Russian series 03 - The Eagle's Fate (27 page)

‘He sent his men over the bridge one by one, until he was left alone, and then he slung his musket on his should, picked up a brand from the nearest fire, and set about firing the bridge in a leisurely manner, as if he was in no great hurry—well he wasn’t, of course, for we weren’t stopping him, and the river was frozen solid anyway, so it was only a gesture…They’d put straw and stuff about ready, and he just strolled across touching it off as he went.

‘When he reached the other side, he turned round and stood looking at us for a few moments, framed in a mass of flame and smoke, and then he took his musket and fired one shot over our heads in a sort of farewell, waved his hand, and then turned and trudged off into the darkness. I shall never forget it as long as I live—I’ve never seen such cool courage!’

‘“The bravest of the brave’,’ Andrei quoted softly. ‘I’ve heard that in the end, he was the only one who retained any control of the men at all, and the only one who went on fighting to the last, with whatever men hoe could get to volunteer as a rearguard, It’s quite a relief to know that one man if going to come out of all this mess with his reputation enhanced instead of ruined!’

‘What happened to Bonaparte?’ asked Irina, wondering why he hadn’t been mentioned in connection with the final days of the fighting.

‘He left his army—the wreckage of it, that it—just after the Beresina crossing.’ Lev said curtly, his expression showing what he thought of that, and there seemed nothing more to be said on that subject. The ladies had been impressed by Lev’s story, but it was to them a small window on another world entirely, and one which they could hardly comprehend. It was a relief to them when he changed the subject by asking, ‘What about this afternoon, then? Have you met our redoubtable aunt yet, Sparrow?’

‘Indeed!’ Irina replied expressively. ‘She was kind enough to conclude that I should probably
do
, although she went to some trouble to point out my deficiencies!’

‘Old termagant!’ Lev remarked disrespectfully. ‘Well, we’d best not be late, I suppose. What about Nadya and Andrei? Are we deserting them?’

‘I’ll be quite glad to rest,’ Nadya admitted. ‘I’m still rather stiff and sore, so don’t worry about me!’ And then she had to account for her stiffness and soreness to Lev, who had not yet heard about her accident. Andrei said that he had a little business to attend to, but without specifying what it was.

When the others had gone to Aunt Xenia’s, Nadya went up to her room to put some more arnica on her bruises, then dressed again, collected her embroidery, and went down to the garden-room, where she was surprised to find Andrei and the kitten engaged in building a card-house on the table. At least, Andrei was building it, and the kitten only watching, and it soon grew tired and withdrew to its favorite chair for an afternoon nap. The sky outside was so grey and threatening that Andrei, seeing that Nadya intended to sew, rang for the footman and had candles brought in.

Meanwhile Nadya had settled herself in a chair and sorted out the silks she would need, and Andrei, having enquired if she wished for anything, returned to his building activities, but without very much success, for he could not hold the cards well enough for the delicate movements required. Eventually, the pasteboard edifice having collapsed for the fifth time, he left the cards scattered over the table and walked restlessly about the room, remarking gloomily that he supposed he would always be clumsy now.

‘You do very well,’ Nadya replied in what she hoped was an encouraging but not patronizing tone. ‘I expect you’ll be able to manage more in time.’

‘Perhaps,’ he replied absently, looking at the contents of the bookcase facing the windows. Apparently nothing there attracted him, and he wandered over to the window, and stared out at the snow-covered garden, already growing grey and misty as the short day faded.

‘It’s beginning to snow again,’ he remarked. ‘Are your bruises very painful?’

‘No, not painful. Just rather sore and stiff,’ she replied.

‘I can’t imagine what that fool was thinking of, shifting his position while the sledge was moving! It’s fortunate you were nearing the bottom of the slide or you’d have been killed!’

‘He had the worst of it.’ Nadya pointed out.

‘You always find something good to say about everyone!’ It sounded a little like a criticism, so Nadya did not reply, but concentrated on threading her needle with a fresh length of silk thread, wondering why he was so restless and irritable.

‘Should have broken his neck!’ Andrei grumbled, then was silent for some time, staring out of the window. Presently, he swung round abruptly, leaned on the back of the kitten’s chair, and said, ‘I suppose the talk will be nothing but The Wedding until it’s all over! I’m glad it’s worked out so well for Irina and Lev.’

