Daughter of the Raven

by Cherime MacFarlane

  Dmitri handed it over without comment.

  "I had thought once everyone was settled we might wish to do so." Samuel puffed his cigar into flame then returned Dmitri's. "I must say I do not like the feel of things. It all smacks of...."

  With a slight nod, his partner finished the sentence for Devins. "Of 1873. And we have several things to consider. However, I would like to bring Stanislaus and Camille in on the discussion. Is there anyone you might wish to invite?"

  "Camille?" Samuel shook his head.

  "As she so aptly puts it, "it is what I get for marrying a woman with a brain". Dmitri puffed on his cigar. "You know, my father died young."

  The older man shook his head.

  "My father died when he was fifty seven leaving my mother with an infant son to raise in the wilds of Alaska. She stayed and began building for my future. Madame Alexeievna Bressoff was the daughter of a merchant. None of what I have would exist without her efforts."

  Dmitri knew Devins was considering his revelation carefully by the look on his face.

  "I can understand that." The older man said. "Leontine has been quite helpful when it comes to matters of business. I knew she was an intelligent woman before I married her. We have much the same views on things. I do not think she is quite ready to step into my shoes, but I believe I will encourage her to a greater knowledge of my, our businesses. Who knows what may happen. I do not wish my wife and child to be out on the street because she could not fend for herself."

  "Look, Samuel. We did not exactly start off on good terms. However, a very large lot of water has gone under that bridge. You most certainly did me a big favor by forcing the issue of marriage between Camille and myself. I did not intend to open the past to scrutiny, but I think we must clear this one up between ourselves. Apparently our ladies have been clearing out some cobwebs so we might as well get this over with."

  Samuel did something Dmitri had not seen before. The man blushed to the roots of his hairline.

  With bowed head, Devins spoke. "Yes, I suppose this is the correct time for me to apologize for my behavior that night. I must confess to you, my steward came to find me in time for intervention. But I purposely delayed. I was upset with Leontine for forcing me to bring Camille along, I was tired of caring for her."

  Devins straightened in his chair. "Truthfully, I think I was jealous of the bond between them. I wanted Leontine all to myself and wanted rid of Camille."

  "Apology accepted along with my undying thanks. I would have never given Camille a second look had that entire fiasco not happened. Without a doubt she is the best thing that ever happened to me. Also rest assured if anything ever happens to you, I will faithfully look after Leontine and your little one."

  Both men fell silent. When Devins rose to take his leave in order to return to his own home, he and Dmitri shook hands. A new chapter had opened up in their business and personal lives.

  The small family sat around the table in the kitchen. Camille and Ilyia had set out the food sent over by Leontine.

  Camille made sure each of the two smaller children were fed. Once they finished eating, she took them up to their beds. Anya ate hurriedly before going out into the garden with Keetering, who had just arrived.

  The young man was quick to call on the not quite settled family. Dmitri would have liked to pack him off for being presumptuous, but did not do so.

  Camille sat down next to her husband at the table after having settled Dmi and Lexie.

  "Did I hear Keetering's voice?"

  "You did."

  "And they are in the garden?"

  "They are."

  "And they have moved out of sight?"

  They have."

  Dmitri knew he was far too short with his wife, but was feeling increasingly irritable. The feeling was brought on by Keetering's intrusion into their first night in the house. He had a brief urge to take the younger man by the collar, forcibly eject him out of the house and kick him along the street for a considerable distance. Instead, he forced himself to sit quietly. A new topic of conversation was much preferable to causing trouble.

  "Samuel and I had one of those conversations earlier. You know the one, clearing the air type of thing. I learned he is a bit concerned with the present state of the Union's finances. And he is also worried about what might happen to Leontine if he were to die."

  "Why should you two be immune? It was bound to happen with all of us in the same house. Partnering in business also requires a certain amount of trust. I am sure trust was lacking." Camille watched her husband glance toward the back door before he replied.

