Free Valerie's Russia by Sara Judge Page B

arrogance, self-confidence, and beauty, was a typical son of this vibrant land and his intense masculine vitality overwhelmed her.
    ‘Valerie, I think you are far away,’ said Tassya. ‘You do not hear what I say to you.’
    ‘Forgive me.’ Valerie blinked, putting down her cup with a clatter. ‘I am sorry, Tassya. I was thinking about Russia, and Mavara, and everything I have seen here. It is all so different and wonderful – my mind is reeling from the thrill of it all.’
    ‘Reeling?’ Tassya did not know that word.
    ‘As if I have had too much vodka,’ said Valerie, swaying from side to side on her chair, ‘or like a ship on the high seas.’
    She laughed, aware of how absurd she must look, but Feodor’s face remained expressionless and Tassya nodded gravely.
    ‘I do like you, Valerie Marsh, and wish you could stay for a longer time. I want you as my friend and do not wish you to go away so soon.’
    ‘I must return to my duties with Grand Duchess Olga,’ said Valerie. ‘But I would love to come and visit again, if your mother agrees? Perhaps I could come in the summer?’
    She was unsure what the Imperial family would be doing when they returned from the Crimea after Easter. But the Empress was so sympathetic about Tassya, she might allow Valerie to come down again later in the year.
    There was still the matter of Grigorii Rasputin to be sorted out. Valerie hadn’t mentioned the holy man last night. Tassya had wanted to talk about her riding accident, and how she missed her adored horses, and how she hated being so dependent on other people.
    Then Tassya had asked about England, and about Valerie’s life at the vicarage, and by the time she had finished talking both girls were tired and ready for sleep.
    The time had to be right before she dared to mention Father Grigorii and Valerie felt she needed to know Tassya better, in order to make sure she could keep a secret.
    The girl worshipped her tall, goodlooking brother but she must not be allowed to speak about plans with the great healer to Pyotr. He would never let his sister make the long journey to St Petersburg if he suspected she was going to meet the man he detested.
    ‘I am sure Mother would agree to you coming here again,’ said Tassya, ‘and
I
want you to look upon Mavara as your second home.’
    ‘I should like that,’ said Valerie.
    ‘We have eight indoor servants,’ Tassya went on, enjoying herself now that Valerie was concentrating on her, ‘four men and four women. They are really too many, but as I need Dunya all the time, that only leaves three for the cleaning and washing and ironing and sewing.’
    ‘What about the cooking?’ said Valerie.
    Eight servants were far more than they had at home, where Mrs Duffy did all the work with just little Polly to help her. But the vicarage was tiny compared to Mavara, and there was a butcher’s shop, and a greengrocer, just down the road.
    ‘The cooking is done by Sidor Novatko, and even Feodor bows to his wishes in the kitchen, although Feodor is in charge of everything else in the house.’ Tassya gave the black-clad man a fleeting smile as she spoke. ‘Sidor Novatko has a boy to help with the wood for the stove, and for preparing the vegetables, and cleaning the silver. Our other man, Dimitry, is rather old and sleeps a lot, but he looks after the lamps.’
    She went on to explain that Dunya slept with her, but the other three females slept upstairs next to her mother’s bedroom, in the linen room.
    ‘And where Dashka will be unless you want her with you at night?’
    Valerie shook her head.
    ‘It’s so that Mother can hear if there is any nonsense,’ she grinned.
    ‘And the men all sleep downstairs,’ Tassya went on. ‘Feodor on a bed in the pantry, and the others on the kitchen floor.’
    ‘Mrs Duffy wouldn’t take kindly to sleeping on the floor!’ said Valerie.
    ‘But they have always slept like that.’ Tassya sounded surprised. ‘And they are fortunate in having