Inventing Wonders

Chapter 22: Sounds Like a Plan

She woke up in a stranger's bed. She woke up in a stranger's bed, hugging a man. She woke up in a stranger's bed of a man she knew. The situation wasn't as dramatic or unusual as it seemed. She had woken up in stranger's beds before, and this man was not entirely a stranger:

"Kondra, where's the water?" Lara weakly inquired, shaking the poet by the shoulder.

Kondratiy Fedorovich slowly opened his eyes, turned to the voice, and wanted to ask his wife not to disturb him, but soon realized that it wasn't his wife asking for water. For a moment, his poisoned brain tried to comprehend whether the half-naked Lara was a dream, then he sat up in horror.

"Larisa Konstantinovna! Did we?!"

Lara glanced at her friend and generously began buttoning up his shirt.

"Some water, Kondra, even holy water would do," she smiled at the memory of a discussion about the essence of "War and Peace."

He looked at the serene, albeit slightly rumpled face of the countess, who sighed heavily and moved to search for a carafe. Something broke inside him. How could he face his wife? Then the thought of Lara's upcoming wedding struck him. He feared he had ruined her reputation and could never speak to Bulgari again, a man he quite liked.

"Lara... I'm so sorry..." began the poet.

His conscience treacherously replayed memories of that evening when Lara lamented about the engineer taking advantage of her vulnerability, and how he had condemned the scoundrel, yet now...

"I'm also sorry you spilled wine on my dress," snorted Lara, sitting next to Ryleyev.

"But I... Did we... I mean..."

"For heaven's sake!" Lara frowned. "Surely, my dear friend, you don't think we indulged in unrestrained carnal pleasures?" she giggled and leaned forward, clearly showing what they had indulged in.

"Nothing happened?" he asked hesitantly and somewhat sadly.

"Kondra, not that I'm proud, but I've been drinking with guys since I was sixteen, and never once have I done something I didn't want to," she paused and added, "and sleeping with a friend right after getting engaged is not part of my dreams."

Poor Kondra sobered up from the stress of such a conversation.

"Come now, my delightful friend, there will be a celebration on your street too!" she straightened her leg in a half-lowered stocking, which heroically stayed with her despite everything.

"Stop it!"

He nervously slapped her exposed thigh, hoping to end the excruciating nightmare, but the effect was opposite: Lara exclaimed something like "Oh-la-la!" and fell off the bed, choking with laughter. Kondratiy Fedorovich, unaccustomed to such behavior, was utterly embarrassed and covered his face with his hands. The countess continued her hysterical laughter until someone, likely common sense, knocked inside her head with a judge's gavel, calling for order.

Lara recalled this joke a few days later when a sober and clothed Ryleyev invited her for a serious private conversation.

"Do you find this funny?" he asked sternly.

"I do!" Lara nodded and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes. "Tell me the secret, why does every man in the capital now feel it his duty to put a ring on my finger?"

"This is different! Don't you understand? I'm offering you..." he didn't finish the sentence.

"You're offering me a ring and the opportunity to openly declare my political views," she raised her eyelids and looked at him through her lashes.