Chapter 4
Tanya eased her aching muscles and grimaced, pushing back a strand of hair from her eyes. She sat back on her heels and sighed. She had just finished scrubbing the kitchen floor, and she felt so weary, it was an effort to move. She had been at The Cock Inn for a month now, but it seemed more like a year. She had never dreamed that life could consist of so much drudgery. Day after day, she rose at dawn and worked through to dusk, with hardly a break and not a great deal to eat. But what was most heartbreaking to Tanya was that unless some unforeseen miracle occurred, the future held nothing at all for her.
‘I can’t go on like this, day after day, with nothing to look forward to, and no hope of anything better,’ she thought despondently, then hurriedly began to heave the big bucket of dirty water up, to empty it in the yard, for Dame Katya was just bustling in the door, and although she was kind enough in her own fashion, she would brook no laziness or disobedience.
‘Ah, there you are, Tanya,’ she cried. ‘Leave that bucket there for Ingrid and follow me immediately!’
She swept out of the room, and Tanya, with a bewildered glance at the unfortunate Ingrid, shrugged her shoulders and followed her quickly, almost running to keep up with the innkeeper’s wife.
‘Come on, girl, come on, no time to waste. Quickly, get in here.’ She pushed Tanya into a room at the end of the passage from the kitchen. She looked around her dazedly.
‘What is it, Dame Katya?’ she asked wonderingly. ‘Have I done something wrong? What’s happening?’
‘Let’s have less of your questions, my girl, and just you get those dirty old rags off.’
‘I beg your pardon,’ replied Tanya, ‘but these dirty old rags happen to be the only clothes I possess,’ she spoke hotly, not really caring, as all the old dear could do was to send her packing, after all.
‘Now, now, don’t get on your high ropes. One of our upstairs maids has been found pilfering in the guest rooms. Never have I been so ashamed. In our hostelry too! We have a reputation to live up to you know. I told my husband not to trust her when she first came here, over a year ago now. Heaven only knows how much she has stolen in that time. I thought she had a shifty look about her, and I am a fair judge in such matters. But no, he always was one for a well-turned ankle and never could resist a pretty face.’ She sniffed and gave a look that boded ill for her absent spouse. ‘But never mind all that,’ she continued. ‘What matters is that he’s picked you to take her place, rather than get a stranger in, and you’ve shown you are a hard worker. I’m sure we can trust you, for you seem like a good worker, there’s no doubt of it, and your manners are quite above the average. You’ll make a good maid, and it’s a step up in the world, I take it you don’t mean to refuse?’
‘Oh no, Dame Katya,’ breathed Tanya, her eyes like stars. ‘It’s what I’ve been dreaming of for so long. Something will come of it, I just know it. I knew I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life scrubbing floors. That’s not what I was meant for, of that much I’m sure!’
Dame Katya sniffed again. ‘Yes, well, I don’t know about all that, but one thing I can tell, you will come of it is a bit of money for you and a decent set of clothes.’ She put her hands on her hips and glowered at Tanya. ‘And right now, it means less chatter and more action. Let’s get you bathed and dressed, ready for my husband to inspect. He has to give his approval you know, before he will allow you to start. He’s very particular about the maids who wait on the guests – we have some very important ones you know, and everyone likes to see a pretty face. Not that there’s any chance of anyone taking you as other than very pretty – too pretty if you ask me!’ She shook her head and set about the task of readying Tanya for her new post.
There was no doubt in the good innkeeper’s eyes when Tanya was presented to him an hour later. She was looking quite lovely in the simple black dress and white apron and cap that were to be her uniform from now on. He looked her over appreciatively and smiled broadly.
‘Charming, quite charming,’ he avowed, then, catching his wife’s eye, hastily backed away. ‘Yes, yes, you will do just fine,’ he said. ‘My wife will show you your duties. You will be a most attractive addition to my staff.’
He bustled away, after one last roguish look that caused his wife to stiffen and look suspiciously at Tanya. On meeting her clear, enquiring eyes, however, she relaxed a little and beckoned to her.
