The Midwife of St. Petersburg (41 page)

He handed the Bible back to him to read to himself.

The professor did so, taking his time, then looked up, a gleam in his eyes. “Just so,” he said. He laid the Bible down. “I’m convinced I can trust you, Colonel. It’s about my niece Karena Peshkova. Are you willing to listen?”

Alex looked at him evenly. “Miss Peshkova is the reason I’m here. I saw her and Madame Peshkova yesterday at the train station. I’ve reason to think they’ve come to you.”

“They did.”

“They’re in great danger, Professor.”

“I know that as well.”

“Have they mentioned a policemen from Kiev named Leonovich?”

“I don’t believe you understand what actually occurred on that night.”

“Tell me everything. Hold nothing back.”

When Professor Menkin finished the sordid tale, Alex had to restrain his anger.

“We may need to bring her and Yeva across the border into Finland,” Matvey said in a low voice. “We’ve some distant relatives in Helsinki on our grandparents’ side. I made contact with them two years ago and built a relationship with them. I think they’d receive Yeva and her daughter into a safe house until they could be resettled.”

Alex’s thoughts raced. He stood, moving about restlessly. “Yes, if it comes to that, we’ll find a way. I’ll arrange something. Would you be going with them?”

“I see no other way. Yeva is ill, and Karena will need help.”

Alex considered. “It would be best not to bring Natalia yet, or notify Sergei.”

“I agree.”

“Later, perhaps, when matters are calmed down, they could join you in Finland. But first, there may be another way out of this danger for Karena and Madame Peshkova.”

“What would that be?”

Alex told him about his meeting with Dr. Dmitri Zinnovy and what was involved. Matvey showed no dismay, convincing Alex he might have known.

“If anyone can influence the czar and czarina to absolve them of any guilt in Leonovich’s death, it’s Dr. Zinnovy. But the impact of such a request would not be as great unless he confesses to Czar Nicholas that Karena’s his daughter. If Zinnovy will play the man in this, there may be a chance.”

Professor Menkin bit the end of his pipe stem, and his foot tapped the floor. “Yes, yes, perhaps, but will Dr. Zinnovy make that step of confession for Karena and Yeva?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? He will be risking his reputation before the man he most wishes to respect him, Czar Nicholas.”

“It’s worth the chance of discovering. When can you see him?”

“This morning, at the medical college.” He looked toward the bedroom. “There’s one other matter that’s crucial before I see Zinnovy.” He looked at Professor Menkin. “I’ve got to speak with Madame Peshkova for a few minutes.”

The professor looked surprised and searched his face, but then nodded. “I’ll do what I can. She was a little better this morning. I’ll see if she’s awake.”

Alex paced while Menkin went in to his sister. Alex’s mind was on Karena. Menkin had told him she was with Ivanna Lenski in the slum district, working at the charity medical tent. Thinking of how close Karena had come to becoming a victim of Leonovich’s lust and violence infuriated him.
If only I’d been there!
Alex longed to hold her in his arms and protect her. He must see her and tell her so, soon.

When at last he was able to speak with Madame Peshkova, he came straight to the point.

“Madame, let us set aside all pretense for your sake and Karena’s. I’ve spoken to Dr. Dmitri Zinnovy. He’s willing to buy back the pendant if you’ll sell it to him. It’s important you do. The pendant was seen and recognized. The safest place for it now is with Zinnovy. If there’s any question by the countess or anyone else, having it in his possession could safeguard your reputation and his, not to mention Karena’s.”

She stared at him wildly. But as he talked, she calmed, reason settling into her feverish gaze.

“That pendant has been a burden. If Dmitri wants it back, he may have it. I want nothing for it.”

“You should receive its fair value, Madame. It is rightfully yours. He would not accept it unless he can buy it. It may be necessary for you to cross the border into Finland. If so, you will have means for your security and Karena’s. If not, there’s her tuition for the medical college.”

