To Love a Horseguard (20 page)

Victor patted Rose’s hand. “We must wait here, until the tsar summons us; if he chooses to do so.”

A man and woman exited the double doors of the tsar’s meeting room. The man who led them to the anti-chamber disappeared behind the doors. It seemed like hours, but was only minutes before he was back. He motioned for them to follow him.

Victor gave her an encouraging smile, and they entered the meeting room.

The tsar sat on a throne on a raised platform at the far end of the room. When they reached it, they were announced. Victor bowed and Rose followed suit with a deep curtsy.

The tsar stood and stepped from the platform. He took her hand, kissed it and helped her to her feet.
“Lady Wellington, it is a pleasure to see you again,” he said with a delighted smile. “What can I do for you?”

Rose returned his smile as he led her to sit in an empty chair beside his throne. “I have come to discuss a
matter of great importance, Your Excellency.”

“Indeed. What matter troubles your lovely head, my dear?”

“You have arrested Prince Peterlovsky.”

“Ah yes. The matter should not concern you, my lady. The prince has been arrested because he disobeyed my orders and deserted his post. Rest assured his arrest has nothing to do with you.”

“I must respectfully disagree with you, Your Excellency.”

The tsar looked at her with
an expression of surprise. “Do explain.”

Rose glanced at Victor. He smiled and nodded to encourage her to go on. She took a deep b
reath and explained, “You see, Dimitry and I were married before we left England.”

To his credit the tsar’s expression did not change. “Your marriage is not valid here without my blessing.”

“I understand, Your Excellency. We did not marry to defy your authority. My king would not allow me to come back to Russia with Dimitry without the respectability of marriage.”

“That is very wise.” The tsar signaled for a footman to fill his wine glass.

Rose waited for him to indicate she should continue. He was silent for a long time as he drank his wine and pondered her. Finally he set down his empty glass. “Why did your king allow your marriage to Prince Peterlovsky when you were already engaged to a Frenchman?”

She could not help but blush. “It is a tale that should not be told in so public a place as this.”

The tsar nodded. He clapped his hands and spoke in Russian to the dozen others in the room.

They all hurried out of the chamber. Victor stayed, but moved to the far side to give them some privacy. The tsar turned back to Rose.

“There are no ears but mine to hear your tale, my lady, and my ears have heard the worst so they will not be burned by anything you have to tell.”

“Thank you, Your E
xcellency.” 

The tsar nodded
.

Sh
e swallowed. “You see, when Dimitry rescued me from the cave, I, we... that is, we realized that we had fallen in love. It was not intended, it just happened.” She paused and the tsar nodded. “We could not bear to part.” Rose looked down at the floor. The tsar reached out and squeezed her hand. She gave him abashed smile. “Anyway, when I returned to England my fiancé had already spread rumors I was soiled goods because I had been in Sergi and Dimitry’s company without a proper chaperone. He thought to further offend my honor before our wedding by threatening me. Dimitry came to my aid before any harm was done. Faced with a witness to his act, the marquis retracted his offer of marriage. I can neither fault him nor feel any disappointment in his decision.”

“I see.” The tsar studied her
with a thoughtful expression. “The matter of the prince’s arrest for just cause still remains before me. I cannot condone his actions without appearing weak morally in the face of my subjects.”

“I understand
. We shall accept the consequences of your judgment, but before you cast your stone I ask that you hear Dimitry out. What he did, he did out of love, not disrespect to you. I would rather spend the rest of my days in Siberia than live another moment without him. He is a man who loves and serves you with all his heart. He hurts for the people in a way that makes me love him more. He broke his oath to you, to honor that same oath to me, but with great risk to himself. I could ask no more of any man than to right his own wrong no matter the consequences, can you?”

The tsar smiled. “Well spoken, my lady. Your pleas have not fallen on deaf ears. There have not been enough sacrifices for love in my country. If there had been we would not be in the position we are now. You and I are like-minded in some things, I think.”

Tears well up in Rose’s eyes and she struggled to keep them at bay.

The tsar poured a glass of wine and handed it to her. “Tell my steward to have Prince Peterlovsky brought before me,” he said to Victor.

Rose waited, twisting her fingers in the lace on her skirt. Finally Dimitry entered with two guards. After they unfastened his handcuffs they stood on either side of the door to prevent any possibility of escape.

The tsar fixed him with a stern stare. “Come forward, Prince Peterlovsky.”

Dimitry marched forward and bowed to the ruler on one knee. He stayed in that position until the tsar bade him to stand.

“You have been charged with disobeying a direct order and traveling to England. You have also been charged with desertion of your post. What say you to these charges?”

Dimitry bowed his head. “I plead guilty, Your Excellency, and throw myself on your mercy.”

“Lady Wellington
has prevailed upon my sense of chivalry to allow you to explain your actions before I sentence you, so what say you in your defense?”

“Lady Rose has a caring heart, Your E
xcellency. It was she who saw the needs of the orphans and suggested a way to help. I did not mean any disrespect. I simply meant to bring her back so that together we could help you right the wrongs made by Ivan, and heal our great country. She was most sorely used by one of our own, yet she does not hold it against us which is a credit to her character, and that of her brother, the Duke of Ainsbury. I cannot however, claim that my actions were purely selfless, and for that I am both sorry and unrepentant.” Dimitry looked the tsar in the eye.

The tsar frowned. “Explain.”

“I am sorry to have breached your trust, but I do not regret my reason. I love Rose more than my own life. I sought to right mine, and our country’s wrong, but never did I seek to desert you. I am forever your humble servant.”

