Behind the Raven Mask

by Cherime MacFarlane

  "Now then, my dear. Your uncle will be our guest tonight. Relax, enjoy the evening. We will deal with Anya tomorrow."

  They stood at the window, watching the play of light on the water. The Laurie was the center of attention on the wharf. A long line of people scurried back and forth from the ship to the waiting wagons above the dock. The water in the bay was calm.

  Now and then, a wave larger than the others would cause the Laurie and the small sailing ship on the other side of the dock to rise and fall gently.

  Camille enjoyed leaning against Dmitri. The silence between them was free of tension, for the moment. She was wary, however, being with the Count was much like living with a hurricane. At times, the storm almost tore you apart with its violence, but in the eye of the storm, all was quiet. The clock on the mantel struck eight.

  Camille sighed. She wished the moment of peaceful closeness they were sharing could continue forever. "Uncle will be here soon. We should greet him at the door."

  "In a moment." Dmitri bent his head to place two light kisses on her neck, one above and one below the ribbon. He hugged Camille tightly for a moment, before releasing her.

  When she turned to face him, Dmitri offered her his arm. "Shall we go, my dear?"

  With a nod, Camille placed her hand on his sleeve. "I know we should not keep a guest waiting, however, I must confess to being loath to leave at just this moment."

  Dmitri's one gray eye sparkled. A smile softened his grave features. "I find my thoughts to be much the same."

  There was a knock at the front door, and they broke into laughter simultaneously. Dmitri strode over to the study door and threw it open. "After you, Countess."

  A surge of confidence swept through her, as Camille glided out into the hall with her husband at her back.

  Tatiana had responded to the summons. Devins was already inside, and Tatiana had his hat which she was hanging up when Camille and Dmitri came forward to greet their guest.

  "Good evening, Uncle Samuel. I hope you are ready to dine." Camille laughed gaily. "Personally, I am quite famished."

  She turned to Dmitri. "Is it improper to proceed with dinner without giving our guest a moment to rest?"

  "That, my dear, depends on our guest. What do you say Captain. Would you care for an aperitif?"

  A bit bewildered by his niece's behavior, Devins did not respond immediately. He did not expect to find her so vivacious. In his home, Camille was always very restrained. In fact, he always thought her a bit of a mouse.

  Leontine was the belle of the family. Leontine conducted his social life with intelligence and charm and had eased many a business deal into a safe berth.

  This was a new side of Camille he hadn't seen before. Samuel wasn't terribly fond of the girl. She had been a burden. Not an especially heavy one, but a burden nonetheless.

  Camille unknowingly was the cause of more than a few arguments between himself and Leontine. Because of the disagreements, the Captain now perceived he secretly wished Camille ill. Samuel was forced to admit to himself he had been high handed in his treatment of the girl.

  However, it did appear he could truthfully tell his wife, the child was well and happy. The realization eased his conscience a bit. Facing Leontine with the story Bressoff put forth to cover the truth, was something he had not been looking forward to.

  "No aperitif, thank you. I am ready to do justice to what I believe will be an excellent meal." Devins replied.

  The three of them followed Tatiana to the dining room. With a flourish, the housekeeper opened the double doors. Devins looked around the room in awe.

  The table was made from one plank of red cedar. It was a massive thing, at least, ten feet long. The chairs were of the same wood. There was a buffet beneath one window; china closets flanked the fireplace, where a fire crackled behind the fender. Four graceful, gold candelabra stood on the table; two more sat on the buffet. All held candles.

  The Count seated Camille on his right and nodded toward the place on his left. "Here you are Captain. I thought it would be easier for us to converse seated this way. There are occasions when this table is much too large."

  "This is a marvelous table. I must confess; I have never seen a single plank of cedar quite this broad. Where did you find this?" Samuel reached out to stroke the shiny tabletop.

  Two women entered with the first course. Bouillabaisse, thick and spicy, was ladled out. Both men waited for Camille to begin eating.

