Love and Triumph: The Coltrane Saga, Book 8

by Patricia Hagan

  “Rudolf!” She turned on him furiously. “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re rushing me? I’ve been here only a few hours and you’re badgering me, and if it keeps up, I swear I’ll leave.”

  Rudolf ground his teeth together, and it was only with a great effort that he was able to bite back his own fury. Oh, one day she was going to pay for being such an arrogant little bitch, making him look like a lovesick fool.

  She then whirled on Jade. “And please, Aunt Jade, I must respectfully remind you that some things are personal!”

  She stood, heart pounding. Moving around the coffee table, she headed for the door, calling over her shoulder, “Excuse me, but I’m tired. I think I’ll rest till dinner.”

  When she had gone, Jade shook her head and mused aloud. “I guess I can’t blame her. We’ve both been pressuring her, haven’t we?”

  Rudolf did not immediately respond. He was giving his furiously pounding blood pressure time to slow down, lest his anger show. Finally, he was able to take a deep breath, a sip of tea, paste a doleful smile on his lips, and effectively offer a forlorn sigh. “I can’t help it. If I’m guilty of badgering her, so be it. I’m merely a man, completely, helplessly, hopelessly in love.”

  Jade covered his hand with hers. “I know you are, but maybe Marilee is just more worried about her father than we realize. Maybe now isn’t the right time for her to be thinking about marriage.”

  Rudolf could tell she was on his side, and he was about to confide his appreciation when suddenly there were sounds from the hallway, and they turned expectantly. He felt a momentary flash of hope that Marilee was returning, embarrassed over her outburst and wanting to smooth things over.

  That hope, however, quickly gave way to despair, then melted into sheer panic as his mother appeared.

  And she was reeling.

  Elenore, holding on to her arm, looked at Rudolf fearfully in a silent plea for him to understand she had tried to keep her from joining them but lost the battle.

  Seeing Jade, Amalia stiffened with embarrassment and shrugged off Elenore’s hand with an indignant cry. “Stop treating me like an old lady, for heaven’s sake!” With head held high, she walked right over to Jade, extended her hand, and introduced herself.

  “Welcome to my home.”

  Jade warmly responded, “Thank you. It’s nice of you to have invited us here. I apologize for my niece not being here, but she was tired from our trip and went to lie down. She’s looking forward to meeting you at dinner.”

  “That’s nice,” Amalia murmured absently, not really caring. She sat down in the seat Marilee had vacated, waved away Elenore’s offer to pour tea, and, pointedly ignoring Rudolf’s angry stare, brusquely demanded, “Tell me, what does your family think of my son courting your niece?”

  Rudolf moaned under his breath, exchanged an anxious look with Elenore, signaling with his eyes to get their mother out of there.

  Elenore shrugged helplessly. There was nothing she could do.

  Before Jade had a chance to respond to such candor, he quickly admonished, “Mother, your question is a bit premature, don’t you think? Now, have some tea—”

  “I hate tea, and you know it!” Amalia snapped, then, seeing the assortment of goodies on the table, wanted to know, “Did that new cook you hired make those? I must say Ulda never was much when it came to pastries, but then I didn’t hire her. She came with the castle.”

  She gave Jade a probing look. “Where do you live? Spain, I think Rudolf told me. He sneaked away to go to that fancy wedding, you know.”

  She paused to glare at him and wagged a finger as though he were a naughty child. “Worried me to death, he did.”

  Elenore rolled her eyes.

  Rudolf, however, saw the way his mother swayed ever so slightly as she reached for a tart; he knew she was not just tipsy—she was very, very intoxicated— and a potentially disastrous situation was at hand. But he also took note of Jade’s expression—compassion for his mother, embarrassment for him. Quickly he decided there was no more need for pretense; sympathy could be very useful.

  He stood, clasped his mother’s shoulders, and solicitously declared, “You’re in no condition to socialize with our guest, Mother. I’m taking you to your room, and Elenore will stay with you till dinner to make sure you get your rest—and no more tonic!” he added meaningfully to Elenore, then shook his head pathetically in Jade’s direction, sending her a silent plea for understanding.

