If Aleksei had declared that only one sun existed in the sky, Synnovea would’ve found some argument to refute his claim. “I doubt that Ivan has any real perception of charity other than what goes into his own pockets.”
Synnovea realized the peasants who had been waiting in line for food were now hanging back, fearful of moving past the elegantly garbed prince. “Begone with you, Aleksei!” She swept a hand about to indicate the ones who were shuffling away. “Can’t you see what you’re doing? They’re afraid of you!”
“Afraid of me? Why so?” His astonishment was badly concocted. “I’ve only come to witness your compassion toward these foul-smelling oafs. What has set you on this path of benevolence anyway? Are you seeking to pay penance for your sins?”
Synnovea’s eyes narrowed menacingly. “My greatest sin has yet to be committed, Aleksei. That’s when I’ll hire henchmen to string you up. Just why are you here, may I ask?”
“I’ve come as you have, as a benevolent lord to give ease to the poor.” He turned and addressed the friar. “See here, Philip, or whatever your name is! I’ve come to give my dues to your cause.” He drew forth a few coins of meager worth and scattered them at the elder’s sandaled feet.
“I will thank God for your kindness, my son,” the white-haired monk murmured graciously as he knelt to pick them up. Though he sensed the boyar wanted to see him groveling at his feet, he couldn’t ignore the insufficiencies plaguing his small ministry.
“You’d do better to thank me, old man,” Aleksei sneered, staring down his less-than-perfect nose at the elder. “I’ve power here on earth to see you imprisoned for consorting with thieves.” He indicated the tattered folk who huddled in growing apprehension of the boyar’s intentions. “Have I not seen the likes of these rogues stealing bread?”
“Oh, but surely, if they have, it was only a morsel or two, and you would forgive them for such meager offenses,” the monk hurriedly entreated as he struggled to his feet. “Many would starve without the bit of food they’re given here.”
“Have I not also seen you feeding those foul prisoners locked in stocks in Kitaigorod? Perhaps you’re also in league with the rogues who come to stealthily seek their release. I heard it said that the felons who escape flee the city to take up with bands of raiders and highwaymen. Perhaps they even stop here for sustenance to aid them on their way.”
The holy man spread his hands in appeal as he begged for understanding. “It’s true that you may have seen me helping the convicts fettered there, but the law makes no provisions for their needs. Whether guilty of pitiful deeds or those declared unworthy of reprieve among more worldly judges, they grow equally famished for a piece of bread or a cup of water. I don’t question them about their crimes when I distribute food. I only try to assure them that there is love and forgiveness for whatever they’ve done. But your pardon, my son, are you so perfect and pure that you’re able to cast the first stone at these poor wretches?”
Aleksei’s face took on a ruddy hue as he lifted his head in haughty arrogance. “I’m a prince! An aristocrat by birth!”
A kindly smile curved the wrinkled lips of the elder. “Do you seek to impress God with your aristocracy when all are equal in His sight, my son? None are perfect, whether prince or pauper.”
Tossing his head in contempt, Aleksei confronted the holy man with a sneer. “Is God blind to the faults of thieves and murderers?”
“God sees all, my son, but He also forgives. We need only ask with a contrite heart.”
Aleksei scoffed. “If there is a God!”
“Each man must decide that for himself, my son.”
The prince’s brows lowered darkly. “It’s foolishness to believe in something you cannot see!”
The kindly priest spoke gently. “I’m sorry, my son, but I don’t understand why you’ve come here if that is your belief. Do you seek counsel from a fool?”
“Oh, I’ve heard of your kind,” Aleksei derided. “You can be certain of that! Bozhie liudi! Men of God! Holy fools! That’s what they call you! Skitalets! Holy wanderers! You set up your skity in areas like this in compliance with that so-called order of Nilus Sorsky, that most foolish of fools! But you know as well as I do that Nilus died after his arguments against the wealth of the church were overridden by Joseph Sanin, and thereafter his followers have been persecuted by the Josephites and the grand dukes of Muscovy—as you will be!”
“Your knowledge of history seems well intact, my son, but you haven’t yet answered my question. Do you seek counsel from me?”
Aleksei laughed caustically. “You couldn’t possibly instruct me with your fool’s wisdom, holy man. I came only to guarantee the safety of my ward while she is among these filthy peasants.”
The monk shifted his gaze toward the young countess, who earlier that morning had arrived with her maid and the Countess Andreyevna. In recent years the latter had proven herself a most gracious and generous benefactress. Though he tended a garden and a small flock of sheep to enable him to serve the needs of the poor, he was grateful when such kindly and charitable workers as these offered their assistance. They had even sent their coachman to purchase more food when it had become evident that there wouldn’t be enough victuals to feed everyone who came. Now, because of them, all who ventured in today would be fed.
“None here would harm her,” the priest declared. “These people are appreciative of what the boyarina is doing for them.”
Aleksei responded with a snort of derision. “It’s beneath the countess’s station to consort with these vile vermin.”
“What kind do you suggest she consort with?” the holy man asked, beginning to understand the prince’s motives. “Do you mean to persuade her to go back with you, perhaps?”