‘Come, my girl, I will show you what you have to do.’
The next few weeks were busy, yet quite happy ones for Tanya. She was moved out of her attic and given a bed in the maid’s quarters. She shared the room with three other girls, all of whom seemed to take an instant dislike to her. One, Mathilda, a dark, sultry beauty, with long eyes like a cat’s, seemed positively to hate her. The other two, Olga and Sonja, both plain, cheerful girls, just followed her lead. Neither showed her any enmity, they just tended to ignore her. However, as most of the time they were together in the room they were sleeping, this did not worry Tanya unduly. She was still revelling in her new-found luxury. She was allowed a bath once a week, and although the others quite plainly thought she was mad for taking it, she did so religiously and loved every minute of it. She would never lose her love of soaking in hot water, she was sure. That first bath, and being able to wash her hair and braid it up becomingly had seemed to her like heaven. She was given new undergarments and a change of dress to enable her to wash it every week.
When she had looked into the mirror – an unaccustomed luxury – before being taken before Pieter Denkov, the innkeeper, she had felt quite satisfied with her appearance. Indeed, it left little to be desired! Her hair was shining and glowed with copper tints, and her huge green eyes were sparkling with anticipation. Her skin was glowing with health, and her figure, although a little thin after the privations of the past months, was perfect. She had a shrewd idea that it was for this reason that Mathilda had taken such an instant dislike to her. She was sure that if she was plain and uninteresting like the other two girls, she would have been welcomed with open arms.
Her duties consisted mainly of serving meals and drinks to individual guests in their chambers and waiting on travellers in the private dining rooms, and occasionally she was asked to serve drinks in the taproom. She did not enjoy this quite so much, as it was not pleasant to be for ever, warding off amorous advances from drunken customers, and she was quite unable to slap away fumbling hands with the laughing ease of Mathilda. She would blush to the roots of her hair, and several times, her fingers itched to slap a leering face. Only the threat of being relegated back to the kitchens stopped her. However, Pieter seemed to understand her somehow, and after the first couple of occasions, she was not asked to serve there again. Dame Katya might grumble when they were shorthanded, but Pieter would shake his head and mumble, ‘Can’t be done, Katya, she’s a lady, for all she’s working for us. Can’t expect it of her.’
The fact that Tanya had been scrubbing floors for the first month of her employment, he disregarded entirely, merely mumbling that, as then, he had had no idea of her potential. His wife began to worry a little, for the girl’s flawless beauty caused her to wonder, whereas girls like Mathilda she understood well. However, when one night, he confided to her that Tanya was just like the daughter he had always dreamed about, but with which his wife had unfortunately been unable to present him, her tensions eased a lot, and she was able to greet Tanya with equanimity. Tanya’s good terms with her employers did not go unnoticed, and there was much muttering of favouritism behind her back, but as she merely ignored all gossip, seeming to consider herself above it all, this gave her persecutors little satisfaction.
The months slipped by, and Tanya was happy enough, although every now and then, she would stop and wonder if she should not be thinking of moving on or trying for something a little better, but she knew the affection her employers had for her – indeed, she was very fond of both of them – and she would push the thoughts into the background for a while.
One morning, there was great excitement at The Cock Inn. Dame Katya informed the servants that a very great nobleman was coming to stay for a few days, with a large entourage, on his way to the court, to negotiate with the king.
‘He has been sent from Moscow by Tsar Peter himself,’ she exclaimed excitedly, and Tanya could not help but wonder where she got her information from. ‘He is said to be very high in court circles and trusted implicitly by the Tsar. Our good King Charles, however, is away at present, but will return through our town, and the Russian has to wait for an audience.’ She nodded her head in satisfaction. ‘No doubt a ploy to show that Sweden does not fear the might of Muscovy. Anyway, he has been given permission to cross the border and has chosen our inn in which to await His Majesty’s summons. We are famous for our good fare here, you know, and diplomatic parties have often stayed here in the past, en route to the capital.’ She folded her hands over her stomach with a self-satisfied smile, then seeing that her audience was suitably impressed, she clapped her hands sharply. ‘So, to work! There is much preparation to be done.’
