Inventing Wonders

Chapter 24: My Million Intrigues

"Female alcoholism is incurable," said someone who had never tried being a woman in the 19th century—or in any century, for that matter. Lara sat on the porch with a glass in hand. A vague sense of déjà vu troubled her: her entire life seemed to have turned into a stream of strange and insignificant events. No, in the context of her life, the events were certainly significant, but they had no impact on the grand history. Visits to the Decembrists—now that was something extraordinary... Though, it depends on how you look at it; Lara drank so often at Ryleev's that the prospect of marrying off Sasha seemed truly new. Or the sale of Kirillushka. Overall, the situation likely didn't affect Russian history much, but it caused quite a stir at the house on the embankment. But the fact that the wedding with Mark, scheduled for the end of August, was canceled, definitely had some historical impact.

Lara glanced at the glass, remembering how much she disliked wine.

Lizaveta

On a cold March morning, a second child, Vera, was born in the master's house. And within a year, it became clear: Verushka needed company. The choice fell on the cook's daughter, Sasha. It seemed miraculous that Vera and Sasha were born on the same day.

Sasha Radina was washed, dressed, and seated next to the one-year-old young lady. This could have been a story of incredible friendship between a serf girl and a countess, but Verushka died on the eve of the new year, 1810, from a common cold. Needless to say, the mistress was inconsolable? She really was, until she realized how much Sasha reminded her of Verushka. Despite the pleas of the Radins, Natalya Pavlovna took the girl as if she were a stray puppy.

Thus, Alexandra lived as if she were the master's daughter, right up until Vladimir, the eldest son, returned from London. I remember it well; I was twenty at the time. Vladimir was an extraordinary young man, a bit hot-tempered, impulsive, and straightforward, but he was... Perhaps, it was because of him that I befriended Sasha. It was Vladimir who told me that Sasha was not his sister...

At that time, I was sewing for the entire master's family, you know how good I am at embroidery? I was asked to sew a few summer outfits for Vladimir... I didn't believe in love at first sight, even considered marrying the blacksmith Andreika... But once I saw Vladimir... He loved me too... Not just in words, but truly... We planned a wedding, and although his parents strongly opposed it, Vladimir stood his ground...

But you've heard about the curse on the house in Rozhdestveno, that everyone who lives there dies? My Vladimir met the same fate. As romantic as in your love stories: the neighbor's master found out about our engagement, didn't like it, and began to harass me... I didn't want to tell Vladimir, but he found out himself... He was so hot-tempered... Challenged him to a duel immediately. His pistol misfired, but the neighbor's didn't... Right in the heart...

I didn't even get to say goodbye... And the mistress never forgave me. She kept me around, saying it was in memory of her son, but she only gave me heavy, dirty work when she gave any work at all... She couldn't grant me any mercy, nor could she drive me to death...

Tears flowed down Liza's cheeks. A grave silence fell in the office. Liza took a deep breath and added:

"And then, Larisa Konstantinovna, you know the rest... All our masters died prematurely... They started checking the books, counting the serfs, and immediately everyone remembered that our Sasha was a serf... I don't know why I'm telling you all this, probably because I've never told anyone before..."

"I'm so sorry," Lara responded dryly. "But it turns out, Sasha is not an illegitimate daughter after all..."

"Oh, I know you expected a more exciting story, but no, Sasha is a serf, just like me or Kirillushka. Although, you gave her freedom, so she's not a serf at all now..." Liza lowered her eyes to her skirt, wanted to add something, but only quietly asked, "May I go?"