Synnovea cast a pointed glare toward Aleksei, gaining his attention. Without a word she strode to the front door, luring him away from the old man. There she turned on him with fire in her eyes. “If you’re capable of any decency at all, Aleksei, then I beg you leave here and let us be,” she ground out in muted tones. “ ’Tis obvious what your real concerns are. Even Saint Philip now sees through your ploys.”
“You must heed my words, Synnovea,” the prince insisted. “I won’t let you thwart my plans.”
“And I warn you, Aleksei! You’d better heed mine! I’ve had enough of your lies and your filthy attempts to bed me! Now get out of here ere I take a lash to you! And don’t ever come back!”
Overhearing Synnovea’s threat, Natasha approached them with an amused smile. “Beware, Aleksei. I do believe the girl means it.”
His sharply penetrating scowl bore into the younger countess. “I’ve hired men to follow you wherever you go, Synnovea. You’ll not escape! They’ll hound you until you beg me to set you free of them.”
“Shall I complain to Vladimir about your close attention?” Synnovea needled. “He has wealth enough to send guards of his own to protect me from your spite.”
“Aye! Send for him!” Aleksei challenged. “He’ll insist upon speaking the vows posthaste just to save you from the ruffians I’ve hired. Then I’ll have my revenge that much sooner.” Saying nothing more, he swept into a shallow bow and stalked out.
Synnovea glared after his departing form and was somewhat surprised when he strode beyond his mount and made his way to an open field where a large party of mounted riders awaited him. From a distance the men appeared to be nothing more than unruly rabble garbed in a variety of outlandish apparel. Synnovea could only question Aleksei’s wisdom in hiring such questionable guards, for they looked more like cutthroats and renegades.
Despite the rather questionable attributes of her newly acquired guards, Synnovea soon realized that they were, at the very least, proficient at provoking her ire. After Aleksei left, they set up their surveillance closer to the church, built up a huge fire, and liberally guzzled large quantities of kvass and vodka while they involved themselves in lewd cavorting and riotous dancing with several strumpets who had joined them.
> Thoroughly abashed by the group’s unrestrained revelry, Synnovea begged forgiveness from Friar Philip. “I had no idea that I would be inviting this shameful exhibition by coming here.”
“You’re not to blame, my child,” the old man assured her kindly. “Today you’ve done a good service. The coins you’ve given will go a long way toward buying food for these poor people.” His eyes briefly flitted toward the rapscallions who taunted those who had taken shelter within the church. “Don’t let their presence demean the good deeds you’ve done here this day.”
Synnovea took his rough, work-hardened hand and pressed a kiss upon it. “I’ll come back when I’m free of them. Until then, my servant will bring a regular stipend to enable you to feed those who come to you.”
“Bless you for your kindness, my child.”
Kneeling before him, Synnovea accepted his prayers for her safety and well-being. Then she and her companions returned to Natasha’s coach. As it rumbled off down the road, the rowdies climbed into their saddles and followed, deserting the harlots, who shook their fists in disappointment and screamed profanities after them.
The coachman recognized the need for haste and cracked his whip often, urging the steeds to their fastest gait, but the band of ruffians only grew bolder and came alongside to hoot and chortle in glee as they performed dangerous stunts in and out of their saddles. Once the coach reached the safety of the Andreyevna manse, the rabble gathered in front, sending servants scurrying to bolt portals and windows against the possibility of a forced entrance, while the houseman took up arms and stood guard to ensure the miscreants kept their distance.
The occupants of the mansion faced another quandary when the steward heralded the approach of Vladimir and his sons. Natasha quickly instructed her servants to arm themselves with whatever tool, weapon, or implement they could find to lend support to the princes if they were attacked. Considering the willingness of the princes to brawl, it promised to be a serious altercation.
Mere moments passed before a maid called her mistress’s attention to the fact that the riffraff had left. When Natasha and Synnovea flew to the windows to see for themselves, relief rallied their spirits when they found the announcement to be true. The doors were promptly flung open to welcome the boyars. Still, no one made mention of the callous oafs who had escorted the ladies home, lest the princes give chase.
In the next several days, the disorderly band made its presence known the few times that Synnovea ventured out in her carriage. The men followed along behind, forcing her to return without even leaving the conveyance. Had she dared visit friends, she feared the scalawags would create a scene similar to the one in which they had been involved outside Friar Philip’s chapel. No telling what the results would be.
When at the conclusion of the third day Aleksei stood outside the mansion with a pleased smirk on his face, Synnovea felt as if he had just laughed in her face. That was all it took for her to finally settle her mind on her final course of action. She’d be hanged and quartered before allowing him the ultimate triumph.
Even so tenuous a solution to her problem was enough to calm the brooding indecision that had beset Synnovea since Anna’s announcement of her betrothal. She resigned herself to the controversial means of escape, lending her attention to the task of devising a plan by which she could entice the worldly Colonel Rycroft to serve as her seducer. That feat presented no great challenge. It was the withholding of her virtue that promised to be the formidable part, for she had no doubt that the man would have his mind set on claiming that very thing she wished to preserve. If his cavalier boldness in the bathhouse sufficed as an indication, then she could believe the man was quite adept at a game she knew little about, and if she couldn’t control his ardor to her liking, where would she be left but in his bed?