She swept away to issue orders for the comfort of their prospective guest, leaving the servants buzzing with excitement.
‘Oh, I hope I’m chosen to serve his meals,’ gasped Mathilda, her eyes narrowing as if in anticipation of something more than just that.
Tanya left them talking, her own mind in a whirl. A Russian nobleman! Her lip curled. Perhaps he was related in some way to the man Sten’ka had killed, or perhaps to the Cossacks who had wrecked her own life and brutally murdered her family.
‘And even if not, their blood is the same,’ she muttered savagely under her breath. ‘I hate them all, every one.’
Ironically, Pieter approached her that evening and informed her that she was to have the honour of attending upon the nobleman during his stay.
‘His lineage is ancient and honourable,’ he beamed. ‘And he’s coming to my inn. It is a great honour indeed. Mind you, the people in this town have no love for Russia, so I doubt he will go abroad much during his stay – it would be a stain on our country’s honour were anything to happen to him. But there, nothing will, I am sure. And The Cock has been chosen because it is the finest and largest inn for many miles around. Is it not wonderful?’
‘Wonderful?’ whispered Tanya. ‘Wonderful? I don’t think you had better let me serve him, sir, for not only would it be a stain on the honour of our country, it would be a stain on my soul were I to commit murder, and by all the saints, I swear to you that had I the chance, I would do so. Do you understand?’
Her voice was rising, and she was panting with emotion. Pieter looked at her in astonishment. ‘Why, my child, you don’t know him, you couldn’t possibly have ever met him before in your life, and yet you talk of murder. Why in God’s name, would a sweet innocent like you have so much hate for a man?’
‘Not for him in particular,’ admitted Tanya. ‘But for the whole race. My life and the lives of my family and of a very dear friend were wrecked, brutally and needlessly by the Russians. Just don’t ask me to go near him, that’s all I ask. You won’t make me go near him, will you, sir?’
Pieter looked very disappointed, but he nodded his head. ‘Very well, Tanya, it shall be as you wish,’ he sighed. ‘I will instruct Mathilda to wait on him. But I should have liked you to have the honour of . . . oh, well, never mind.’ Seeing her eyes flash scornfully, the good man broke off and trotted away, muttering under his breath of ungrateful wenches who would not do as they were bid.
Tanya went about the rest of her duties automatically for the rest of the day. The place was in a turmoil, with people rushing here and there, all pandering to the needs of their expected guest.
‘He is to arrive the day after tomorrow,’ Mathilda informed them that night in bed. ‘His name is Prince Erik Mensherikovsky, and I have been chosen to serve him.’ She flashed a triumphant, pitying glance at Tanya, who was hard put not to inform her pithily that the honour would not have been hers at all if not for her, but she bit the words back, considering them unworthy of her.
The next two days went very quickly, for there was much preparation to be done, and the notice was short. The Prince was travelling with a small party of fellow countrymen, and the whole of the upper floor was to be reserved for him. This meant that several guests had to be moved from the upper floor to other rooms, which was accompanied by much grumbling and fuss. However, the great day eventually dawned with everything in readiness, and Pieter and Dame Katya were hovering anxiously near the hall, awaiting the arrival of the party. Tanya had asked to go into town to do some shopping for the cook, as she had no wish to be present in the line of servants waiting to welcome Prince Mensherikovsky.
She finished her shopping and returned to the inn, entering through the kitchen door, and depositing her basket on the table. She was unable to stop herself asking the cook if the Prince had arrived yet.