  "All the furniture in this room was made from a single tree, which was cut when the house was built. We are almost self-sufficient here on our island. In an emergency, we could do without civilization for a considerable amount of time."

  They finished the first course. The second was then served. Thick venison steaks were brought in, accompanied by potatoes, peas, and carrots. The venison was covered with rich gravy, dotted with mushrooms.

  Throughout the meal, the wineglasses were kept full by the Count's man, who hovered in the background. When dessert was brought in, Devins found he was very much in need of the steaming coffee, which was served with the cake.

  He had not enjoyed a meal quite so satisfying since Leontine's last dinner party. They lingered over the dessert, chatting idly, until the clock struck nine.

  The Count rose. "I believe it is time for us to retire to the study. We need to give Tatiana time to clear away our litter. It is unfair to the help to keep them up too late."

  Gregor opened the double doors of the dining room for them. Camille nodded to the older man and whispered a good night to him, as she preceded the men out of the room. On opening the door to the study, first, her uncle, then Dmitri, followed her inside. Camille walked over to the windows.

  It was still light outside. Men swarmed about the dock like ants. Now, they appeared to be loading cargo onto the steam ship. Camille shook her head in amazement. Did the sun ever set in summer? Why hadn't she noticed it was still light, while they were dining? She asked Dmitri about it.

  "The back of the house is in shadow. I had Gregor draw the drapes and light the candles. I enjoy dining by candlelight. I find it much more pleasant than kerosene lighting. What do you think?"

  "I do agree. Kerosene is not as agreeable as a fragrant candle."

  Dmitri pulled out one of the overstuffed chairs for Camille. Thanking him, Camille seated herself.

  Her husband stood behind her chair with his left hand on her shoulder. "Come and join us, Captain. From this vantage point, we can watch things progress.

  Devins sat down next to Camille. A warning bell had begun to sound deep within him. But he was much too relaxed to determine what it was he should beware of. Devins realized he should have limited his intake of spirits. Bressoff had a motive for the entire evening. The Captain wondered exactly what the Russian had in mind.

  Dmitri moved to the table in the center of the grouping of chairs and poured a small measure of brandy into a snifter. While he rotated the glass slowly between his palms to warm it, Dmitri watched Camille.

  "Are you tired, my dear?"

  Camille wondered if he wished her to leave. Perhaps he wanted to talk business with her uncle. She decided to be truthful, Dmitri would let her know if he wanted her to excuse herself.

  "I took a nap this afternoon, I feel quite rested. However, if you two gentlemen have business to discuss..." The young woman allowed the words to settle into the silence.

  The Count acknowledged her comment with a nod. "Would you care for a little sherry then?" Dmitri's smile was sincere.

  Camille was pleased to have made the right decision. "Yes, thank you."

  After pouring the golden liquid into a small goblet, Dmitri held it out to his wife. As she reached for the sherry, Dmitri caught her hand. He kissed her fingers before allowing her to take the glass.

  Samuel Devins suddenly felt shut out. At dinner, he was an honored guest and now, he felt somehow, shunned. The Count's face was grave when he finally addressed Devins.

  "And you, Captain. What wo
uld you care for? Some bourbon perhaps?"

  "With a splash, if you please Count Bressoff, a very large splash."

  The drink securely in his grasp, Devins took a swallow. He did not see the smile on Dmitri's face change to a grimace of slightly veiled aversion. The Russian took a seat across from the captain.

  He wanted Camille here to witness this confrontation. His bride needed to know exactly what transpired between himself and her uncle this evening. Then there could be no back tracking, or twisting of the tenor of the conversation by either party.

  There would be two levels to the conversation, the one spoken and the other implied. "I believe you realize Captain, how great the competition is between the steam ship lines for Alaskan cargo."

  Devins looked at him and silently nodded agreement. He thought he knew what Bressoff was inferring.

  The Russian continued. "To illustrate my point, let me tell you what I have learned from my housekeeper. A total of six ships have put in here asking for both furs and lumber in the past two months. Each captain she spoke with, promised to return until they had spoken to me personally."

