Valerie's Russia

by Sara Judge

  Pyotr frowned as he saw the same dress she had worn the last time he was there, and the same she had worn at Tsarskoe Selo. Well, he was going to do something about that now.

  The marriage settlement had been finalised, both he and Sophia’s parents had signed the various documents, and the date of their wedding had been planned for 17 September. The dowry money would be his after that date, but until then a small amount remained in his bank and he was going to make sure that Valerie received enough to keep her going until the autumn.

  Andrei could escort Sophia back to St Petersburg whilst he stayed on in the Ukraine for a few more days. He would go over all the finances of the estate with his mother and, at the same time, find a suitable abode for his Varinka.

  Valerie, watching Pyotr’s face, saw the light of triumph in his eyes and caught her breath. Your future is secure, my love, he was telling her. Trust me. And she could have shouted aloud with relief and delight.

  ‘Our laughter, dearest brother, was about the cray-fishing tomorrow,’ said Tassya. ‘Valerie is going to help Dunya with her catch. Is that not amusing?’ She was giggling again, eager to gain his support.

  ‘Help Dunya?’ For a moment Pyotr stared in amazement, first at his sister, then at her maid. ‘Did you hear that, Mother?’ He turned his gaze on the countess and walked round to sit on the end of her cane couch. ‘Did you know what she intended?’ His eyes were ablaze with anger.

  ‘Gracious me, what is this all about?’ Sophia was as surprised as Valerie by the sudden air of tension on the verandah.

  ‘I would not have allowed it,’ said the countess, stretching out to touch Pyotr’s hand, which was clenched tightly on his knee. ‘It was only a joke, Petya. Tassya is becoming a little over-excited about her birthday.’

  ‘Over-excited? I call it downright rude.’ He glared at his sister, whose giggles had faded to a pout.

  ‘It would have been fun to watch, Petya, especially for you and Andrei,’ she said.

  ‘Valerie is not a servant, Tassya. Although by the look of her, and by the way you and Mother have behaved towards her, she seems to have been treated exactly like one,’ said Pyotr.

  ‘For goodness sake stop this bickering and tell me what this cray-fishing is all about!’ Sophia closed her fan with a sharp click then reached forward to hit Pyotr’s thigh with a light downward stroke. ‘Tell me, Pyotr Silakov!’

  Valerie stared, surprised by the antagonism between brother and sister, and the confusion of Countess Irina. She was grateful to Pyotr for coming to her aid, but cray-fishing seemed a very mild activity compared to what she normally did every day.

  ‘Years ago,’ said Pyotr shortly, looking at Sophia, ‘when we were much younger, Dunya used to go into the lake naked and search for crayfish lying in the mud at the bottom.’

  ‘And I thought you would enjoy that also, Valerie,’ said Tassya. ‘You told me once you couldn’t swim so think how cool and refreshing the water would be on your hot body.’

  The blood rushed to Valerie’s face. This was another way of punishing her for what she had said about Tassya’s adored Father Grigorii.

  ‘I didn’t realize that such a childish prank was your idea of party entertainment, Tassya,’ she said. ‘But I am grateful to Pyotr for enlightening me and will not be accompanying you tomorrow, Countess Irina,’ she told the flustered woman.

  ‘Now, now, Valerie, do not take offence,’ said the countess, leaning back in her seat and placing a hand on her palpitating bosom. ‘It was a naughty thing for Tassya to say, but no harm was intended. I cannot possibly manage without you and of course you must come to the picnic. It is a special day for my daughter and we must all go down to the lake and celebrate with her.’

  ‘Sorry, Valerie,’ said Tassya quickly. Once they had raised their glasses to toast her, she intended flinging back the rug and stepping out of her chair. What a sensation that would be! And she wanted as big an audience as possible to witness the miracle. ‘You must come, Valerie. Mother is quite right and I apologize for offending you. But it was only meant as a joke.’

  ‘I think it should be a double celebration,’ said Andrei suddenly. He, too, had found Tassya’s plan offensive and wondered if he had been mistaken in thinking she was a sweet and innocent girl. Perhaps her disabled state had fostered a black side to her normally gentle nature? ‘We must celebrate Tassya’s birthday, of course, but we should also show our gratitude to Valerie for all she has done for the family these past months.’

