Chapter Six
Chapter Six
A s Anna walked down the passage, she noticed the library door was open and looked in. The glow of oil lamps illuminated red leather-bound volumes of books on shelves that reached from floor to ceiling. The room was quiet, and Nicholas Bulgarin sat in an armchair, reading a book. As she took a step backwards, hoping to escape, he glanced up and saw her silhouetted in the doorway. Putting down the book, he came to his feet and strolled towards her.
‘You must consider me very impolite, Miss Brianski. Have I missed a dance engagement?’ The count took an enamel snuffbox from his waistcoat, flicked it open it with his forefinger and inhaled a pinch of snuff. ‘Were you looking for me?’
Anna squeezed her fan between her fingers as she walked slowly forwards. She didn’t want to get caught up, but Count Bulgarin was a friend of Peter Dashkovy’s and it was worth a try.
‘My brother sent me to find Captain Dashkovy of the Second Life Guards. Have you seen him, by any chance?’
‘Peter Dashkovy?’ The count’s eyebrows lifted. ‘I believe he’s otherwise engaged this evening. I’m sure he will have sent his apologies.’
‘He has not. My parents were expecting him for dinner and are most upset. When you next see him, you might tell him so.’
‘Indeed, I will. It’s a disgraceful way to behave – and I took him for a gentleman.’
There was laughter in his eyes and Anna flashed him an indignant look. Bulgarin’s manners were hardly any better, she thought, sneaking off to the library when he should be dancing.
‘If you were a gentleman, sir, you would be doing your duty on the dance floor.’
‘You’re right and I apologise. I’ve an irresistible fascination for other people’s libraries. Count Brianski’s is most impressive.’
‘So, what were you reading when I came in?’
‘Colbert’s study of political science.’
‘Oh, that sort of book.’
‘Not one to your taste, I presume? Like every young lady in St. Petersburg, I expect you read only foreign novels full of fanciful notions.’
His opinion of popular literature was clear. Anna wasn’t going to admit the bookcase in her bedroom was filled with romantic novels. His superior attitude nettled her and her chin came up.
‘Alexander Pushkin’s my favourite author. I recall he was staying with Madame Davydov for her birthday – along with yourself and Captain Dashkovy.’ Her eyes held his gaze defiantly. ‘You may consider novels a lesser form of literature, sir; but they’re no more fanciful than matters you were discussing then.’
‘I’ve no recollection of you participating in our conversations,’ Nicholas Bulgarin remarked coolly. ‘Be kind enough to remind me what we were talking about.’
‘You were discussing the abolition of serfdom and curtailing the power of the tsar.’
‘Please keep your voice down, Miss Brianski. Every house in St. Petersburg has a hundred pairs of ears.’
Stung by the reprimand, Anna walked over to the window. She drew back the heavy curtain and looked out. Lights flickered below as sleighs and carriages with bright torches galloped through the city that never slept. The huge silver disc of the moon hung above the Neva and the sky was filled with stars. All was just as it should be – except for Peter’s absence. How could he be otherwise engaged? Did Bulgarin know his whereabouts this evening or was he just trying to provoke her? For a time, she stood staring into the night, then turned back into the room and gave a dismissive toss her head.
‘I declare you exaggerate, sir. There are no eavesdroppers in this house.’
‘And only one at Kamenka?’
So, he did remember! But what had he seen that night? Nothing that she wasn’t prepared to deny outright. Anna was about to retaliate but checked herself. Sedition was dangerous in a city devoured by gossip, and she was silent.
‘Those who listen to other people’s conversations tend to pick up only what they want to hear,’ Nicholas Bulgarin continued, brushing an invisible speck of dust from his waistcoat. ‘Don’t worry, Miss Brianski. Your secret is safe with me.’
Anna saw the muscles above his mouth twitch as if he were trying not to smile. He hoped to needle her but she wouldn’t rise to his bait.
‘I didn’t know you were a friend of my brother’s,’ she said in a cold voice, deliberately turning the subject.
‘We’re only slightly acquainted. I was surprised and honoured to be asked.’
The insolence in his eyes was infuriating. Stifling an impulse to tell him to go to the devil, Anna collected herself and made a gesture towards the door. ‘I will bid you goodnight, sir, and leave you to my father’s books. You obviously find their company more entertaining than that of your fellow guests.’
‘Why aren’t you dancing? There must be a hundred partners waiting for you.’
‘I’m not in the mood this evening.’
‘Why ever not?’
Anna’s hand moved to touch the silky pearls of her necklace. Nicholas Bulgarin asked too many questions and the conversation had gone on for long enough. A stony silence was her response as she began to walk away.
‘Don’t worry about Captain Dashkovy, Miss Brianski. I’ll do my duty and dance with you instead.’
His offer stopped Anna in her tracks. She stood motionless a moment, then swung round, hands on hips. ‘I’d rather dance with a baboon than with you, sir!’
There was a moment of deathly quiet. Anna felt mortification burn her cheeks and the swift, awkward beat of her heart. How could she have let her tongue betray her into a childish show of temper?
‘Shall we agree to consider that remark unsaid?’ Nicholas suggested softly.
Anna swallowed, then answered. ‘I beg your pardon, sir.’
‘So, may I engage you for the next waltz?’
‘I’ve told you already I’m not dancing this evening.’
‘Well, that is a pity. No doubt your guests will assume you’re in a sulk because a certain gentleman failed to turn up.’
This, finally, was too much. Count Bulgarin was here at her family’s invitation. His impudence was beyond forbearance and her voice broke with anger. ‘You forget yourself, sir! I will not be insulted in my own home. Please will you leave this minute before I have you thrown out.’
‘Anna! Where have you been all this time?’
Her mother’s voice gave Anna such a fright she let out a small cry. How long had Mama been outside the door? How much had she heard? There was no time to think of an excuse before Valentina Brianski swept into the library, her eyebrows arching at finding them together.
‘Good evening, Count Bulgarin. How kind of you to entertain my daughter. Sadly, I must now remove her from your company. Her father wishes her to partner him in the quadrille.’
Anna remembered afterwards that Nicholas Bulgarin made an exaggerated bow. She listened as he exchanged pleasantries with her mother, staring at her feet and wishing she were anywhere else on God’s earth. When Valentina Brianski finally took her leave, Anna raised her head a fraction and saw amusement gleam in his eyes before she turned and stalked out of the room.