The Amber Keeper (20 page)

‘I perfectly understand why you wouldn’t wish to speak to me,’ he said, ‘but it wasn’t quite as it appeared. I did nothing. You need to know that, Millie.’

‘You were kissing her.’

He tentatively sat down on the bench, not attempting to touch me or come too near, but it was too close for comfort so far as I was concerned. I was on my feet in a second and walked away, head held high, blocking my ears to his voice as he begged me to listen.

‘Did he come after you?’ Abbie asked, but Millie shook her head.

‘I rarely saw him in the days and weeks following, but then I did make a point of avoiding him.’

‘So that was it, all over between you? How sad. But at least you found out before you became too involved, I suppose.’

‘Oh, that was just the start. Things became much more complicated after that.’

EIGHTEEN

I
was supervising the children one morning as they practised their French verbs, about to read them an extract from Charles
Kingsley’s
The Water Babies
by way of reward, when I was summoned to the Countess’s boudoir. The urgency of the order obliged me to send the maid who’d brought the message to run and fetch
Nyanushki
to mind the children, so it took a few moments before she arrived and I was free to obey the command.

‘Why does she always choose the wrong moment?’ the old nanny complained as she hurried, somewhat breathless, into the schoolroom. ‘Just when I was preparing
Babushka’s
lunch. I really can’t be in two places at once.’

Feeling some sympathy with this, I rushed along the corridor and tapped on the Countess’s door.

‘Ah, Dowthwaite, there you are at last. I thought you were never coming.’

‘I couldn’t just leave the children alone.’

Dismissing my excuse with a flippant wave of her bejewelled hand, she made a surprising request, or rather delivered yet another unexpected order. ‘I have decided that in future you will act as my lady’s maid.’

I stared at her in open dismay. ‘I don’t understand. How can I be your maid as well as governess to your children?’

‘I’m sure you’ll cope. I’ve dismissed the girl who has been with me for some years as she keeps disappearing for long periods at a time, claiming her mother is sick.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ I said with genuine sympathy.

‘Yes, well, I need someone here every day.’ Flicking back her long dark hair, the Countess handed me her brush, thus indicating my new duties were to begin immediately.

‘But I have more than enough to occupy me, teaching and
caring
for the children,’ I protested, even as I obediently began to tease the brush through her tangled curls. ‘I doubt I would have the time necessary for all the extra work required. May I suggest that you hire someone else for the task, milady?’

‘There isn’t anyone else, certainly no one that I could trust or who has your degree of discretion. Dear Stefan is always eager to run errands for me, of course ‒ to do anything I ask, in fact,’ she said, slanting a teasing glance up at me through her mirror. ‘I cannot think how I would manage without him.’

The Countess, of course, had found the incident in the stables highly amusing, and continued to make snide remarks and drop hints implying there was a great deal more she could say about their intimacy if she so wished, as she was doing now.

‘But although he has his uses as a man, and the most delightful skills in those wonderfully gentle hands of his, there are some matters that require a woman’s touch.’

At these provocative words I felt again that all-too-familiar stab of jealousy, although I was careful not to show it. Drawing in a breath, I answered with a determined firmness. ‘The job of lady’s maid would not suit me, your ladyship. You would only be disappointed.’

‘
You will do as you are told, Dowthwaite, without argument,’ she calmly informed me, handing me a selection of
emerald-encrusted pins for her hair, making it abundantly clear the matter was settled.

As I obediently clipped her curls in place with clumsy fingers, I frantically sought a way out. No solution sprang to mind. How could I refuse if I wanted to hold on to my job? Although it might make sense for me to leave, in view of how things now stood between Stefan and me, the thought of abandoning the children to this woman, particularly little Irina, didn’t bear thinking about. Who would protect and love that little girl if I left?

Stifling a sigh of resignation, I gave up. ‘If I agree to accept the job, at least temporarily, could you find someone else to be responsible for all the mending, needlework and laundry? As I once explained, sewing is not one of my strengths, and I will have the children to see to as well. And please don’t ask
Nyanushki
, as she too has more than enough to do.’

The Countess was smiling in triumph at seeing me buckle under pressure. ‘That is easily resolved. You can arrange for one of the servants to deal with such matters. But you, Dowthwaite, will be responsible for putting out the clothes I wear, usually four or five changes each day, and for keeping my jewellery in safe and proper order, including my precious collection of amber.’

I began to tremble beneath the weight of such responsibility, worrying how I was to fit in all this extra work without neglecting the children. Why was it that neither parent gave a moment’s thought to the emotional needs of their son and daughter? This was not what I had bargained for when first I came to Russia, yet it seemed that I had no option but to agree. I made one last bid for freedom. ‘May I think about it, your ladyship?’

‘You have twenty-four hours.’

The following afternoon, it being a Wednesday, I attended the
British
and American chapel and wasted no time in sharing my problem with Ruth. ‘I really have no wish to play lady’s maid to the
Countess. I’ve more than enough to occupy me as governess to her children, but how can I wriggle out of it?’

‘You could find other employment,’ Ruth suggested. ‘British governesses are still in demand, and you have good references.’

‘I have the one from Lady Rumsley, but the Countess has made it clear that were I to leave without her permission, she wouldn’t give me one.’ I frowned. ‘Actually, there was a time when she seemed to want rid of me. Now she’s giving me yet more work and seems anxious to keep me for some reason.’ I surmised that the beautiful Olga relished being able to lord it over me that she’d won Stefan for herself. The memory of that kiss still burned a hole in my heart; I was finding the knowledge of his betrayal still hard to live with. ‘Besides, the children want me to stay.’