  "Oh, it was lacking. However, I am finding he is likable in his own way. I have revised my earlier opinion of your uncle as a thoroughly greedy person with no motivation other than feathering his own nest. I believe there is a certain amount of avarice in his character, but no more so than normal."

  Camille considered his words for a moment as she listened for any noise from the garden outside the back porch steps.

  "And what do you consider "normal greediness"?

  Dmitri heard a burst of muffled laughter, which was quickly silenced. "Normal for anything other than one of the robber barons."

  "He is not a fortune hunter." Camille' kept her voice low so their conversation would not be heard in the garden.

  "I did not assume he was." Dmitri understood they were now talking of Keetering. "I have given it a great deal of thought, I think he is, what was your term for it? A collector?

  Her fingers found the cuff of his shirt and Camille tugged his arm toward her. "You know love, Leontine and quite probably Samuel, if she has discussed it with him, think both of us are allowing ourselves to give in to baseless fears."

  Dmitri rose, pulling his arm away from her fingers. Pacing the floor for a moment, he walked over to stand beside her.

  Nearly whispering, his tone was harsh. "They did not hold her bloody and screaming after she was born. They did not listen to her cry, hungry because her mother could not feed her. They did not cry in gratitude to God because one of the women in the village was still nursing her own child and had enough milk for Anya. They did not hold her and walk the floor with her, when she took sick and I was afraid she might not live."

  "All true love." Reaching out, she took one of his hands in hers. Opening his fist, Camille kissed his palm.

  "You were mother and father to her. I know how concerned you are for Anya. But we must stand back. She will make this decision on her own. There is nothing we can do, but be here for her if the need arises. If we are not able to accept him, she will cleave to him and we may not be able to see her or any grandchildren. You are a hunter Dmitri, be patient, this may be a very long hunt."

  Anya laughed softly when Charles grabbed her hand and kissed each finger.

  "You have such long fingers my sweet Anya. That is an interesting name."

  "It is Russian, as you might have guessed."

  "And it means...?" Charles toyed with her pinky finger.

  "Gracious." She responded softly.

  "It suits you. You are gracious, graceful and gorgeous."

  "So, what does Charles mean?" She asked.

  "You have me there, I have never bothered to find out." Charles put their hands together, from heel to fingertip. "Ah, now look there! Your fingers are longer than mine. Do you play the piano?"

  Anya shook her head. Her lips were curved upward in a slight smile. "We do not have a piano on the island. My father taught me to play violin."

  He recaptured her hand and entwined their fingers. "How long are your mother and father planning on staying here in San Francisco?"

  Anya was careful to not divulge Leontine's secret. "I believe about a year. Camille is not my mother. She is my step mother."

  "Oh. What happened to your mother?"

  Anya found she did not want Charles to pursue the subject of her mother. What would he think if he found out about her Tlingit heritage? For a moment pride in the fierce people of the north almo
st caused her to speak. Caution won. Anya decided to give him the bare facts.

  "We believe she died of milk fever a few days after I was born."

  Charles nodded. "I did wonder, as you do not resemble your stepmother, in coloring, nor do you look like your father." Charles made his decision. "Anya, will you marry me?"

  Anya felt as if she would suddenly wake to find Charles was not standing beside her, asking her to marry him. For an instant it was difficult to breathe.

  "Oh yes! I will most happily marry you, Charles. But this is so sudden. And." She took a quick breath. "We may not even be here a full year."

  He laughed as he pulled her into his embrace. Charles kissed her. His mouth closed over hers, Anya felt oddly uncomfortable for an instant. Then his hands pulled her closer to him. Anya could feel his body, she wondered at the firmness of him. The kiss grew more demanding, drawing her into a world only briefly glimpsed when watching her father and Camille.

  This is what it is like, being loved? Anya was eager to explore, she let herself relax against Charles. Feeling her acquiescence, Charles was intrigued. He was quite certain of her innocence, but her response was more than he had bargained for. Charles lifted his head, leaned back slightly and let his forehead rest on hers.

