Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Four
I t was almost dark and, beyond a grove of trees, Anna made out a white manor house with a red roof. So, they had reached Davinka at last. As the horses trotted up the drive, a husky came bounding over the snow and leapt up onto Nicholas’s lap, its front paws on his chest, trying to lick his face.
‘Down now, Mosca! Get down, good girl…’
After the husky, more dogs came barking and jumping up as they drove under an archway. Lamps were being lit and doors opening as people rushed out of the house. Two grooms held the horses’ heads and Nicholas gave orders for Stepan to be carried inside. Then he lifted Anna out and stood her on her feet. She felt snowflakes on her cheeks as he took her arm and led her into a warm, bright kitchen.
A large stove and wooden table with benches took up most of the space, and an old man with a flowing white beard was working a treadle. Another, with a brown, wrinkled face sat by the window mending boots. A woman in apron and cap came forwards and kissed her hand.
‘Galina’s our cook and chatelaine of Davinka. She’s in charge of everything – including myself.’ Nicholas made the introduction as a younger woman stepped forwards. ‘And this is Ludmilla who’ll look after you. She was Olga’s maid.’
Ludmilla was a sweet-faced young woman with blue eyes and smiled as she bobbed a curtsy. Anna noticed how the men and women greeted Nicholas with either a handshake or a hug. They seemed relieved and happy to have the head of the family home. Stepan was lying in the corner, being fed broth from a spoon, and she recognised Liev as he helped Galina remove a heavy pot from the stove. On a corner ledge stood an icon of Saint Nicholas with row of small candles beneath it. According to Russian custom, everyone paused in front it and crossed themselves before they sat down to eat.
Nicholas said grace and earthenware bowls of steaming food were placed on the table. There were pelmeni dumplings filled with meat, roast chicken with turnips and potatoes and babas for pudding. Anna was starving. When the meal was finished and glasses refilled, Nicholas related the story of their encounter with the bandits.
‘Miss Brianski saved the day,’ he said as he came to the end and smiled at Anna. ‘She handled the reins as if she’d driven a troika all her life. It’s a shame poor Stepan was concussed. He might have learned a lesson or two!’ There was laughter and he held up his hand’ ‘We have a great deal to talk about but it must wait until tomorrow. Ludmilla, would you be kind enough to fetch Miss Brianski’s portmanteau and show her to Miss Olga’s bedroom?’
Chairs scraped the stone floor and Anna came to her feet.
‘Welcome to Davinka, Anna Ivanova.’ Nicholas lifted her hand and kissed it lightly before he turned to the others. ‘Goodnight, my friends. It’s a great sadness that Miss Olga is not with us. Please remember her in your prayers tonight.’
As Nicholas left the kitchen and went out into the courtyard, Anna walked over to where Liev was sitting and Stepan lay on a straw pallet. The side of his head was bandaged, his eye black and swollen. She knelt down beside him.
‘How do you feel – are you in great pain?’
‘Nothing that can’t be mended with rum and vodka,’ Liev answered.
‘You saved our lives,’ Stepan murmured. ‘God bless you, Miss Anna.
‘Shall I take you up now?’
Ludmilla spoke at Anna’ shoulder. She had her valise in her hand and led the way through a hall and up a flight of stairs. They went down a dark passage where the candle made flickering shadows on the walls. Anna glimpsed faded wallpaper and family portraits between closed doors.
‘We always keep one room ready for guests.’ Ludmilla explained as she opened the door into a bedroom illuminated by candles. ‘I’ll go and fetch hot water for you to wash.’
Olga’s bedroom was pretty with red curtains and tiled stove. She had grown up at Davinka, Anna thought. Wreaths of dried cornflowers, faded to sky blue, hung on the walls and it must have been her room since she was as a child. Ludmilla returned and helped her undress, unplaiting her hair and brushing it until it fell in a veil to her waist. As Anna washed, she searched the wardrobe and found a nightgown belonging to Olga.
‘Count Nicolay says you’re to borrow whatever you need…’ The girl’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. ‘I’m frightened for Miss Olga, ma’am. How was she after the journey?’
‘It’s not easy for the women, but they’re happy to be with their loved ones. Conditions will improve once winter is over…’
‘Do you know Captain Dashkovy?’
‘He’s a friend of my brother, Sasha. He’s in Siberia, too, along with my sister-in-law. She’s expecting their first child this summer.’
‘I’m so sorry… I can’t bear to think of them so far away.’ Ludmilla used the corner of her sleeve to wipe her eyes. ‘We must thank God for bringing you and Count Nicolay safely home. Goodnight, Miss Anna. I hope you will be happy with us at Davinka.’