Free The Unfailing Light by Robin Bridges

Tomilov. Your aunt Zina and I will be spending the next few weeks in Biarritz. We will come by to visit you when we arrive back in St. Petersburg.”
    I kissed her on both cheeks. “You be careful too, Maman.” I did not want the life my mother lived, constantly following the imperial court in its travels endlessly seeking pleasure. Denmark, Finland, France, Peterhof, the Crimea, Tsarskoe Selo. Only the coldest and darkest part of the winter, the social season, was spent in St. Petersburg by the aristocracy.
    There were many old friends who were happy to see me at Smolny. Madame Tomilov, the headmistress, was pleased that I’d decided to return. “Some girls do well without the extra year here at the institute, but I always encourage them to make the most of the education we have to offer. Students who complete our entire program leave more polished. You will learn extra court etiquette and gain knowledge about the nuances of St. Petersburg court society. You’ll also acquire a deeper appreciation for our culture.”
    I wanted to point out that I probably knew more secrets and nuances about the Dark and Light Courts than Madame Tomilov ever dreamed and, furthermore, that I did not need to know these nuances to succeed in medical school, but I kept silent. I wanted the school year to pass by quickly so I could continue with my own plans.
    “In addition,” Madame Tomilov continued, “you will teach two classes a week to one of the lower forms. I realize you did not intend to receive a teaching certificate, but it is traditional that students taking an additional year of the WhiteForm learn pedagogy and begin teaching simple subjects to the younger girls.”
    “Pedagogy?” I asked. It was a term I’d never heard before.
    “The science of education,” Madame said. “We shall teach you how to teach properly.”
    “Of course, Madame,” I said, curtsying and wondering what course I would be required to instruct. I suspected it would not be Practical Necromancy. And I hoped it would not be Geometry.
    My favorite instructor, Madame Orbellani, hugged me when she saw me. “We will continue with the Greek and Latin lessons, Katerina Alexandrovna. The more you know, the easier it will be when you do go to university.”
    The Bavarian princesses were delighted that I’d returned. Erzsebet embraced me and spun me around before letting me go. “We will have so much fun this year! Augusta and I are finally old enough to attend the Smolny Ball in November!” I smiled at both of the curly blond princesses. At least there was the ball to look forward to. Perhaps George Alexandrovich would be back from Paris by then, and we would dance the mazurka as we had last year.
    Elena did not show any surprise when I brought my things into our old room. I looked over at the empty cot where Dariya had slept. I would miss my cousin, even though I was glad she was now safe, far away from Elena. I wondered how my cousin liked being a lady-in-waiting for Grand Duchess Miechen.
    A fourth cot stood in the far corner of our room, and I wondered if the Bavarian sisters were moving in with us from the younger girls’ room. It was rather crowded in their dormitory.
    “I knew you would not leave us,” the Montenegrin princesssaid. “Too many wonderful things will be happening this year. Especially all the balls, where I will dance with the tsarevitch and you will dance with my brother!”
    I could not tell her anything. I could not even mention the spell over the institute, since it was because of her that the spell had been cast in the first place. With a bit of malice, I wondered what the empress’s spell would do to her the first time Elena tried any of her dark-magic tricks or tried to sneak off the school grounds.
    I decided not to offer any explanation for my change in plans. I couldn’t tell her the tsar wouldn’t let me leave the country because Konstantin Pavlovich might reappear. Nor could I tell her why this school was the safest