Polonaise by Jane Aiken Hodge Page A

as unlike as chalk and cheese, but we’re not at daggers drawn about it. And we can talk politics when we do meet. If we want to. But then, we aren’t a police state.’
    â€˜We’re lucky,’ said Jan. ‘I didn’t realise … Sometimes I think I’ll be glad to get home.’
    â€˜You’ll go when the wedding’s over?’
    â€˜I’m not sure.’ Slowly. ‘I’ve thought about it a great deal. I don’t suppose I’ll ever come to Europe again. My father’s a young man still, but he plans for me to begin to take some of the load of business off his hands when I get back. And once I’ve started … I had my first letter from him the other day. He suggests I go on to Russia before I leave; seems to think that with this new Tsar Alexander there may be a chance of business openings for us there.’
    Entering the stable yard by a side gate they found it in an even greater commotion than usual. A cortège of carriages and waggons was filing in from the front of the house, whilean escort of Cossacks shouted angrily for attention. They exchanged glances. ‘He’s come,’ said Glynde.
    â€˜Yes.’ Jan seemed to square his shoulders. ‘Too late to cut and run. I rather wish I had, now, don’t you?’
    â€˜Oh, thank goodness!’ A woman’s head appeared at the window of what they had thought an empty coach, and a shabby one at that. ‘You speak English! Would you be so good as to interpret for me? My Polish maid has been in strong hysterics all morning, and nobody seems to understand my German. Or they pretend not to! Well, of course, with the Prince’s arrival.’ Bright eyes under an unbecoming bonnet surveyed the usually immaculate stable yard, which was now littered with filthy straw and horse droppings as the newcomers vied for the attention of harassed grooms. ‘I hate to seem missish, but this is hardly the place for a lady to alight.’
    â€˜You came in the Prince’s train?’ Glynde was trying vainly to place her.
    â€˜Much against my will. He overtook us and swallowed us whole. Are you acquainted with the Prince Ovinski?’
    â€˜I have not had that pleasure.’
    â€˜He gets his own way. Oh, Olga,’ she turned to her companion, and to German, ‘do stop that crying. We’re here now; it’s all over; the Cossacks didn’t rape you; all we have to do is find some way of getting to the house without absolutely filthying ourselves, and I am sure these gentlemen will take care of that. I’m so glad to meet two Englishmen!’ She smiled at them impartially, the plain face transformed. ‘I’m Jenny Peverel, come to stay with the Princess.’
    â€˜Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Peverel.’ Glynde smiled back at her. ‘Glynde Rendel, at your service. My friend here, Jan Warrington, is American.’ But Jan had moved forward to speak rapid Polish to the coachman. Returning, he greeted her apologetically. ‘I’m afraid the man says it will be some time before he can get you back through this mêlée to the house door. I cannot imagine how he came to be so stupid.’
    â€˜I can,’ said Jenny Peverel. ‘The Prince’s orders. He would not want to make his state arrival with two draggle-tailed females in tow.’ She said it entirely without malice and Glynde found himself thinking the Princess was going to be lucky inher companion. ‘There it is then,’ she went on, confirming his good opinion. ‘If you would be so good as to tell the man to do the best he can for us, we’ll just resign ourselves to the wait.’ She turned and explained the situation to her snivelling companion. ‘But don’t let us keep you two gentlemen. I’ve a very interesting book to read.
Clarissa Harlowe
, it will last me out nicely.’
    â€˜It most certainly will, all seven volumes,’