From Governess to Countess (Matches Made in Scandal #1)(43)
‘At least,’ Allison said, eyeing the rabble doubtfully, ‘they are speaking up.’
‘And laying themselves wide open to arrest in the process.’ Aleksei watched the group through narrowed eyes. ‘It is not that I don’t sympathise. Our peasant army proved themselves and their love for Mother Russia at Borodino, and for reward they were sent back to the land, made serfs once more as if nothing had changed.’
‘In England, the hope is that the victory at Waterloo will put an end to the years of poverty which the war has caused,’ Allison said, ‘but I confess, I have my doubts. It will be the same as here—a return to what was before, and the men who fought—peasants too, many of them—their campaign medals will not put food on their tables.’
The distinctive sound of a fist slamming into a nose was succeeded by a roar of approval, and Aleksei turned away, his face wrinkling with distaste. ‘Perhaps I underestimate them, but it seems to me they are interested only in spilling more blood, and I want no part of that.’
‘Even if they succeed?’
‘They will not. Nothing will change here unless our Emperor decrees it. Those men over there—their protests will be ignored or forcefully stifled, and that is the simple truth of it.’
‘If you chose to remain here, use the Derevenko influence...’
He shook his head. ‘I’m not the political animal Michael was and that power is not mine to wield. Besides, Michael would turn in his grave if I used his influence in support of what he would see as a truly subversive cause.’ He looked over his shoulder at the officers, now lolling on their backs and singing what sounded like a folk song. ‘Look at them, the future of the Russian army. It is not my future.’
‘You are set on leaving the army, then?’
He smiled sadly. ‘I have no choice. All my life, I have served my country but now—no, I am done with it, there is no place for me any more. I am not one of those young hotheads, and I am certainly not one of the old guard, like Arakcheev. Besides, I’m done with killing and I am done with taking orders—and for that startling realisation, I lay the blame at your door.’
‘How so?’
‘Independence, isn’t that the flag you have been waving?’
‘For myself, yes.’
‘Well, it is a banner I like the idea of marching under myself. Though I’ll have to wait until I’m free of my charges first.’
Which left her in no doubt that he was still determined to be free of them. Allison understood Aleksei well enough to know that he would very quickly find the responsibility of permanent guardianship too heavy a burden to bear. And who was she to wish him shackled, when she herself was so desperate to claim her freedom? ‘Well, we are free of them for at least another half-hour,’ she said, smiling brightly, ‘that is something.’
‘Something delightful,’ he agreed, happily taking his cue from her. ‘I don’t often get the opportunity to enjoy your company alone, and in broad daylight.’
And then he smiled, the smile that sent a frisson shivering down her spine and made her forget everything and everyone, save him. ‘We are hardly alone,’ Allison said, for her own sake as much as his. ‘There must be hundreds here.’
‘Thousands, more likely. Sadly, Peterhof gardens during an Emperor’s picnic is an even poorer choice of location for a kiss than a rowing boat.’
Desire flickered in her belly, a curling, tingling, unfurling sensation. ‘Yet you found no difficulty in kissing me in a sleigh. Are we to confine our kisses to ducal carriages?’
‘If so, then I regret the missed opportunity in the state barge. But if you recall, we have also kissed in the dining room, in your dispensary, and in the garden several times.’
‘You forgot the succession house. Really, when you put it like that,’ Allison replied, trying not to smile, ‘there are few locations where we have not kissed. We have been uncommonly adventurous.’
‘You think so?’ He eyed her speculatively. ‘I wonder, would it be wrong of me to take that as a challenge?’
‘Can one be delightfully wrong?’
His laughter was a low rumble that set butterflies dancing in her stomach. ‘I hope so, Miss Galbraith. May I dare to ask if you are available to judge for yourself tonight?’
‘You do not have another engagement?’
‘I will have done my duty by the end of today.’
‘Then I accept.’ Smiling saucily, she dropped him a curtsy. ‘But for now, I think we should resume our duties and seek out our charges.’
Chapter Nine
‘The State Bedchamber,’ Aleksei announced later that night, throwing open the door theatrically. ‘Created for my grandfather in the days when the Duke and Duchess gave formal audiences from the comfort of their bed.’
She understood now why he had kept her waiting in the corridor, for he had been busy lighting the candles, allowing her to see the stage he had set in all its glory. And it was a glorious sight. ‘You omitted to show me this room when you gave me the grand tour,’ Allison said, gazing around her, eyes wide.
‘I didn’t show you any of the bedchambers, actually. Frankly, I didn’t trust myself!’
The chamber was almost entirely decorated in blue and gold. Blue-silk wall hangings were framed by blue-painted pilasters topped with gold acanthus leaves. Blue upholstery adorned the gilded chairs and chaise longue grouped at the foot of the bed. A golden guard rail forming a semi-circle around the bed itself. A duck-egg-blue-and-gold canopy stretched over the head of the bed, surmounted by the Derevenko insignia painted in gold. The white marble fireplace was inset with shards of peacock blue.