‘Yes. I’m sure they’ll be very happy,’ Nadya replied.

‘It makes a bachelor restless when he sees one of his friends taking the irrevocable step, you know! I find myself wondering if I should try my luck and see if I can make it a double event. What do you think, Nadya? Should I pluck up my courage and declare myself, or is it too soon? Is there hope for me?’

Nadya’s eyes misted over, and she ran her needle very painfully into her finger, then looked blankly at the drop of blood which appeared and saw that her hands were trembling.

‘I…’ she began, then took a gasp of breath and tried to steady herself. ‘I expect you know that—that Tatya’s marriage was very unhappy, but perhaps you d-don’t r-realise th-that it m-made her feel that she c-could n-never face the idea of marrying again. W-we were talking about it a few days ago and—and she’s-said that she like some people very much, b-but there’s no-one she l-loves and she d-doesn’t think she’ll ever b-be able to l-love a man enough to marry him.’

Her embroidery slid off her lap on to the floor, but she made no attempt to retrieve it, clasping her hands together and trying to make them keep still, then stole a glance at Andrei, who was still leaning on the back of the chair, looking at her with a puzzled frown

‘Now, why did you change the subject?’ he asked.

‘I d-didn’t,’ she said.

‘I asked you if I dare venture on a proposal of marriage, and instead of replying, you told me about Tatya’s problems. Yes, I know Tatya’s marriage was a disaster, and I’m very sorry about it. I’m not surprised that she’s afraid to try again, but I’m sure that one day the right man for her will turn up from somewhere, and she’ll find she can be happy with a husband after all. I pray it may be soon, for she’s the kindest, loveliest of females, and deserves happiness. Now, having disposed of that, may we return to our sheep?’

‘I thought you were asking about Tatya,’ Nadya answered blankly.

Andrei put his head a little to one side and regarded her with a very odd expression for a moment, then said, ‘Tell me, is there anything wrong with your eyesight?’

‘I—I believe not,’ she replied, more puzzled than ever.

He went to the table, riffled through the scattered cards, and then held one up.

‘Can you see that?’

‘Yes.’

‘What is it?’

‘A playing-card.’

‘What sort?’

‘The ace of hearts.’ Poor Nadya hardly knew what to think, wondering why he was playing this curious game with her. She shrank back in alarm as he carried the card over to her, dropped on one knee and placed it very carefully on the carpet a couple of inches in front of the toe of her right slipper.

‘Can you still see it?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’ Perhaps he was—not feeling altogether well…

‘And what do you see there?’ he asked, placing his left forefinger in a similar position before the toe of her other slipper.

She looked, and replied, ‘A blue flower on the carpet.’

‘You don’t see the other heart?’ He looked up at her quizzically. Nadya caught a glint in his eye and was suddenly seized with a dreadful conviction.

‘Oh—please don’t!’ she said, her eyes filling with tears.

‘Don’t what?’ he asked, suddenly arrested in what he was about to say.

‘Don’t torment me!’ she begged. ‘I suppose you’ve guessed—I was never very good at hiding my feelings. I hoped you wouldn’t find out, but I suppose it was inevitable, and I can’t blame you for using it when I’m the only one of the family left! I’m truly sorry about your brother, and you surely can’t think I’d ever have harmed him, or not stopped Maxim if I possible could! Please—it’s bad enough feeling as I do—isn’t that enough for you?’

‘Enough what?’ he sounded perplexed.

‘Revenge.’

‘You think I’d take revenge for what your brother did by hurting you? Why should I do that?’

‘I’ve given you the weapon…That’s what you mean, isn’t it?’

Andrei was silent for what seemed a long time, staring up into Nadya’s face, and her vision was too blurred by tears to read his expression. Then he resumed from where he had left off when she interrupted him.

‘I was about to point out that my heart has been lying at your feet ever since I returned to Petersburg. I wonder you haven’t tripped over it by now! My little mouse, I asked you if there be
hope
for me, not Tatya!’

It was quite a full second before she realised what he meant, and then she stared incredulously, finally saying faintly, ‘Oh—do you mean me?’