  Dmitri took a sip of the brandy he had resumed warming. "We both know Juneau is a boom town, Captain. I firmly believe business there will triple in the next few years. A man with contacts in Alaska could make a small fortune. I have contacts here. Whoever handles my business, will eventually be a rich man. Do you understand me, Captain Devins?"

  Samuel put his glass down on the table and stared in bewilderment at the count. "I believe we had an agreement, Count Bressoff."

  "Indeed we do Captain, for one shipment, one shipment only. I must be able to trust my associates. Any man I deal with, must be able to keep silent in his cups or out. Are you discreet, Captain?"

  Raising his glass, Devins drained it in one gulp. He understood everything the count had said, as well as the things he had only implied. If he kept his mouth shut regarding Camille, he would be rich. If not, someone else would benefit. The circumstances of the Count's marriage to his niece would remain their secret.

  Even Leontine would never hear the facts of the matter from him. It was to his advantage as well. Marriages of convenience were nothing new. This particular alliance was convenient for all of them. In fact, Samuel knew he had done Bressoff a favor, although, it might take the man some time to realize it.

  "A refill if you please, Count." Devins held out his glass.

  Dmitri poured the drink and held it out to the Captain. Glancing Camille's way, Dmitri reassured himself of her lack of understanding of what was actually taking place. He looked back at Samuel, who grinned at Dmitri. Greed won. And his bride was none the wiser, regarding the underlying facts of the new alliance.

  "I am very discreet, Count. Discretion is a necessary quality for any business man. Frankly, I have not fared badly in the world of commerce."

  "Glad to hear it, Captain Devins. As evidence of my good faith, I am now making you a full partner in the lumber venture. Whatever profit is made from of the sale of the cargo in Juneau, will be divided equally between us. A toast, Captain. To our new joint venture! And by the way, welcome to the family, Samuel."

  They lifted their glasses, then tossed down the contents. Camille joined them. Samuel decided the future looked very promising indeed. Dmitri and Camille bid the captain good night. As they closed the doors behind him, Dmitri put an arm around Camille's waist. She leaned against him.

  "Did you enjoy yourself?" His voice was quiet and soothing.

  "It has been a lovely night, Dmitri. I feel so light I could float away on the gentlest breeze."

  He ran his hands down one arm.

  "Then, I shall be the breeze. I will blow you up the stairs and into my chamber."

  Camille found herself whisked up the staircase. Dmitri twirled her into his room and closed the door.

  Someone had extinguished the kerosene lamp and lit candles instead. A small fire burned in the fireplace. The firelight cast dancing shadows around the room.

  Outside the sun was gone, but its twilight lingered. The sky, a robin's egg blue, was slowly fading into the blue gray of the water and the dark shadows of the forest.

  Camille stared out the window. Overhead, stars could be faintly seen in the gathering darkness.

  From behind her, one of Dmitri's arms slipped around her waist. His hand slid down, until it rested on her hip. Turning her slightly toward him, Dmitri tipped her head back and began to kiss her.

  Kisses were placed from her earlobe to the tops of her breasts. Beneath the cloth, her nipples tightened and rubbed against the muslin lining of the corset.

  Dmitri turned her and began to undo her gown. When he pushed it from her shoulders, the dress slid to the floor.

  "Turn!" There was a tremor in Dmitri's voice.

  When she was facing her husband, he lifted the chemise up past her hips. With one hand in the small of her back, Dmitri pulled her against him. Kissing her fiercely, his tongue dipped in and out of her mouth. He tasted of brandy and the warmth of his body soaked into hers.

  Dmitri stepped back and reached out to pull the chemise over her head. Tossing it to the floor, he knelt to remove her silk hose. Dmitri's fingers slid over her skin and Camille placed a hand on his shoulder to keep from falling. Finally, only the corset was left.

  Camille felt as if she were a doll he was manipulating. Her breasts still pushed tightly against the corset, which bound them. She felt lightheaded, as if she could not breathe. Dmitri moved away for a moment. There was a slight click and a few popping sounds then the corset fell away from her body.

