‘Nothing is hidden for long in Russia,’ said Patrick simply.
I got up. I felt full of impatient energy. ‘So I am to keep quiet, say nothing, and let you get out of Russia?’
‘If I can,’ said Patrick.
I turned to Marisia. ‘It was you who got Patrick out of Vyksa. For that, thank you.’
‘I had help.’ She looked at Patrick. A communication took place between them, he nodded his head. ‘I got help from Edward Lacey.’
‘He’s another of my sort,’ said Patrick. ‘Only a thoroughgoing professional. I mean, he is working for the British government.’
‘So that’s why he’s in Russia? Gathering information about life here? And it’s not because of his sister or Ariadne or Dolly Denisov.’
‘Well, they provide a good excuse, and a genuine reason for being here. Besides, he is their friend.’
‘But not mine, apparently,’ I said. ‘Or he would have spoken to me.’
‘You were about to be married,’ pointed out Marisia. ‘It was hardly the right moment.’
‘But later, later he could have said something …’
‘It is he who suggested I speak to you now,’ said Marisia.
A sudden and unexpected pang gripped me; it was almost a physical pain: ‘Everyone seems to trust you, Marisia,’ I said.
‘Rose!’ She was hurt.
We stared at each other. In that moment, all our friendship seemed held in threat. And it was my doing, and my eyes fell.
‘Rose, you’re jealous.’
‘Yes,’ I muttered.
‘To show you there is no cause, I will give you – ’ and she consulted the silver watch pinned to her bodice – ‘one half hour alone. There you are, Rose, take it.’ And retreating to the door, she closed it firmly behind her.
Patrick took a deep breath of relief, letting me see then the tension and anxiety that had been inside him. ‘My dearest Rose, I must take this chance of talking to you and saying things I could not say in front of Marisia, although she is our friend. Edward Lacey, who makes it his business to know everything and who is also our friend, has an informer inside the Third Bureau who tells him that my presence at Vyksa was known not only to the secret police, but also to an enemy in the Denisov household. I can see that it must have been so. I trust Marisia personally, but I think now that my relationship to you has been known and exploited from the beginning. I begin to see terrible things.’
I was staring at him in horror, trying to fit into one coherent picture all the shattering facts that were flooding in on me.
‘Probably the old Princess,’ I said. ‘I always thought her capable of almost anything. She’s what I call a remorseless innocent. No pity in pursuit of what she thinks right. Ariadne is like that, too. Not Dolly, though.’
‘You always protect Dolly.’
‘I like her.’
I think you like them all.’
‘The terrible thing is,’ I confessed, ‘one cannot help it.’
‘I think they are in for trouble,’ said Patrick. ‘Or some of them. Edward’s informer tells him that the Tsar’s government is going to celebrate the Tercentenary of its dynasty’s rule by a most tremendous crack-down on all political movements, clubs, societies and secret groups. Of course, through their secret police they know the names of almost everyone engaged in such things. A lot of people are going to be arrested.’
‘You mean people like Marisia and Dolly?’
‘I think the old Princess can protect Dolly. And Marisia? Well, she has her own ways of looking after herself,’ he said thoughtfully.
‘Have you told her what you know? It seems to betray her not to.’
‘In a guarded kind of way I have, but there is another reason for being careful with her … One anarchist group is planning to forestall the crack-down by striking a great blow. I don’t know the details, nor did Edward’s informer, but I am alarmed. You are involved with these people. Your husband is one of them. You even sympathize. God knows, after Vyksa I understand that sympathy, but there is great danger. I want you to ask your husband for your freedom, and leave Russia. Edward Lacey will help us both.’ He gripped my hand. ‘Will you do that, Rose?’
‘Yes,’ I said, my breath coming irregularly. A complex web of double relationships was opening up before me. There was Marisia, a messenger for the revolutionaries, acting as a go-between; there was Andrew, most likely a fellow-conspirator – was it he who had been stealing explosives from the Gowrie Works? And there was my husband. What was Peter’s part? What was mine? I could see my own danger. Even more could I see Patrick’s, because he was under threat from every side. Only Edward Lacey seemed to offer true protection to him, and his motives were political. ‘Yes, I will do it. I must. It is you I long to be with. You are my love. But I have loyalties I cannot easily break. Let me do it in my own way.’
