Part 26 – Nightly Encounters
It was almost midnight, when a knock at the door startled Irina. She had spent the last hours sitting paralyzed in her armchair, staring into the crackling flames in the fireplace. A blanket wrapped around her shoulders, she sat there without moving, hugging her knees with her arms. Silent tears ran down her cheeks from time to time, but she didn't make any sound. She was beyond crying. All that was left inside her was a dull pain, overwhelming and stronger than any pain she had ever felt in her life. All she wished for was, that Jack were able to soothe her pain. But he wasn't – he would never be. She felt as lonely and forlorn as one could feel.
When the knock on the door startled her, her first thought was that it was Jack and, determined not to let him in, she didn't react. But when a second knock could be heard, together with Lord Sloane's voice, asking her whether she was still awake, she wiped away her tears. Slowly she went to the door and disengaged the lock.
Arvin Sloane looked at her with concern when she opened the door, bowing slightly.
"Milady, I just came to apologize for my rude words earlier. I shouldn't have talked to you about this. I didn't know that you had no idea."
"It is not your fault." Irina attempted to smile, but failed. Everything in her expression betrayed the pain she felt inside.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Softly, Irina shook her head, but Arvin didn't let go. "Please, Milady. I feel terrible. I heard that you and your husband had a horrible fight, and I can't get rid of the feeling that it is my fault."
Irina shook her head. "Milord, I assure you, it is not your fault. Don't blame yourself..."
"Then allow me to take you for a walk. I don't feel comfortable with leaving you alone... you can tell me everything that happened, and we will try to find a way. I am sure it is not as bad as you think now." He touched her hand softly, and Irina looked into his tender eyes. His words seemed to be righteous and so, after having thought for a few moments, she nodded hesitantly. After all, Sloane was an old friend of Jack's. He knew the truth and would probably be able to answer a few questions.
She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, taking the arm that Sloane offered her. Silently they walked side by side along the long corridor and down the stairs into the large entrance hall. Through a smaller door at the side, they left the palace and went into the huge garden.
"What a beautiful night." Sloane finally started leisurely conversation, trying to distract Irina from her dark thoughts. She kept silent. When he realized that he couldn't cheer her up, he eventually sighed. "Irina, I advised Jack several times to tell you about his involvement. I told him to tell you the truth from the start, but he wouldn't listen to me. I am sorry for being such an idiot to not tell you myself. But last time I visited your house, Jack assured to me that he had spoken with you. He told me that you understood and that you had forgiven him. And I believed him. After all, he was only ten years old back then and barely responsible for the actions of his father."
"He didn't tell me." Irina whispered. "I had no idea... although I should have known all along. Thinking about it now, nothing about the way we met seems to be a coincidence. He searched for me, and he followed me... and I was naive enough to believe that it was out of true affection."
"I apologize. I should have warned you... but after seeing you at the party, how beautiful and gorgeous you were, I thought Jack might have changed his mind." Sloane continued and patted her hand. "If I had known that he was just using you, I would have told you everything. True, I did not behave like a perfect gentleman when we met, but if there is one thing I despise, it is men who use ladies for their means."
Irina stopped and turned to him. "What do you mean by use?"
Arvin looked at her, shaking his head sadly. "I probably shouldn't tell you this."
But when Irina persisted to inquire him to tell her, he finally sighed. "Milady, I would never tell you this if I didn't think it was necessary for you to know. When his father died, on his deathbed Jack had to make a promise to him. Your father, Irina, Lord Derevko had been his worst enemy. He had partly destroyed his reputation and made several attempts on his life. Jack had to swear that he would make Derevko's family pay for that. He swore to finish the task his father had been unable to complete. I never took this vow seriously. Jack was... well, he was different from his father, and I thought it was merely a promise given to an old man who was dying – a promise worth nothing. But after the incident with your sister... after hearing about you, I was concerned that it had not just been an empty vow. I am sorry. As a honorable gentleman it should have been my course of action to shield you from his revenge." In the pale light of the moon he saw tears running down Irina's cheeks. Discreetly, he pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her. "Milady, I wish I could have spared you from that pain. You deserve way better than that. I will make sure that Lord Bristow pays for his shameless use of your person."
Irina sobbed, trying desperately to suppress her tears. Her mind revolted against the revelation. All the time she had been a means to an end. Everything Jack had thought of was to take revenge for his father. She had merely been a lure to complete this aim, her willingness in bed most likely being nothing more than a nice side effect for him, a cheap whore.