  From behind, strong fingers cupped her breasts. Camille gasped in surprise at the feeling which gripped her when he squeezed her nipples. Her breasts seemed to grow, as they pushed themselves into his grasp. Dmitri picked her up into his arms. Camille timidly glanced up at his face. His eye gleamed like one of the stars outside the window.

  After placing her on the bed, he began to take off his clothing. Camille watched curiously as he stripped. But when he removed his trousers she felt a blush heat her face.

  Dmitri was watching, as she blushed before turning her face away from him. He laughed softly. Camille was such an innocent. Lying down beside her, Dmitri began to run his fingertips over her body, from head to toe. A slight shiver told him, she felt as he did.

  "Would you please blow out the candles and draw the drapes?"

  "If you wish. However, I would prefer to leave them lit." He rose from the bed to do as she asked. When he returned, Camille's arms reached out for him in the glow of the firelight. Dmitri gently took possession of her again.

  In the morning, Camille awoke with a headache, which threatened to make her sick to her stomach. Or was it her stomach causing the malaise? With a groan, Camille tried to pull the covers over her head.

  Dmitri put an arm around her. Lightly, he nibbled on her neck. Camille moaned.

  His hand brushed across forehead. "What is wrong, dear child?"

  Camille's mouth felt dry and the bitter taste in her mouth was revolting. "I feel ill. Oh! Dmitri, I think I am going to throw up!"

  Rising, he went to the washstand and returned with a glass of water. Dmitri slipped back into bed beside her. "Take only a sip." Holding her head up with one hand, Dmitri held the glass to her lips with the other. "It is called a hangover. This is what happens when a person consumes too much alcohol."

  Dmitri lowered her head gently to the pillow then pulled the covers over her head. With a yawn, he stretched, before leaving the bed. Dmitri went into Camille's room and drew both sets of drapes. After turning down the bed, he reached out to gather up the nightgown he found lying there.

  Dmitri walked back into his room. "Here, little one." After moving the covers away, he helped Camille into the gown. Without a word he scooped her up into his arms, Dmitri carried her into the other room, where he put her to bed. "I will send Helena up to you in a little while." He gently pushed the hair away from her face. "Do as she tells you. By this a
fternoon, you will feel much better."

  After giving her a light peck on the cheek, Dmitri returned to his own room. How good it is to be home. He thought, as he padded over to the wardrobe.

  From the bottom drawer, he took a pair of wool trousers and a soft, well-worn, woolen shirt. After slipping into loose cotton underwear, Dmitri pulled on his work clothes. They felt good after all those weeks of playing the dandy. He pulled on woolen socks, tugged on his work boots and bent down to lace them up.

  There were some things at the mill Alexis wished to show him. First, would come breakfast. He was ravenous. With another yawn, he strolled down the stairs to the kitchen. Tatiana was already up and was sitting at the table with a cup of tea.

  The cook was busy at the stove. "I am glad to see you, Nita."

  The cook grinned at him. "Are you hungry, Sir?"

  "Starved. What do you have to eat?" He reached over and patted Tatiana's hand. "Did you sleep well, Tatiana?"

  "Why bother to ask?" She sipped her tea.

  Heedless of the sudden air of tension in the room, the plump cook put both hands on her hips. "I have eggs and bacon. Will that please you?"

  "Fine Nita. Some coffee would also be nice." Dmitri turned his chair sideways, so as to see Tatiana better. "I think you should tell me what you meant by your last remark."

  Not in the least put off by his tone, Tatiana glared at him. "Anya cried herself to sleep last night. She is just a baby. You hurt her deeply."

  "Since when do babies go around asking if their fathers are consorting with "loose women"? I will be damned if I let a child tell me whom I may, or may not marry. If she had her way, I would remain a widower for the balance of my life. Furthermore, what became of the last governess? There was a French one here when I left."

  Tatiana picked up her cup. Dmitri was well aware she was hiding behind it.

  "She and Anya did not get on well. There was more fighting than learning going on. Alexis took the woman to Sitka on his last trip."