Samuel tapped Leontine on her arm. "Leontine, a moment please."
Camille's aunt turned to her husband who silently unfolded her fan. Leontine understood his message. Taking the fan, she held it up, idly swishing it about a few times as Devins outlined the matter. Eyes growing wide, she nodded a response. Leontine did not glance toward the two empty chairs.
The bouquet was thrown. The happy couple retired to their suite only to find Anya's parents waiting for them.
Dmitri was the first to speak. "Charles, we need to speak with you for a moment. We will not keep you long, but you need to know something about your planned trip."
Charles was reluctant, but after looking at Dmitri, decided a few minutes would not cause them undue harm. Unlocking the door, he ushered Dmitri and Camille inside. He and Anya cuddled close on the couch as her parents took a position before them.
"I assume this posting to Russia is final?" Dmitri asked sharply.
"Yes. It is. There is no changing it at this time."
"Then you must at all costs, never let anyone know Anya is a Bressoff. Bressoffs are not welcome in Russia. I mean that in the worst sense of the word. Russia is in turmoil, taking her to Russia is much akin to taking the Dauphin back to Paris, if he had escaped."
"Surely sir, it cannot be quite so bad? After all we will be under the protection of the United States. Our ligation there is heavily guarded."
"Have you been in Russia before Charles?" Dmitri kept a tight hold on his temper.
"No sir, I have not." The boy responded.
"Then believe me when I tell you neither the United States military, or any other force could protect you, if it is decided you should be killed. So long as you use her married name and do not let it be known that she is a part of the Bressoff family, you should be safe."
Dmitri spread his hands out. "If it does get out....I want my daughter to come home safely."
"I will look after my wife, Sir, you may count on it." The tone Charles used was barely civil.
Dmitri knew there was nothing more to be said. Unfortunately, it was now in Charles' hands. A fact which did nothing to ease his fears.
The parents of the bride did not bother to return to the reception and used the back stairs to leave the building. Dmitri hailed a cab and lifted Camille into the seat. He sat beside her on the ride home in stunned silence.
Together, they climbed the stairs to their bed without a word said. Camille began to cry when they finally slipped under the bed covering. Dmitri wished he could cry. There was nothing he could do, but wait.
Anya asked Charles to unbutton her dress before she went into the bedroom to change. She was not ignorant of what would take place thanks to Camille. She felt a certain amount of anticipation. Charles had been so very attentive during their courtship, she was eager to see what kind of lover her new husband would prove to be.
Leontine, not wanting to make the same error with Anya as had been made with Camille, also spoke to her about the titillating topic of sex. Leontine had just a bit of a different viewpoint than Camille. So enlightened, Anya decided each couple found their own level. She was looking forward to finding theirs.
Charles entered the bedroom only slightly drunk. He had purposely limited his intake of champagne. He wished to be fully involved with the breaking in of Anya. The ways in which she had responded to him caused him to wonder if she might have a bit of experience in lovemaking. He was not sure of it, however.
There was one light on. He could see her lovely firm flesh through the gown she wore. A gown which would be gone shortly. Charles wished to see all of his new bride.
He removed his own clothing, letting it fall to the floor. Anya watched him carefully. Perhaps, she was not so much experienced as educated. Her stepmother tended toward modern attitudes. A fact he had gathered during his investigation. Perhaps a bit of education was not a bad thing after all.
Charles started with small kisses. He slowly worked on stroking her firm breasts. She was slightly shy he discovered, when he attempted to place her hand further down his body than his chest. She turned a very lovely shade of pink, which reassured him of her innocence.
He was her first. It would be enjoyable for the both of them. After all, there were certain girls who had voted him the fastest learner in California. He would now put his knowledge to use.
Anya awoke the next morning feeling somewhat melancholy yet oddly satisfied. Charles was not in bed, but she heard him in the sitting room, evidently ordering food. The thought of food got her up from the bed and into her dressing gown.
Charles grinned at her from the couch. He was sprawled out, one arm across the back of the couch. "Hello there. I did not expect to see you this early. Are you hungry?"
"Famished!" Anya smiled at him in return.
The dressing gown barely covered his lower body. His chest was bare and for a brief moment in time, she was embarrassed. Anya turned her head away from the sight of the partially clothed man before her.
"Anya?" He called to her.
She carefully stole a glance in his direction.
"Come here! We are married, so I have every right to sit around my room with my wife," he took her hand as she stood before him. "nude if I so choose."
Charles pulled her down to sit on the sofa. He had not raised his voice, but Anya did catch the note of command in his tone.
Where did that come from? She wondered. Charles had never been so demanding before. It appeared there were a great many other things that might be changing in her life.
"Once we have eaten, I think we should begin deciding what we are taking with us to my post in St. Petersburg. We will need a few good things for entertaining, but we will not be able to take all the gifts. I think you will need to buy a few frocks in Paris. You are to leave the rest of your things here. Your allowance will not be terribly large at first, but should prove adequate in Russia."
Anya nodded. "What shall we do with the other things we have been given? Also, I believe my father has settled a reasonable sum on me."