  Jade reacted as he’d hoped, giving him a concerned nod to excuse himself, do whatever needed to be done. She understood.

  Amalia protested as he pulled her to her feet. “What is wrong with you? I’m fine. I—” The tart fell from her hand, making a gooey mess on the expensive, and borrowed, Veramin rug.

  She screeched, “Now look what you made me do!”

  “We’ll clean it up. Come along, Mother. You’re very tired.” He half carried her, half dragged her from the room, Elenore following.

  When he returned to the parlor, Jade was not there.

  He cursed, began to pace furiously, till he suddenly realized all of his problems were actually working to his advantage. He calmed then, smiling to himself to think that Jade would tell Marilee his mother was an alcoholic; they would both feel sorry for him. Perhaps Marilee would be a bit more tender.

  Just then he heard the sound of Hanisch returning, and he rushed out into the courtyard to meet him. Hanisch drove the Fiat all the way into the garage, and Rudolf followed.

  “It’s good that we need to move faster than planned,” Hanisch said.

  “I don’t understand,” Rudolf said.

  “That’s why I was called to headquarters—because we have to move fast in all directions.”

  Rudolf felt a shiver of excitement.

  Reaffirming what they had finally been able to learn—that the destination for the Czar and his family had been Tobolsk—Hanisch confided that agents were already hard at work attempting to infiltrate the guards there to gain information.

  “But things are starting to explode,” Hanisch explained. “Kerensky and the PG are crumbling. The word is—Lenin is ready to make his next move.

  “Comrade…” He paused to flash a grin that seemed to split his rugged face wide open with its ebullience. “The revolution we’ve been waiting for is right around the corner. I’m heading for Russia because I want to be a part of it.”

  Fearfully, because he did not want to be involved in actual combat, Rudolf asked, “What, then, are my orders?”

  “The abduction will take place as soon as you decide the time is right. Agents are waiting for word from you. Cord Brandt will be in charge after I leave.”

  “When is that?”

  “I’m not sure, but soon!” He pounded his chest in triumph. “No more dreams and fantasies about what might happen! I will be there to help make it happen!”

  “Then Brandt will take care of the ransom for our Romanov princess,” Rudolf mused out loud.

  “Right. He has his orders and knows what is to be done.”

  Rudolf felt annoyed. The abduction and ransom had been his idea, and now it appeared he was being pushed aside. With barely contained bitterness, he asked, “After it’s over, what will the Zealots and Bolsheviks want from me then?”

  “Your orders are to proceed to marry Marilee Mikhailonov as quickly as possible to keep her here. Let nothing stand in your way. She cannot leave Switzerland.”

  Rudolf’s laugh was mocking. “That’s easier said than done, Hanisch. It may come as a shock to you and everyone else, but the young lady is not willing to marry me for the moment. I have a plan, however, and—”

  “Make it work, dammit!” Hanisch growled, grabbing the front of his shirt and giving him a shake. His eyes were stormy, narrowed, as he hoarsely whispered, “You haven’t heard the rest of why I was summoned! Word has just come that Drakar Mikhailonov has escaped with a large portion of the Czar’s personal wealth. It was smuggled to him by a cousin of the
Czar, a woman, said to be in love with him. She was captured but refused to tell where he was going, but we do know the money was to be used to try and buy freedom for the Imperial family.”

  He released Rudolf, who instinctively stepped back out of his reach.

  “Mikhailonov, we have been told by one of our informants, was seen on the Imperial train at Pskov, where the Czar signed the formal papers of abdication. He was not on that train when it left for Mogilev. He has not been seen since, but it stands to reason that sooner or later he will get in touch with his daughter. That’s why you will marry her and keep her where she will be under surveillance. When Mikhailonov contacts her, our people will be ready to grab him—and the gold.”

  Suddenly a voice came from the shadows: “A very good plan…if it works.”