She looked at him for a long, studious moment. “Colonel, how will this benefit you?”

“Your daughter, Madame. I have plans—if she permits and the war allows—to see a great deal of her in the future.”

“I see. And what about Viktor and Zofia’s daughter, Tatiana?”

His gaze did not falter. “We’ve both agreed to end the relationship.”

She was quiet for a long moment.

“I trust Alex completely, Yeva,” Professor Menkin spoke from the other side of the bed.

“Yes,” she murmured. “I am also so inclined. Matvey, in my trunk, a small box, the pendant’s inside. The key—here, under my mattress.”

A few minutes later with the pendant in his satchel, Alex bent over Madame Peshkova’s hand. She smiled.

“Thank you, Alex,” she said weakly. “I feel very relieved.” Her eyes smiled at him, and she tried to squeeze his hand.

Alex left Professor Menkin’s apartment and took a droshky to the Imperial College.

S
ergei Peshkov trudged along the snowy streets in a dark mood. He was carrying his pack, wondering what he was going to do now that he had earned Tatiana’s and Aunt Zofia’s indignation after taunting them about their devotion to Rasputin.

I should not have provoked Tatiana
. At least Ivanna was no silly gosling. He had to see her.

He was walking along toward the Neva when he remembered—this was Saturday. She would not be at the medical college today, but at the other end of town, running the medical tent. He needed to talk to her. Afterward, he’d go to Uncle Matvey’s apartment. Matvey was always patient, and his eyes would get a twinkle when Sergei got the best of him in an argument, usually about politics or religion. Sergei believed in God, but sometimes he behaved otherwise just to get Uncle Matvey in his most profound mood. Then they could talk for hours about the Old Testament and go through a pot of coffee.

Yes, Sergei liked to be around him. It was a comforting atmosphere, where he could take off his shoes and admit that he was miserable, feeling guilty about Papa Josef, and trapped.
How do I get free?
He had no choice but to get his degree in law, now that his father had taken his guilt.
I’d rather go to Boston and enroll in Harvard’s journalism school. Ah, another impossible dream
.

Sergei reached Kyovsky Street and saw the tent. Ivanna was speaking to some bent old woman, giving her medicine. He was startled to see Karena come out and shake out an apron. What was she doing here in St. Petersburg? Why hadn’t she contacted him and Natalia?
Is Mother here?

He walked swiftly across the gray slush and called to her. “Karena!”

His sister turned in apparent surprise to hear his voice, but his joy in seeing her skidded to a halt when he caught sight of her face.
Those bruises and scars! Where had they come from?

“You’ve been in an accident,” he stated. “Where’s Mother?”

There was relief in her smile over seeing him, yet caution in her eyes.

“Sergei, I’m so glad you’re here. Mother’s sick with pleurisy, but Dr. Lenski has been treating her.”

“Is she at Matvey’s then?”

“Yes, we both are. I’ll be returning there at sundown.”

“Good! I’ll go with you. It will be old times for a while. I’ll need to beg a space to sleep for a few days until my dorm opens at the university. I’m afraid I angered the Roskovs and had to move out.”

“Oh, Sergei, no. What happened?”

“Nothing of permanent ruin.” He smiled ruefully. “Just a wee argument about Tatiana’s foolishness over Rasputin. I went too far.”

“Sergei,” she groaned.

“All right, I was wrong. But I refused to kiss his jam-spread hands to show allegiance.”

“Refused to what? It sounds absurd.”

“It is, but never mind, Sister. It will all pass over with time. Tatiana never stays mad for more than a week.” He rubbed his cheek. “Even though she did give me a good wallop.”

“Over Rasputin?” Her scowl of disapproval about Tatiana made him smile.

“Well, I was a rude. I deserved it. I’ll apologize in a letter to her in a few days. She’ll forgive me. She always does. But she’s so bourgeois, so elitist. Rich, living outside reality, so ‘Marie Antoinette,’ if you know what I mean. ‘Let the peasants eat cake’ attitude. Dumb about what’s going on inside Russia.”