"So my father informed me. He will be handling those funds until we return, or I am posted to another position. In the interim, you shall make do with the allowance provided. I will need sufficient funds to move in the correct circles in St. Petersburg when we are not having guests. It is important for my career that I make the proper contacts."
The bellhop knocked at the door and called out. "Room service."
Charles rose from the couch. "Go into the bedroom, you may use the bathroom first. Do not dally. I shall be right behind you. You may eat while I bathe."
He waved his hand in dismissal. "Go along with you, dear. Time is running on."
Anya did as she was told and ran a bath. She was careful to be quick. Once she was dressed, she went into the sitting room. Charles was just finishing his meal.
Rising from the couch, he patted her shoulder on the way past. "Good girl! I like a prompt woman."
Anya sat on the couch and ate something, she was not quite sure what, as her mind raced. She was not to have control of any of her money, further there would be a small allowance on which to maintain their residence in Russia. Worse, she was to do as she was told. Where had the attentive suitor gone? Where was the Charles she thought she had wed? What had she gotten herself into?
They left the hotel and took a cab to his parents' house. His mother warmly greeted her. After a quick peck on the cheek, the men of the family ignored her.
"Come along Anya, I believe you probably would like to put away your overnight bag. I moved you and Charles into the guest room as it is a bit more spacious. Mr. Keetering has informed me we need to pick a few things out from the gifts for you to take with you. We are to confine all to one trunk, since it is a bit costly to ship things clear around the world to Russia."
Why had she never noticed before that Mrs Keetering referred to her husband, as Mr. Keetering? "Do you know when we are to leave for the East Coast?" Anya asked her mother-in-law.
; "Mr. Keetering did not give me that information. As we are to have the gifts cataloged and acknowledgments out by the end of the week, I would imagine the departure date is fairly close."
"I will need time to say good bye to my family." Anya hated the almost panicked tone she heard in her voice.
"I am quite sure Charles has allotted time for a farewell visit in his timetable. Surely dear, you must realize with his involvement in government and this being the start of his career, some things must take priority. You have had years with your family, what Charles needs is paramount now."
Anya spent the balance of the day following the timetable set out by the Misters Keetering. Charles informed her they would be taking the train to the East Coast on the following Thursday.
Stunned by the news of their imminent departure, she did not know what to say. But Anya was determined to have some time with her family. She made herself extra pleasing to Charles that night. Afterward she asked to be allowed to have a good bye visit with her parents and great aunt and uncle.
Charles bluntly informed Anya, he was unable to allow her a whole day. However, after church on Sunday, she could have until 4:00 p.m. if she chose to skip dinner. As usual, he would be taking his Sunday afternoon nap after eating. But she must be home by four o'clock.
Anya could not wait to see Leontine. She needed to talk with her great aunt desperately. Charles obliging allowed her to use the carriage and driver, after admonishing her that her jaunt would come out of her allowance for the month, since he was paying the driver to work on his half day off.
Ringing her great aunt, Anya asked if she could drop by and see Leontine, explaining this would be a farewell visit. Leontine was ready for her on Sunday afternoon. They had a quick bite of lunch, then left Samuel to dine alone. The captain laughed as he waved them away after letting Leontine know he would be napping.
"So when are you leaving?" Leontine asked.
"Aunt, I was just informed we are leaving by train for Washington next Thursday"
Anya took a deep breath. She realized she was wringing her hands. "His father is to manage my allowance from Poppa." She was near tears. "Charles does not consult me on anything! Worse, I only have this afternoon to visit and say goodbye."
Leontine laid a comforting hand on her arm. "Welcome to the world of wives."
"Father does not treat Camille like a hireling. Uncle Samuel does not order you around as if you were a servant."
"Dear, your father is more in love with Camille than you can imagine. Samuel has learned to care for me. It was difficult at first for us. But I scrimped where ever I could, putting a little by each month from my allowance. I did not let him see how miserable he made me when he treated me badly. Eventually I earned his respect and I have a healthy little nest egg, Samuel is totally unaware of. I am sorry dear. Some men are not as autocratic as others. Charles probably has a healthy dose of self confidence bordering on arrogance. I have noticed his mother is quite a mousy woman and never ever has an opinion of her own."
"What am I going to do?"
"I think the question is what are you able to do? Certainly you noticed some of his arrogance?"
"No, he was always very ....Oh, well perhaps there were a few things here and there but..."
"Anya, you wanted to see the world and you will now be able to do so. That is, until the children arrive. When the time comes, you will need to resign yourself to being a good wife and mother. You are married, women have little say in the affairs of the world. Surely you have noticed this."
"Poppa does not treat anyone badly. Furthermore, I am the last of my mother's line. None of my Tlingit family would order me around like a slave."
"Your world was quite rarified, child. Women in this world do just exactly what your wedding vows stated, you obey the man you married. Unfortunately, your new husband may have been a good actor during your courtship. I would advise you to not bring up this sudden ambivalence about your marriage to Camille and your father. They were not in favor of your marriage. It will be up to you to keep the peace. They will want to know their grandchildren, if you create animosity between your family and your husband, they may be cut off. Be careful Anya, be very careful."