  Hanisch drew a knife from his boot so fast Rudolf did not see the lightning-quick movement, only the glint of steel as he turned in the direction of the intruder.

  Cord Brandt stepped into the light. “You should make sure you’re alone before you start telling secrets, comrade.”

  Hanisch bristled but laughed nervously to cover up his error. Brandt was right. “I thought we were alone. What business have you here, anyway?” He returned the knife to its hiding place with an equally swift motion.

  “I came to look the place over, make sure I know my way around when the time comes so I won’t stumble in the dark.”

  To Rudolf, he said, “I’ll need a diagram of the castle.”

  “I have one ready for you,” Rudolf informed him.

  “Good. It’s nearly dark. I’m going inside to look around.”

  When he was gone, Rudolf felt compelled to admit, “There are times he makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Why? Because he’s German?” Hanisch ridiculed. “Contrary to what they want the world to believe, the Germans are on the Bolsheviks’ side, Rudolf. They know revolution and the Overthrow of Kerensky and the PG are the fastest roads to peace with Russia. Maybe Brandt is a German agent. I’ve thought of the possibility, and if he is, so what? He’s on our side, he saved my life. Don’t worry about it. You’ve got more important things to do—like getting married!”

  Hanisch was right. He did have important things to do…and tonight might be the time to start.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rudolf knocked hesitantly, afraid of what terrible situation might wait on the other side of the door.

  Almost at once, it opened. Elenore, looking extremely harried and agitated, motioned impatiently for him to enter.

  “How is she?” He was relieved to see his mother lying quite still, her eyes closed. “Is she asleep—or drunk?” he scornfully inquired.

  Elenore irritably countered, “What difference does it make? I’m not going to try and get her up for dinner. You can say she’s sick…whatever. I don’t care.” She walked over to the faded velvet chaise and threw herself on it. Drawing her knees up to her chin, she folded her arms about her legs and stared solemnly at nothing in particular.

  “Well, what the hell is wrong with you?”

  She gave her long dark hair a toss, met the challenge of her brother’s angry stare. “How long is this going to continue? I’ve got my own life to live, you know. I’m sick of having to play nursemaid to her. I had no idea she was drinking so much.”

  The fury left him for the moment. He lowered himself into a chair next to the chaise. “We were too busy to notice how bad she was getting. No doubt it’s been going on for a long time. I fired Ulda, by the way.”

  Elenore was surprised. “Why? Mother will have a fit, you know. Ulda is intimidated by her tantrums, waits on her hand and foot. No other servant has ever taken so much off her. She likes that.”

  “Ulda has been smuggling in her vodka for her.”

  “How did you find that out?”

  “I pretended I already knew, told her Mother had said it was her. She started crying and admitted it, said she needed the extra money she got to do it. We’ll just tell Mother she quit.”

  Elenore gestured toward Amalia. “Just what do you intend to do about her drinking? She’ll find a way to get it herself. This is a fine time to discover she’s an alcoholic,” she added with a sigh of disgust.

  He explained how it was actually working to his advantage.

  She listened, shaking her head. “I’ll just be glad when it’s over. I’ve done nothing but tend to her all day. When am I supposed to have time to be with Cordell?”

  Rudolf had toyed with the idea of not telling her Brandt was on the premises, afraid she’d create an awkward situation that might raise questions. Then he decided it was best to let her know, lest she see him and react the wrong way due to surprise.

  “You may see him tonight, here. Don’t act like a fool if you do.”

  At once she swung her legs around, sat up to face him, but he waved her to silence before she could start arguing. “He is here to observe, to find his way around the castle, in preparation for the abduction. He may have already left for all I know, but he said he wanted to go over every inch of the castle just to be safe, so if you run into him, don’t make a fool of yourself. Besides,” he finished, “you’ve got work to do.”

  She clenched her fists, gritted her teeth. There had been men in her life before, but never one who drove her mad with passion like Cord Brandt. Being in his arms, tasting his kisses, was an experience nonpareil to any other. Thinking about his lovemaking made her want him fiercely, and the realization he was somewhere close only made it worse.