The ruler sighed. “It seems your story has woven its way through the ears of all the people. They are truly inspired by the story of your rescue and gallant pursui
t of your lady love. Why, I hear ballads are sung to your unbreakable love and perseverance.”

Rose giggled, and then clapped her hand over her mouth for fear she might o
ffend the tsar.

He gave her an amused smile before he continued. “I fear the people will be singing of your undying love for many years to come.” He smiled when Rose stifled another giggle. “I see only one solution to the situation. You shall be stripped of your position as the head of my army. However, I shall not send you to Siberia. Instead, you shall spend the rest of your days repaying my mercy. You shall be in charge of rebuilding Russia’s social a
nd economic structure. Lady Wellington shall repay her debt to me by helping you in this endeavor.”

“Yes, Your E
xcellency.” 

“In addition, I expect her
to remain here at the palace with me until the day after tomorrow when I will have my own archbishops perform a proper Russian marriage ceremony.”

“
As you wish, Your Excellency, and thank you for your mercy.” Rose smiled at Dimitry through her tears of joy.

Dimitry returned her smile with a sly one of his own. “If it would please you, Your E
xcellency, I would like to ask for your mercy in another delicate situation.”

The tsar frowned. “Have I not done enough?”

“You have done more than your duty,” Dimitry hurried to assure him. “It is but a very small liberty I ask of you.”

“Very well, as long as it is relevant to the situation I shall grant your request.”

Dimitry's eyes twinkled. “It is Your Excellency.” He stepped up onto the platform and held out his hand to Rose.

Puzzled she took his hand and he helped her to her feet. Before she knew what was happening he pulled her into his arms. Her head swam as his lips devoured hers in a passionate kiss and the tsar clapped his hands in delight.

Chapter
Twenty-Four

Rose wrinkled her nose as the first snowflakes of the season began to drift on the fall breeze, tickling her warm skin.

Dimitry
held her hand as he helped her from the carriage. “The renovations are finished in time for winter, just as I promised.” 

Rose
looked up at the old theater that was now the new orphanage. The gathered crowd erupted into cheers as they walked up the steps. Rose bent down and kissed the cheek of a rosy-faced girl who presented her with a handful of half frozen, crushed flowers.

The tsar exited the orphanage and smiled. “It seems you are the most popular knyanzhna St. Petersburg has ever had.”

Rose straightened and looked questioningly at Dimitry.

He chuckled. “One day soon you shall master our language, knyanzhna means princess.”

She blushed. “I am not a princess.”

Dimitry placed a soft kiss on her lips. “You are to me.” He led her to stand beside the tsar as the ruler drew his ceremonial knife. He placed Rose’s hand over his and together they cut the ribbon stretched between the two pillars to signal the opening of the orphanage. The crowd cheered again. Rose looked at Dimitry. He was beaming at her with love shining in his c
lear blue eyes. If it were possible her heart would have burst with happiness at that very moment.

The tsar puffed up his chest, evidently pleased with himself. “By spring the building will be full of children.”

“It is all thanks to Rose who was smart enough to make this stubborn man see reason.” Dimitry hugged her to him and the tsar slapped him on the back.

Rose caught the flash of something metallic ove
r Dimitry’s shoulder. She peered closer at the crowd of people. Had she imagined it, or had she seen Dinah? Another flash caught her eye and this time she recognized her former maid. The girl raised the barrel of a pistol and pointed it at them.

“Dimitr
y!” Rose tried to push him away from her. He released her and stumbled into the tsar. 

There was a bright flash, a loud crack and smoke rose from the barrel of the gun. Dimitry stiffened. He made a strange face, and then toppled forward on top of her.
She tumbled to the ground and lay struggling to breath under Dimitry’s weight. The crowded screamed. Gasping, she clawed at the dead weight pinning her.

The body rolled off
and Victor knelt by her side. “Rose, are you all right? Speak to me.”

“I... No
, I think so.” Rose gasped, trying to fill her lungs with air.

Victor's face paled. “You are bleeding.”

Rose looked down at her white fur cloak splattered with blood. If she had been shot why didn’t she feel any pain? The horrible truth dawned on her.
I have not been shot, Dimitry has.
She scrambled to her knees. “Dimitry!”

“Rose, wait!” Victor grabbed her
by her arms.

She focused on
Dimitry lying prone on the ground, two guards bending over him. “Oh, Dimitry.” In desperation she fought Victor’s hold.

“Rose.” Victor shook her gently. “Look at me.”

“He’s dead, he’s dead! Dinah shot him. I saw her!” Everything seemed to move in slow motion, pictures and sounds muted and fuzzy in her mind.

“Rose, look at me.” Victor took her face in his hands, turning her head to look at him. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” she whimpered.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Dimitry…”

“It will be all right, someone has already sent for the physician. Come on inside.”

“What about Dimitry? I have to go to him.”

“They have taken him inside already.” Rose glanced at the spot Dimitry had lain and saw onl
y a bright pool of red there. Victor helped her to her feet and led her inside the orphanage.

“We have fought so hard to be together. I cannot lose him, Victor.”

“You will not lose him, Rose. I do not think he was shot in any vital organs.” He led her to a chair, sat her down and took a flask of vodka from his jacket pocket. He opened it and put it to her lips. “Drink.”

Rose took a sip and coughed as the strong liquor burned her throat.

“Come on. Drink some more. It will help calm your nerves. When you are calmer I will take you to Dimitry, all right?”

She sniffed and then drank from the flask until Victor took it away from her lips. He put it back in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.