Authors: Susan Johnson
Nikki was caressing her now with both hands, slowly running his fingers down her soft curves. He bent his head and touched her warm, inviting lips. And then Alisa had no further time to reflect as her passions rose to meet his demands.
Sometime later, Nikki rose from the rumpled bed.
“We must hurry and dress if we hope to meet Katelina’s schedule.” Saying this, he turned and walked stark naked with a most unaffected composure to the door of the adjoining dressing room. Pausing in the open doorway, he reached one long arm out for the bellpull, remarking, “I’ll ring for the servants to draw your bathwater. I hope roisterous Rubenesque nymphs and black onyx Turkish sunken tubs don’t offend you, but our ancestor Platon was not distinguished for his refinement and leaned rather toward an erotic purism.” Neither expecting nor waiting for an answer, Nikki shouted for his valet and strode out of the room.
Fifteen minutes later Nikki sauntered back in, the valet bustling after, easing a crisp white shirt onto the muscular shoulders.
Alisa swiftly pulled up the sheet and covered her shoulders.
“Aren’t you out of bed yet? Tut, tut, dear, Katelina will be fidgeting.”
“I know. I’ll get up directly. But the bed felt so comfortable.”
“You’ll like the toy shop. They have the best selection in the city.” As the valet hovered about, buttoning the gold shirt studs, adjusting the turquoise cuff links, straightening the soft collar to the right degree of perfection, Nikki carried on an easy conversation explaining the direction of
the establishment where Katelina’s train was to be found, noting the beautiful day, discoursing convivially on Katelina’s impetuous charm, until he suddenly realized Alisa’s responses to these mundane observations were rather stilted. Glancing over to the bed, he saw an obviously distressed and embarrassed figure clutching the bed linen to her chin.
“That will be all, Georgi.” He crisply dismissed the valet.
“Yes, my Prince,” said the diminutive man, and quickly left the room.
Walking over to the bed, Nikki leaned over and kissed Alisa’s cheek. “Forgive me. I didn’t realize Georgi disturbed you.”
“It’s silly, I’m sure, but, well … I’m not used to having a manservant in my bedroom.”
“Of course, dear. I should have considered. I’ll dress myself from now on.”
“Oh, no! I don’t want to cause trouble for your valet … and … how will you manage?” Alisa stammered apologetically.
“Nonsense! Georgi will find his extra leisure no hardship, I assure you, and I’m perfectly capable of dressing myself. Men don’t have all those frippery buttons and laces women do. Now, come, my sweet, into your bath, or Katelina will complain vehemently at the delay. I’ll go and explain to Georgi.”
In an incredibly short time Nikki returned through the dressing room doorway extremely well-turned out in a fastidiously tailored coffee-brown frock coat of exquisite fit across his broad shoulders, a finely tucked open-neck lawn shirt, brown brocade waistcoat, and pale biscuit trousers resting the required bare half inch from the ground over his brown kid half boots.
Alisa was being dressed by Maria while Katelina sat upon a tufted hassock, watching with a very unusual and quiet
patience. Alisa was turned out in her only dress, which had been miraculously washed and pressed overnight, a navy and green striped silk serge skirt and a green silk blouse clasped high under her neck with a cameo brooch. Nikki had instructed Maria to find a wrap in his mother’s wardrobe, and Maria was now arranging the soft folds of a navy blue pelisse edged in silk braid over the voluminous skirt.
Alisa’s golden coppery hair had been arranged simply, pulled back and up on top of her head, long curls falling down her back, soft tendrils framing her delicate face. Studying Alisa critically from head to foot, Nikki said, “We must see to some clothes for you, Alisa. I’m afraid the gowns left in Mother’s room are sadly out of date. However, that pelisse will do. And you, moppet, look quite elegant.” He grinned as Katelina jumped from her seat upon hearing Nikki speak and rushed toward him. Maria had found on her shopping expedition a dress of white organza with pale green ribbons that fit Katelina admirably as well as a short green coat and an enormous pale yellow straw sailor hat decorated with long green taffeta streamers.
“Shall we, ladies?” Nikki inquired with an elaborate flourish, and Katelina tumbled out of the room a full five yards in advance of Rakeli, who ran after her impetuous young charge.
