Page 10 of The Unseen (Echoes from the Past #5)

SEVEN

London, England

“Why so pensive?” Gabe asked as he came into the bedroom with a basket of clean laundry.

“I just met Valentina,” Quinn replied, pointing to the necklace lying on her nightstand.

“And?”

“And her life is about to be blown apart in ways she can’t even begin to imagine. She’s in Petrograd, on the eve of the Russian Revolution.”

“I gather she was an aristocrat?” No peasant or factory worker would own a Fabergé necklace, so Valentina’s status was obvious.

“Yes. She was a countess, or would have been had the monarchy not been toppled. ”

“She came to England.” Gabe sat down next to Quinn and picked up the necklace. He held it in front of his face, letting it swing like a pendulum. “And she owned a house in Belgravia, which is one of the poshest neighborhoods in London. Things couldn’t have gone too badly for her.”

“Yes, you’re right, but I find it strange that she wound up in England. Most Russian émigrés fleeing the Revolution flocked to France. There was a large Russian community of ex-pats living in Paris.”

“I suppose the fact that French was the official language of the Russian court made it easier for them to find their feet.”

“Yes, that might have been a factor,” Quinn said. “Why did they prefer French?”

“The Russian aristocracy considered their native tongue to be coarse, the language of the peasants. To speak French was a mark of sophistication attainable only by those of elevated station. Did Valentina speak English?”

“I don’t know. It’s possible. I suppose I’ll find out in due course.”

“Will Rhys be interested in doing an episode on Imperial Russia, do you think?” Gabe asked.

“I don’t see why not. Viewers still tune in for adaptations of the Russian classics.

I hear War and Peace is getting a remake, and Anna Karenina is always a hit.

I loved the 1997 adaption with Sean Bean.

He made a very handsome Count Vronsky. And there was a new version only two years ago, with Keira Knightley. So there’s definitely a market.”

“But this is a later time period, and a more volatile one.”

“Later, yes; more volatile, not really. War and Peace is all about the Napoleonic Wars. Hardly a peaceful time in history. And Doctor Zhivago takes place around the time of the Russian Revolution. One of the most popular films of the twentieth century.”

“True,” Gabe conceded. “I can’t wait to hear more. I’ve always been fascinated with Russian history.”

“And this time, it’s not one of your ancestors.”

“Thank God for that. I’ll never look at my family tree the same way again. Seems my ancestors weren’t as noble and heroic as I liked to believe when I was a boy.”

“Few people are truly noble and heroic in real life. Self-interest is the driving force of mankind, and self-interest doesn’t usually translate into selflessness.”

“No, it doesn’t. Still, we all need our heroes, don’t we?” Gabe glanced at the digital alarm clock on the bedside table. “Jill and Brian will be here in less than two hours.”

“Bollocks,” Quinn exclaimed. “I got so caught up in Valentina’s story, I nearly forgot. Can you pop into the off-license and get a bottle of Malbec? Or two. I’ll start on dinner.”

“I’ll take Alex with me. He can use a bit of fresh air. Is there anything else you need from the shops?”

“Get me some grated Parmesan and fresh basil.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thanks.” Quinn stowed the necklace in a drawer. She’d spend more time with Valentina later, but for now, she had dinner to prepare.