by Helen Bright
Next, I rooted through the Zara bags and saw a lovely yellow three-quarter sleeved boat neck top that would come just below the hip, and linen trousers in white and beige. There was also the same top in white and a nautical striped white and navy cardigan which I loved.
I looked at everything I had taken out and thought, oh what the hell, then began to tip everything out of the bags onto the bed. When it came to the boxes on the floor, I found numerous pairs of shoes, from various designers, and bags from Louis Vuitton in different colours, sizes, and shapes.
I was glad at that moment that I didn’t know how Russian currency compared with the British pound, as there were so many numbers before the decimal point I was almost afraid to touch them. This was not my world, and I felt like a bit of a fraud, sitting in the middle of all this opulence.
After a moment's contemplation, I got up off the floor and decided not to look at the price tag or designer label, and just pick what I liked.
I laid out the white boat neck top, the blue and white striped cardigan and some white straight leg jeans. I took a pair of white canvas shoes, as I thought they looked a little more comfortable than the toe post sandals that I wanted to wear, and I selected a navy bag and large framed sunglasses.
I went into the bathroom, and after taking what seemed like an age to remove all the packaging, I applied eye cream and moisturiser. I was a little torn about the make-up and didn’t know what to apply as I normally wore very little, even for a night out. In the end, I applied a little bronzer and mascara before selecting a nude pink lipstick. I re-applied the perfume, because, well, I just couldn’t help it, and after taking a deep breath and giving myself a once over I made my way downstairs.
Gregor came to meet me on the bottom step and held out his hand. He twirled me around and smiled before leaning into my neck and whispering, “You look as beautiful as ever my love, but you did not need the perfume. Your own scent is much more enticing and makes me want to taste every inch of you.”
“Well, I doubt they would allow that in the middle of Red Square. Now come on,” I said as I moved away from his tempting body, “show me all the sights you told me about before it gets too late in the day.”
“As you wish, my darling,” he said, pausing to pick up a Ralph Lauren windbreaker jacket in a French navy colour that I knew would highlight his pale blue eyes. Damn it, why did this man have to be so attractive, and so bloody sweet and generous, too.
I woke up this morning as angry as the devil himself with the situation I found myself in, and now I was once again like putty in his hands. I stole a glance at the man in question and looked at his profile from the side. Strongly sculpted cheekbones and jawline, yet the look was softened somehow by those pale blue eyes and full kissable lips.
Thinking about the kisses I had shared with him made my face flush a little, and my heart ached to think I wouldn’t ever experience them again. I knew it would be my own stubborn fault if that happened.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gregor
I watched Chloe as we drove into central Moscow. She had been looking out of the window barely saying anything as we passed through rich, affluent areas and also some poor, rundown neighbourhoods. I so desperately wanted to know what she was thinking. What she thought of the city I lived and worked in.
It was so important to me that she had a good time while she was here, and that even if she didn’t want a permanent loving relationship with me, she would still be my friend, and maybe come out here and spend time with me. It would help me to have her by my side, even if it was only for a short amount of time.
Yuri checked his mirror again as Dmitry parked us as near to Red Square as possible. Chloe was excited to see the domes of St Basil’s, and I handed her my phone so she could take photographs as we got nearer. I hadn’t been to the Cathedral, or indeed the Square, for some time, and I tried to see it through the eyes of a tourist, how Chloe would see it.
The Cathedral was known as Vasily the Blessed, many years ago; and still is to many of the older generation of Russians as far as I was aware. There were different coloured and shaped domes at various heights, and each dome was topped with a gold cross, which was highlighted by the slight glimmer of sunlight trying to make its way through the clouds.
“I think I prefer the dome with the blue and white swirl the most,” Chloe said. “The others are pretty, but that one stands out against the terracotta colour of the building itself.”
“Would you like to go inside,” I asked. She nodded her head and clasped my hand in hers as we climbed the steps into the Cathedral.
“It’s so narrow,” Chloe exclaimed as we entered. “It looks so big from the outside; I wouldn’t have thought It would be so small inside.”
Being so narrow with very few windows the interior was also quite dark, not helped by the cloudy day and the only lights belonging to centuries-old chandeliers above us. I explained that the Cathedral has two floors and is made up of eight other smaller churches and the larger church which is dedicated to the Holy Virgin.
Chloe ooh’d and ahh’d at all the religious artwork displayed along the walls and ceilings, and began listening to a Canadian couple who were reading out information about it’s history from a tourist guide. Some of this I knew to be incorrect, as I had lived through much of it, but I kept my mouth shut and just glanced at Yuri and Dmitry, who rolled their eyes and shook their heads.
After seeing everything we could with the limited light available, we made our way outside into much-needed warmth. Strolling steadily over to the other huge Cathedrals that also had their home in Red Square.
The Cathedral of the Annunciation’s white walls and golden dome blended perfectly against the Grand Kremlin Palace. Even though the colours matched those of the Cathedral of the Archangel, and Ivan the Greats Belltower, Chloe didn’t just walk on by them without taking much notice, as many of the other tourists tended to do. No. My Chloe noticed the differences in style and architecture, and appreciated little things that those who just meandered past failed to see.