The landau, with its top down, stood ready outside the main entrance, its coachwork freshly beeswaxed, its four horses so well groomed, their gleaming chestnut coats seemed to have been brushed with oil. After everyone was comfortably seated, the coachman, in his best livery of green velvet, set the animals into a fashionable high-stepping trot.
It was impossible for Katelina to sit tamely on the velvet upholstery. She hopped about, asking questions, excitedly pointing out items that interested her and demanding and getting most of Nikki’s attention. Alisa was pleased to see
that adjusting to a new environment was evidently not going to be a problem for her daughter. With Katelina’s natural curiosity, vitality, and open, affectionate nature, each new experience was avidly enjoyed. As Katelina’s father had studiously avoided her since her birth five years before, no emotional pangs of separation had developed since leaving Viipuri.
Katelina had wrung a promise from Nikki to ride to the Summer Gardens first, and as they approached the Gardens, the other occupants of fashionable carriages out to enjoy the balmy temperatures were astounded to see the city’s most sought after bachelor riding with a beautiful young woman, a nanny, and a child!
Two smartly uniformed Chevalier Gardes astride magnificent blacks rode up to the carriage as Rakeli and Katelina were disembarking to take in a short expedition to feed the swans. The coachman finished tying the horses to a hitching post and retired to the shade of a nearby tree.
Both officers bowed deeply from their saddles and the fair-haired young lieutenant remarked politely to Nikki, “Good morning, Nikki, I don’t believe we’ve met your charming companion before.”
“No, that’s right, you haven’t,” Nikki replied rudely. “Now, get about your business,” he added discourteously, and sketched them a brief salute. With no rebuke possible to that direct cut, they wheeled their horses and left, puzzled at his response.
“It looks like our Colonel has discovered a new bit of fluff he’s jealously guarding,” the young blond subaltern remarked to his companion with a chuckle as they continued their leisurely canter down the Admiralteski.
“Nikki in public with a child is enough to shock the most redoubtable aplomb. Do you think it’s his?”
“Can’t say. With that red hair, the little girl looks like her mother, not like Countess Souvanieff’s last child that
bore the stamp of Nikki Kuzan so blatantly, it fair took your breath away.”
As these speculations were being bandied about farther down the avenue, Nikki and Alisa were interrupted once again by a passing horseman. Major Cernov, riding up to the open carriage, doffed his hat in greeting. Nikki’s face set into a scowl.
“So nice to see you
once again
, Mrs. Forseus,” Cernov said pointedly with a lopsided grin, and his Oriental eyes narrowed speculatively.
Alisa flushed hotly at the insinuating tone of the greeting and at the eyes that stripped her.
“Good morning,” she returned coolly, angered at the bold scrutiny he was directing at her.
“Haven’t seen you at the Yacht or Nobles’ Clubs lately, Nikki. LaSalle Square and the islands seem quite dull without you, but now I can see good reason for your absence.”
“I didn’t know my absences were noted with such assiduity,” Nikki observed dryly.
“Come now, don’t be so modest, Nikki; as you well know, your activities have been substantial material for ondits and observation since you were a mere stripling.”
“Surely people have better things to occupy their time than listen to absurd gossip. In point of fact, don’t you have some more pressing business, Gregor? We wouldn’t want to detain you,” Nikki said, brushing off yet another attempt at conversation.
“As you wish, Nikki. Your servant, Madame,” Cernov said soothingly as he took the rather direct suggestion amiably. Taking a silk wipe from his sleeve, Cernov flicked an imaginary speck of dust from his spotless cavalry boots, pushed the kerchief back into his sleeve so a few inches trailed elegantly below his silver-braided cuff, wheeled his horse to leave, and winked at Nikki.
“If Tanya’s pattern should reoccur, please inform me. I’d be interested in the merchandise.”
“Don’t get greedy, Cernov,” Nikki quietly retorted. Cernov’s long, flowing mustache only twitched as his thin lips smiled faintly. “I’m a patient man,
mon ami
, no hurry.” He gently spurred his horse to a trot and disappeared into the stream of carriages and riders.
“What did that insolent cur mean by merchandise?” Alisa asked, knowing full well what he’d meant. “And who is Tanya?”
“Don’t get your temper up, dear. Tanya was an old friend and Cernov knows very well that you’re under my protection, so he won’t bother you, I’m sure.”