  ‘Hear! Hear!’ said Pyotr, grinning at his friend and thankful that the praise had not come from his own lips.

  Sophia frowned and Tassya sniffed, but remained silent. Andrei had not found her idea as amusing as she had hoped. Countess Irina, however, agreed wholeheartedly. She was not going to lose Valerie Marsh under any circumstances, so a little praise would not go amiss.

  ‘That is settled then,’ she said firmly. ‘We will all go down to the lake tomorrow evening, and the cray-fishing will be done entirely with rods and nets.’

  Everyone smiled at her words except Valerie. She would join the others and take part in Tassya’s celebrations, and if they wished to praise her it would make a welcome change. But that did not detract one jot from her longing to get away and she prayed Pyotr would find a moment to seek her out. She wanted to know what he had in mind for them both. Perhaps tomorrow whilst the others were fishing, they would find a few minutes to speak to each other?

  ‘What is happening at Tsarskoe Selo?’ Countess Irina drew everybody’s attention to a more ominous topic. ‘Will Russia go to war, Petya?’

  He shook his head. ‘Austria has declared war on Serbia, and Tsar Nicholas has returned from his holiday on the Imperial yacht and summoned his ministers to the palace. He has also ordered all military districts along the Austrian border to be mobilized—’

  ‘Then it is war!’ cried the countess. ‘Oh, my God, when do you go to the front, Petya?’

  ‘Now, Mother,’ he said, leaning forward and catching hold of her hands, ‘do not get so agitated. It is not war, and the Tsar has only done this as a precautionary measure.’

  ‘You didn’t tell me,’ said Sophia. ‘You said everything was fine at Tsarskoe Selo.’

  ‘And so it is,’ said Pyotr. ‘We are not prepared for war and have neither the rifles, nor the artillery, to take part in any major conflict.’

  ‘Only the men,’ said Andrei quietly.

  ‘Oh, don’t go on so!’ Tassya’s excitement had dwindled at the sight of so many long faces. ‘Tomorrow is my birthday and we should be thinking about that and all the happy things in life – not war, and bloodshed, and destruction.’

  Andrei, who had been leaning against the verandah railing, straightened his long body and went to stand beside her chair.

  ‘We will have a splendid time tomorrow, little Tassya,’ he said, placing his hands on her shoulders and bending to give her a quick hug. ‘I cannot wait to see this surprise you have promised us. It is not Valerie Marsh cray-fishing, I presume?’

  At once Tassya was smiling again.

  ‘It is far more exciting than cray-fishing, Andrei.’ She was elated by the affection in his voice, and by the warmth of his hands on her body.

  But Valerie, who was watching her and Andrei, as well as Pyotr and Sophia opposite them, felt the cold fingers of premonition close around her heart. They were together, couples who belonged to each other. Whilst she was an outsider, who belonged to no-one.

  Pyotr had promised never to leave her, and she believed him. However, if war came and he was sent to the front she would have no right to him as a wife, or mother, or sister would. She would not be informed if he were injured or, God forbid, killed.

  She could wait for weeks and weeks knowing nothing and who would inform her? Whom would she dare to ask for news of him?

  In peacetime she and Pyotr could make a love-nest for themselves and form a secretive yet enduring relationship that would last all their lives. But if war came to Russia, V
alerie Marsh would be a nobody – a foreigner, without money, and without any claim on the man she loved.

  Pyotr, glancing across at her strained face, guessed at what was passing through her mind and longed to hold her, to tell her that everything would be all right. I am yours now and forever and we will be together, I promise, my Varinka. Then Sophia’s hand came down on his heavy with the weight of her ruby ring, and her voice drew his attention.

  ‘Do you think we should bring the marriage day forward, dearest Petya? Perhaps we should marry early next month? If war should come, you will be called up at once and we might not be together on the 17 September?’

  ‘There is no need to rush,’ he said reassuringly.