Red Square was busy today, as it is most days, but due to it being summertime, there were more tourists than you would usually find. This made my security nervous, I could tell, but Chloe seemed to enjoy being one of many people experiencing the famous landmark. The red fortified walls of the Kremlin stood out against the grey sky, and I prayed for the sun to emerge for our walk through the Alexander Garden.
The gates to the Garden were tall and impressive and reminded me of the gates to my palace back in St Petersburg, being the same black and gold.
Chloe was silent as we approached the tomb of the unknown soldier and I explained how his body had been brought back from the Great War, and held the eternal flame, brought back from the Field of Mars in Leningrad.
Chloe closed her eyes and uttered a silent prayer for the fallen soldier, and it came back to me then, that her father had been in the army, so she must have associated this poor unknown soldier with her father and his comrades.
I think I began to understand my Chloe a little more at that moment. Yes, I knew she was an extremely thoughtful woman, but she had a sensitive side that wasn’t buried as deep as she would like to think it was.
I thought back to this morning, and to how she had quickly given in to Yuri when she thought she was offending him and our country. And to how she was so obviously uncomfortable with the amount of clothing and obvious expense that had come with Anna’s shopping spree on her behalf; yet she hadn’t mentioned it to her as she didn’t want her to think she didn’t appreciate her efforts.
My Chloe was a people pleaser, who put others first. That’s why she was still on good terms with her ex-husband, even though he dissolved their marriage, so he could pursue men, the real object of his desires.
With me, she had been insisting we couldn’t be anything more, even when we had both declared our love. Was it me she was still disappointed with right now? Or was she trying to prove a point to herself, that althou
gh she may give in to others around her, when it came to matters of the heart she wasn’t going to give in as easily, so, in turn, keep herself safe from any type of hurt that could come her way?
Wanting to take Chloe away from the sadness she so obviously felt at this memorial, I tugged gently on her hand and guided her around all the fountains and statues around the park.
To my great relief, the sun began to emerge as we made our way out of the park and the grey clouds began to disappear. Chloe was keen to get more photographs of the Cathedrals, the walls of the Square and also the Kremlin Palace in the better light we now had. Although we had many more things to see, I indulged her request. How could I not when her eyes were so alight with wonder and happiness.
After taking more photographs from different angles, we went back to the car and took the short drive to the Fallen Monument Park. As we walked through the park I began to tell her its history, which was not one of my countries finest moments in my opinion. Not that I wanted to go back to the dire way things were at that time. In my mind, such willful destruction of our heritage buildings and artwork served no purpose whatsoever.
But as is often said of me and others from a privileged background, I do not live in the real world, and it is often very different for those from a much less prosperous way of life. What these people do not realise is that we all have our crosses to bear, although admittedly, money does make them less heavy when you can afford people to help you carry them.
The Fallen Monument Park came about when the Soviet Union collapsed. So many of Moscow's monuments were pulled from their pedestals and dumped here during that time. I had only ever taken a stroll through this area once before, as I did not like the graveyard like feel. But I was informed recently by Anna that it was much changed from the early days, and now sported many modern artworks and sculptures, and continued along the banks of the River.
Looking at some of the city’s old statues in their new resting place did give me a sense of anger. Yuri too, I noted, even though he was keeping a short distance from us. But Chloe seemed to sense this and squeezed my hand a little as she encouraged me to step further into the park. She also called on Yuri and Dmitry, asking if they were okay, and not too bored with escorting us through the city.
As we progressed further along, I noted many of the new artworks, and I was pleasantly surprised. The way that old and new came together so easily was a credit to those who had updated the design of this area, and I felt my mood lift further as we walked along the riverside, taking in all the paintings displayed along its bank.
After at least an hour of meandering through the eclectic displays, I heard Chloe’s stomach growl. I was about to ring through to one of my favourite restaurants in the city, but Chloe asked if it would be okay to eat at one of the pavement café’s that ran alongside Gorky Park.
She asked Yuri and Dmitry if they had any preference, but they both shook their heads. It was I who felt a little put out. I wanted her to experience the best that Moscow had to offer regarding fine dining, but it seemed, yet again, I would not get my way with this woman.
In the end, we settled on a table that was covered by a large green and white striped awning, and instead of an intimate table for two as I had wanted, she pulled out chairs for Yuri and Dmitry.
Chloe asked if Dmitry would mind explaining what was on the menu, as she obviously could not read Russian. I felt my anger rise a little before I realised what she was doing, as she patiently listened to Dmitry explain in somewhat broken English, what was listed.
I could see that Dmitry was thrilled that he had successfully translated the menu to Chloe, and Yuri gave me a smile and a nod. One that confirmed that this beautiful woman, who took the time to think of others when the day should have been all about her, was not one that I should let get away. Any anger I felt at not being able to spoil my flower girl quickly withered away and was replaced by determination.
Chloe was mine; she belonged to me as much as I belonged to her, and I would take what was mine and keep it for all eternity. I nodded back to Yuri, then gave him the same smile back.
