The Shadow of Tyburn Tree (31 page)

After bowing himself away he ran into two of the men he had met that morning at Monsieur de Pons' breakfast-party, and they, in turn, introduced him to their ladies and others of the company; so he spent a further two hours in light, amusing conversation; then, finding that the crowd was thinning he went up to Natalia Andreovna to take his leave. As he bowed over her hand she said softly: ‘Tomorrow evening, if you will, Monsieur, you may call for me and give me your escort to my box at the Opera.'

‘Madame,' he murmured. ‘Though I shall have no eyes for it 'twill be for me the most memorable spectacle I have ever had the good fortune to attend.'

Their eyes met and held one another's for a second; then, with the happy feeling that his evening had been very far from wasted he left the Embassy and returned to his inn.

The following morning Count Hans Axel af Fersan called upon him, and took him to the Guild House of the Society of Toxophilists, in the garden of which an archery contest was being held to the accompaniment of the drinking of much lager-beer and considerable betting. When it was over Count Hans carried him off to dine with a company of gay young men, all of whom pressed Roger to accept their services, so by
the evening of his fourth day in Sweden, he found himself already well-established to pass his time in most agreeable society.

Excusing himself when the meal was over he returned to his inn, dressed himself in his best and presented himself at the Russian Embassy. A few minutes later Natalia Andrebvna, looking truly regal in white satin, great clusters of diamonds, and an ermine cape, came down the stairs, and he led her out to the big gilded coach.

In it, on their way to the Opera House, he had too much good sense to attempt to make love to her, but he told her in no unmeasured terms how lovely he thought both herself and her toilette. On their arrival he found to his great satisfaction that she had not invited anyone else to share the roomy private box, so he could count on having her to himself for the best part of three hours.

When they had settled themselves she exchanged greetings with several people in the nearby boxes and waved her fan to some of the young gallants in the pit, meanwhile keeping Roger amused with a running commentary on who they were and their idiosyncrasies. As befitted the Russian Ambassador's power in the land, he retained the permanent use of a box in the first tier next to the Royal box. The latter was so far empty and Roger, knowing the King's partiality to the theatre and that this was a first night, asked his companion if she thought it likely that his Majesty would attend the performance.

She shook her head. ‘Nay, he still dallies at Karlskrona.'

Recalling that the King had been expected back in Stockholm for the party at the French Embassy four nights before, Roger inquired: ‘What is it that detains him there?'

‘I would that we knew for certain,' she replied, thoughtfully. ‘He is said to be inspecting his fleet, but certain intelligence suggests that he may be supervising its preparations for putting to sea.'

Roger pricked up his ears. ‘Is Karlskrona his principal fleet base, then?'

‘Why, yes. 'Tis the largest harbour and naval arsenal in the world.'

‘Oh, come!' he protested. ‘Surely 'tis not bigger than Toulon, or the great new base that King Louis is constructing at Cherbourg?'

‘Indeed it is,' she assured him. ‘And virtually impregnable; for 'tis situated in the heart of a great island of rock that can only be reached from the mainland by way of two other islands. The Swedes have been working on it for many years, constructing the most ingenious hydraulic works, and hewing
dry-docks, underground canals and storehouses out of the solid mountain side. The port itself is very deep and capable of holding a hundred ships of the line.'

‘King Gustavus can have nothing near that number.'

‘True, but for the past six years he has been building at the rate of four a year, and there are now thirty-seven ships of the line lying there, as well as numerous frigates. Then there must be others at Trollhátta and Sveaborg; so he now has a fleet quite formidable enough to cause Russia considerably anxiety in the Baltic.'

‘Do you fear then that he contemplates an attack against your country?'

Her tapering eyebrows drew together in a frown. ‘ 'Tis hard to say. We know that he has been receiving subsidies from the Turks, and it may be he feels that he should at least make some demonstration to justify them. Yet I cannot believe that he would be such a presumptious fool as to defy the Empress. 'Twould be suicidal to invite a revolution in his own country with Russia, Austria and France all leagued against him.'

