Page 169 of Bride By Coronation

"It probably tastes better since your drink is sweet." He takes a bite, then adds, "I think the chutney is better with my vodka."

I take a few more bites.

He drinks half his vodka and then sets it down, announcing, "I should take you to Russia soon."

The hairs on my arms rise. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Is it safe?"

"With me? Yes," he declares.

My anxiety disappears. "Okay. When do you want to go?"

He chuckles. "When we get home, let's figure it out."

A wave of enthusiasm rolls through me. I ask, "Do you go often?"

His face falls. "Not anymore. I used to when I was a child."

I put my hand over his. "Are your memories bad? Of your family?"

His eyes darken. "Not the ones of my mother."

"What was she like?"

He thinks momentarily and then a tiny curve forms on his lips. He notes, "She was beautiful. Kind. Funny too."

"That must be who you get your sense of humor from," I point out.

He leans closer. "You think I'm funny?"

"Yeah. I laugh a lot when I'm around you."

He strokes my thigh, lowering his voice. "I like it when you laugh."

"So you'd go to Russia with your family as a boy?"

His face falls again, filling with disdain. "Yes. My father was proud to be a Petrov, and loved returning home to show his family how much money and power he accumulated."

"Oh." My gut flips.

A heavy silence settles between us for a few moments.

"Did you ever think about changing your name?" I ask, breaking the quiet.

He arches his eyebrows. "From Petrov?"

"Yes."

He hesitates, then nods. "I told your father it was a curse, and I wanted a new last name, but he stopped me from changing it."

My chest tightens. "Why?"

"He told me it was a cowardly move. He said the way to eliminate the Petrov curse was to become the man no Petrov ever was, and ensure future generations knew how to behave and treat others."

I remain quiet, processing my father's words.

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