‘Aye, he’s arrived and yelling for his dinner already,’ he replied sourly, sweating over a huge dish of steaming fish and a large suckling pig turning slowly on the spit. ‘Keep that spit turning, boy’ he yelled, cuffing the small kitchen boy round the ear. ‘Turn it faster, if it’s burnt, I’ll put you on it afterwards.’ He pushed Tanya to one side, pulling her purchases out of the basket. ‘All right, you can go,’ he said, giving her cheek a pinch. She left quickly, for the sight of the grotesquely fat cook trying to be romantic with her always made her want to laugh, and she was terrified that one day she would, and the last thing she wanted to do was to hurt his feelings, for he had always been very kind to her, as had all the male members of the staff.
She went to find Dame Katya to find out what she was required to do. She was set to polishing up the plate for the dining room, which took her the rest of the morning and a good half of the afternoon. Mathilda came in, preening herself, just as she was finishing.
‘Well, well, Tanya, finished polishing?’ she asked with a sneer. ‘Don’t you want a description of the great man? I’ve been talking with him over dinner, for he doesn’t stand on ceremony at all, and I could see he desired me greatly.’ She gave her skirt a self-satisfied twitch and looked at Tanya narrowly. ‘Well?’ she asked impatiently. ‘Have you lost your tongue? Don’t tell me you’re not dying of curiosity, for I shan’t believe it.’
Tanya sighed. ‘Very well, Mathilda, tell me all about it,’ she said resignedly, for she would get no peace, she knew, until she had let the girl gloat over her for a while. Mathilda perched on the edge of the table.
‘Well, he’s not exactly handsome,’ she began. ‘But he’s very striking in a sinister sort of way. He sends shivers down my spine. He’s very masterful and seems used to having his every command obeyed at once. He’s just the sort of man I . . .’ she broke off, looking at Tanya from under her lashes. ‘But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, little miss milk and water?’ she sneered. ‘You wouldn’t know what to do with a man if one landed in your lap.’ She threw her head back, her whole body somehow exuding sensuality so that Tanya dropped her eyes, uncomfortable in spite of herself. ‘But I know how to handle him, and I’ll have him before he leaves, you wait and see. Perhaps I’ll get him to take me with him – away from this dump, to excitement and adventure. I’d do anything to get out of here.’ She stopped, as if becoming aware of saying more than she had meant to and threw Tanya a challenging look. ‘Well, we shall see,’ she said abruptly and jumped off the table. ‘I must go. You can get the less interesting details from someone else. You must be about the only one in the place who hasn’t seen him.’
‘By my own choice,’ flashed Tanya before she could stop herself. ‘Believe me I have no wish to.’
It was obvious that Mathilda did not believe her, but she didn’t really care what she thought and let her leave the room without saying any more.
In spite of everything, she couldn’t help but see Mathilda’s point of view. She herself was desperate to get out of the humdrum life she was leading, to have a bit of colour and excitement in her life. Although she hated herself for agreeing with the girl, she had to admit that it seemed to be the only way out. But the thought of selling herself was completely abhorrent to Tanya, and she shrugged her shoulders, telling herself that something would turn up, although in her heart she knew that it was extremely unlikely. She was still feeling in this frame of mind when Mathilda came breezing into their room that evening, humming under her breath, and looking very pleased with herself.
‘What are you looking so happy about, Mathilda?’ asked Olga tentatively, for Mathilda’s moods were uncertain. Tonight, however, she didn’t seem to resent the question.
‘Oh, just something I’ve been working on seems to be coming out right,’ she answered airily, and it seemed to Tanya that she was talking directly to her, and not to Olga at all. She refused to say any more, and the girls soon settled down for the night. Tanya lay awake for a long time, thoughts jumbling together in her brain. She felt ashamed of herself for even contemplating such action as Mathilda was envisaging, but nevertheless, her body was disturbed by strange emotions, and the memory of Nicholas came back to her – why, she couldn’t think, except that he was the only man who had ever held her in his arms. Perhaps that was the reason. The thought that she was going through that which every young girl experiences at least once in her life did not enter her head. Her feelings made her hot all over, and she felt vaguely uncomfortable at some of her memories. Also, she couldn’t forget the look that had been in the eyes of the man who had followed her all the way from the cave – all that way! Did she really have that sort of power? Power to bring a man to his death, in fact.
