Page 4 of A Swirl of Shadows
Again, she felt a frisson of resentment.
Sophia was watching her, sympathy pooled in her gaze. “All I ask is that you think about what I’ve said.”
Arianna nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I will. But now, if you don’t mind, I should like to return to Berkeley Square.”
“Thank you for coming, Saybrook.”Lord Grentham handed a thick sheaf of documents to his adjutant and waved for the man to leave his office. “Please have a seat.”
The earl settled into the chair facing the massive oak desk. “I take it this isn’t a social visit.”
Grentham was the Minister of State Security. Which also meant that he was Britain’s chief spymaster, at home in the shadowy labyrinth of international intrigue and deception. He had recently escaped a cunning plot to engineer his downfall and brand him as a traitor, in no small part because of the efforts of Saybrook, Arianna, and Sophia.
And because of their loyalty.
They had all once been bitter adversaries. But circumstances had forced them to work together on a number of sensitive diplomatic missions, and to their surprise, a grudging mutual respect had developed.
And then a real friendship. Though none of them were completely comfortable admitting it.
“Correct,” replied the minister. “As you know, there is trouble brewing in Russia—”
“No,” interrupted Saybrook. He flicked a mote of dust off his cuff. “Absolutely not.”
“You haven’t heard the details yet.”
“I don’t need to hear them. Even if I wished to do so, it’s impossible for me to contemplate leaving London right now.”
Grentham took a moment to rearrange the pens on his blotter. “I take it the recovery has been more difficult than anticipated.”
“Physically, she has healed. However . . .” Saybrook allowed his words to trail off.
The minister’s mouth thinned to a grim line as he turned his gaze to the oversized map of Europe that hung on the wall to his right. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“You have nothing for which to apologize. You saved her life.”
“None of you would have been at risk if you hadn’t felt compelled to involve yourselves in my travails.”
Saybrook allowed a low laugh. “How could wenotrush to your rescue? The prospect of being able to needle you over the fact that we saved your arse was too good to resist.”
Grentham repressed a smile. “So it would seem.” He rose and poured two glasses of brandy from the set of decanters on the side cabinet. “By the by, you look like hell,” he murmured as he passed one to the earl. “Perhaps a change in scenery would do you both good.”
“Ha!” Saybrook took a sip. “It’s bloody freezing in St. Petersburg at this time of year.”
“Not quite yet. But in any case, the heat of the chase always sends a frisson of fire through the blood.” The minister hesitated. “Have you considered that the challenge of beating Evil at its own game may spark a flame in your wife that will dispel the shadows?”
Flickers of gold skittered over the wall map as the earl raised his glass to eye level and set the brandy to swirling. He sighed. “I suppose you’re going to tell me the problem whether I like it or not.”
The minister wasted no time in seizing the initiative. “Tsar Alexander has specifically asked for Lady Saybrook’s help. A jeweled medallion has gone missing—”
“Bloody hell, surely the Tsar has enough minions at his beck and call to retrieve a stolen bauble,” muttered Saybrook. “Why is he asking for Arianna?”
“Because it’s not just any bauble,” explained Grentham. “You know how superstitions have a powerful hold on the Russian imagination. Well, legend has it that this particular medallion is a talisman, and that if it goes missing, the current dynasty will be cursed and soon lose the throne.”
“Perhaps that’s not a bad thing. Alexander is turning more reactionary and has become involved in mysticism. And his two brothers don’t exactly inspire confidence as to being enlightened rulers.”
“True,” agreed Grentham. “However—”
“You must have a great many operatives who are capable of tracking down the medallion,” interrupted the earl.
“It would appear to be a straightforward task,” came the reply. “However, you know as well as I do that Russia is a world of Byzantine intrigue and tangled factions within factions. I have, in fact, dispatched an operative to deal with the situation, but given the fellow’s lack of experience with the wolf-eat-wolf world of the Russian aristocracy, there’s a chance that he may make a meal for the conspirators looking to topple Tsar Alexander.”