Suddenly her stomach seemed to revolt and nausea took her over. She held her belly and her face paled. Everything she had believed in had been a lie. Jack's whole person was a lie.
Carefully, Arvin Sloane led her to a bench that was standing behind a nearby hedge. Concerned he looked at her, then patted her hand.
"You look awfully pale. I will fetch a glass of water for you. I'll be back in a few minutes." He said softly and Irina nodded, thankful for the moments he granted her to be alone. She watched him go all the way back to the palace. Then silence surrounded her, only interrupted by the wind rustling in the trees and the desperate sound of a lonely nightingale somewhere in the distance.
Why had Jack gone to such lengths if all he wanted was revenge? Why had he arranged an audience with the queen for her? Was that part of his payback? Had he wanted to break her rebellious spirit? If so, he had succeeded in every point. For him, she had given everything up. There was no going back, and she knew that. Her identity was known, she was a revolutionary, a criminal – her family was disgraced. Her own rebel group wanted to kill her and a pardon agreement from the queen was her last chance to protect the life of herself and her family. It was either that or execution. Her life was lying in his hands. He had enticed her to this audience, but what if her cards were already laid? What if the audience was only a formality? Maybe her execution was already planned, and the audience was just a way to make her failure complete...
Her dark thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the crackling sound of a few branches on the ground close to the bench – the opposite direction of the castle. Irina startled and turned slightly to look into the darkness. Being all alone out in the garden past midnight was not one of the best ideas. Even if she was in the palace garden, there were still servants or ruthless soldiers who would take advantage of a situation like this.
"Who is there?" she asked courageously into the darkness and from the shadow of a tree, a tall man appeared. Slowly he approached the bench Irina was sitting on. She narrowed her eyes, trying to recognize him. "Who are you?"
"So easily forgotten, my dear Irina?" A well known voice answered her question. Irina exhaled almost relieved – but only for a moment, then her tension returned when she realized that the man before her was not a dear friend anymore.
"Gerard, what are you doing here? How did you get here?"
"Chance..." Gerard Cuvee replied, having reached the bench now. "I didn't expect to meet you here, at court."
"Then we have something in common." She murmured and lowered her eyes to hide the fact that she had cried.
"You look amazing, if you allow me to say that." He complimented her, a soft smile playing on his face, swallowed by the dim light of the moon. He sat down next to her, sighing deeply. Irina glanced at him.
"What are you doing here, Gerard?"
"Business..." he replied evasively. Irina knew what business meant. Somewhat bewildered she looked at him directly now.
"What kind of business?"
He chuckled, his brown eyes meeting hers. His hand reached out and touched her lips. "Do you expect me to be so stupid to tell you about that when I know that you are married to a counselor of the queen?"
"Not for long..." she murmured quietly, and Gerard straightened.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that it was a mistake. You were right... but it doesn't matter anymore." He could see her eyes glisten damply and took her hand softly.
"Irina, darling." His hand touched her shoulder and his face closed the distance to hers. "Are you crying? Damn, what did he do to you?"
"Gerard, I..." Irina tried to evade him, but he held her close.
"Irina, I know our last encounter was not the friendliest one. Threatening to kill you was stupid – I would never have gone through with the plan. Consider it a bad day, so much had gone wrong that week. I am your friend, Irina. Even more...you know I have always felt the deepest respect for you." His hand moved along her waist. "And I understand your longing for a little affair with the queen's counsel. If you think I am angry at you, I..."
"You had my sister killed." Irina stated dryly, looking at him. "So don't tell me that you are still my friend or not angry at me."
"What?" He looked at her open-mouthed. "I... I had what? Are you out of your mind?"
His contradiction came so passionately that she started to doubt her own words. "My sister, Katya. You had her killed..." she repeated her accusation, weaker this time.
"Irina, I swear to god, I did not order anyone to kill your sister. Neither did one of our superiors. She was in my team, so I would know if the group had decided to pull her out. I was wondering about her whereabouts myself. She didn't show up for over six weeks. I had two of my men searching her, because I thought she might have also fallen in love with a counsel." His voice betrayed a certain amusement, a poor attempt to joke, but Irina remained serious. Gerard shook his head. "Are you telling me she is dead? Who killed her?"
"Yes... I... oh my god... you are saying that our group did not kill her?" The realization of what those words meant washed over her like a massive wave of ice, laying down on her heart like a heavy stone. If Katya had not been killed by the rebels, could it be...?
"Oh god, Gerard, I have made a terrible mistake..." she gasped, and softly, he took her in his arms.
"Shh... Irina calm down. I have never seen you that outraged. Tell me what happened. I promise, everything will be okay again."
