The Midwife of St. Petersburg Read Online Free PDF

as her aunt moved with stately purpose through the door, muttering to herself. “I’ve simply a horrid notion that Svetlana forgot the extra piglet. Well then, I’ll need to settle on lamb, that’s all there is to it. Everyone enjoys lamb.”
    The bedroom grew silent except for the sound of tea being poured into china cups by the round-cheeked maid. Her stiff satin skirts made a scratching sound as she moved. She left quietly, shutting the door.
    Karena turned slowly and looked at her sister. Natalia’s face was tired and tense. She groaned, massaging her temples. “I wish I’d stayed home.”
    Karena drew in a breath and tucked a strand of loose hair back into the braided coil. “Let’s have tea. We’ll feel better. A nice bath and a brief nap, and we’ll be ready to whirl about the fancy ballroom. At least Dr. Zinnovy will be here. I’m still shocked by that.”
    Natalia lifted her head. “I’m surprised Tatiana would trouble herself to arrange the meeting for you. I may be cynical, but my first guess is there’s something in it for her.”
    “I hardly think so. She seemed quite genuine about having arranged it.” Karena smiled. “And she did promise us each a pair of silk stockings. I’m going to take complete and selfish advantage of her offer. Imagine,
silk
.” She pulled up the hem of her traveling skirt, exposing her cotton hose, and made a face.
    Natalia laughed. “Come on,” she said. “It will take us all afternoon to get ready.”

    Alex returned to the Roskov residence that afternoon and entered his bedroom with a scowl. He had laid out his future with the care of an architect, and now, while the structure was just being raised, he felt the tremors of an earthquake.
    He threw his jacket on the bed. “If not an earthquake, then a blizzard!”
    “Is something wrong, sir?” Konni, the tall valet who had long been in the service of Alex’s stepmother, came from the next room at the sound of the door snapping shut. Konni had cared for Alex in childhood until he went to cadet school. Even now, Konni usually traveled with him when Alex was not staying in officers’ quarters. Alex had requested his assistance on the journey to Kazan mostly because he was fond of the old gentleman.
    “What could possibly go wrong?” Alex asked dryly.
    Konni’s face was expressionless as he picked up Alex’s coat and hung it properly until he could take it out to brush it.
    “My plans were made,” Alex said, “and now, suddenly, something occurs that threatens to send them crashing down in ruin—if I allow it, which, of course, I will not.”
    “Just so, sir.”
    Alex sighed and rubbed his face. “The aroma of coffee tempts me.”
    “The coffee is here, sir, waiting as usual.” Konni went into the adjoining room and returned with a silver serving tray
    “This ruinous occurrence, sir … Do you speak of a woman?”
    Alex scowled in his direction, undoing the buttons on his shirt. “Now why would you ever think that? Since when does a woman, even a charming young woman, ever ruin a man’s sensible plans?”
    “Just so, sir,” Konni said, not fooled at all. “I saw her alight from the coach. Most charming in her red hat.”
    “That red hat! And now I can’t get her out of my mind. Miss Karena Peshkova has supplanted Tatiana. How could I have allowed it?” Alextossed his shirt onto the bed and groaned. “Her eyes, Konni, blue as a periwinkle. And a mouth that needs to be kissed.”
    Konni made a clucking sound of sympathy as he poured Alex’s coffee. “And completely the opposite of Miss Tatiana, I should say. While one is dark, the other is fair. While Miss Tatiana is strong-willed and assertive, Miss Peshkova shows sweet discernment and proper sense—”
    “That will be enough. If I hear any more of your wisdom, I shall break down and weep in my coffee.” He took the cup from the tray. “How do you know she’s sweet? She might, beneath that aura of fairness, be a pickle.”
    “A