eighteen at the time, for distant cousins we shared many other similarities: the same height, round face, and almond-shaped eyes.
Olga smiled. “Of course, I didn’t get your glorious hair.”
She linked arms with me, drew me closer, releasing a sweet scent of orange blossom soap and cinnamon. “I’ve met a new officer,” she whispered. “He wants to call on me soon. Can you advocate for me with Mother?”
“Of course, my darling, but remember, men know you are sheltered for a reason. They like a challenge, so remain refined. And keep to your reading. Men may leave, but books will always remain true.”
The guards shifted in their boots and Olga released my arm. “Here it is I’ve found you and now have to go. Mother is nervous as a cat—there’s trouble at the factories.”
The guards rushed Olga off through the crowd and she called back to us. “Tatiana is getting a little dog, a French bulldog. You must visit when she comes.”
Olga exited through a side door and we continued in line, inching closer.
Eliza stood on her toes to better see the tsarina. “She surrounds herself with noblewomen. Does she greet the common people as well?”
“No. Only when they summer in the Crimea. Too dangerous to be out among the people here, with every vagrant about.”
A tall, red-haired woman hurried toward us through the crowd.
I leaned closer to Eliza. “Here comes Karina, cousin on my mother’s side.”
“Heavenly day, is everyone here related?”
“Karina was in prison for two years, been out for one year. I helped her return to society—she spends her days at my women’s home, completing her sentence with service to the country.”
As Karina grew closer, the bell sleeves of her white caftan fluttering behind her, she seemed less like a criminal and more like a great, kind moth.
“Whatever for?”
“Her boyfriend, from a fine family himself, belonged to a secret society whose object it was to bring violence to subvert the state, to bring down the tsar.”
“Why would a nobleman want to hurt the tsar?”
“Not every person of wealth is a monarchist, Eliza. Many here oppose the tsar. Being young and silly, Karina had allowed her boyfriend to keep his printing press in her apartment. A gifted pianist, she played her piano loud enough every day to conceal the sound of the press in the back room.”
“How were they arrested?”
“An informant loyal to the tsar turned them in but only Karina was caught. Received a fifteen-year sentence.”
“The boyfriend escaped?”
“He has a talent for evading the authorities while others take the blame. She’s not seen him since, but holds out hope. They would’ve sent an ordinary girl to the mines but the tsar has always doted on Karina and he considered two years’ confinement enough. She’s not allowed to play the piano again. And is never to see Ilya again, either. Not sure which is worse for her.”
Karina made it to us and embraced me. “How good to see you, cousin. Welcome back to Russia. You look better for childbirth.”
She turned to Eliza. “I’m sure Sofya told you about my sordid past.”
“A bit.”
Karina smiled. Her skin glowed pink, almost translucent in the candlelight. Such an oddly beautiful girl and altogether different from me, taller and thin, with a glorious head of deep red hair. Hard to believe we were from the same family.
“My life so far is stranger than any novel, but I confess it’s good to be out.” Karina pulled me closer. “Ilya has sent word he will contact me.”
“You believe him?” I asked. “There are so many good men here tonight.”
“Of course I believe him. He may be reckless, but not a liar.”
“He always gets off free as a bird, Karina, while others—”
All at once there came a great commotion echoed in the front vestibule, of shouting and ladies’ screams. At the golden doors, a man in velvet palace dress appeared, held high a gun, and shouted, “Long live freedom!”
Eliza put her arms about me as the man shot his gun into the ceiling and plaster rained down on us both. The musicians stopped playing and stood.
I barely breathed as guards rushed the tsar’s mother and the tsarina out of their seats, their ladies-in-waiting following. Other guards wrestled the man to the ground, then hustled him away.
The crowd stood stunned, holding gentle conversation. A member of the palace guard turned on the monarchy?
The scent of gunpowder wafted through the air as waiters wandered the crowd with their silver trays, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the gunman. In