"It's Bristow. He played me. Obviously I was just... part of a sick plan of his. And I fell for it. Oh god, I feel so stupid." She reveled for a moment in the familiar warmth of him. How many passionate moments had she shared with this man? Yet, somehow his warmth had lost its appeal now. It couldn't fill the deep void in her heart, couldn't soothe the pain. Her fascination for this strong, handsome rebel in front of her seemed to be part of another lifetime, another woman.
Softly Gerard let his hand run through her hair, whispering sweet comforts into he ear. "Tell me everything that happened. I will help you, Irina. I promise, we will make that bastard pay for using you."
Irina's eyes found his, and she was unsure whether to accept his offer. Despite everything Jack had done, the thought of him suffering made her heart ache even more. Despite everything that had happened, she couldn't deny how deep her love for him had become.
"I just want... I want to go away..." Irina murmured. "My sister planned to go to Russia after I return from the audience with the queen tomorrow. I want to go with her."
He looked at her for a long time, his thumb tenderly stroking along her lower lip. "But you can't just let him get away with everything he has done to you... where is the woman I used to know. The reckless fighter without scruples?"
Irina smiled faintly. "She belongs to another lifetime. Please, Gerard... if what you say is true, that you want to help me, then help me and my sister to go to Russia. We will need money and someone to watch our backs. I can not trust the queen, and when I don't attend the audience tomorrow, we will be in danger of being captured and executed."
His eyes held hers for a long time, eventually, he nodded. "I will see what I can do. Don't worry. I am going to help you." His face lowered to hers and his soft lips touched hers in a tender kiss. For a split second Irina gave in to the caress, the she pulled back.
"Please don't..." She couldn't bear the kiss of another man, when the touch of Jack's sweet caresses was still laying hotly on them. In fact, she didn't ever want to kiss a man again.
Gerard looked at her, and placed a tender kiss on her knuckles instead of her lips. "Irina, you have to do something for me in return?"
"What?" she asked and watched him reach into his pocket.
"This..." he murmured and placed a small flacon with a brown liquid in her hand. Irina looked at it and then lifted her eyes questioning.
"What is that?"
"We are so close to everything we ever dreamed of. Just one step away. I had another woman ready to fulfill this task, but you are the most trustful woman I know." He looked down and closed her fingers around the small bottle, his hand wrapped around hers. "The opportunity is better than we could ever dream. You have to attend the audience tomorrow. You have to act as if you still want to be pardoned. And when you have tea with the queen, I want you to add five drops of that liquid into her tea."
Irina inhaled sharply, staring at him, but Gerard held her close, his eyes pleading with her.
"It looks like perfume, and if you are asked about it, that's what you tell them. Nobody would be able to trace it back to you."
"Gerard..." Irina contradicted reluctantly.
"You told me you want to take revenge. This is what you have been fighting for all your life my dear. When the queen is dead, our group will take over the power, and everything is going to change. I promise you, I will serve you Bristow on a silver platter then, and you will get all the revenge you want. I am going to make him lie at your feet."
"Don't do that..." Irina pleaded weakly. "I know what I wanted. I know what I fought for my whole life, but... I am not sure I can murder the queen. It is not important to me anymore..."
"Irina, darling." Gerard kissed her knuckles again. "You can't tell me that everything you did, everything we did together was for nothing. Now we have the opportunity to accomplish what we have worked for. I just thought you might want to be part of it." His eyes dropped. "Of course, I understand if you don't feel up to it at the moment. I guess I will go for that other woman then. She's a close servant to the queen. There is going to be a possibility for her to do it. Not as effectively and quickly, but soon enough..." He wanted to take the flacon back, but Irina suddenly pulled her hand away.
"Wait." She whispered, staring at the liquid in the pale moonlight. He was right. This was what she and her sisters had tried to achieve…a chance to make everybody pay for the harm and suffering that had been done to their family by the queen. This was what they had promised their father to accomplish.
"I will do it..." she finally whispered, her words sounding to herself as if spoken by another, strange person. "You are right. That was what I lived for my whole life. I wanted to take revenge... and now I can take it. I will be free afterwards. I am going to do it."
Gerard's face lightened up. "That's my girl. Listen to me carefully now. Five drops into her tea. She will break down then. See that you get out of the palace as quickly as possible. I will wait for you right here in the garden, and in two weeks at the latest, you will be on your way to Russia. Nobody is ever going to find you or your sister."
Irina looked at the liquid and let it disappear in the pocked of her dress then. The sound of steps approaching them could be heard in the distance.
