Berezovo: A Revolutionary Russian Epic

Did she recognise that her friends had tried to warn her on several occasions but that she had refused to listen to them, preferring to believe in the liar Irena Kuibysheva?

Yes, she admitted, weeping now. She offered them her heartfelt apology and begged their forgiveness.

Did she know that Matriona Pobednyeva was telling the world that she had witnessed her husband Leonid and Irena Kuibysheva leaving one of the rooms on the upper floor of the Hotel New Century together?

No!

Was she prepared to work with her friends to try and repair the damage to her reputation and to her marriage and to have her revenge on her faithless friend?

Yes.

Lidiya and Raisa, moved almost to tears themselves at the sight of her wretchedness, had stood and embraced her, consoling her on her misfortune. Only Olga Nadnikova remained seated, waiting with impatience for the three women to resume their seats. They had a lot to accomplish, she reminded them. Paying back Irena Kuibysheva could not be done overnight. She was protected by her husband’s wealth and, by association, the political power of the Mayor’s office. It would take time to devise an appropriate punishment.

There was only one course left open to Tatyana. For the time being, she must take a leaf out of her husband’s book and act as if nothing had happened. It would be better if she could persuade her husband that she was feeling unwell and was unable to attend the Reception luncheon. Failing that, she must take pains not to let on to Irena Kuibysheva that she knew anything of her treachery.

Within ten minutes of returning home it had become clear that the first course of action was not open to her. Leonid had insisted that she accompany him to the luncheon; there could be no excuse for her absence that would not be an embarrassment to him. Thus it was that, sitting in stony silence, the Kavelins were now travelling together in their carriage the few hundred yards around the corner of Menshikov Street and up Alexei Street to the entrance of the Hotel New Century. The pony pulling their carriage shook its head, its hot breath steaming in the midday cold, as if to say, “Look how alive and animated I am compared to the two graven images I am pulling in my fine cab!”

Upon their arrival Leonid Kavelin stepped out of the carriage and with elaborate courtesy offered his hand to his wife to assist her. Ignoring him Tatyana left the carriage and, without waiting for him, hurried through the outer doors of the hotel and quickly crossed the vestibule to the foot of the staircase leading to the mezzanine floor.

For a brief moment the noise of loud conversation and the sound of laughter from the top of the stairs unnerved her. She felt like an untested actress about to take the stage before a seasoned and critical audience. Struggling to clear her head, she began to ascend the staircase. She was an actress, she told herself, and she had only to remember her lines and keep her nerve and all would be fine. She had rehearsed what she intended to say to Irena, and the manner in which she would say it. All that mattered now was to keep her temper and to make sure that the pleasantries came out correctly.

Halfway up the stairs she heard the outer doors behind her open with a crash and Leonid calling after her. Willing herself not to look back, she kept walking up the stairs toward the lounge, and found that this new sense of resolve both excited and frightened her. As she reached the landing and heads were already turning to greet her, she once again heard Leonid’s hoarse command below her:

“Tanya, for God’s sake, wait for me.”

With a tight determined smile, Tatyana moved quickly into the crowd and began cordially greeting the other guests at the reception. Out of the corner of her left eye she could see that Irena had already arrived and was engaged in conversation with the Shiminskis and Matriona Pobednyeva. The presence of the mayor’s wife made her pause but she could see Olga Nadnikova and Raisa were moving slowly into position behind the Shiminskis and from the right hand side of the room Lidiya Pusnyena was cutting through the crowd to join her.

Without warning, a waiter bearing a tray of small glasses of wine stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

“Do you want some wine?” he said thickly. “It’s for free.”

She was raising her hand to wave him away when she felt a hand grip her arm tightly. Leonid had caught up with her.

“Tanya, for God’s sake!” he whispered.