar to be there that night, and above all, to be sitting at the same dinner table with him.
It was a small gathering, with only about a dozen other guests in addition to the tsar. Amongst them were two young royal family members to whom he was later introduced. The first was a flamboyant man who Nasrosoltan learned was Felix Yusupov, the prince mentioned by the tailor. The second man was Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, a first cousin to the tsar, tall and well built like most Romanovs. Nasrosoltan already knew that Yusupov had a romantic interest in Irina, but he soon realized that Grand Duke Dmitri was also an admirer.
Since Irina’s father had earlier mentioned how Nasrosoltan’s presence would make his daughter feel at ease, he wondered whether his invitation was sim
ply to make her more comfortable performing that evening. And, perhaps, not only for the tsar but to Nasrosoltan’s chagrin, especially for these potential suitors.
As soon as these disturbing thoughts attempted to derail his confidence, Princess Irina entered the room. She looked around and nodded her head, acknowledging each guest, and then looked in Nasrosoltan’s direction and offered him a hurried smile, trying to avoid the attention of others.
Irina looked stunning, outfitted in an alluring evening dress of apricot velvet, and carrying herself with an elegance befitting a princess. Her quick glance toward Nasrosoltan with a reassuring smile confirmed her feelings for him.
At some point before dinner, from the other side of the room, Nasrosoltan’s attention became fixated on Prince Yusupov and Grand Duke Dmitri. The two men had cornered Irina near the fireplace as they chatted and laughed together, and by all appearances, it seemed they were having a grand time. He was besieged with envy and extremely displeased to see the way they vied for Irina’s attention. But from a distance, it seemed to him that this sheltered and innocent princess was blind to their exuberant efforts, and she was not as savvy at these games of flirtation, in which these two royals were well skilled.
Then the grand duke entered the room and made his way to Nasrosoltan. “Monsieur, let us go, it is time.”
Nasrosoltan followed him to the dining room, as did the other guests. To the visible excitement of Irina, the grand duke introduced Nasrosoltan to the tsar. “I would like to present to His Imperial Majesty Monsieur Nasrosoltan Minbashian, who is from the empire of Persia and is a student at the conservatory. His father studied with our dear Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov. We are grateful that a man from such a noble musical lineage has tutored our dear Irina Alexandrovna these past few months.”
The tsar treated him with honor and kindness and mentioned that he was eager to hear his niece perform after dinner.
With a bow to show his respect, Nasrosoltan replied, “I am certain Her Serene Highness will not disappoint His Imperial Majesty. I believe the princess deserves great praise for her talent.”
Hearing this, Irina beamed with joy and nervous energy, as she was apprehensive at the thought of performing in front of an audience.
At dinner, Nasrosoltan was seated between Prince Yusupov and Grand Duke Dmitri. The grand duke did not say much, but Prince Yusupov seemed to enjoy talking with Nasrosoltan, who found Prince Yusupov to be charming but also a man of many contradictions. The prince showed much interest in Persia and was curious about life there. He mentioned in passing that even though he had never visited Persia, his residence, the Yusupov Palace, had a bit of Nasrosoltan’s homeland in it. “We have a room we call the Persian Room; it is saturated with the aroma of your exotic country and has divans all along the walls draped in colorful Persian fabrics.”
Nasrosoltan smiled but said nothing. After a short pause, the prince continued with his small talk, turning his attention to the topic of music. Having heard Princess Irina’s father introduce Nasrosoltan to the tsar, Prince Yusupov said, “You know, Monsieur, I am also fond of music. Our family has maintained a private orchestra for many years now. Since I rather enjoy American popular music, I recently suggested they add a saxophone section to the violins and cellos.”
Even though Nasrosoltan thought it was a bad idea for the prince to have introduced this newfangled hybrid to his orchestra, he politely responded, “That was a bold move.”
The prince smiled, assuming it was a compliment. Attempting to flatter Nasrosoltan, the prince quickly added with a laugh, “Of course, I do not presume to understand music such as one who has studied with the masters at the conservatory!”
In a contest for Irina’s affections, Nasrosoltan would surely not worry about going up against the pretentious Prince Yusupov. Nasrosoltan was more threatened by Grand Duke Dmitri, who was quite handsome and less conceited. Dmitri also lived with the imperial family at Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, and Nasrosoltan had even heard rumors that the grand duke was a favorite of the tsar.
Nasrosoltan’s emotions fluctuated during dinner between the now-faint hope that he could attain a permanent place in Irina’s heart, and the awareness that he was considered a commoner by the royalty surrounding him. He knew full well that such an affiliation would not be tolerated by them, as he continued the exhausting battle between head and heart while unknowingly being carried forward on a wave of destiny.