The lights had been put out, and at that moment, the curtain went up. Roger drew his chair up beside Natalia's and a little behind it, and took her hand; then, after they had watched the scene for a while he began to whisper in her ear. The Grand Opera season was over, so only a light musical with no great stars appearing in it was being played; and the plot was of such an airy nature that they could almost ignore the stage without losing its thread.

Knowing that much as most women enjoyed a meed of flattery, the majority greatly preferred a man who could make them laugh, to one who confined himself to solemnly praising their beauty, he ventured on a slight
risquê
joke. Natalia's quiet chuckle showed him that he was on the right track, and soon they were swopping stories which, had the lights been up, should have made even a young widow blush.

During the long interval she received a little court of callers in the box, and most of them did not hide the fact that they envied Roger his good fortune in being her escort for the evening. When they had retired he drew his chair up to hers once more, but he bided his time until half-way through the second act before giving their conversation a serious turn and begging her to give him a proper assignation.

For a time she listened to his pleading in silence, then she said:

‘ 'Twould be idle for me to pretend a virtue in which, after our first meeting, you would not believe; and I'll not deny
that I have had a number of lovers; but I am mightily particular as to the men I choose for such a role. 'Tis, in fact my custom to test such gallants as attract me both for their courage and sensibility before granting them my favours.'

‘I pray you then, even if I only attract you a very little, allow me to essay these tests,' said Roger, quickly.

She gave a low laugh. ‘I confess to just the suspicion of a hankering for you, so it shall be as you wish.'

The scent of Attar of Roses that she favoured was strong in Roger's nostrils. Her head was now so close to his that he could feel her warm breath on his cheek. She was leaning very lightly against his shoulder, and she seemed to him now unutterably desirable. His heart began to hammer in his chest.

The dim light in the box was just sufficient for Roger to catch the fleeting smile of promise that flickered over Natalia's lovely face, then she went on. ‘But if you fail me in either test I'll be adamant. Moreover I warn you now that should I take you for my lover I'll expect complete faithfulness. On that I insist, and if I catch you deceiving me I'll give you cause to rue it.'

He kissed her hand, and his voice trembled with eagerness as he said: ‘Your conditions are mine, Madame. May I know the tests?'

‘Nay, that is my secret,' she replied with a note of amusement in her voice. ‘But from tonight you may call me Natalia Andreovna, and, if you will tell it me, I will call you by your given name; for in Russia these formal “Messieurs” and “Mesdames” are never used between friends.'

‘My name is
Rojé,
and that of my father
Christophe
,' he said, pronouncing both as was customary in France. ‘So I suppose that in Russia I should be called Rojé Christorovitch.'

‘Then, Rojé Christorovitch, you may take me riding tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. 'Tis unnecessary for you to hire a horse, as I can provide you with a good mount from the Embassy stables. The pine-woods outside the city now smell delicious, and as we ride through them we can talk and laugh to our hearts' content.'

‘I'll scarce sleep from savouring the pleasure of it in advance, dear Natalia Andreovna,' he said gallantly. Then, seeing that the singers on the stage had massed for the final chorus, he drew her to her feet and to the back of the box, where they exchanged a few long kisses before the flambeauxmen ran in to light the theatre up.

On the way home she was very firm with him, and when they reached the Embassy she would not let him come in, but insisted on sending him home in her coach. Nevertheless he felt that he had made excellent progress. The thought of the tests she demanded did not worry him. They seemed to add to the romance of the affair, making her still more desirable; and he reasoned that no woman who wanted a man would
make such tests unduly hard. Their long evening together had given him good grounds for believing that she wanted him, and he now felt that she was a much nicer person than he had at first supposed. In fact he was rapidly falling under the beautiful young widow's spell.

