Page 63 of The Unseen (Echoes from the Past #5)

FIFTY-ONE

London, England

A gentle sun glowed in a cloudless sky, bathing the garden in golden light.

It was the kind of day that made a person believe that anything was possible and that nothing terrible would ever happen again.

Of course, that was just an illusion, but as Valentina sat back in a lounge chair and turned her face up to the sun, she truly wanted to believe it.

After months of oppression, anxiety, and fear for the future, she felt free as a bird.

She still couldn’t quite believe her mad idea had worked.

No one had questioned her marriage to Dmitri Ostrov.

In fact, everyone had offered their condolences on the loss of her husband, even Father Mikhail, who’d been only too happy to provide a marriage certificate for her solicitor, Mr. Gravelle.

In the past two weeks, Mr. Gravelle had initiated an application for citizenship, since, as the wife of a British subject, Valentina could now apply, and had been able to obtain access to Dmitri’s bank accounts, through which he’d been able to track Dmitri’s business activities.

Mr. Gravelle had contacted the managers of the textile factory in Lancashire, the warehouse Dmitri owned at Victoria Dock, the Falmouth Arms Hotel, and the boxing club Dmitri frequented to advise them of Dmitri’s disappearance and his wife’s new role as acting director.

Valentina had had no idea Dmitri had his fingers in so many pots, and the knowledge that he hadn’t exactly been strapped for cash made her blood boil.

Perhaps he’d simply enjoyed exercising his power over helpless women, and she strongly suspected that his wife Emily had been one of them.

The paperwork stored in the safe showed that all the holdings except the boxing club had passed to Dmitri from Emily’s father upon his death .

Valentina couldn’t sell any of the businesses without Dmitri’s signature or a valid death certificate, but she could take up the reins until his death was legalized.

She had much to learn, but she had all the time in the world, and she would hire a competent man to help her manage all of Dmitri’s holdings.

Valentina closed her eyes and sank deeper into the chair.

What utter bliss. Especially since the house was quiet.

Elena, Tanya, and Kolya had gone off to the zoological garden, per Kolya’s request, but Valentina had pleaded a headache and remained at home.

She needed a little time alone to gather her thoughts and try to make peace with her new reality.

Deep down, she still couldn’t believe she’d taken a man’s life, but the night Dmitri had died had taken on the quality of a fragmented dream that one recalled upon waking, grateful that the warm light of day had come to chase away the shadows of the nightmare.

Now that the “truth” was out, everyone treated her as if she were a fragile glass ornament that might break from excessive handling.

Forced to play the part of the grieving widow, she was starting to believe it herself and enjoy the role.

It was easier than dealing with the hideous truth of what she’d done and asking herself over and over if there was something she might have done to avoid the disastrous events that had led her to murder.

Valentina must have drifted off in the warm sunshine, but woke with a start when a shadow loomed over her.

“Sorry to wake you, Mrs. Ostrov, but there’s a gentleman to see you,” Mrs. Nemirovsky announced in gentle tones. “He’s most insistent.”

“Show him into the parlor. I’ll be right in.”

Valentina took a moment to collect herself.

She wasn’t expecting anyone, but she wasn’t overly worried.

Mrs. Nemirovsky had met Detective Cooper and his associates.

If the caller was from the police, she would have said so.

This had to be a social call, perhaps another acquaintance come to offer condolences.

Dmitri had been well-known in the quickly growing Russian community, and well-liked, at least by those he hadn’t victimized.

Valentina smoothed back her hair and walked slowly toward the parlor.

She’d get rid of the visitor quickly and go back out to the garden.

She was no longer sleepy, but an hour of peaceful reading before the rest of the family came home would be most welcome.

Perhaps she’d even have tea al fresco , all by herself.

She was the mistress of the house now; she could do what she pleased.

The man stood with his back to her, gazing out the window into the street, his hands clasped behind his back.

Valentina saw the tension in his posture, the rigid set of his shoulders, feet set apart, as if to maintain a better balance.

There was something familiar about the set of his head and his defiant stance.

“Good afternoon,” she said softly, so as not to startle him.

He turned around and the world stopped. Their gazes met across the room, his eyes full of uncertainty and longing.

He took a step forward, then stopped, as though unsure what to do.

Reeling with shock and disbelief, she grabbed onto the back of a settee for support.

And then she was rushing toward him and his arms encircled her waist as she buried her face in his shoulder, quaking with violent sobs.

“Oh, dear God, Alyosha, how is this possible?”

“Valya, my love, I’ve been searching for you for over a year,” he whispered into her hair. “I thought I’d lost you for good.”

“How are you alive? I saw that bayonet go right through you. Nyanushka said you were dead,” Valentina sobbed. “I would have never left Petrograd had I known you were still alive.”

She finally let go of Alexei and stood back, drinking him in.