Patrick drew the bolt across the door. ‘Now I don’t mean to waste the half hour we have. Come here, Rose.’ And he held open his arms and I went into them. ‘I stood watching you once,’ he murmured, ‘from the depths of Madame Mozorov’s shop to which I had brought a message for Ariadne from Marisia. You never saw me. I hungered for you then. It is nothing to my hunger now’
Marisia had said half an hour, but she let us have longer than that.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next day I was confined to bed. I seemed to have the symptoms of a heavy cold, but inside myself I knew I was hiding. I wanted to stay quietly for a time with my secret. Also, I didn’t want to have to look into the eyes of all those around me to see which one of them was my adversary. Of course, I had to see Peter and Dolly, and both of them were very nice to me and absolutely as normal. So much so that I felt almost their betrayer for not speaking to them openly.
The cold had been increasing with each day that passed and now was nearly thirty degrees below zero. Within, the house was warm, overheated almost, but outside thick furs felt like light cotton. The eyelashes became rigid, the breath froze – even to draw a breath was painful. How the horses and the coachmen and the poor of the city stood the great cold, I could not conceive. Or the sick or the old. To myself I thought that when the cold reached its greatest intensity, which they said was after Christmas, then the Princess Irene would die. I even thought I might die myself, so great was the tension within me.
I was sitting propped up against my pillows when a note was handed to me from Madame Titov. After the rather elaborate formalities which always prefaced her letters, she went on: ‘You are invited to call, on any day you choose, on the boy. You know to whom I refer? Discretion is best. Simply announce yourself. The way is prepared. But go soon.’
‘Physician, heal thyself,’ I groaned, dragging myself upright.
But I felt better when I was on my feet and, wrapping myself in my thick fur, I decided to drive myself that afternoon.
I drove on the snowy roads to Tsarskoe Seloe, had my car escorted by a mounted soldier to a side door, and was quietly admitted. I didn’t expect to enjoy myself, but found myself taking part in a happy nursery tea.
‘Huntley and Palmer biscuits, you see?’ my young host pointed out proudly. ‘I ordered them especially for you.’
‘Delicious,’ I said, ‘May I have another one?’
‘Oh, please.’ And he took one himself and then one for his little fox-terrier. ‘It was as you said. My leg isn’t exactly better, but it’s a good deal more use to me than it was. That’s why I asked for you to come. I wanted to show you.’
‘Oh, good.’ A trio of little cats was wreathed round his feet. ‘Do I recognize that kitten? Is it the one I saw at Spala?’ He nodded. ‘How it’s grown.’
‘She had fleas,’ he said prosaically. ‘I caught them too. Did you?’
‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘Never an itch.’
He laughed merrily and held out his hand. ‘You will come again, won’t you? It has been such fun.’
He had a large square pocket on his loose jacket, and he popped the
kitten in so only its head could be seen. Both of them looked at me with big, confident eyes. ‘It’s name is Katinka.’
‘And what else is that I see in your other pocket?’ I said in surprise. ‘It looks like a cigarette case. Smoking, are you now?’
‘No! He doubled up in mirth at my suggestion, delighted that I should make it. ‘I took it off Papa for smoking all the time at tea. I am to keep it three days as his punishment. Not that he’ll stop, of course, but when he’s at it one can smell nothing but those horrid gaspers of his. Can’t you smell them now?’
‘A little,’ I admitted. It was quite strong, as a matter of fact.
That evening I described my visit to Peter. He liked to hear the details of life inside the palace. I was now doing my best to keep things smooth and pleasant between us at all times, because as soon as a suitable moment presented itself, as soon as I had the courage, I meant to ask him for my freedom.
‘And still tea and biscuits at “the five o’clock” with his parents? How English.’
‘I think it’s rather nice. And anyway, by all accounts the Tsar smokes more cigarettes than he drinks tea.’
