The Midwife of St. Petersburg Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t care what his daughter did, as long as she married an excellent soldier. Karena suspected Uncle Viktor adored Colonel Kronstadt.
    “Perhaps it’s better not to discuss it now,” Madame Zofia said with a concerned glance at Tatiana, who had turned her back toward them and dramatically pressed a perfumed handkerchief to her mouth.
    “No no, my cousins should know the truth,” Tatiana said. “Tell them, Mother.”
    Madame Zofia fingered the lace on her collar. “We had a monumental tragedy last night.” She lowered her voice. “One of the many young men in love with my daughter insulted Colonel Kronstadt in front of her and the guests. It was dreadful.” She placed a slender hand to her forehead and shook her head, eyes closed, but this time Karena read genuine dismay.
    “I can see it still—that red wine all over the front of his white dress uniform and face—to force a duel, you see.” She crumpled her lace handkerchief in her palm. “It was the only way Captain Yevgenyev could break Alex’s composure. Alex, of course, had to accept the challenge or be branded a coward.”
    Karena stared.
    Madame Zofia heaved a sigh. “So … the duel will take place next month in St. Petersburg.” She paced rapidly. “Oh! Awful! Poor Alex. And the scandal stains Tatiana as well.”
    Tatiana, who’d been standing with her back toward them, head bent in a waxen pose, now whirled, full of vigor. “Stains me! I don’t see that. Why should it?”
    “Your reputation, darling—”
    “My reputation is stained because two very excellent men care enough about me to duel for me? Hah! I like that! See how my mother underappreciates me?” She looked at Karena, then back to Madame Zofia, who wore a pained expression.
    “Darling—”
    “A good many women can’t even get a man to defend them in a brawl, let alone have honorable soldiers fight a duel over them. A duel is customarywhen a soldier is insulted. I see no reason to believe either Alex or I have had our reputations ‘stained’ in the slightest.”
    Tatiana stopped for breath, her handkerchief hanging limp from her jeweled hand.
    Karena looked at her in silence. Natalia slowly sat down on the edge of a green velveteen chair.
    Madame Zofia went to her daughter, trying to get her to sit down. “Tatiana, darling, you’re all upset. I’m sorry I brought it up, but you must see that while I’m not suggesting you’re at fault—”
    “At fault! Of course I’m not, Mother.”
    “Even so, your friends—and mine—will talk about this for weeks. And if Alex or Karl is wounded in this absurd duel—”
    “It won’t go that far,” Tatiana insisted. “I won’t allow it. Sometimes Rasputin can foretell what will happen. I’ll ask him.”
    Karena turned away to conceal her emotions. Her cousin hadn’t always been this way, had she?
    “If we go forward, we have not an hour to lose.” Madame Zofia turned to Karena and Natalia. “My dears, do you have proper gowns to wear? silk stockings? slippers?”
    Natalia sighed wistfully and looked at Karena.
    Karena laughed. “Well, not exactly, but we each brought a dinner dress.”
    “Really, Mother,” Tatiana said, “they’re not likely to be hauling French gowns from Uncle Josef’s farm. However, I’ve silk stockings to spare. I was going to give them each a pair as a gift anyway.”
    Madame Zofia smiled. “Well, I’m sure you’ll be fine.” She glanced at the clock on the table by the window and threw her palm to her forehead, her gold bracelet shining. “It’s already noon. I wonder if Svetlana was able to order the extra piglet. I must go check. That girl is so forgetful. Ah, here is your tea.”
    A maid entered with a tray, and Tatiana moved toward the door. “I must begin getting my hair ready,” she called over her shoulder. “If you need anything, come to my room at the end of the hall.”
    “Yes, do,” Madame Zofia said warmly. “I shall see you girls later.”
    Karena called her thanks