  "Well now. I think I shall go home and break the good news to my parents. Mother will be happy, Father will be glad to hear I will be taking my new position with a lovely wife to tend to wifely duties."

  "New position?" Anya wondered why he had never brought that up previously.

  "Oh I will tell you all about it later. It has only just been finalized. At the moment, we need to concentrate on getting wed, dear."

  He took another step back from her. "Let us go inside. You should talk with your parents, I with mine. Tomorrow will be soon enough for me to ask your father for permission to marry you."

  The elder Bressoffs were in the sitting room. Charles bid them a quick good night and with a squeeze of Anya's hand, left.

  Walking into the sitting room, the girl closed her eyes and twirled around a few times. "Charles asked me to marry him! Isn't that wonderful? I did not think it would happen."

  Dmitri closed his good eye as he shook his head.

  Camille spoke first. "And when will he come to speak with your Father?"

  "Oh, he said he would be coming by tomorrow evening. He was going home to break the news to his parents. He asked me to marry him!" With that comment, Anya drifted off to her room.

  Dmitri rubbed his forehead. A headache was beginning to build. He was losing his little girl to a man he did not trust to care for her. But there was nothing to be done to stop it.

  Dmitri called Stanislaus into the office on Monday. The arrangements were all that was left to deal with. On Sunday, Charles came by the house with his father and formally asked for Anya's hand. Somehow, Dmitri managed to hold on to reason and his notorious Bressoff temper. The news would be all over town in short order. He wanted to prepare the boy, before he heard of it from someone else.

  The office door was open and Stanislaus knocked on the doorjamb. The young man filled the doorway, the frame nearly touching his head.

  "Come in Stanislaus, close the door, please. Sit down, I have some news. This is a family matter."

  Stanislaus pushed the door shut behind him then tried to get comfortable in a chair which was almost too small for his frame.

  "Keetering asked for Anya's hand on Sunday. The wedding is to be in a couple of months as he is taking a government position." Dmitri felt it best to not dance around the subject.

  Dmitri watched as Stanislaus closed himself up around the words which meant the end of any chance for his dreams.

  The young man scrubbed his hands across his face. "Sir, can I be transferred to the Seattle office? I mean..."

  "I take your meaning boy. Yes, I will have a letter drawn up shortly. You are authorized to get to Seattle as soon as you can book passage. It was my plan in any event. Barrow wishes to retire. He is ready to stop working and you are his replacement. Go up there, learn all he can teach you."

  Dmitri refrained from telling Stanislaus how much he disliked his soon to be son-in-law. Nothing good could come of it. He had to stand behind Anya. More to the point, he would be required to walk beside her to give her away to the ocen, Keetering. There was no reason for two people who loved her to have to be in the agonizing position of watching an arrogant svoloch', snatch a jewel.

  Anya was so happy she could scarcely believe it. In a few weeks' time she, Anya Bressoff, would be Mrs. Charles Keetering. She would have monogrammed bed linens and crystal with their initials intertwined. The last fitting for her gown was to take place the next day. Arrangements had been made to hold the wedding reception at the Palace Hotel.

  Charles' parents negotiated carefully and quietly for the ceremony to be held at the Presbyterian Church where they were members. Anya had no objection to being married in a protestant church. In fact she had no objection to anything, so long as the marriage was finalized soon. She was impatient to begin her new life.

  Nothing was standing in her way of seeing many new places and new things. She was hoping children would wait for a while as she really wished to travel with her new husband. Charles had said their wedding trip was to be a surprise He would be announcing all the details at their reception. At least, he did tell her they would be traveling to another country.

  Leontine and Camille were at the dressmakers with Anya. Leontine was laughing as she joked with Anya, before the bride was called into the dressing room. Camille was trying to be cheerful, but the closer the day came, the more difficult remaining enthusiastic became.