He looked the same, but completely different.

He’d matured, aged even. Strands of gray silvered his blond hair and there were fine lines around his eyes.

They were still warm and filled with good humor, but now there was also pain. He’d suffered. He’d lost .

“What of your family, Alyosha?”

“My mother died on the way to France. She suffered a heart attack. My father and sister are all right. They made it to my aunt’s house and remained there until I was able to join them.”

“Alyosha, how? How did you survive?”

Valentina led him to the settee. He sat down and reached for her hands, as if loath to let go of her.

“I was very lucky, Valya. The bayonet pierced my lung but missed my heart. A tiny bit to the left and I would have died that day. My lung had collapsed and I lost a lot of blood. I was in and out of consciousness that night, and for most of the following day.”

“But Nyanushka told us you died,” Valentina cried. “Why did she lie?”

“Because I asked her to, Valya. I begged her to lie. Had she told you I was still alive, you would have remained in Petrograd to nurse me, and your family wouldn’t have left without you.

After I saw what happened to your father, I couldn’t detain you.

You were in terrible danger, as were my parents and sister.

If I died of my wounds, they’d already be in mourning for me, and if I lived, I’d come and find you all.

It took me several months to recover. Nyanushka called for a doctor after you left and he remained by my side for three days.

He saved me. Nyanushka did the rest. She looked after me while I convalesced.

She nursed me back to health. I wrote to my aunt as soon as I was able to, so my father and sister found out I was alive as soon as they arrived in Paris.

They inquired after you every time a new Russian émigré arrived in Paris. No one knew what had become of you.”

“Alyosha, how did you find me?” Valentina asked. Her heart was thudding in her chest, her head throbbing with a sudden headache. The joy and tranquility of a few moments ago was gone. She could barely breathe.

“An acquaintance received a letter from a cousin in London, who wrote that a wealthy Russian industrialist had gone missing. She mentioned your mother’s name. Valya, why didn’t you go to my aunt like we discussed? Why did you come here to London?” Alexei exclaimed.

“I thought you were gone. There was no longer any point in going to your aunt’s house to wait for you, was there? My mother wished to come here, to her cousin. He took us in and cared for us. We might have perished without him.”

“And now he’s gone missing?”

Valentina nodded miserably. “We don’t know what’s happened to him.” She hated lying to Alexei, but she could hardly tell him the truth of what had happened. The lie had taken on a life of its own and would have to run its natural course.

“I’m so sorry, Valya. It must be a difficult time for you all, especially for your mother. To think that a man who’d been so kind to you just vanished. Have the police found nothing?”

“Not a trace.”

Alexei shook his head. “I wish I’d had a chance to meet him, to thank him for looking after you all.” He lifted her face with his finger and gazed deep into her eyes. “We can be married now, Valya. We can finally begin our life together.”

Tears of heartbreak slid down Valentina’s cheeks. “Alyosha, I’m already married. I married Dmitri six months ago.”

“No!” Alexei shook his head. “No.”

“I thought you were dead,” she exclaimed.

“Did you love him?” Alexei whispered urgently. “Did you truly love him?”

“No, of course not, but I cared for him. I respected him. I felt indebted to him,” she replied, inwardly cringing at her lies. “He offered security for me and my family.”

“He’s gone now, Valya. We can still make a life together. ”

“Alyosha, Dmitri may still come back, and even if he doesn’t, it will take seven years for the court to declare him legally deceased. I will remain his wife until then.”

“I’ll wait. I’ll wait forever if I have to.”

Alexei’s lips captured hers and she gave herself up to the kiss, desperate to feel something other than shame and disgust. Alexei pulled her close.

He felt so solid, so strong. All she wanted was to be with him, now, today, forever.

She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet.

Her gaze was full of purpose as she moved toward the door of the parlor, fully intending to take him upstairs, when there was an ear-piercing shriek.

Tanya had just walked in through the front door. Her hand was pressed to her mouth in shock, her eyes glowing with joy. She tossed her hat onto the console table and rushed forward, nearly knocking Alexei off his feet as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Oh, God, Alyosha. You’re alive. You’re alive!” she cried. “Mama, come see who’s here. Kolya, hurry!”

Alexei’s eyes sought Valentina’s over Tanya’s head. He’d understood only too well what she’d intended, and his soul reached out to her, pleading with her not to change her mind.

“Where are you staying, Alyosha?” Valentina asked once Elena and Tanya finally calmed down long enough to go upstairs to change. Kolya remained by Alexei’s side, gazing up at him adoringly.

“I don’t know yet. I came straight here after I was given your address at the church.”

“Go to the Falmouth Arms Hotel. I’ll give you the address. I own it. I’ll ring the manager and tell him to prepare a room for you.”

“Will you come?” Alexei whispered.

“Yes.”