Lady in the Briars by Carola Dunn

Author:Carola Dunn [Dunn, Carola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9780786275212
Publisher: Regency Reads
Published: 1989-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Jaded he might feel, but John continued to frequent the company of the young Russian officers. His patience was beginning to bear fruit. Nearly every day he had some tidbit to report to Andrew, and a pattern was emerging.

While news of troop movements and garrisons were useful, Andrew was eager to gain an insight into the plans of the military command headed, of course, by the Tsar. He urged John to see more of Prince Nikolai.

“I hate to spy on a friend,” John said gloomily. After their midnight discussion, he was once again on intimate terms with Kolya.

“You have yet to report a single word he has said. I must assume he is singularly close-mouthed about matters of state, whatever his opinion of the government. If it helps, I shall release you from any obligation to repeat anything he may let drop. I hope you feel no such qualms about those to whom he has introduced you.”

John spent that very evening at a gaming house with Kolya and a few other members of the Tsar’s staff. As was his habit, not wanting to draw attention to his presence he avoided either winning or losing large sums.

The White Nights were past, but dawn still came early. The sun was already rising when one of the company proposed adjourning to a popular brothel. It was not the first time a convivial evening had ended with such a suggestion. John had always declined; even in London a certain fastidiousness had kept him from the many houses of ill-fame after a disillusioning visit of exploration at an early age. Nor had he set up a mistress in St Petersburg, feeling that the language barrier would prevent the friendly relationship he preferred.

In fact, he had not lain with a woman since that lying jade Minette had deceived him with Rawley, thus precipitating the duel responsible for his presence here.

Kolya, sharing his preference for a more stable liaison, had a ballet dancer under his protection. “I’m off to see Dunyashka,” he said. “Come with me, John? Her little sister is visiting. Is obliging girl.” He sketched a shape with expressive hands.

John went. The dancer’s sister, Katyenka, turned out to be a pretty blonde with merry eyes and red, pouting lips. Her figure lived up to Kolya’s gestures, and she was more than willing to oblige. John drank a glass or two of wine with her, kissed her, gave her a few rubles and departed. It was the yellow hair that put him off, he decided. It reminded him of Minette. Dark hair was really much more attractive, the kind that had gold lights in sunshine. And besides, Katyenka was too buxom for his taste.

As he sauntered home through the pale light of the early morning, he remembered that tonight he had given himself a holiday. Instead of working he would spend a delightful evening with Rebecca and the Graylins.

He was looking forward to Kolya’s expedition, too. He had already visited the Volkovs’ country house. Once

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