Chapter 23 Elisabeta
23
Elisabeta
Stanislav returned as she had requested, to report that the girl was in her cell again, and that he had explained clearly, and that the prisoner had said nothing that made any sense.
‘Sit down, Stanislav. I have something to say to you.’ Elisabeta motioned to the bench, but the tall guard looked at it as if he did not know what it was for.
‘Thank you, I prefer to stand.’
‘Very well. The episode with the woman, Stasya’s companion, was … unfortunate. You might perhaps have carried out punishment of some kind without provoking her into such extreme action. You misjudged my instructions, Stanislav. You went too far.’
He cleared his throat. ‘My apologies, my lady. I misunderstood, perhaps. She took us by surprise, with the knife. Remarkably quick and remarkably accurate.’
She refrained from comment, simply fixing him with her stare. As usual, it had little impact on the man. Well, she must not anger him; there was no doubt his services were useful. And he would make a dangerous enemy.
‘I don’t want this error repeated. It seems best that I explain the next step to you again. We go through the motions as if we are prepared to carry out this punishment. The girl stays in her cell; she is checked twice before nightfall, given the opportunity to call a halt, provided she agrees to give me what I need. We act as if the whole thing is real; I want the news of it to spread to the serving folk, the guards, anyone you encounter. I want her to believe we will carry out the penalty at dawn.’ Surely that would soften her resolve.
‘I understand, my lady.’
Elisabeta expected him to bow and wait for her formal dismissal. But he still stood there in his black garments, looking at her.
‘My lady, what happens in the morning? If we go to her cell at dawn and she’s still refusing to talk?’
That was the weak point in her plan. ‘We’ll face that difficulty if and when it happens,’ she said, trying for a tone of complete confidence. ‘Surely no young woman would hold out when she saw you with the whip, and your victim tied to the frame, not to speak of a crowd of gawking onlookers. Dismissed, Stanislav. If she gives in before nightfall, be sure to let me know immediately.’
‘My lady.’ Now he did execute the bow, turn on his heel and leave the chamber, closing the door behind him without a sound.