When he awoke next morning he found to his delight that the day was fine; and well before ten o'clock he was striding up the steps of the Russian Embassy. A quarter of an hour later Natalia Andreovna came down to him, and the sight of her was enough to make any gallant's heart beat faster. With that same disregard of convention which characterised her father, she was dressed as a man. Her outfit consisted of a dove-coloured beaver tricorne hat with a deep gold band and tassels; a long scarlet coat faced with gold brocade; a buff, gold-laced waistcoat, frilled shirt and man's neckerchief; buckskin small-clothes, jack-boots, gold spurs and a diamond-studded riding-switch. This male attire suited her boyish figure to perfection, and chin in air, she walked with a swagger that made her quite irresistible.

Somewhat to Roger's surprise no horses were being walked up and down in readiness for them outside, but she told him that she had thought that he might like to try one or two mounts and choose which he preferred before setting out; then she led him round to the stable yard.

A little group of grooms were waiting for them with a small white, long-tailed Arab, and a big black mare measuring a good sixteen hands. The men were Russians, with shaggy hair and flat, dark, peasant faces. One of them led the Arab to a mounting block for Natalia and another held the black for Roger. The moment he was in the saddle the
moujik
sprang away, gave a loud hiss and clapped his hands. Instantly the mare reared wildly and tried to throw her rider.

The next few minutes were hectic. Fortunately Roger was an excellent horseman, and his long legs enabled him to keep a good grip of his mount, otherwise he might easily have had his brains dashed out on the cobbles of the yard. Round and round went the mare, bucking, prancing and kicking, while he hung grimly on and strove to quieten the half-crazy animal.

For a second he caught a glimpse of Natalia; she was smiling broadly and the squat, ugly peasants were grouped round her loudly guffawing at his discomfiture. He realised then that she must have deliberately mounted him on this vicious brute and instructed the
moujik
beforehand to frighten it. The thought filled him with rage but made him more determined than ever not to afford her the satisfaction of seeing him thrown off.

Jerking round the mare's head he gave her both his spurs and sent her careering through a gate at the back of the yard that led into the Embassy garden. In a flash, he had crossed the lawn with its neatly patterned flower-beds, and was heading down a path between some plots of early vegetables. Beyond them lay a wooden fence and a paddock. Another touch of the spurs and the mare sailed over the fence. She was a splendid animal, and once he had her in the field, he began to enjoy himself. For ten minutes he rode her round and round it, towards the end forcing her pace to teach her a lesson. Then he found a gap in the fence, put her through it and trotted her back across the garden to the stable-yard.

The wicked little Russian, now mounted astride the Arab was still there laughing among her varlets. Pulling up the foam-flecked and quivering black in front of her, Roger swept off his tricorne and said with a smile: ‘My apologies for having delayed your setting out, Natalia Andreovna; but having tested the mount you selected for me I find your choice admirable.'

Her green eyes danced with amusement and just a hint of admiration, as she cried: ‘Let us away, then, Rojé Christorovitch'; and turning her white steed she cantered out of the gate beside him.

They soon left houses and gardens behind, and were riding through woods of larch and pine. After an hour they came out of the forest on to a high promontory from which there was a magnificent view of the slate-blue fjord. Reining in her Arab, Natalia suggested that they should pause there for a while, so they both dismounted and Roger tied the reins of the horses to a tree stump.

Although he had not shown it he was still seething inwardly at the dangerous trick she had played him; and as he tied up the horses it occurred to him that it would serve her right if he took the Arab and left her to ride home on the temperamental black. But he dismissed the thought almost as soon as it came to him, as, quite apart from the physical attraction she had for him, he knew that it was of the utmost importance for his work that he should keep on good terms with her.

She had seated herself on a fallen tree. As he sat down beside her she took his hand, and said seriously: ‘Rojé Christorovitch, I am pleased with you. Not many men could ride that black devil as you did, and I am well satisfied with your courage. You have passed the first test with honour.'

‘So it was a test, eh?' he laughed. ‘I wondered if it could be. Yet, if you have a liking for a man, and you say you like me to put him in the way of breaking his neck is a strange way to show it.'