‘Oh, everyone knows about those cigarettes. I’ve smelt them; like burning rope.’
‘You’re a gossip at heart, I believe, Peter.’
‘All Russians are.’ He was thoughtful. ‘The kitten obviously needs a bed. Why don’t you get one made at Knopf’s and give it to him as a present?’
‘Oh, Peter, what a nice idea! Yes, I’ll go there tomorrow and choose, I can buy some Christmas presents there as well.’ I was anxious to be placatory.
Peter came with me to the shop. To my surprise, Knopf’s had a number of beds for pet cats for me to choose from. Some were simple and rustic – though craftsman-made – while others were luxurious and ornate. I swithered between a comfortable little bed covered in quilted silk and a solid wooden four-poster complete with hangings embroidered with mouse faces. But then Peter drew my attention to an even more fascinating structure like a Chinese pagoda. Made of wood and metal, it was gleaming with red and gold and decorated with tiny bells.
‘How pretty,’ I said. ‘Certainly it is fit for an Imperial cat. But it’s very large.’
‘He has six cats,’ Peter pointed out.
‘Perhaps it is the best one to choose. I do like it, I must say. Yes, I’ll have it.’
‘And we will have a big K for Katinka Kat painted on the side of the pagoda,’ suggested Peter.
‘Certainly, madame.’ The salesman nodded and bowed. ‘You must allow us a little time, however.’ He consulted his book. ‘Two days, three at the most, if you please.’
When the present to the child is delivered then I shall leave, I thought. That shall be my deadline. Tonight I must talk to Peter.
That evening the temperature had dropped below even what was considered the usual winter cold in St Petersburg. Even inside the house it seemed chilly. And the atmosphere was uneasy. I thought now that it was the atmosphere of the Red Staircase, penetrating everywhere now, impregnating everywhere with its flavour of ancient frivolities combined with incessant intriguing and plotting.
Peter listened quietly enough, when I told him that I wished our marriage to end and wanted my freedom, then paced slowly up and down our room, deep in thought.
‘Do something for me,’ he said, ‘and I will meet you in any request you make about our relationship. Go on a journey for me to Moscow.’
‘So it’s a bargain?’ I said.
‘No, that’s a crude word. There are no bargains. You need not go unless you wish. It’s for you to decide.’
‘I’ll do it for you, Peter. I can see it is important to you. As a gesture of affection and trust,’ I said, holding out my hand.
He held it for a moment, and then kissed it. ‘Go to bed now. I have work to do. I will tell you all about it tomorrow.’
In the morning, Peter was up before me, and I found him studying my wardrobe.
‘What are you looking at? My clothes, Peter? All my old ones, too. The nicer ones are over there, my dear.’
He turned round to me. ‘I was looking to see what you could wear today.’
‘Oh, don’t you worry,’ I yawned. ‘I will decide.’
‘I’ve chosen already.’ He put his arm round me and drew me away from the closet. ‘Go and drink some coffee. You’re only half awake. Have your breakfast, and I will join you.’
When he appeared, he had a pile of clothes over his arm which he laid out on a chair before me. I saw a thick tweed skirt, a tailored jacket of grey wool that I had brought from home, and a shapeless garment which I recognized at once.
‘My old shuba!’ I exclaimed. ‘I kept it out of sentiment. But why on earth am I to wear all those things?’
‘Drink your coffee and I’ll tell you.’
I poured another cup for Peter and sipped my own. My breakfast tray was on a round table in the window. We usually breakfasted alone now. It was the household concession to our married state.
‘I want you to take a message to Moscow. I will give you the address and also draw you a map. There will be no difficulty about finding the way.’
‘And how am I to get to Moscow?’ I said, staring at him.
‘By the railway. You will go to the Central Station in St Petersburg and get your ticket. It won’t be a comfortable journey, I’m afraid, nor short. You must travel overnight.’
‘How long does it take?’ I stood up, trying to think myself into the position of someone about to undertake a long journey.
‘Long enough,’ he said absently, as if his thoughts were elsewhere. ‘About the clothes, Rose.’
