Christmas Wishes Part 1. Elizabeth Rolls

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       Chapter Four

      They were out riding, all three of them plus a retinue of courtiers. The snow was soft underneath their horses’ hooves and the air was sharp. Ekaterina sat stiffly atop her mare, her back ramrod straight and her face neutral. She hadn’t wanted to come, but it would have been impossible to refuse the summons of the Empress. Thankfully, they were on their way back to the palace now. Her aunt rode beside her, a strange smile playing about her lips. Andrey rode behind, his face sullen and brooding.

      A fine trio.

      ‘So, my dear niece,’ the Empress began, her tone conversational, ‘how have you been lately? I haven’t seen much of you since you arrived at court.’

      ‘Thank you for your concern, Aunt,’ Ekaterina replied. ‘I have—’

      ‘By the way,’ her aunt interrupted brusquely. ‘Did you hear what happened to Sergei? The baker?’

      ‘I didn’t realise you knew him,’ Ekaterina said lightly. ‘He is a good baker.’

      ‘Was.’

      Ekaterina blinked and tried to remain calm.

      ‘Was, Aunt?’

      The Empress sniffed delicately.

      ‘He was sent to Siberia yesterday,’ her aunt informed her. ‘Because he was caught stealing bread for his family.’

      Ekaterina’s throat closed.

      ‘And his family?’

      ‘Thrown to the street, as they well deserved.’

      Ekaterina felt numb. The poor man and his family. She would have to instruct her own servants to find the family, give them money and hopefully help them find some means of living. Unfortunately she could no longer help Sergei.

      ‘Do you know what that means, Ekaterina, dear?’ her aunt queried.

      ‘That his family will probably perish in the cold?’

      ‘Yes—but no.’ Her aunt clicked her tongue. ‘That’s not the lesson here, my dear.’

      The Empress reined in her horse, wheeling it round so that it blocked the path. She looked from Ekaterina to Andrey and then back again, her eyes narrowing.

      ‘The lesson is that stealing will be punished harshly,’ Anna said calmly. ‘No matter who the culprit is.’

      She let an awkward silence blanket the group before kicking her horse into a trot.

      ‘Remember that, both of you.’

      Ekaterina didn’t dare look back to gauge Andrey’s reaction. It was clear that the warning was meant for them, but why? Her stomach tightened at the memories of them in the field, in the corridor and in the royal wing. Someone had seen. Someone had whispered. And now they were both on thin ice.

      When they reached the palace Ekaterina ignored Andrey and dismounted gracefully. She handed the reins to the stable keeper and bowed deeply before escaping her aunt’s oppressive presence. She wandered the echoing corridors aimlessly, her mind whirring.

      Danger on one side and unrequited attraction on the other. How she wanted to return to the country, to be with her loving family once again!

      ‘My lady!’ a page called to her.

      Ekaterina halted and waited for the breathless page to reach her. The boy bowed and presented her with a scroll.

      ‘A missive, my lady,’ he said as she took the letter. ‘From the architect’s apprentice, Andrey Kvasov.’

      Ekaterina nearly dropped the letter. The fool! She slid the scroll into her sleeve, feigning complete indifference.

      ‘You may go,’ she said, waving the boy away.

      As soon as he was out of sight she pulled the letter from her sleeve and unravelled it hurriedly. The words were hastily but beautifully scrawled...and they would damn them both if they were seen by another other eyes.

      ‘My lady,’ the missive read, ‘I must explain. Please come to my suite.’

      She crumpled the paper in her hands, her ire boiling over. Jaw set, she stalked to the western wing of the palace. She knew where he was staying; she’d had one of her guards investigate. Without knocking, she threw СКАЧАТЬ