A spurt of guilt,bitter as bile, rose in Arianna’s gorge. “Where did the coachman take them?” she demanded.
“Zayachy Ostrov—Hare Island, Milady,” replied José.
Sophia frowned in thought. “The St. Peter and Paul Cathedral is there.”
“As is the St. Peter and Paul Fortress,” said Arianna. “God only knows what subterranean horrors lie hidden within its warren of dungeons and torture chambers—”
“Arianna,” said Saybrook, softly but firmly.
“I should have stopped them.”
“As we have seen all too often, the biggest danger to a mission is for one of the group to assume a God-like hubris that only he—or she—is capable of seeing the entire chessboard and deciding on the right moves.”
She drew in a shaky breath as the earl turned for a private talk with José before sending him on his way.
“I have no Almighty pretensions, Sandro—I’m all too aware of my human frailties,” she said, once the door had shut. “But I should have known that no matter how clever, my brother was no match for the guile and subterfuge of an unscrupulous manipulator like Mrs. Schuyler.”
“And Wolff is a babe in the woods?” he demanded.
Arianna expelled a sigh, conceding the point. “No, but he’s too bloody honorable to defend himself if attacked by a woman.” Her expression hardened. “Damn her eyes. If she’s hurt a hair on their heads . . .” Her words trailed off.
“Assuming they’ve been taken captive—and I’m still not convinced that is the case—I don’t think they’ll have been harmed,” said Saybrook, breaking the uneasy silence. “Things are too fraught for the enemy to risk making such an overt attack. If they were so sure that they hold the advantage over Tsar Alexander, they would show it by . . .” He paused. “By doing nothing.”
Sophia drew in a breath, as if to speak.
“If they possessed the medallion,” he continued quickly, “they would need to do nothing but wait for the fateful day, and let rumor, superstition, and the Faithful’s fear of God’s wrath topple Tsar Alexander from his throne.”
Arianna saw the logic in that. But logic felt like an awfully weak defense against the power of raw emotion.
“But if the enemy feels we are breathing down their necks,” she began.
“All the more reason to hold Fitzroy and Wolff hostage rather than do away with them,” pointed out Saybrook. “The conspirators have shown themselves to be cunning and clever. They won’t squander such important bargaining chips.”
Arianna felt another sharp stab of guilt.This is all my fault, she thought as she stared at the flicking candle flames.
And then all at once, something sparked inside her.
She shifted her gaze to Saybrook and saw uncertainty in his eyes—but only for a moment.
A smile suddenly came to life on his lips, as if he had just spotted a long-lost friend. “I recognize that look—that flare of fire,” he murmured. “Heaven help the miscreants who’ve lit it.”
“Yes, I’ve found my old flame.” It was pulsing like liquid fire through her veins, melting the last vestiges of her months-long malaise. And he knew her intimately enough to see that she was well and truly her old self again.
“Be damned with feeling guilty or fearful.” Darkness only sucked at her strength, allowing the actions of others to hurt her loved ones. “The malignant evil of the Orlov family has shadowed us for far too long. It’s time to put an end to their threat once and for all.”
“That’s right! To the devil with them.” Sophia lifted her chin to a martial tilt. “We’re more than a match for any enemy.”
“But the present circumstances put us at a decided disadvantage,” cautioned Saybrook. “The Orlov family is familiar with every subtle nuance of the Imperial Court and the surrounding city. They know where every hidden pitfall is located, where the most dangerous predators are lurking . . .” He moved to thewindows and stared out into the hazy half-light. “And where traps can be laid for the unwary.”
“Which means we must move in unexpected directions.” Arianna resumed her pacing. “And surprise them with our actions.”
“What are you suggesting?” asked Saybrook.
“That we take the offensive,” she answered. “But in a way that will keep them off balance. I think we should—”
A brusque knock cut her off.
Saybrook frowned and opened the door a crack.