There would be no more of this only friend’s speech, that my Chloe was so fond of. No, I would hear no more of that nonsense. Tonight she would know that I intended to keep her by my side, and never let her go.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chloe
After a light lunch, we made our way into Gorky Park and enjoyed more of the afternoon sunshine. All told, I was awestruck by the sights of this amazing city. Popular media didn’t do this place any favours regarding how it was portrayed. I knew that there was so much more that I had yet to see, and I couldn’t wait to share some of the photographs I had taken, with my parents and the girls at my shop.
After twenty minutes relaxing on a bench, Gregor said it was time that we returned home. The sun had been uninterrupted by cloud for some time, and both he and Yuri would start to feel tired very soon.
I must admit that I had forgotten that he and Yuri were vampires. This day out had been so normal, with no restrictions placed on the places we visited. Even Cathedrals. So it appeared that even God accepted their immortality and need for human blood, just as I did.
As we were driving back to Gregor’s home, he asked Dmitry to make one last stop. I didn’t know where we were going as he spoke in Russian, but only ten minutes after placing a call on his mobile phone, we pulled in front of a small jewellery shop.
On entering the shop, a small grey-haired gentleman came out from behind the counter and shook Gregor’s hand.
Gregor then introduced me to the jeweller, Boris Yanev, who took my hand and replied, “Chloe, it is so good to meet you. Gregor has told me so much about you.”
He then turned to Gregor and said, “You were so right about the colour of her eyes my friend. I think you will be happy with the stone I have chosen. Although they will never be as stunning and individual a colour as her beautiful eyes, I do think it is the best match.”
Mr. Yanev gestured for us to follow him through a doorway behind the counters, only Dmitry and Yuri remained behind.
Mr. Yanev gestured for us to sit as he turned to a set of drawers behind him. Gregor pulled out my chair, and as I sat, I looked to him for information. He said nothing, just sat beside me and turned to watch Yanev unfold a black velvet cloth.
Inside were a pair of earrings and what I assumed to be two pendants in the most beautiful blue-green shade I had ever seen, and both of them matched the flower design on the bracelet that Gregor had given me back at the Manor.
“This stone is called Apatite, and although not always considered as precious as other gemstones as the colours vary so very much between blue and green, I was able to find a good match for the colour Gregor described your eyes to be.”
“You have done well Boris. This is a perfect match and made so quickly, too.”
“Gregor, each time you came to see me, you were so animated when describing Chloe, and the design you wanted, that I felt inspired to begin my search for the stones immediately. They arrived two days after you collected the bracelet and I began working on them straight away. The colour of a small cove around Fig Tree Bay in Cyprus, you said, and you were right.”
“Would you like to try them on, Chloe?” Mr. Yanev asked as he took the earrings from the cloth.
I nodded my head, speechless by the fact that Gregor had put so much thought into this gift. I took out my plain silver hoops and put in the pretty floral studs. The gems sat in a gold casing as did the pendants, although from a second look it appeared that one of the pendants was, in fact, a charm.
“Thank you,” I said in a shaky voice to both Gregor, and the smiling Mr. Yanev.
“What length chain would you prefer for your pendant Chloe? Now you are here I can show you different styles so you can make the choice yourself,” replied Mr. Yanev as he selected two different velvet mats holding various lengths and designs of pendants and bracelets. “I will leave you to try them on and make your c
hoice. You know where I am if you need anything Gregor.”
When the jeweller closed the door behind him, I turned to Gregor and threw my arms around him, catching him totally off guard and nearly toppling our chairs over.
“Thank you,” I said once again as I tried to keep tears out of my eyes.
“You are most welcome, my love. Now come, let us see which chain you prefer.”
Gregor slid the pendant on to three different chains before choosing one that sat just above my cleavage. Then he chose a matching bracelet and attached the charm.
“I can’t believe you did this Gregor. I’m so touched by your thoughtfulness,” I sobbed.
“Do not cry, my darling; I cannot bear it when you do. It hurts me deep in my chest, like an arrow twisting,” he said breathlessly as he hugged me tight to his body.
“I can’t help it. I’ve had such a lovely day in Moscow, and now this. Knowing that you planned this gift for me, that it wasn’t just an afterthought or an expensive gift that was given to ease your guilt at bringing me here.”
“Chloe, there is something you need to understand. You could never, ever, be an afterthought to me. From the moment I met you, you were at the forefront of my mind. From waking in the morning, to closing my eyes at night. You haunted my dreams in so many ways, and I couldn’t wait to get back to you. It didn’t seem altogether healthy at times to crave someone as much as I craved you, and that’s why I didn’t recognise it for what it was. Love. Deep, powerful, obsessive, and always with a need to keep you safe and protected.
“I messed up back in England. I hurt you, and for that, I am truly sorry. But I refuse to let my love… our love, go to waste. I will warn you now, my darling; I will have you as mine. You will share my life, love, and name, along with everything I own. And I will spend eternity proving to you how deserving you are of things such as this,” he said, taking hold of the pendant that lay above my breasts.
