Читать книгу The Jewels of Sofia Tate - Doris Etienne - Страница 6

Russia 1895

Masha whinnied as Marie led her from the stall.

“Shhh, Masha,” Marie whispered, reaching up to stroke her mane. “Shhh, easy now.”

She guided the mare behind the building and mounted her a short distance away, swinging a bag with only a change of clothes and a small amount of money up with her. She looked at the starry sky and breathed in the crisp early autumn air. It would soon be light. She had no time to waste.

They began at a walk, slowly at first, so no one would hear, and when they had moved far enough away from the house, Marie urged the horse into a canter. Her heart beat wildly as she thought of what her father would do when he discovered her gone, five days before the wedding was to take place. But if she was ever to be happy, she had to take that chance. She did not love the Count Uvorov and she would not marry him no matter what her father wanted. Her mother would have understood.

She clutched tightly at her coat, feeling for the slight bulge beneath. Everything was safe, sewn securely inside. The pearls would be sold when money was needed and the treasured heirloom ... Well, that was another matter.

She remembered the day it had been given to her. It was her eighteenth birthday and her mother had already begun to fade by then. But she was sitting up in bed that day when Marie entered the room and bent over to kiss her mother on the cheek.

“Happy birthday, my dear,” her mother said with a weak smile. Then her eyes twinkled mischievously. “I have something special for you.” She pulled an oblong box out from under the covers and handed it to Marie. “You are old enough now and I must give this to you while I am still able.”

Marie’s hands shook with excitement as she lifted the lid, then nearly dropped the box when she eyed its contents. “Mama! This must be worth a fortune!” she said breathlessly.

“Yes, but you must promise me that, no matter what, you will never part with it. You must not sell any piece of it and it must never fall into the wrong hands. Do you understand?” Her mother’s voice was sharp.

Marie nodded.

Her mother went on. “Above all,” she said, licking her dry lips, “do not tell anyone that you have it. Not even your father. Especially not your father. He has mishandled our finances and thinks that I do not know. He fooled me for years about many things but in the end, the truth always comes out.” She gave a deep sigh. “Once I am gone, Marie, unless there is a miracle, there will be no more money for him at all. My brother has only helped us for my sake, but there is no love lost between those two. Your father’s only hope to climb out of debt would be to sell the contents of this box, or make a good marriage, either for himself or for you or your brother. He knows about this box and that I would never sell what’s inside. But it is up me now to fulfill the vow to my own mother, never to part with it except to pass it along. The sapphire is said to have powers, but only for those who are worthy.”

Marie’s eyes widened. “Powers? Whatever kind of powers do you mean?”

Her mother’s eyes were intent as they looked back at her daughter. “It is said that divine favour rests upon the wearer — that the sapphire has the power to draw protection and wisdom and prosperity. Now, promise me that you will look after it.”

Marie nodded again. “Yes, Mama. Of course. I promise.”

So Marie found a hiding spot for the box under a loose floorboard in her bedroom and told no one about it. Months later, after her mother’s death, she heard her father through closed doors as he pulled things apart in every room, cursing with increasing agitation and frustration, causing Marie to become fearful at times. She knew he had become a desperate man. But she would not reveal her secret. Not even when he arranged her marriage to Count Uvorov. She would not betray her mother.

So tonight, when she had packed to meet Johann, she had removed the contents from the oblong box and had carefully sewn them inside her coat, taking with her the precious promise of hope that the heirloom offered.

She was nearing the city now, the faint light slowly ushering in a new day. People were beginning to stir. She caught her breath when she saw Johann in the distance, waiting for her at the back of the building, as he had promised. From there, things would go quickly. He had arranged everything. If she wanted to change her mind, this would be the time.

But she knew she wouldn’t.