  Rudolf suspected she was dying to jump up that very minute to go look for Brandt. “Listen to me, Elenore,” he said tightly. “Things are happening faster than we thought. There’s a lot going on, and I can’t have you getting in the way. Just do as you’re told because the abduction is going to take place very soon. We’ve received word the PG will fall any day, and Hanisch and the others want to leave for Russia to help the Bolsheviks take power. We have to hurry and take care of things here.”

  Elenore had known that Cord might be leaving. She sensed he would not want to take her with him, and she really did not want to go, anyway. After all, while she pretended to believe in the Zealots’ philosophies, the truth was she enjoyed the comforts of the well-to-do, comforts the Zealots found so abhorrent. But as long as Cord was around, she wanted to be with him as much as possible.

  “So just remember he won’t like it if you mess things up,” Rudolf reminded her.

  She knew that was true. With a defeated sigh, she conceded, “What is it you want me to do?”

  Rudolf glanced at Amalia. She was out, but he could take no chances of her waking up and stumbling downstairs in the middle of dinner and causing another scene. “We’ll just lock her in here. Her room is far enough away from Marilee’s that she won’t be heard if she starts yelling.”

  “What about Marilee? How can you have her aunt spirited away if she hasn’t agreed to marry you?”

  “Let me worry about that. You just go get ready for dinner.”

  “What will happen if you leave Zurich?” She certainly had no intention of taking care of their mother the rest of her life.

  Matter-of-factly, he declared, “We’ll put her in a sanitarium. That will be best for everyone.” He got up to leave, then paused. “By the way, I don’t want you lingering after dinner. Just say you’re worried about Mother and go check on her and then don’t come back. Maybe our Romanov princess will take a hint I want to be alone with her niece and retire early. Since we’re going to have to move faster than planned, I’ve got to have some time for seduction, don’t I?”

  Elenore’s expression was piteous. “I’m afraid that’s a part of your plan you’d better be prepared to see fail, dear brother. Frankly, I think the only reason she agreed to this visit was because she doesn’t have anything else to do for the moment, not because she’s in love with you.”

  Harshly, hotly, he informed her, “It doesn’t matter whether she loves me or not. She’s going to marry me—and soon.
Who knows?” He gave a wicked wink. “By tomorrow morning, she may be begging me to marry her.”

  Elenore did not have to figure out what he meant. “It won’t work, Rudolf. She’s not the type. Marilee is too shy to be seduced. She’ll run like a scared rabbit.”

  He threw back his head and laughed jeeringly. “Do you really think I would be sporting enough to give her a chance to run?” He headed on out, then flippantly called from the doorway, “Just make yourself scarce after dinner, little sister, and leave the hunting to the fox!”

  He stopped by the kitchen to make sure Gerda had prepared the special after-dinner cordials for his guests—Zwetsch, a plum brandy.

  And it was to be a very special brandy, indeed.

  Jade’s drink would contain a drug made from the snakeroot plant, which would make her sleepy.

  Marilee’s cordial would have a smaller dose, just enough to make her weak…and vulnerable.

  And later—Rudolf smiled to himself—she would also sleep…but in his arms.

  The shabbiness of the dining room was camouflaged by the use of mellow candlelight. Rudolf had Gerda inform Marilee and Jade that his mother would not be at dinner, and when they came down to the dining room, they both expressed concern.

  Jade said they had no idea Amalia was so ill. “Perhaps we should make arrangements to leave, Rudolf. We don’t wish to impose,” she offered.

  “I was afraid you’d feel that way,” he murmured, eyes doleful. “That’s why I hoped I could keep her problem hidden.”

  Elenore breezed into the room. “She’s asleep,” she said to no one in particular and sat down.

  Marilee could not resist asking, “Just what kind of problem are you talking about, Rudolf?”

  He hesitated for effect, then, with a practiced look of humiliation, whispered, “Drinking.”

  Jade and Marilee exchanged sympathetic glances, and Marilee said, “I’m so sorry, Rudolf. I had no idea, really.”