With a heavy heart Anya asked the driver to take her once around the block while she thought over Leontine's admonition. She had allowed herself to be dazzled by Charles. It was not her family's problem. As Leontine said, she could not allow her family to see she feared she had made a great mistake. She was married to Charles; she must live with her choice.
She and Camille hugged and cried a bit. Anya felt that was probably normal. Her father was more difficult to read. There was a closed feeling about him she had not encountered in a very long time. Lexie and Dmi were happy to see her and her little sister insisted on sitting on her lap.
"You are leaving next Thursday? Surely there will be time for another visit before you leave? I mean this is quite sudden, is it not?" Asked Camille.
Anya shook her head. "Unfortunately, there is not much time to go through all the gifts, to send out cards, not to mention packing."
Dmitri was still silent. His good eye had not left her face. Anya knew her father as well as he knew her. She suspected her show of enthusiasm was being questioned.
"Come and see us off." Anya gave Camille their time of departure.
"It is going to be such an adventure traveling all the way to the East Coast, across the Atlantic by steamer then on to St. Petersburg." Anya smiled as brightly as she knew how.
Dmitri walked Anya out to the carriage. "Remember what I told you about Russia. Keep your head down, doch'. Just be Charles' lovely little American bride. Do not speak Russian, do not mention Alaska, if at all possible."
He hugged her tightly. Anya could not help but cling to him for a moment longer than was necessary.
"Go with God child." Were Dmitri's last words to his daughter.
Dmitri went into the study and poured himself a fairly stiff brandy. Camille took Dmi and Lexi upstairs where she put them down for a nap. Dmi protested he had not taken a nap in a long time.
"It is Sunday and naps, it seems, are a Sunday tradition here. At least just lie quietly so as not to disturb Lexie. Will you do that for me?"
"Yes Momma. Why was Anya sad? Why are you and Poppa sad?"
"Dmi, your sister is a grown woman and married now. Anya has her own husband and someday soon, may have children of her own. We are just a little sad that she is no longer going to live with us."
"We will never see her again?" There was a catch in the boy's voice.
Camille brushed his sandy hair back from his forehead. "She is going on a long journey with her husband. We will see her again, but it may not be for a very long time."
Camille left the children and went to the study. She collapsed into the chair next to Dmitri.
"Brandy?" He inquired in a subdued tone.
"Yes, please. Make it strong." She nodded to the glass he held. "Like that one."
He poured her a glass before sitting back down to stare out the window. "She always was a horrible liar." He took a sip of the liquor then glanced over at Camille.
"And you could always see right through to her heart. Her heart is hurting right now. I wonder what happened." Camille sipped her drink.
"I have no idea. Any guesses I make only lead me back to the same place. Whatever happened, she is not willing to tell us. Since she is under Keetering's thumb, we must stay silent."
The Count drank half of his brandy, before speaking. "What could I do? She is mine. Anya is as stubborn and opinionated as I ever was. My mother did not want me to marry as young as I did. She certainly did not want me to marry Anya's mother, "the sins of the fathers"." The Count muttered.
Camille reached for his hand. "That is all we can do now."
Dmitri glanced over at her. "What?"
"You quoted the Bible, now we must pray for her. Each and every day, pray for her safety and that God guard her."
He had no res
ponse. Dmitri silently finished his drink.
Anya and Charles left San Francisco on a foggy day. All of his school chums were there to wish him well. Leontine and Samuel were at the farewell party. Leontine had a small basket of treats for them.
The bride would have liked to give her brother and sister a gift, but had received her allowance from her father-in-law and was appalled at the minuscule amount he had given her.
Dmitri and Camille had a gift for Charles, a small leather covered brandy flask with his initials engraved on the stopper. For her there was a wrapped paper parcel. Their good byes said, the train left the station. She and Charles went into the parlor car.
"Well what do we have here?" Charles unwrapped her parcel for her.
"A book. That should help to while away the time until we reach Washington." He flipped through the book then shook it once or twice. Anya realized he was checking to see if any money had been tucked between the pages. Had there been, she was quite certain he would have pocketed whatever had been given to her.
"And in here?" Charles flipped open the lid of the basket while Anya held it on her lap. He made a quick check of the contents. There were a couple of apples along with two small cakes.
Anya realized the basket was a bit heavy for only holding fruit and cakes and resolved to check it a bit more thoroughly. She waited a few hours before excusing herself in order to find the washroom.
Carefully removing the contents of the basket, she placed them in the sink. She felt around the inside of it, before noticing a fat spot in the lining. There was a small place where the lining was hemmed but not sewn down. Two fingers were just barely able to wiggle the two coins out of their hiding place. Two fifty dollar gold pieces wrapped in a bit of paper had been tucked away by Leontine.
"Hide the coins in the lining of each shoe, love." Were the words Leontine had written on the note.
Anya sat down on the small bench. Using one of her hat pins, she lifted out the stitches in the lining of her shoes. At the side, beneath her ankle, there was a small indentation in her foot. The coins would not rub there. She doubted Charles would look for concealed money in her shoes.
Daughter of the Raven Page 5