She eventually fell into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning, until some movement or noise awoke her suddenly. She sat up, her heart beating loudly, straining her eyes in the darkness. Just then, the moon sailed out from behind a cloud, and although the light it shed was not great, it was enough to enable her to see that whilst both Olga and Sonja were sleeping soundly in their beds, Mathilda’s was empty. Scarcely knowing why she did so, Tanya slid out of bed, slipped her dress over her head, and, with her hair streaming down her back and her feet bare, opened the door cautiously and stepped out into the corridor. She cast a swift glance to right and left, but all was quite silent. The strange prompting seemed to direct her steps in the direction of the top floor, for she was quite certain that it was there that Mathilda had gone. She had no idea of the time, or how long ago the girl had left, but she felt she just had to know where she had gone, and why. She descended the stairs from the servant’s quarters, her heart thumping so fast, it made her quite breathless. She trod softly down the corridor, then stopped, feeling a little foolish, trying to decide what to do next. She had just made her mind up to leave, and go back to bed, when the sound of a door opening made her gasp and slide quickly into the window embrasure, pressing herself back into the curtains. She heard low voices murmuring and saw two shadowy forms go by. Their footsteps dwindled away until all was quiet again. She waited for a few minutes, straining her ears for any further noise. When she heard nothing, she stepped stealthily out and tiptoed along the corridor towards the stairs. Glancing over her shoulder to ensure she was not observed, she was just about to run up the stairs when she cannoned into somebody, and a vice-like arm clamped around her cruelly, so she was quite unable to move. She gave a terrified cry, and struggled madly, but made no impression on her assailant.
‘Please let me go,’ she whispered, for the grip on her arms was hurting her considerably. There was a startled exclamation, and the grip relaxed a little so that it no longer hurt so badly, but nonetheless, still held her firmly. Without a word, the mystery figure picked her up bodily, and, slinging her over his shoulder, strode down the corridor. Tanya was really too surprised to move, for this was the last thing she had expected. She heard a door open and shut, then she was set down none too gently. She found herself confronted by a tall, very dark man, who was regarding her rather sardonically, yet with admiration in his eyes, his lips pursed in a soundless whistle.
‘And who do we have here?’ he asked in an authoritative voice, looking her up and down in a way that made Tanya feel as if she were naked. She blushed and pulled her dress up round her shoulders, for it had slipped in the tussle. When she didn’t answer, he gave an impatient exclamation and frowned.
‘Well, are you dumb, wench?’ he barked. ‘I asked you a question. What is your name, and why are you sneaking around spying, at this time in the morning?’
‘I’m not spying,’ retorted Tanya indignantly, her eyes flashing at the thought. ‘I’ve never spied on anyone in my life. I awoke, saw Mathilda – she’s one of the maids – had gone, so I went looking for her.’
‘I am well aware of who Mathilda is,’ he answered with an unpleasant laugh. ‘She has but just this minute left me, to return to her bed.’
‘Oh.’ Tanya’s hands flew up to her cheeks, and she blushed even more furiously. ‘Then you must be . . .’
‘Prince Mensherikovsky,’ he finished for her. ‘But you haven’t answered my question. Who are you? Surely not a maid?’
Upon her nodding an affirmative, he smiled broadly and took a step towards her. ‘So why haven’t I seen you before? That fool of a landlord should know that I only want the best to wait on me – and you are undoubtedly the tastiest morsel I’ve seen in a very long time. What is your name?’
‘Tanya,’ she replied, backing towards the door. ‘And I really should be going, Mathilda will be wondering where I am.’
The Prince gave a little laugh and stepped between her and the door.
‘But why the hurry, my beauty?’ he murmured. ‘We’ve only just been introduced. Can’t you be a little friendly?’ As he spoke, he stretched out a hand and took a handful of her hair, pulling her towards him none too gently. He gazed down into the lovely face upturned to his and took her chin in his free hand. ‘God, but you’re beautiful,’ he said thickly ‘and your hair is just like fire, I’ve never seen anything like it. And those eyes!’ He let go of her hair and slid his arm around her waist until she was held close against his chest. She put her hands against it, pushing ineffectually. ‘Please, sir, let me go,’ she pleaded, throwing her head back and gazing up at him with wide frightened eyes.