  All the necessary arrangements had been made in St Petersburg and he was not going to be forced into an earlier marriage. There was only one month to wait, after all, and a great deal to be organized before then. Like his mother, but for very different reasons, Pyotr was not going to lose Valerie. But time was needed in which to sort out her new abode.

  ‘Do you think there is going to be a war, Andrei?’ asked the countess, wanting another opinion, unsure what to think.

  ‘I don’t believe the Tsar wants war,’ Andrei said carefully, ‘but an attack on Serbia can only be interpreted as a challenge to Russia’s power and her influence in the Balkans. We cannot stand by and allow Serbia to be humiliated. If we do, we will lose rank as a great power.’

  ‘I think it all depends on Germany,’ said Pyotr. ‘If, as I hope, the Kaiser wants war as little as Tsar Nicholas, then the conflict can remain a small affair left to sort itself out. But if Germany goes to the aid of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then I fear Europe will become a battlefield.’

  There was silence as they all absorbed his words.

  ‘So we wait to hear what Kaiser Wilhelm decides,’ said the countess eventually.

  ‘Well, I’m off to bed,’ said Sophia, bored by the politics and wanting the next day to come as quickly as possible. She had the most extravagant and beautiful outfit to wear.

  It was French and wildly expensive, but she longed to see Pyotr’s and Andrei’s expressions when she paraded in it. It was not right for a picnic but was ideal for a celebration. And Tassya was not going to be the only one to receive attention.

  ‘Good night,’ she said, rising to her feet and smiling at the raised faces. ‘I will see you all tomorrow.’

  She bent to kiss Pyotr before he stood up, then walked through the open glass doors into her new pink salon. This was a glorious room and just one of the many changes taking place at Mavara. Soon it would be well and truly hers.

  Sighing with satisfaction, Sophia Lukaev climbed the stairs to her bedroom.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Next day Pyotr managed to see Valerie on her own.

  After a midday meal of pork and tomatoes, followed by fruit and ice-cream, he announced that he was driving out to see how the harvesting of the wheat was progressing.

  ‘Would any of you like to join me?’ he asked.

  To his relief, the countess said she was going to have a rest before the evening’s entertainment, and neither Tassya nor Sophia showed enthusiasm for a drive in the open carriage under the blazing sun.

  ‘Perhaps Valerie would like to see how the wheat is gathered?’ said Andrei, guessing at Pyotr’s intention.

  ‘She always stays with me,’ said the countess, as Conrad arrived to help her upstairs.

  ‘I don’t suppose Valerie has managed to leave the house at all since being with you, countess,’ said Andrei, with a gentle smile. ‘This is supposed to be the day when we thank her for her kindness to you, as well as spoiling the birthday girl,’ he added swiftly, noticing Tassya’s frown.

  ‘I’m sure Valerie won’t want to drive out at this hour of the day,’ said Sophia.

  ‘But I should like to go,’ said Valerie. It would be her only chance to see Pyotr, and a short time away from Countess Irina would be bliss.

  ‘That’s settled then,’ said Pyotr.

  On hearing that Andrei was going with them, Sophia relaxed, and once the three ladies had departed for their various chambers Valerie followed the men out into the hallway. She was watching Pyotr giving orders to Feodor when Andrei attracted her attention.

  ‘If you will excuse me, Miss Marsh,’ he said formally, bowing before her, ‘I think a short nap out on the verandah is what I desire most at present.’ As he lifted his head she saw his eyes were glinting with amusement. ‘Will you forgive me if I do not join you in your drive through the wheat fields?’

  ‘I understand completely, Andrei Odarka,’ she said, with a gracious inclination of her head. But her heart was singing.

  Valerie didn’t know how much Pyotr had told his friend about their plans for the future, but Andrei was obviously aware of their difficulties and was giving them a longed-for opportunity to be alone together.

  When Pyotr came to join them, Andrei explained that he would not be accompanying them, and Pyotr burst out laughing and clapped him on the shoulder.

  ‘You are a friend, indeed, Odarka, and one day you must allow me to repay this debt.’

  ‘Do not stay away too long,’ said Andrei. ‘Remember that this is Tassya’s birthday and I do not want it ruined by some thoughtless behaviour by her brother.’