‘No need,’ I was studying them. ‘I’ve worked it out for myself. I am not to look like your wife, nor anyone of importance. I am to look like a poor, negligible woman. A kind of disguise, in short. You don’t want me recognized, either when I go or when I come back.’
‘If you can manage it.’
‘Oh, I’ll manage it.’ I picked up the shuba. ‘I don’t believe this was new when I bought it. I believe I can still see the shape of the first owner embedded in it.’
’It’s no joking matter, Rose.’
‘I’m not joking.’ And I meant it. ‘Is it such a very dangerous and secret errand?’
He was silent. ‘Not dangerous, Rose, or I would not let you go. But its purpose must be secret, yes.’
‘Even from me?’
Peter took my hand and held it tight. ‘For the moment, Rose. In the end I expect you will know all. Yes, I’m sure of it. You must.’
‘I hate not knowing what I’m doing. But if you say I will know in the end, then I’ll put up with it.’ An idea had come to me. ‘Tell me, was it in connection with this errand of yours that Ariadne went to Vassily Island? Was that what she was really doing?’ I had heard the two of them arranging the expedition in the hall, and something in the way they were talking had made me wonder …
‘She brought me some information in connection with what takes you to Moscow,’ he said reluctantly. ‘I tell you the truth as much as I can,’ he said, with evident pain.
We stood looking at each other in silence. I could hear a pulse banging in my ears. I never doubted for a moment that if I went on this journey I should be taking part in a secret plot. So Peter was actively engaged in working against the government? I had always known, or guessed, something of the sort.
‘I understand that the government of Russia must be liberalized,’ I said. ‘Must it be done this way?’
‘You know it must. You can’t compare Russia with what you know of your own country. We must do things in a secret, quiet way.’
Suddenly I had a memory of that day soon after I had arrived in Russia when there had been a bomb in the Imperial Library. I remembered the police and the students they had arrested. One of them had been a young girl.
‘I couldn’t be a part of anything violent,’ I said.
‘No, no, Rose. Nothing like that, I swear. Don’t you trust
me?’
I took a deep breath. ‘Yes, I do trust you.’
‘You need not go if you don’t want to. I’ll put no pressure on you, Rose. Say no. Just say no, and there shall be no more mention of it.’
‘Oh, I’ll go.’
‘Very well then, here is what you are to do. You are to go to Moscow, to an address I will give you. You are expected. A man will be waiting for you there. You must give him the letter I shall give to you.’ Peter hesitated. ‘The man may not be there when you arrive, he may come later. It’s possible you may have to spend one night at the house, or even two. Prepare yourself for it.’
‘Write it all down, address, names, everything, while I pack a bag,’ I said briskly. ‘What will you tell Dolly?’
‘Nothing,’ he said. ‘For Dolly will not ask.’
I stared in disbelief.
‘I shall lie if I have to,’ he said in a hard voice. ‘And so must you. But silence is best.’
It was my first lesson in conspiracy.
When I set off a few hours later, I had a carefully written and detailed list of instructions tucked into an inner pocket.
‘Destroy it as soon as you can,’ said Peter. This was my second lesson in conspiracy.
In the small travelling bag at my feet was secreted the letter containing the message I was to deliver.
No one saw me leave the Denisov house. I slipped out, carrying my own bag, and took a public tram to the railway station. I attracted no special notice in the tram, or later when I bought my ticket for Moscow. I was just a shabbily dressed young woman travelling on her own. A third lesson for a conspirator, I thought: look like everyone else.
My first moment of fear came as I was sitting in the compartment waiting for the train to draw out of the station, and two policemen came down the platform, looking into every carriage. I shrank back into my corner-seat and tried to occupy myself with a newspaper. But they only put their heads round the door and withdrew, barely looking at me. I drew a sigh of relief.
‘Searching for an escaped prisoner, so I heard,’ said a fat woman sitting in another corner. ‘That’s the tale. Don’t know if it’s true. You can’t believe everything you hear.’
The Red Staircase Page 39