Karena shook her head ruefully. “I’m sure your analysis greatly impressed her.”

“Tell me about your accident. Say—that left eye does not look too good, Sister. There are cuts around your mouth. Think they’ll leave scars?”

She touched her lip with her finger, and he saw the look that came into her eyes—anger or fear. Suddenly, he sensed something evil, something that gripped him.

He took hold of her arm. “What is it? What’s happened?”

Ivanna walked up. She had taken care of the old peasant woman and sent her away.

“Karena has a patient, Sergei. Come, I’d like something hot. That bar across the street is not too revolting this time of day, and they have decent coffee and sandwiches. Walk with me there?”

“You have only to ask, and the world is yours,” he said lightly. “At least when it comes to my buying you a cup of coffee.” He looked at his sister.

“I’ll tell you everything later,” Karena promised, then she turned and went into the tent to meet her first patient.

He turned to Ivanna, holding out his arm. “Come along,
Doctor
Lenski. By the way, I don’t see the intern Fyodor Zinnovy anywhere about today. Does that mean you’ve discouraged his romantic intentions?”

She did not smile. “No, he doesn’t come on until dusk.”

When Alex arrived at the medical college, he found Dr. Zinnovy in his office bending over a stack of papers. The doctor looked up and saw him, his earnest gaze questioning Alex.
Were you successful?

Alex opened his satchel and produced the pendant. Dr. Zinnovy took it over to a light and looked it over carefully. “Yes,” he said simply.

Dr. Zinnovy produced a bag of gold coins. “There will be more if she needs it.”

Alex packed the bag in his satchel and went straight for his goal.

“You’ve heard of the death of Policeman Leonovich. Durnov is out for Karena and Madame Peshkova. If he has his way, he’ll soon have them arrested and in the Peter and Paul fortress with Josef. There’s one thing that might make the difference for Karena. If you appeal to Czar Nicholas to have her absolved of any wrongdoing in his death—if you confess to him that Karena’s your daughter—he might move with grace.”

Dr. Zinnovy sank into his chair, stunned. “Karena and Yeva? charged with murder?”

Alex explained the truth as Professor Menkin had laid it out in the apartment. When he’d finished, Dr. Zinnovy rested his forehead on his hand.

“This is utterly despicable.”

“The other option is for your daughter to leave Russia for Finland as soon as possible.”

Dr. Zinnovy leaned back in the chair as if exhausted. “I doubt Nicholas will receive me now.” He pushed himself up from the chair and walked slowly, with heavy feet, over to the window. “Something has happened over which I have no jurisdiction.”

Alex waited, his tension growing. He could see his expectation for Karena’s pardon crumbling before his eyes.

“I don’t understand, sir. I do know we haven’t much time. Durnov’s
determined. I’m going down to the Kyovsky district now. Karena’s there with Dr. Lenski’s daughter, working in the charity tent.”

“Yes, Dr. Lenski told me.”

“I’ll be bringing her back to Professor Menkin’s apartment. Careful plans need to be made for them to escape across the border.”

Dr. Zinnovy turned to look at him across the plush office. His face was gray and his eyes, morose. “I spoke harshly of Rasputin, and my words have found their way to the czarina. She’s turned against me. It’s only a matter of time before I’m dismissed from the palace staff of physicians. Any request I may make to the czar is likely to be rejected.”

Alex’s last hope flickered. What was left now but escape to Finland?

He nodded to Dr. Zinnovy, who returned the gesture with misery in his eyes. As Alex opened the door to leave, he heard the doctor’s quiet plea.

“Help them.”

I will
.

When Alex returned to the Winter Palace, he was met by an ensign.

“Colonel! There’s a Bolshevik riot down by the bridge! You’re to ride with the Cossacks, sir!”