‘I’m not surprised. You’ve done so much for them, not least in persuading the Count to take more of an interest in his son with those fishing trips you arranged, which I’m sure Serge appreciated. They’ve grown fond of you over the years.’

‘I’m really quite fond of them, too, even Serge in spite of his naughtiness.’ I smiled, pleased that the Count often came to me now with suggestions of other activities which might meet with approval from his son. The pair did seem to be growing closer. ‘And I love little Irina. In order to find new employment I might have to go as far away as Moscow, and I’d never see them again.’

I might also never see Stefan again, I thought, which despite his infidelity filled me with despair. Perhaps when I’d finally come to terms with the loss of what I’d once believed we had together, then I might be able to cope better. Right now I still clung to some vain hope that all might come right between us.

Recognising the undercurrent of emotion simmering beneath the surface, my dear friend put her arms about me and gave me a hug. ‘Is there something you’re not telling me?’ she quietly asked. I shook my head.

‘Nothing I want to talk about.’

‘Perhaps you could talk to Stefan, then. I know he’s very fond of you too.’

‘I don’t think that would be appropriate.’

Her face creased with anxiety as she instantly guessed that there had been some disagreement between us. ‘Ah, well, in that case let me say that I’m always here, as your friend, should you change your mind.’

‘Thank you, Ruth. It’s just that I need to work this problem out for myself.’

She squeezed my hand in sympathy. ‘So far as the lady’s maid post is concerned, why not agree to do it until Christmas? That should surely allow the Countess ample time to find a replacement.’ And having gained my agreement to this suggestion, she marched me off to the vestibule for a comforting cup of tea. ‘But do take care,’ she warned, handing me a scone. ‘From what I hear,
Countess
Belinsky is a very manipulative, scheming woman who can turn nasty if she doesn’t get her own way.’

‘I’m well aware of that. You only have to look at the way she treats her husband by conducting a sordid liaison with Viktor the chauffeur.’

Ruth laughed. ‘Ah, so it is true, then, what I hear through the grapevine?’

‘She makes no secret of the fact, going off every afternoon for long mysterious drives alone with him in full view of her husband. What else could they be up to?’

‘She was also apparently seen out with Dimitri Korniloff the other evening at the
Villa Rodé
.’

‘That wouldn’t surprise me. It’s one of her favourite haunts.’

‘The fellow is certainly good-looking, but a more money-
grubbing
, social climbing, political know-it-all would be hard to find. So if you’re right about her relationship with the chauffeur, that’s at least two men she’s got dangling at her fingertips, and there could well be more.’

I gave a harsh little laugh. ‘Oh, I’m quite certain there are.’

Noting the bitterness of my tone, Ruth considered me with sadness in her eyes. ‘Oh dear. Then you have an even bigger problem than I thought.’

My first challenge as lady’s maid came when Countess Olga began issuing instructions as I helped her dress for her usual evening out and about round town. ‘Should my husband ask for me, you may inform him that I am feeling unwell and have retired to bed early. That is all you need say, and to request that he sleep in the
dressing
room.’

‘Are you suffering from a headache, milady? Is there anything I can get you?’ I politely enquired.

She gave a tutting sound of exasperation. ‘Aren’t you listening to me, Dowthwaite? In point of fact I’m off to see Anna
Pavlova
of the Imperial ballet, after which we shall dine at the Café
Chantant
. My escort usually hires us a box where we can indulge in
champagne
and caviar, among other things,’ she laughed. ‘Don’t expect me home before midnight, perhaps not at all. All you have to do is visit my room from time to time and pretend to talk to me as if I were lying sick in my bed. Just in case the Count should be listening.’

I froze in the process of fastening her amber necklace. ‘You are asking me to lie?’

She gave a wry smile as she lifted her head to meet my shocked gaze. ‘I am giving you an order. Do you have a problem with that?’

My cheeks grew warm beneath the harshness of her glare. ‘Of course not. Only what if the Count were to come looking for you?’

‘You will not let him into my room. Is that clear?’

‘Very good, your ladyship.’ I concentrated on fastening the necklace, studiously battling against my natural instinct to refuse to embroil myself in her illicit affairs. But it was not my place to do so.

‘No, not those earrings, foolish child. The long amber teardrops that match this pendant.’

Later, as she slipped out through a side entrance to quietly depart in the carriage with her own personal chauffeur, I couldn’t deny that she looked magnificent in an emerald silk gown with a silver fox fur wrap and amber jewellery. Was she meeting Dimitri Korniloff again, I wondered, or another man entirely? Surely not Stefan, as he couldn’t afford such treats, unless the Countess was paying, of course.

After she’d gone I spent an anxious night flitting between the children’s rooms and the Countess’s, barely snatching a wink of sleep as my fears mounted over the lie I was caught up in, as well as a deep ache inside over losing Stefan. On the third occasion, hoping against hope she might have returned early, to my dismay I found the Count about to tap on her door. I quickly hurried to his side. ‘Can I be of assistance, milord?’

‘Ah, Millie, there you are. I was wondering how my wife is, whether she is feeling any better.’

‘I ‒ I should think she’s fast asleep by now, milord. I gave her a draught for the headache so I certainly hope so.’ Even as I stumbled over the falsehood, I was terrified he might insist upon my allowing him to enter, where her empty bed would instantly reveal his wife’s deception. The consequences of such a revelation would undoubtedly lose me my position, and goodness knows what else besides.