“Major Prescott’s ginger tisane was a godsend,” added Sophia. “It was very kind of him to share his secret.” Prescott had confided that he always became ill on ocean voyages, so took care to bring dried ginger with him—advice he had received from a comrade who had spent time in India. “But still, I’ve never felt so nauseous in my life.”
“Sea travel doesn’t agree with many people,” said Arianna. “It was indeed thoughtful of him.” Though she couldn’t help suspecting his motives. It hadn’t escaped her notice that the major had made a point of delivering the ginger brew to Sophia’s cabin . . . and lingering in the doorway for friendly chats.
“I . . .” Her friend didn’t miss the chill note in Arianna’s voice. “I think we should be open-minded about Major Prescott.”
“I’d prefer to use the word ‘cautious’,” she replied as she drew out her guidebook from the pocket of her oilskin cloak.
The wind swirled, causing a loud crack of canvas overhead.
“Look—that must be the famous needle of the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral,” added Arianna, gesturing to a thin, copper-sheathed spire rising out of the gloom. “It’s the highest point in St. Petersburg,” she read from the open page. “The cathedral is set onZayachy Ostrov—or Hare Island in English—as is the Peter and Paul Fortress, which was built by Peter the Great—”
“You donotwant to pay a visit to the fortress,” announced Prescott as he strolled over to join them. “These days it’s an infamous prison, used for political prisoners and perceived enemies of the Tsar.”
“There are, however, a great many worthy tourist attractions in the city,” responded Arianna. “Or so says my guidebook. It calls the city the ‘Venice of the North’ for its many canals and pastel-colored buildings.”
“Indeed, it’s beautiful, with splendid palaces and fashionable shops,” agreed Prescott.
“You’ve been here before?” asked Arianna. Except for occasional polite exchanges, she had deliberately avoided any conversation with him.
“Yes, I’ve visited several times over the years, and spent a summer here with my cousins when I was fourteen,” he answered as Saybrook appeared on the quarterdeck and joined them.
“So you are close with the Russian side of your family?” pressed Arianna.
Prescott shrugged. “My mother enjoyed visiting her relatives, but after she passed away we lost touch.” His gaze strayed to the shapes of the city, which was slowly coming into sharper focus as the ship sliced through foam-capped waves. “What about you, Lord Saybrook? Do you stay in touch with your Spanish relatives?”
It was, thought Arianna, a subtle signal that he had made a point of learning about them. She doubted that Grentham was the source of the information, so it was likely that the major had done some sleuthing of his own. Another reminder not to take him lightly.
“A few of them,” answered the earl, and added nothing more. He then cocked an ear. “I think I hear bells ringing.”
“That would be the famous bells brought here from Holland by the Dutch craftsman Ort Krass to replace the ones destroyed by a great fire in 1766,” explained Prescott. “Every day at noon, they play our national anthem,God Save the Tsar.”
Perhaps it was merely a quirk of the uncertain light, but for an instant, Arianna thought she saw a rather nasty gleam flash in his eyes.
“Speaking of which, I understand you and your wife have been invited to visit the city by Tsar Alexander himself,” continued Prescott. “Might I inquire as to how the three of you became friends?”
“We met at the Peace Congress in Vienna,” answered Arianna. Their trip hadn’t been a secret, so he probably knew of it already.
“The Tsar is very fond of Lady Saybrook’s chocolate confections,” added the earl. “She’s created a number of very special recipes.”
That detail sent a spasm of surprise over Prescott’s handsome features. “Youcook, Milady?”
“Quite well, in fact,” said Sophia. “She’s very talented in the kitchen.”
“How interesting.” Looking bemused, Prescott turned his gaze back to the fast-approaching Vasilyevsky Island, which marked the harbor of St. Petersburg. “Have you arranged for a residence in the city, Lord Saybrook?”
“An attaché with the permanent diplomatic delegation has handled that,” answered the earl. “And you?”
“I shall be staying with friends until I find a residence that suits me,” replied Prescott.
The four of them stood in silence for several minutes, watching their progress through the white-capped waves. And then Prescott spoke again. “You seem to have become friendly with Count von Wolfram. Have you any idea as to why he is part of our party?”
Arianna wondered if he knew exactly why Wolff was with them and was merely testing how forthcoming they would be. She decided to let Saybrook answer.
Let him think I’m simply a dutiful wife, who has no interest or skill in intrigue.
“He’s a German official involved in international commerce who is helping our government to negotiate some trade agreements for Baltic timber and pine tar with both Russia and the German principalities,” answered the earl. “He told us that he was in London for some meetings with the Admiralty, and the Foreign Office offered him passage on one of our naval ships, so he need not make a more roundabout trip back to Hamburg and then on to St. Petersburg.”
“How fortuitous for him,” murmured Prescott.