“
Under your protection
?” Alisa sputtered, flushing vividly as the obvious and unmistakable clarity of his explanation struck her. Of course, she should have realized. How very stupid of her. The full implication of what the public reaction to her situation would be left her momentarily stunned, devoured with shame. She was exceedingly thankful, for the first time since her parents’ death, that they
weren’t
alive to see the terrible depths to which she had fallen, the sordid fate outlined for her.
All those years with that beast Forseus she’d patiently waited until Katelina was older and had planned on leaving, having saved some money as she could, with the expectation of that flight. Now, through nothing more than her own sensuous weakness in succumbing to the devastatingly charming advances of Prince Kuzan, she was deprived of even the comfortless life of Forseus’s estate.
Irritated at the masterful certainty of Nikki’s assumption, and resentful to be treated once more like a piece of property, she coldly said, “I don’t recall placing myself under your protection.”
“Come now, love,” Nikki said reasonably, “if you recall, when I found you in that shed, your alternatives were
surely limited; more severe beatings and possibly death if Forseus had continued drugging you. Hardly a choice of options, I should think. And consider it now,” Nikki urged amiably, “plenty of advantages, especially if one has already shown a
decided
partiality for the man one has as protector. I’m not considered ungenerous, and if you contrive to please me in the future as well as you have to this date, we shall deal together quite easily.”
Taking umbrage at his arrogant presumption that her role was to please
him
, Alisa indignantly said, “I haven’t any
decided
partiality for you, you arrogant lecher, and furthermore—”
“Give me three minutes alone with you, my dear,” Nikki interjected suavely, “and I feel sure I can restore my credit on that account.”
Her eyes dropped shamefully before his candid regard, but she was angry enough to thrust aside the brief feeling of embarrassment, continuing belligerently. “Maria has some money of mine she brought with us. I’m not in
need
of protection.”
“Not enough to buy you one decent gown, let alone support yourself, a child, and three servants,” Nikki disagreed bluntly with his typical disregard for tact.
“Well, then,” Alisa insisted heatedly, “I’m relatively well educated, young, and strong. I can obtain a position as governess.”
“I agree in principle with your idea, but unfortunately, the pressures of existence in this world of travail serve to daunt the most optimistic hopes.” His words were uttered in a lazy, mocking drawl. “For you, the role of governess”—the sarcasm in his voice was all too apparent—“is quite a pleasant conceit, my dear. You
will
forgive my speaking frankly, but I fear you are lacking in a sense of the realities of things.
“If—I say, if—any wife in her right mind would allow a
provokingly beautiful young woman like yourself to enter her household, I’d wager a small fortune, the master of that house would be sharing your bed within the week. Consider the folly of the notion, love. At least with me there’d be no indignant wife to throw you and your retinue out into the street when her husband’s preferences became obvious. And since I have a rather intimate knowledge of many of these wives, I think my opinion is to be relied upon. And as your protector,” he continued equably, “I, of course, feel an obligation to maintain your daughter and servants in luxurious comfort.”
“I am not a plaything to be bought!” Alisa said feelingly.
“Ah, my dear, but you are. Confess, it is a woman’s role, primarily a pretty plaything for a man’s pleasure and then inexorably as night follows day—a mother. Those are the two roles a woman plays. It’s preordained. Don’t fight it,” he said practically.
Alisa would have done anything, she felt at that moment, to wipe that detestable look of smugness from Nikki’s face.
“Perhaps I’ll take Cernov up on his offer after all,” she said with the obvious intent to provoke. “Is he richer than you? I must weigh the advantages if I’m to make my way profitably in the demimonde,” she went on calculatingly. “Since I’m merely a plaything, it behooves me to turn a practical frame of mind to the role of demirep and sell myself for the highest price in money and rank obtainable. I have a certain refinement of background without the stench of the ghetto, which is surely worth a few roubles more, and I play the piano, though, I must confess, with more skill than talent; of course, I embroider a fine stitch, hardly of interest in the boudoir, I fear. I dance rather gracefully, if you
will
pardon the immodesty of boasting; sketch and paint, am fluent in Latin, French, German, again, alas, of little consequence once the lights are out.”
With an uncharitable pleasure Alisa noticed her words had the effect of erasing the objectionable look of smugness from Nikki’s face, to be abruptly replaced by a glowering frown.