  ‘We will be back in plenty of time to dress for the special occasion, I promise you that,’ said Pyotr. ‘Come, Valerie, I want you to see one of the most beautiful and satisfying sights on Mavara.’

  As Feodor opened the front door for them, Valerie gasped as the hot dusty air of the courtyard engulfed her.

  ‘It will be better once we are moving,’ said Pyotr, taking her lightly by the arm and leading her down the steps towards the waiting carriage that had been brought round for them. ‘Feodor gave me this for you,’ he said, handing her a neatly folded scarlet kerchief. ‘He says you are not to go out bareheaded, Valerie Marsh, and has obviously realized you do not possess a summer hat.’

  ‘How thoughtful of him,’ she said, surprised by the unexpected kindness. She unfolded the scarf and placed it over her head, low on the forehead, then tied it at the nape of her white neck. Some of the maids wore their kerchiefs tied beneath their chins but in that intense heat Valerie wanted nothing around her throat. ‘What about you?’ she said.

  ‘I wear my hat enough on duty,’ said Pyotr, ‘so now it is a pleasure to feel the air on my head. You look like a little peasant girl. That is not meant impolitely,’ he said quickly, ‘just nice and pretty and young, Varinka.’

  The scarlet gave colour to her drab grey cotton and with her happiness as well as the sunshine, her cheeks were glowing.

  ‘I am glad my appearance pleases you. Let’s make the most of these precious moments, Pyotr. I am so looking forward to this drive with you.’

  It had been such a long time since she had been free to go out of doors and see the countryside. She wished she and Pyotr could simply take off and disappear into the distance leaving the house, and its three annoying females, behind. Unfortunately those three were part of Pyotr Silakov’s life and, if she loved him, she would always have to accept their claim on him.

  After helping Valerie up into the carriage, Pyotr took the reins and they moved briskly out of the courtyard through the big iron gates and on to a rough track over the fields.

  As he glanced down at her sitting small and erect beside him with her scarlet headscarf, he longed to draw up the horses and take her in his arms. But he had promised Andrei they would not be late back, and there would be time for kisses in the near future.

  ‘We will find our love-nest, Varinka,’ he said, ‘and I will make sure you are comfortably settled there before I depart for Tsarskoe Selo.’

  ‘But what about your mother?’ she said. not quite believing what he said. ‘I can’t just walk out on her.’

  ‘Mother will be cared for, do not worry. I shall speak to Feodor and if he says more servants are needed then we will have more servants. I�
��ll not allow anyone in my family to suffer and Mother must have all the care and attention she craves. But not from you, my love.’

  Pyotr’s eyes were tender as he gazed down at her.

  ‘You have done enough for my womenfolk – have worked harder than any servant – and now you will receive your reward. You’ll have a home of your own, servants to care for you, and a man who loves you very much even if he is not always there to tell so.’

  ‘That will be wonderful,’ said Valerie, turning her head and nuzzling against his lightly clad arm. ‘And I, in turn, promise never to intrude upon your marriage. But I shall be waiting for you always.’

  She did not know how this could all be arranged – there was so little time before he had to return to his duties – but her trust in him was complete.

  Pyotr put out a hand to hold her fiercely against him for a moment then, as they approached the harvesters, he let her go and stared grimly ahead.

  Dear God, help me to keep all my women happy, he prayed.

  He did not intend going into marriage in a light-hearted, fickle way. He meant to make Sophia a good husband and wanted her to be content with him and her new home. He also wanted his mother and sister to be happy in the coming years. But most of all he wanted his Little England to feel safe, and needed, and adored.

  ‘Here we are,’ he said, driving the horses off the track and onto the field, where the stacks of sheaves were rising as high as the peasants’ own cottages.

  Valerie was surprised to see so many women at work, but Pyotr explained that the men were employed at the beet factory on the other side of the estate.

  With backs bent, sharp scythes swinging in their hands, the women were bending and slashing and stacking in an easy rhythmical motion, appearing unaffected by the heat and dusty chaff-filled air.

  Children of all ages were helping their mothers sometimes two or three together, staggering over the stubble with their sheaf.