"That's Lord Sloane..." Irina whispered. "You have to go... he must not see us together. Please go!"
Gerard got up and smiled at her faintly. "I will meet you here tomorrow. Good luck!" And with these hushed words, he disappeared into the shadows of the trees. Not one second too late, for only an instant later, Arvin Sloane came around the hedge, handing her a glass of water with an apologizing smile on his face.
"I am terribly sorry, Milady. I was held up by a gentleman I knew." He sat down next to her, and Irina smiled absently, taking a sip of the water.
"Thank you, Milord."
"Are you feeling better?" he asked with concern on his face, and she nodded.
"Yes, a little. I feel tired though. I think it is time for me to retire to bed. It is not appropriate for me to be here anyway. After all, it is way past midnight." She smiled charmingly and got up. "I apologize that you went such great lengths to fetch me a glass of water."
Arvin Sloane lifted as well and kissed her hand gallantly. "I would do everything for a beautiful woman like you. Sleep well, Milady. I will follow you back inside in five minutes, but in order to prevent damage to your reputation, I think it better if we don't come back together. The gentleman in the entrance hall knows me and he will surely recognize you as well. If you ever need help, contact me."
"I will." Irina smiled. "Thank you." And with these words, she turned around and left. Gathering up her dress, she hurried back to the palace. Arvin got up and looked after her, a satisfied smile playing around the corner of his mouth.
"Everything went as you predicted."
Arvin turned his head at this comment and looked at Gerard Cuvee, who approached him slowly, hands folded behind his back. Smugly, he laughed.
"It was brilliant of you to make her believe that Bristow used her to take revenge." Cuvee continued, and Sloane scoffed ironically.
"Of course it was brilliant. Their love is still too young, and they are both driven by too many doubts and prejudices to trust each other unconditionally. She is so hurt that she won't question Jack about what I told her. Did she agree to take the flacon?" Sloane asked, turning his head away again.
"Yes," Cuvee reported. "She was hesitant at first, but I made her think it was a good idea. I am not sure if she will go through with it though. She seemed determined, but I have the feeling that her attitude changed."
Arvin Sloane looked at him. "She doesn't have to do it. All she has to do is carry the bottle with her to the audience. Whether she does it or not, the poison is going to be in the tea, I have arranged for that. And when she has the bottle with her, there is no way she can talk herself out of it. The poison will take its effect immediately, and Irina Derevko will be surrounded by guards before she realizes what happened."
Gerard Cuvee nodded, then kept silently thoughtfully for a moment before he voiced a concern. "Are you sure that Bristow won't believe in her innocence? As far as I know, he is desperately in love with her."
"Yes, but I already planted doubts in his heart. They are weak, but when the queen dies while Irina is alone with her, and then the poison is found in her possession, there is no way he would believe her…no matter how desperately she claims her innocence. He is going to think that she used him the whole time, her relationship with him being a means to an end. And to exclude all possibilities, I arranged for a witness, who saw Irina with you in the garden tonight. She couldn't recognize you, but heard your discussion and saw you handing her the poison. In a month Irina Derevko will be dead, nobody will expect us to have anything to do with the queen's murder, and I am going to take over the throne. All the years of work will finally pay off." Arvin smiled contently and folded his arms, letting the man behind him believe that he could take part in the great success. The truth was, Gerard Cuvee would be dead by then, believed to be the man who tasked Irina Derevko with the murder of the queen. And then finally all his witnesses would be gone. Nobody would know that he was behind this. Really nobody? To make sure that was the case, he still needed Cuvee. "Have you finally found Katya Derevko's body?"
"No, Milord. My men are searching the whole river, but so far there is not a sign of her…except for the scarf I already gave you. Even the interrogation of the peasants along the river didn't give any proof for her being alive. Nobody has seen a heavily injured woman. If you ask me, there is no way she could have survived."
"But I don't ask you! I know Katya Derevko. She is a dangerous woman, capable of everything – even surviving being stabbed and thrown into the icy Thames. I want to exclude every possibility for interference. I don't have to tell you what the consequences would be if suddenly a witness appeared who knows that I am the leader of the rebel group, so keep searching for her!"
"As you wish, Milord." Gerard bowed slightly.
Without any further word, Sloane went back to the palace. Gerard Cuvee looked after him and shook his head slightly. If it hadn't been for his ideologies, nothing in the world would have pursued him to work for a scoundrel like Arvin Sloane. Soon though, they would be at the end of their way – and that prospect was worth collaborating with the greatest ass of the country...