Nodding curtly, he took her elbow and led her over to the group of men who parted and drifted away when they saw who she was, all except Alexandrov’s closest chum, Dashkov. He just stood there grinning, not trying in the least to conceal his interest in this reunion.
“Mitya, how good it is to see you again.” Tatiana smiled up at Dimitri.
“Tatiana. Lovely as ever, I see,” Dimitri replied, accepting her proffered hand and brushing a light kiss against the knuckles.
She waited, waited again for him to make some indication, to say something, anything, that would tell her he still wanted to marry her. He said nothing, not an apology for not seeking her out sooner, not that he had missed her, not that he was delighted to see her, nothing. He left her no choice.
“I believe you know Count Grigori, my fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” Dimitri repeated, one brow raising the tiniest bit.
Tatiana moved closer to Grigori, who had the sense to put his arm about her waist, confirming this surprising news. “Yes, I do hope you aren’t too disappointed, Mitya. But when you left so suddenly, sending me that short little missive saying you didn’t know when you would be back, what was I to think? A lady can’t be expected to wait forever.”
Dimitri nearly choked on that one, but didn’t want to insult the lady. “Then I must simply congratulate you both, I suppose.”
He offered his hand to Grigori, the gentlemanly thing to do under the circumstances, but the man couldn’t resist saying, “Too bad, Alexandrov. The best man won, eh?”
“If you think so, Lysenko.”
That was all, Tatiana realized. No anger, no jealousy. She had done the right thing. He wouldn’t have asked her to marry him again. She had lost him before he had even returned to Russia. But this way, she wasn’t made to look a fool. She had prevented that, even if it was by committing herself to a man she didn’t love. Then again, she could always get out of that commitment later.
“I’m so glad you understand, Mitya” were Tatiana’s last words before dragging Grigori away.
“You know you could have prevented that, don’t you?” Vasili said from beside Dimitri, his voice heavy with disgust.
“You think so?”
“Come off it, Mitya. She stood right there and waited for some sign of affection from you. You know damn well she hadn’t accepted his proposal before that very moment. You saw the look of surprise on his face. It was as much news to him as it was to you.”
“So it was.”
Vasili grabbed Dimitri and turned him so that they were face to face. “I don’t believe it. You’re relieved, aren’t you?”
“As a matter of fact, my shoulders do feel much lighter.” Dimitri grinned.
“I don’t believe this,” Vasili repeated. “Six months ago, you tell me that she is the woman you are going to marry before the year is out, that you’ll have your heir by next year. Nothing was going to stop you, you said. You made an all-out campaign to win her and became enraged because you couldn’t pin her down to an answer. In fact you were in a constant rage over her vacillation. Am I right or am I wrong?”
“You needn’t labor the point, Vasya.”
“Then would you mind telling me why you’re so delighted she has thrown you over? And don’t you dare tell me it has anything to do with that wench you’re pining over. Marriage has nothing to do with love. Tatiana was a most suitable match for you. You didn’t have to love her. Sweet Christ, she is the most beautiful woman in Russia! She could have a pea for a brain and still be desirable. And her bloodline is impeccable. She was perfect for you. Your aunt thought so too.”
“Enough, Vasya. You’re acting as ifyouhave just lost her.”
“Well, damn it all, if you had to get yourself married, I wanted you to have the best. I thought that was your intention as well. Or is it no longer imperative that you marry and produce an heir? Have you heard something about Misha, that perhaps—”
“Don’t tell me you’re still hoping for the impossible. Misha’s dead, Vasya. It’s been too long to hope otherwise. And no, nothing has changed. I still need a wife. I just don’t need this one. To tell you the truth, the reason I was dragging my feet about resuming this courtship was I couldn’t see myself starting all over again, having to go through months of evasion and procrastination again just to get a simple answer, and being expected to dance attendance on the lady while she kept me waiting. I have better things to do than waste my time like that.”
“But—”
“Vasya! If you think she’s such a prize,youmarry her. Personally, I find I don’t want to be tied down to a woman who doesn’t know her own mind. I have discovered how refreshing forthrightness can be.”
“Your English wench again?” Vasili sneered, only to gasp, “You’re not thinking—”
“No, I haven’t lost my reason, though I can’t deny I wouldn’t mind being tied down to her.” Dimitri grinned, before sighing, “But there are plenty of other suitable women available, ones who won’t hesitate with an answer, so I can get this business over with. Any suggestions?”
“None that you wouldn’t find some fault with, I’m sure.”
“Perhaps Natalia can recommend someone. She’s an incorrigible matchmaker, so keeps abreast of such things.”
