Rachel
A knock on the door steals my thoughts away from the bleak place they went to. I’m thankful when Clara’s flushed but friendly face appears.
“Nikolai said you need a charger? I brought a few different kinds.” She holds up a fist full of wires, the plugs dangling from her hand. “Are you okay?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I offer, but it sounds hollow even to me. “I’m just thinking through things, how different my life turned out to what I imagined when I was growing up.”
“I get that,” Clara says with a light puff of laughter. “Do you want to talk about it?” she offers, and I can’t stop the tears springing to my eyes. She is a stranger and yet she has shown me more kindness than my own friends have for a long time.
“No,” I say, my voice thick with tears. “It doesn’t matter, really, does it? Soon Nikolai will get bored of me and then I’ll return to my empty life and it will be like I was never gone. Never here.”
I plug my phone in and wait for it to turn on.
“I don’t think you understand what it means to be chosen by a Vasiliev,” Clara says more seriously, joining me on the side of the bed. “It certainly doesn’t mean you're confined to the bedroom though. Let me show you around the estate while your phone charges.”
She stands and offers me her hand, the other one immediately finding and stroking her round belly.
“When are you due?” I ask as I stand.
“Two months to go yet,” she says. “It seems as though Maksim makes big babies,” she adds with a laugh. “I’m exhausted carrying this one and he never lets me go far. But the walk will do me good.”
She shows me the house, introducing me to various staff we pass in the halls and rooms, before finally pulling me into the gardens.
“Other than our suite, this is my most favourite place on the estate.”
“I can see why you love it,” I say, breathing in the scent of the flowers.
It’s thick and heady and as we walk through I can see it’s been zoned perfectly.
There’s an open space for entertaining, a courtyard for more intimate affairs, the herb and kitchen gardens, a quieter, more secluded area with a small brook running through it.
There are fountains and statues and arbours, then the thick line of trees that hides a ten foot stone wall that encircles the estate.
“There are small houses out here, dotted about, mostly the staff use them but Aleksei has the pool house. He keeps unusual hours.”
“Thank you,” I blurt out and she turns towards me.
“What for?” she asks.
“Taking the time to show me around, for making me feel like I’m not going insane.” I laugh, but the sound is wet as I try to control the tears that have come back. What is wrong with me? I’ve never been much of a crier, but here I am reduced to tears whenever I’m with Clara.
“It’s been a pleasure,” she states simply.
“Shall we head back? I imagine Nikolai will be back shortly. One thing about these Vasiliev men is once they’ve chosen their woman they can never leave her alone for too long.
It’s how I ended up like this.” She lifts her eyebrows and signals to her round belly and I can’t help but smile.
What must that feel like? To be loved so much by someone that you create a whole new life between you…
“You look radiant,” I say as something inside me tugs hard.
We walk back to the house in companionable silence. As we enter through the kitchen a man I’ve not met yet is leaning against the countertop.
“Speak of the devil.” Clara grins and walks to the man, kissing him on the corner of his mouth.
“You’re not supposed to be wandering around the estate, wife.” His voice is firm and carries a hint of threat, yet I cannot imagine for one second he would ever hurt Clara.
“This is my husband, and Nikolai’s eldest brother, Maksim,” Clara offers and I reach out to shake his hand.
“Rachel,” I say. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He takes my hand firmly in his own, and offers a nod. “Welcome, I hope Nikolai is making you comfortable.” He turns to face Clara. “My wife needs to be on bed rest.”
I catch the underlying meaning of his words. Clara is not to be disturbed and Nikolai needs to stop asking her to help me.
I offer a tight smile and a nod.
“Let me know if you need anything Clara,” I say, before slipping out of the kitchen and heading back to Nikolai’s suite.