Kiev!”
She became confused for a moment at the sad, almost apologetic flicker in his smile.
“Then we must see to your happiness, Miss Peshkova. Rest assured, if your parents agree, I shall do what I can to assist your acceptance.”
Karena could have thrown her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, but she did not. She sat primly, her hands clasped so tightly they tingled.
She laughed. “And I thought tonight was going to be the most harrowing of my life! Amidst darkness, there is light. Who would have believed it?”
Dr. Zinnovy made no comment but smiled with pleasure. Herhappiness appeared to affect him deeply.
What a kind and generous man! I shall become one of his best students
.
“I saw you there on the edge of the crowd,” she said.
“Yes. I was out walking. I stopped for a few minutes to see what was happening. I recognized Petrov on the soapbox. Dr. Lenski would be grieved to have heard him. She’s an ardent supporter of the Romanovs, and she’s disowned her son for turning to the Bolsheviks. I’m certain she didn’t know Ivanna accompanied him to Kiev.”
Despite the tragic situation of the Lenskis, Karena could hardly keep her excitement from brimming over. Only when she remembered Sergei were her emotions dampened. Had he gotten away? If he’d not taken the horse, then who did?
“Anna,” she breathed suddenly.
“Anna?”
She looked at Dr. Zinnovy. “A peasant. She works our land.” Karena hesitated, wondering how much she should reveal. Since he was a doctor, she didn’t feel it necessary to keep Anna’s plight hidden.
“Anna’s just a girl, but she’s in love with Sergei. Sadly, they’ve made a serious mistake. She’s going to have a child. The horse Sergei and I came on is missing. If Anna rode the horse, it could bring on early labor.”
“Yes, if she was frightened, she might not consider the consequences.”
“She came to the meeting tonight. If she was arrested—”
“Yes?”
“I think she would talk, despite her loyalty to Sergei.”
He frowned. “I shall look into the matter. You will want to know your brother escaped with Petrov before the police could encircle them.”
Relieved, she lapsed into silence while the carriage approached the manor.
Dr. Zinnovy was peering out the window. “This peasant girl, Anna. I think it wise that I discover how she’s faring. Is her family’s bungalow nearby?”
“It’s not far at all. Shall I inform Madame Yeva to come and assist you, Doctor?”
He looked toward the manor, his face solemn. “No. I think it best not to disturb her. Anna may not have taken your horse. Even if she did, it doesn’t necessarily mean she will go into early labor. It depends on her health and how she rode.”
“I could go with you and assist,” she offered.
“I gather you have had training?”
She smiled. “From the time I was a small child, I followed my mother in her medical mercies whenever she ministered to family, friends, and peasants in the fields, although I’ve not delivered a child on my own yet.”
“If you could carry the lamp for me, my dear, and calm her down when we arrive, that will be of great help to me.”
“It will be an honor, sir.”
“She may not want her family to know she’s been out tonight. We shall use appropriate discretion. We had best waste no time.”
I’m actually going to assist the great Dr. Dmitri Zinnovy. Mother will be amazed
.
He hadn’t wanted Madame Yeva to come with him, although she was by far the more appropriate assistant …
Maybe he simply wants to give me the experience and privilege of going with him
.
But why? Then again, why had he helped her at all?
E IGHT
Doctor’s Assistant
T he oil lamps cast shadows on the walls of the peasant bungalow with a gently sloping roof and thickly dressed logs. The small room, the
gornitsa
, held a bed and an undersized stove. It was usually reserved for guests, but Elena Lavrushsky used it for her sister-in-law,
She became confused for a moment at the sad, almost apologetic flicker in his smile.
“Then we must see to your happiness, Miss Peshkova. Rest assured, if your parents agree, I shall do what I can to assist your acceptance.”
Karena could have thrown her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, but she did not. She sat primly, her hands clasped so tightly they tingled.
She laughed. “And I thought tonight was going to be the most harrowing of my life! Amidst darkness, there is light. Who would have believed it?”
Dr. Zinnovy made no comment but smiled with pleasure. Herhappiness appeared to affect him deeply.
What a kind and generous man! I shall become one of his best students
.
“I saw you there on the edge of the crowd,” she said.
“Yes. I was out walking. I stopped for a few minutes to see what was happening. I recognized Petrov on the soapbox. Dr. Lenski would be grieved to have heard him. She’s an ardent supporter of the Romanovs, and she’s disowned her son for turning to the Bolsheviks. I’m certain she didn’t know Ivanna accompanied him to Kiev.”
Despite the tragic situation of the Lenskis, Karena could hardly keep her excitement from brimming over. Only when she remembered Sergei were her emotions dampened. Had he gotten away? If he’d not taken the horse, then who did?
“Anna,” she breathed suddenly.
“Anna?”
She looked at Dr. Zinnovy. “A peasant. She works our land.” Karena hesitated, wondering how much she should reveal. Since he was a doctor, she didn’t feel it necessary to keep Anna’s plight hidden.
“Anna’s just a girl, but she’s in love with Sergei. Sadly, they’ve made a serious mistake. She’s going to have a child. The horse Sergei and I came on is missing. If Anna rode the horse, it could bring on early labor.”
“Yes, if she was frightened, she might not consider the consequences.”
“She came to the meeting tonight. If she was arrested—”
“Yes?”
“I think she would talk, despite her loyalty to Sergei.”
He frowned. “I shall look into the matter. You will want to know your brother escaped with Petrov before the police could encircle them.”
Relieved, she lapsed into silence while the carriage approached the manor.
Dr. Zinnovy was peering out the window. “This peasant girl, Anna. I think it wise that I discover how she’s faring. Is her family’s bungalow nearby?”
“It’s not far at all. Shall I inform Madame Yeva to come and assist you, Doctor?”
He looked toward the manor, his face solemn. “No. I think it best not to disturb her. Anna may not have taken your horse. Even if she did, it doesn’t necessarily mean she will go into early labor. It depends on her health and how she rode.”
“I could go with you and assist,” she offered.
“I gather you have had training?”
She smiled. “From the time I was a small child, I followed my mother in her medical mercies whenever she ministered to family, friends, and peasants in the fields, although I’ve not delivered a child on my own yet.”
“If you could carry the lamp for me, my dear, and calm her down when we arrive, that will be of great help to me.”
“It will be an honor, sir.”
“She may not want her family to know she’s been out tonight. We shall use appropriate discretion. We had best waste no time.”
I’m actually going to assist the great Dr. Dmitri Zinnovy. Mother will be amazed
.
He hadn’t wanted Madame Yeva to come with him, although she was by far the more appropriate assistant …
Maybe he simply wants to give me the experience and privilege of going with him
.
But why? Then again, why had he helped her at all?
E IGHT
Doctor’s Assistant
T he oil lamps cast shadows on the walls of the peasant bungalow with a gently sloping roof and thickly dressed logs. The small room, the
gornitsa
, held a bed and an undersized stove. It was usually reserved for guests, but Elena Lavrushsky used it for her sister-in-law,
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