“I was wrong to snap at you last night,” she began without preamble. “I think perhaps . . .”
She felt her throat tighten. Her early hardscrabble life had taught her that only the strong survived. Toughness had been the virtue worth having. Even with Saybrook, it had taken time to lower her guard. But with others, even her closest friend, every instinct still rebelled against revealing her innermost fears.
But to ask for unflinching trust meant that one had to give it as well.
Arianna forced herself to go on. “I think perhaps I’m being hard on Prescott because I’m trying to prove to myself that I haven’t lost my edge.”
Sophia slowly set down her cup.
“And that frightens me,” she said in a rush. “More than I can express.”
There—I have said it.Strangely enough, the admission didn’t make her feel weaker.
The scrim of steam rising from the coffee pot hid Sophia’s face. She said nothing, but a whispery rustle of fabric sounded as her friend slid a hand over the polished rosewood tabletop and touched hers.
Their fingers twined.
They sat for a long moment in silence, their smiles saying everything that needed to be said.
At the sound of the footman bringing in a platter of shirred eggs and toast, they drew apart.
And yet, Arianna felt the elemental warmth of their friendship lingering deep in her marrow.
Sophia filled her plate. “I suggest we agree todisagree about Prescott.” She flashed a wry smile. “One of us will be right. But in the meantime, we’ll both be keeping a watchful eye on him, looking for proof of whether he’s friend or foe.”
Friend or foe.Reluctant as she was to pry into Sophia’s private emotions, Arianna worried that her friend might be suffering in silence, loath to ask for any moral support. “Such judgments can be horribly difficult to make, as it’s complicated to sort out one’s feelings . . .” she began, trying to choose her words with great care.
“You’re worried that I am crushed by Grentham’s change of heart,” interrupted Sophia before Arianna could go on. “Please don’t be. I . . .”
Her friend hesitated. “I won’t pretend that I’m not deeply hurt, but the sharpest pain is that he didn’t offer any sort of explanation.” A sigh. “I’m under no illusions as to what a complex and closely guarded man he is, and I don’t pretend to understand the workings of his mind. But I would have thought . . .”
Sophia blinked back the glimmer of tears. “I would have thought that we had a mutual respect.”
“Perhaps he simply couldn’t find the words,” offered Arianna. “He has practiced for so long not to show any emotions that I imagine it’s very difficult to change. After all, change is frightening.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” murmured Sophia, but there was no conviction in her voice. “In any case, you need not worry. My wounds will heal.” Her chin rose. “I will survive.”
A flicker of sunlight darted through the steel-grey clouds, and then was gone.
“Getting back to Major Prescott . . .” Her friend paused to nibble at a piece of toast. “It so happens that I’ve agreed to attend a music recital this evening with him.”
Arianna forced her thoughts back to the mission and its objectives. “Much as we need to keep Prescott and his motives in mind, we can’t allow ourselves to be distracted from the task of finding the missing medallion. It’s key to the conspiracy to topple the Tsar. Without it, the villains have little chance of seizing power.”
“Mrs. Schuyler and Prince Orlov have to be the two main suspects,” mused Sophia.
“It’s hard not to put the American adventuress at the top of the list,” replied Arianna. “Not only was she slippery as an eel with her answers to me last night, but we also know from the note we found that she’s involved in some nefarious deal—one in which she’s promised to deliver something.”
“What else could it be but the medallion?”
“I can’t imagine what. And yet . . .” And yet, she couldn’t help recalling the warnings that things were rarely as they seemed here in Russia.
Sophia leaned forward, waiting for her to go on.
“Imagination be damned. What we need are facts, not conjectures.” She made a face. “And before you ask me how we’re going to find them, I confess that I’m not sure.” A pause. “But if anything can coax secrets out of people, it’s chocolate.”
Arianna pushed aside her plate. “I rose early this morning and prepared a batch of sinfully rich confections. So let us pay a visit to Countess Litta and see if sweet treats will loosen her lips.”
The countess’snostrils quivered as Arianna handed her the beribboned box of chocolates. “As I mentioned, Milady, I enjoy cooking and have brought a few of my creations in case you might wish to sample them.”