As the dinner progressed, the rising political turmoil dominated the discussion. The dinner guests talked about the disturbances of the last few weeks and the many strikes and demonstrations that had become more prevalent. Most of the guests dismissed the real reasons for such widespread discontent, viewing these protests as merely the workers’ ungratefulness toward the tsar’s recent reforms.
The grand duke addressed the tsar. “Your Imperial Majesty has surely heard the news of the businessman who was tragically killed a few weeks ago, during some agitation at the Ministry of Commerce. He was a dear friend of Monsieur Minbashian and was struck by a stray bullet. Just to think, had he not gone there that day to meet with the minister, he would still be alive today. It amazes me how one can alter his own destiny without knowing it.”
Then, turning to Nasrosoltan, the grand duke said, “Monsieur Minbashian, I am sure you must agree.”
As if awakened from his thoughts, Nasrosoltan was not prepared for this direct question and initially did not respond. An awkward silence followed, and Nasrosoltan felt he had to say something. In an unexpectedly bold manner, he offered the grand duke an answer that reflected his change of heart with regard to destiny from what he had earlier believed.
“Your Imperial Highness, forgive me, but I do beg to differ, for I feel destiny cannot be altered.”
Upon hearing this surprising contradiction to the grand duke’s statement, all eyes turned to Nasrosoltan. Suddenly self-conscious and feeling like an outsider, he decided to defend his pronouncement by explaining himself further. “We Persians believe whatever kismet or fate decides, it will achieve, and no man can change that. This was the day my good friend was to die, be it by a bullet or some other means. It was so written long before he was even born.”
At hearing Nasrosoltan’s reasoning, there were some nods of approval, but then the grand duke replied, “Why do you believe this, Monsieur? I, on the contrary, believe that men, with their own determination and persistence, can change the course of life events. I would be interested to hear a convincing reason as to why you think otherwise?”
Nasrosoltan had not intended to be the focus of attention in this intimidating setting; however, he had no choice but to go on. “Perhaps if the esteemed guests permit, for I do not wish to dominate the conversation, I may be able to better explain why I believe so by sharing an old Persian fable.”
The guests seemed to show interest at the suggestion of hearing the tale, so the grand duke encouraged him to continue. “Please do, Monsieur!”
Nasrosoltan proceeded, now addressing the whole table, to tell his story. “One day, as a nobleman walks through a Persian bazaar, he notices in the distance the Archangel of Death coming towards him with a surprised look on his face. The man, realizing the Archangel’s intention to take his soul, flees quickly.
“He then immediately seeks an audience with the shah and begs for an appointment to a land far away, so he will not be anywhere near the Archangel. After much insistence on this man's part, the shah finally grants him his wish and appoints him as an envoy to India. It takes the man two months to travel to Delhi. Once there, no longer feeling distressed and believing he is far out of danger’s reach, he decides to go for a walk and ends up at the market.
“Surprisingly, again, he comes face-to-face with the Archangel, who was waiting for him, prepared to take his soul and return it to God. The awestruck man says to him, ‘How can this be; I thought you were in Persia!’
“The Archangel of Death responds, ‘I am also surprised to see you here. Wh
en I saw you in Persia at the bazaar a few months ago, I looked at my list, and it said that I was to take your soul a few months later, in a market in India! At that moment, I thought to myself, how could that be possible? For surely you were never going to be able to get so far away in so little time.’”
Nasrosoltan turned to the grand duke. “Therefore, Your Imperial Highness, even though this man tried to change his own destiny, it was kismet that he has a hand in his own unalterable demise.”
The dinner guests laughed at his telling of this story, and the tsar, who seemed to be a fatalistic man, said in a light-hearted tone, “I agree, one cannot argue with the will of God. Well said, Monsieur!”
The grand duke turned to the tsar, raised his glass, and declared, “Then we drink a toast to kismet, in thanks that he has blessed Mother Russia with His Imperial Majesty, our revered tsar. May God always protect him and this wonderful country he rules!”
After the toast in his honor, the tsar then got up from his seat, signaling to the guests at the table that dinner had ended. As they all rose, Nasrosoltan went along with the other men behind the tsar to retire to another room for after-dinner digestifs. But no matter how interesting the conversation, Nasrosoltan longed to be elsewhere, in the presence of Irina, who had withdrawn with the ladies to the music room, preparing to perform for the tsar.
After some drinks and conversation, the men joined the ladies in the music room. The tsar seated himself ahead of the others and motioned that those standing out of respect could now have a seat. Nasrosoltan was in the far back, and Irina, who exhibited an air of timidity, sat at the piano alongside the page-turner, ready to perform.
Nasrosoltan could not help but notice how stunning Irina looked, and with all eyes on her, even her demureness was refreshing. He hoped she would flawlessly perform whatever piece she had decided to play.
A Hundred Sweet Promises Page 18