‘Ask anything but that, fair Tanya, and it shall be yours,’ he replied, then, bending his head, he kissed her. He kissed her long and thoroughly, and with a great deal of experience, so that Tanya’s struggles eventually ceased, and she even allowed herself to relax against him. He forced her mouth open, and his lips were hard on hers until they felt bruised and sore. At last, he released her, and she staggered back against the wall, her brain reeling. He looked at her triumphantly, his hard eyes dark with passion.
‘So, not so much of the iceberg as you would have me believe, eh?’ He turned away from her and picked up two glasses, reaching for the wine bottle, and in doing so seemed to break the spell. In a flash, Tanya had wrenched open the door and was running down the corridor as fast as she could. She heard him shout behind her, but now she was up the stairs and the following footsteps stopped. She ran on back down the corridor until she reached her room and flung herself through the door, closing it behind her and leaning against it, panting. She saw Mathilda’s form, sitting up in bed, and even through the darkness, she could somehow feel the malevolence of the girl’s stare.
‘So,’ said a sarcastic voice. ‘You’re not so prim as you’d have us believe. Who have you been visiting tonight, my pretty? One of the stablehands? Or maybe Master Pieter himself, eh?’ The insult was very clear in her tone, and Tanya could feel her temper rising.
‘It’s none of your business,’ she snapped. ‘And anyway, you can’t talk, for your bed was empty when I left here.’
‘Yes, but I make no secret of it,’ replied Mathilda swiftly. ‘You are so much worse, trying to make everyone believe butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth. Anyway, I really care very little who you’ve been bestowing your favours on. It couldn’t be anyone half as interesting as I have been with, I can assure you.’
Tanya was relieved that Mathilda did not suspect the real truth, so she let it go, just shrugging her shoulders and, slipping her dress over her head, slid down into her bed and turned her back on the girl.
She dozed fitfully for the rest of the night, her sleeping moments inundated with strange dreams, and she was looking rather heavy eyed when she arose with the others in the dim, grey light of early morning.
My, my you’re looking tired this morning, dear, didn’t you sleep well? said Mathilda maliciously.
‘No, I suppose it was all the noise you made, going in and out,’ replied Tanya sweetly and beat a strategic retreat before Mathilda could think of a suitable rejoinder.
When she got downstairs, it was to find Dame Katya waiting for her, arms folded, and a stern expression on her usually placid face.
‘Well, young lady, and what have you to say for yourself?’ she asked, frowning.
‘What . . . what do you mean?’ asked Tanya rather nervously, wondering if Dame Katya could possibly have heard of last night’s escapade.
‘Well, I don’t precisely know – all I do know is that Prince Mensherikovsky had his valet waylay my husband before he had hardly got his eyes open to command him to arrange for Tanya to serve him for the remainder of his stay here.’
Tanya’s heart gave a sickening lurch, and the colour fled from her cheeks.
‘Oh no, no, I don’t have to, do I, Dame Katya?’ she gasped imploringly.
‘Well, of course you have to, girl,’ she replied impatiently. ‘Do you imagine Pieter is going to snap his fingers in the Prince’s face, and say no, Your Highness? Pah! I don’t know what sort of tricks you’ve been up to, but I thought better of you. How did he come to know of your existence, you seem to have been quite successful up to now in keeping out of sight?’
Tanya would have dearly liked to blurt out the truth and, in fact, very nearly did so, but much as she disliked Mathilda, she could not bring herself to be the cause of her losing her livelihood, which would most certainly be the outcome if Dame Katya learnt the whole story. She hung her head.
'I wish I could tell you, but I can’t,’ she said miserably and flushed as the good woman looked scornfully at her, her lip curling a little. ‘It’s not what you think, I promise you, really it’s not – I have no more wish to serve h