“I shall need your assistance if you’re inclined to give it,” she begged Natasha after gingerly explaining her proposal. “It could well mean danger for us both if my plans go awry, so if you’ve no heart for it, I’ll surely understand. Aleksei is adamant about halting any intervention that would see me rejected as a fit bride by Vladimir, yet he has boasted that he’ll see the old man cuckolded before he relents. If you help me in this, you may not be safe from his revenge.”
“I’m not afraid of that pompous crow, but I do have a concern for what may happen to you in this scheme of yours.” Natasha chose her words carefully, not wanting to strip away the last shred of hope to which her young friend now clung. Yet she’d be doing the girl a grave disservice if she didn’t caution her. “I’d not be a true friend, my dear, if I only encouraged you to continue and did not warn you of the danger you’ll be courting. Frankly, I think you have more to fear from the Englishman than you do from Aleksei. Aleksei is certainly acting out of character by trying to preserve your virtue for Vladimir, and to me, that indicates he’s sincere about having you after you’re wed. But take heed. Colonel Rycroft has no cause to play such waiting games. Once you encourage him, you may be hard-pressed to dissuade him from carrying out your initiation forthwith. You’re but a girl, innocent of the passions that can goad a man. If you tempt him overmuch, I’m afraid you’ll see just how hard the colonel is driven.”
“Surely he is besieged with strumpets where he lives. I’ve heard it rumored that the harlots zealously seek out the foreigners who come here without kith and kin. Colonel Rycroft should be exhausted by now from all their attention.”
“Who spills such gossip about the man?” Natasha queried indignantly.
Synnovea was amazed by her friend’s outrage. “Anna was positive that Colonel Rycroft liberally availed himself of their services.”
“As if she would know!” Natasha scoffed in derision. Beckoning Synnovea near, she spoke in a hushed tone as if revealing an intimate secret in a crowded room. “I’ve heard it said that Colonel Rycroft has dumbfounded many of his fellow officers by turning down invitations put forth by several young boyarinas who’ve recently been widowed and yearn to have him as their lover. In view of the fact that he has refused to accept what has been freely offered by women who are attractive as well as wealthy, do you suppose that he’d be wont to lay out coins to appease himself with harlots? He seems intent upon his work and winning you, so if it’s your plan to trick him, you should be warned. He won’t consider it kindly if you tempt him unduly and then torment him with a refusal.”
Synnovea felt strangely placated by Natasha’s news, yet she searched the woman’s face wonderingly. “Are you suggesting that I choose another to serve as my so-called debaucher?”
“Are you really so bent on going through with this farce?” Natasha countered in amazement, but she waved away any answer when she searched the translucent orbs and recognized the depth of the girl’s mettle. “Never mind. I can see for myself that you mean to have your way in this matter, and although I’m reluctant to see you sacrifice the affections of the Englishman in your wild scheme, I cannot imagine anyone who’d serve your purpose as well as Colonel Rycroft. At least, if you cannot hold him off, you’ll likely be gifted with a beautiful child to remind you of him long years after he’s gone.”
Synnovea frowned petulantly. “You’re not being at all encouraging.”
“No, but I am being truthful,” Natasha pointed out. “If the thought of bearing a child outside of marriage frightens you, my dear, then you should at least consider the difficulty you’ll have holding off the colonel’s advances. He has made it clear that he wants you enough to petition the tsar for an opportunity to court you. He hasn’t done that for any other woman. How can you even dare believe that he’ll keep his breeches in place once you’ve lured him to his quarters? If you ask me, you haven’t taken into consideration the harsh consequences you’ll suffer if things go awry.”
“I have! Night and day! I’ve also imagined the horror I’ll likely feel once I’m ensconced in Vladimir’s bed. That’s exactly the kind of reaction that Aleksei is counting on to drive me to him, but if he thinks Colonel Rycroft h
as had his way with me, Aleksei will be leery of what vermin a man with his reputation may have left behind.”
Natasha heaved a laborious sigh, yielding to her arguments. “What do you intend?”
Synnovea thoughtfully set forth the requirements needed for the success of her plan. “ ’Twill be necessary for Aleksei and his paid cohorts to discover their mistake about an hour and a half after you leave here. That will give the colonel and me time to reach his quarters and have a glass or two of wine, but little else. It’s a fair distance to the German district. I dared to time it the other day while those hooligans followed my coach. Still, if you tell Stenka to halt the coach too late, or if something else goes awry, there’ll be no help for me. You’re the only one I can trust to see this thing through according to my directions. I won’t be able to hold the colonel at bay forever. Once Aleksei arrives with his rabble, hopefully circumstances will appear far worse than they actually are and Aleksei will be convinced that he has little choice but to tell my betrothed of my indiscretion. Vladimir’s rejection of me will accomplish the rest.”