‘Yes.’

‘But I thought you were in love with Tatya!’

‘In that case, didn’t it seem a little odd to you that I’ve been spending most of my time with you?’ He took out his handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

‘I thought she’d asked you to.’

He smiled up at her, a very gentle, tender smile, and shook his head.

‘But you hated me when we first met,’ she persisted, still not able to believe that this miracle could be happening, and yet feeling that it explained so many things which had seemed so odd that it must be true.

‘I was a fool then, blinded by prejudice and too arrogant to thing I might be wrong! I came to my senses when I found myself in that hospital, surrounded by poor agonised, dying wretches, and realised that I might die too, and with the heartlessness and injustice I’d shown you on my conscience! I think I’ve loved you ever since you fell asleep in my arms on the road to Ryazan, but I didn’t realise it until you sent me that kind, forgiving letter, and I knew then that I had to live so that I could see you again, and when I did, you were just as kind and considerate to me as if I’d never treated you as an enemy! I thought you would have guessed my feelings by now, but I wasn’t sure about yours. It was all this talk of weddings that made me decide to try my luck…Will you—do you think you could marry me?’

‘Yes.’ Nadya heard herself replying without any maidenly hesitation, and wondered if she might be dreaming. ‘The trouble is that I’ve nothing to bring you, no dowry or anything. I’ve a little money, but it costs a great deal to be married.’

It seemed to her a practical and sensible statement, but Andrei appeared to find it hilarious, and laughed so much that he lost his balance and sat down at her feet.

‘Dearest mouse! he said. ‘I don’t care in the least, but if it will make you any happier, let me instruct you a little in recent history! You see these boots?’ He indicated his hessians. ‘Where d’you think they were made?’

She shook her head, but her anxious expression relaxed a little.

‘In England! So were my saddle, and my pistols! The best marksmen in every regiment of infantry are armed with English rifles, and some of the cavalry flankers with English carbines! You see, your father’s share lost their value because the Emperor decreed that all trade with England must stop, but at the end of 1810, he
un
decreed it, and trade with England has flourished ever since! In any case, your father’s shares were in an English company, and when it couldn’t trade here it just turned to trading somewhere else until our ports were open to it again, so the only reason that there was no money coming to your father was that it couldn’t get to him. It’s been accumulating in an English bank for the past five years!’

‘It’s too late now,’ Nadya said sadly. ‘He’s not alive to benefit.’

‘No, but you are! The fellow who arranged your annuity also transferred the shares to your name as your father’s heiress, but unfortunately you didn’t tell him the direction of your lodging when you moved, and the company hasn’t been able to trace you to give you the money! You’re not rich, by any means, but you’ve enough to buy a modest trousseau and a small bridecake! Does that make you feel better?”

Nadya felt that the sun had suddenly risen outside, in defiance of the natural order. ‘Yes, but how did you find out?’

‘I went to the Bourse to begin with. You know where that is?’

‘The building on the point of Vassilievsky Island, opposite the Admiralty. The one that looks like a Greek temple.’ Then, remembering her lesson from the Smolny days, ‘Where merchants go to buy and sell good, and arrange prices, and buy and sell shares–-‘

‘And make interest payments,’ Andrei finished for her. ‘I went there this morning to enquire, and then on to the English Quay, where I found someone who knew about the right company. He looked in their records and found your father’s name and yours, and a note against it that there was money due to you when you could be traced. In fact, they’d been in correspondence with the Ministry of the Interior, but without result so far—you can imagine ho long they take to sort anything out! That’s why I was late for luncheon.’

‘It was very kind of you to think of it, and take so much trouble.’

‘It was a pleasure! I knew very well that your conscience, or your pride, or whatever it is, would make you say you couldn’t marry me without a dowry, so I decided to try to cut the ground from under your feet! Besides, I knew that we were buying a great many good from England now, and selling to them as well, so the shares must be worth something if the company still existed. It’s lucky you kept the certificates, as it will make it easier to prove your claim, though I expect we could have sorted it out in time without them. Now, having disposed of that objection to our marriage, are there any more?’

‘No…’ Nadya said in a slow, considering manner. ‘I don’t believe there are . .’