Natalya Read Online Free PDF

smuggler to transport us. Once on board a British vessel, we will be guaranteed safe passage to England. The war may very likely be finished by then."
    "What's Natalya going to do once she arrives in England?" Nicholai asked soberly. "Did you forget while in prison that your country is at war with America as well? I hardly think that she can book a pleasure voyage from London to Philadelphia."
    "You're right, of course," he agreed, nodding. "I can assure you that I shall not desert your niece once her usefulness to me is past." He stretched his legs and rubbed a sore muscle in his right thigh. "I will personally arrange her crossing to America. I am an officer in the British Navy, and I also own a trading ship of my own, so I'm critically connected for Miss Beauvisage's purposes—"
    "You may as well call me Natalya," she said lightly.
    "All right. And I'm Grey," he replied, the barest smile touching his mouth when she nodded in response. "... As I was saying, I shan't leave Natalya at the dock once we arrive in London. She will stay at my father's house until I have settled on safe passage for the rest of her journey. At least she will be out of France—"
    "I don't know," Nicholai said, his tone dark with doubt. "I love Talya with all my heart, and I am responsible for her. She may not want to be here anymore, but sometimes we cannot have what we want exactly when we want it. An important lesson, my darling niece." He pointed at her, his rebuke warmed by an undercurrent of affection. "Here, at least, I know that you are safe."
    "Uncle Nicky! For heaven's sake, I am not a child. I'm twenty-six years old."
    Grey managed to hide his surprise at this revelation when she glanced at him and reddened at having given herself away. He covered the awkward moment by returning his attention to Nicholai. "If it will put your mind at ease, sir, I'll promise to deliver your niece personally to America if I am unable to find suitable means for her journey."
    "Excuse me, but this decision is up to me." Natalya threw her uncle a stubborn look that reminded him of her childhood. He half expected her to stick out her lower lip.
    "She is twenty-six, darling," Lisette reminded him gently. "And don't forget that your own daughter lives in London, and Adrienne is barely seventeen."
    Beauvisage drained his glass of calvados. "Fine. I can see that I have no influence whatsoever."
    "You might as well become accustomed to feeling ignored, Papa," James remarked between bites of apple tart. "Your own children will undoubtedly stop listening to your advice long before we turn twenty-six."
    "You stay out of this," Nicholai barked. "And, incidentally, Lisette, it's no use bringing Adrienne into this. She's safely cloistered in London's finest private school for girls, where she is chaperoned twenty-four hours a day. You cannot compare the two situations."
    Natalya held up her hands in protest. "Everyone is getting all worked up before I've even decided what I'll do." When her dinner companions all stared at her expectantly, she laughed. "Let me think about it overnight, lest I be accused of behaving rashly or childishly."
    "How very mature you are, my dear," Lisette proclaimed. "Did you hear, Nicky? She's going to think this matter over carefully, weighing all the factors, positive and negative, before coming to a decision. Now you'll be able to relax and enjoy your apple tart." She nudged his arm. "Take a bite, darling. I made the crust myself, with my favorite old recipe from the coffeehouse."
    Nicholai sighed and ran a hand through his crisp chestnut hair, now liberally salted with white. "All right!" Staring defiantly at his wife, he speared a large bite of tart and stuck it into his mouth. In muffled tones, he added, "Now I know how Napoleon feels. Powerless!"
    * * *
    "You have a very illustrious history in this chateau, m'sieur," Grey remarked as he and Nicholai wandered through the great hall with its gilded, coffered ceiling and mammoth fireplace.