  "Come now Camille! Surely you can muster up a bit more in the way of happiness for Anya." Leontine chided Camille.

  "I would if I could. I am doing the best I can. This was all so sudden!"

  "No more sudden than either of our marriages, Camille."

  Camille felt her cheeks begin to burn and she turned away from her Aunt.

  "Now, I am sorry! Sometimes I can be very forward. Forgive me Camille?" Leontine reached over to take her niece's hand. As she did so, Anya came out of the dressing room and walked into the viewing area.

  Anya had on the dress, which she did look exceptionally lovely in. The gown was made of satin with velvet trim. French silk boots were on her feet. She was wearing long kid gloves which ended well past her elbow. The gloves did not quite reach the puffed sleeves of the gown. A veil and silk lined satin train completed the ensemble.

  Camille felt the tears begin. She could not help herself. But it was what mothers did, they cried at weddings. Surely, no one would find fault with tears now, Camille did not try to staunch them.

  Anya sailed through everything with a smile. It was as if she were in another world. The day of the wedding was clear, the sky blue. Anya thought God was smiling on this, her big day. Her brother was ring bearer and being very well behaved. Lexie was the flower girl and Leontine her matron of honor. The church was crowded with guests. Anya waited for her father to come to the small side room to take her down the aisle.

  "Oh Poppa! I never thought this day would come!"

  Dmitri was silent as he looked at her. Then he spoke. "If you mother and grandmother could see...you..."

  He found it difficult to finish. "Ah well. I suppose many a father has said the same thing to many a daughter, along with telling them how beautiful they are. And you are lovely, my little milaya."

  "Thank you Poppa. I do treasure those words. Poppa, I do not recall seeing Stanislaus lately. Is he here?"

  "No love. He is in Seattle quite busy, but sends his regards." Dmitri decided a small white lie was not a bad thing.

  He managed to walk down the aisle without stopping and dragging Anya off. When he turned his daughter over to Charles, he tried to smile. Not that Charles would have noticed, as he did seem in awe of the woman he was marrying.

  Everyone attended the reception at the Palace Hotel. Dmitri and Camille sa
t with Leontine and Samuel. The latter two people carried the conversation and Anya's father and step-mother were grateful to be excused from having to make small talk. Holding hands under the table, neither of them touched the food and consumed little of the wine. It was toward the end of the evening when Charles made the announcement regarding his surprise.

  "Attention all!" Charles tapped on his champagne glass with a knife. "I have a surprise for my lovely bride. I promised her I would announce the destination for our wedding trip this evening." He turned to Anya with a low bow.

  "Anya, Mrs. Keetering, you and I are on our way to St. Petersburg, Russia. I am to be posted to the United States legation there. So love, our wedding trip will start our new lives with a posting."

  Anya smiled, she was beaming. Dmitri blanched. He became so white around his lips Camille feared for his heart. When he finally took a breath, Camille shuddered.

  Russia was the last place for any Bressoff at this particular moment in time. If certain individuals and possibly, certain governmental agencies learned of her identity. Camille felt faint for the first time in many years at the thoughts which were now racing through her mind.

  Using her fan as a shield, she turned to her husband. "There will be a short time tonight before they go up to the suite. I suggest we meet them in the hall."

  Dmitri could almost breathe again as the pounding in his temple abated somewhat. "Charles must be warned, Anya is not safe in Russia!"

  Samuel caught a portion of their whispered conversation. "Why is she not safe there?" He leaned over, making sure his face was not easily seen. Dmitri turned to face Devins.

  "There are those in Russia who are not happy with the closing of the estates. Russia is in a state of flux, much as France before the French Revolution, there are those who ..:

  "Yes! I see." Devins murmured, saving Dmitri any further explanation.

  "They should be leaving the reception shortly. Leontine and I shall hold this end of things down. You both go, catch them in the hall. Remember, suite 215."

  Dmitri and Camille slipped out of the crowded room. Taking the stairs to the second floor, they waited for the newly weds.